Wigs are a fabulous way of creating a new look without changing your natural hair. However, if you’re new to wigs or now have longer natural hair than you did before, you may be wondering how to hide a lot of hair under a wig!
This is the definitive Simply Wigs guide to wearing a wig over natural hair, where we share practical advice on protecting and concealing hair of any length under a wig. For tips on wig TLC, check out the wig care advice section of our blog.
Tips for Wearing Wigs Over Natural Hair
Before you start styling your hair underneath your wig, there are a few things you should know.
Wear a silk wig cap
Also called wig liners, wig caps function as an extra layer between your wig and your scalp. They keep any natural hair in place and help to prevent the underside of the wig from irritating your skin. Choose a soft material such as silk or bamboo for even greater comfort!
Moisturise and vent your hair
Regularly wearing a wig over natural hair can cause dryness. To keep your hair and skin healthy, moisturise before bed and allow your scalp to breathe through the night. This way, you can stay looking fabulous even when you’re not wearing a hairpiece!
Always dry your hair first
Never put a wig on wet hair. If your natural hair isn’t completely dry before you wear a wig, the warm and moist conditions can cause bacteria to form and spread over your scalp. This is a golden rule of wig-wearing!
Regularly shampoo and condition
When wearing a wig over natural hair, use normal shampoo and conditioner to clean your hair and scalp regularly. This is both hygienic and lets you rock your natural hair at a moment’s notice if you want to!
Use U-shaped hairpins
However you choose to hide your hair under your wig, we recommend using U-shaped hairpins for maximum hold. You will usually need 20–30 pins for short hair and 30–50 for longer hair.
Best Ways to Hide Hair Under a Wig
Now that you’re up to speed on wig-wearing best practices, let’s go ahead and dive into the four best ways to hide short or long hair under a wig! At least one of these solutions should work for you, no matter your hair type or length.
1.
BUN
Usually, the best place to hide your hair under a wig is the nape of your neck, and most wigs have a little extra stretch in this area for this reason. If your hair is long enough, you can tie it into a bun and tuck it under whichever type of wig cap you have. When you put on your wig, which will stretch around your bun, you won’t be able to tell there’s any natural hair underneath. Nice and simple!
2.
Twists
While twists are even easier to wear under a wig, they also cause natural hair to frizz and tangle. Particularly popular with Afro-textured hair, twists involve dividing hair into several sections, twisting them into strands, then twisting two strands around each other. Remember to make the twists small to avoid creating bumps under your wig!
3.
Plaits
Plaits are one of the best ways to hide hair under a wig. Although plaits, or braids, aren’t as flat as other styles, they protect your natural hair and allow for much easier access to your scalp for cleaning and moisturising. Here’s how to achieve the look for both medium-length and long hair.
For medium-length hair:
- Divide your hair into two equal sections and plait each
- One at a time, bring each plait up to the top of your head like a crown or a halo
- Secure with pins
For long hair:
- Tie your hair into a ponytail at the crown of your head
- Divide your hair into four equal sections and plait each
- Wrap one plait around your head, about an inch from your hairline
- Secure with pins
- Repeat for the next two plaits, wrapping each behind the rows of the previous plait
- Wrap the final plait into a spiral that ends at the base of the original ponytail
Top tip: When braiding your hair, keep the plaits small to minimise lumps under your wig.
4.
Cornrows
Cornrows are one of the best ways to hide thick or Afro-textured hair under a wig. They create a flatter surface than braids, so your hair is less bumpy under a wig. This style is great for short to medium-length hair, but can be achieved with most lengths. To get the look, divide your hair into small sections from front to back and tightly plait the whole length.
Conceal Natural Hair with Simply Wigs
Now that you’re a pro at wearing a wig over your natural hair, you could go one step further and read our blog on how to secure your wig. We also have plenty more articles offering wig care inspiration, as well as a wide range of spectacular wigs over on our website.
If you have any questions about wearing wigs or would like support in choosing a wig that suits you, please don’t hesitate to contact our friendly wig experts.
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