You might have seen it advertised and not known why or how to use wig tape. Have you ever seen those little shiny bits on the inside of your wig and wondered what they’re for? They’re silicone strips or patches, and they help your wig cling to your scalp. But you can add to your sense of security with a bit of wig tape, amongst its other uses. Let’s take a look at what wig tape is, how to apply wig tape and how to use wig tape both traditionally and in alternative ways.
What is Wig Tape?
Wig tape is a double-sided, medical-grade sticky tape that is safe to use on your skin. It comes in different strengths and shapes, from strips to small dots, in rolls or singles.
If you already have silicone strips or patches at the side of your wig, where it sits in front of your ears, you can add a bit of wig tape to each side to ensure it never budges, even in high winds.
If you don’t have silicone inside your wig, did you know you can buy silicone sheets? You can just cut a small piece and sew it into the inside of your wig and abracadabra, a place to stick your wig tape and keep your wig 100% secure!
How to Use Wig Tape
1. When applying wig tape, ensure the areas you intend to put the tape on are clean so that the tape can stick to your skin correctly.
2. Cut as many wig tape strips as you need to cover the sections you want to secure, whether that is just the sides of the wig or other areas you feel may need some extra security.
3. Peel one side of the wig tape and place it onto the silicone in the areas you would like to secure.
Top Tip – Just remember when placing your tape that the wig needs to be taped to your skin for it to stay nice and secure for the whole day.
4. When you are ready to put the wig on, peel away the other side of the tape and try to avoid touching it as you slowly and gently put your wig on. If you need any advice on how to put on a wig, please check out our guide!
5. Finally, when you are happy with where your wig is positioned, apply pressure to where the tape is and voila! You’re ready to go.
How to Remove Wig Tape
Now that you know how to use wig tape, you should know how to take it off. At Simply Wigs, we always recommend taking your wig off at the end of the day so it stays fabulous for as long as possible. Wearing a wig for a longer length of time is quite different from popping a wig on and off at the start and end of the day, so be sure to get some advice if you plan on wearing your wig for a more extended period of time.
The easiest way to remove wig tape is to use a solvent or alcohol-based adhesive remover. Using a cotton ball dipped in the solvent or alcohol, gently dab along the hairline where the tape lies to release the adhesion. Slowly lift your wig until the tape releases easily. Don’t force it – if it’s still sticking, keep going with the adhesive remover until it comes loose.
Once your wig is off, you can use the adhesive remover to remove any leftover sticky bits from your skin. A microfibre towel will help get any residue from the inside of your wig. We recommend showering and moisturising after doing this so that there is no residual adhesive remover on your skin or hair.
To be extra clean, follow our guides to washing human hair or synthetic fibre wigs!
Taping a Lace Front Wig
Did you know that lace front wigs can be glued or taped for extra security too? You can use a special type of wig tape or glue to stick the lace front tightly to your forehead – these are often non-shiny, so they can’t be seen through the lace. This is a job where some professional guidance may be needed, though.
How to use wig tape in alternative ways:
1. Securing low-cut outfits
Ever heard of body tape? This is how those A-listers manage to wear low-cut outfits without risking wardrobe malfunctions. Because wig tape is medical grade and therefore shouldn’t cause a skin reaction, you can use it to hold low-cut clothing in the right place, however much dancing you do!
2. Wrapping presents
We know, using wig tape is a rather expensive way of wrapping up your Christmas presents! But for the occasional present where you need the tape to be invisible, a dab of wig tape is just the job!
3. Stopping a blouse from gaping
Often buttoned shirts and blouses gape just where you don’t want them to. A long-term fix is to sew some small poppers to the inside of the placket, between the buttons. But if you haven’t yet got around to doing that, a bit of wig tape can save the day!
We hope you now feel more confident in how to use wig tape. If you’re curious to learn about other methods for securing a wig, please check out our suggested solutions to secure a wig. Alternatively, you can always head back to the Simply Wigs online wig shop to check out our fabulous collection!
Any ideas on what to do on a hot day when the adhesive tape simply won’t peel?
Hi Linda
I’m really sorry to hear you’re having such a hard time, it must be very difficult for you. A few suggestions which might help…
Getting wigs to fit – have you tried a petite cap wig? They are smaller than the standard sizes, and with the extra adjustment from the tabs at the back that might make it small enough to fit comfortably. You can also buy a grippy band which goes around your head and helps the wig to have something to grip onto.
Hats etc – there are a range of headscarves and turbans available and I would imagine the grippy band would work with them too
Mascara – a lot of use false eyelashes. They take a bit of practice to get used to them but there are some very light, realistic ones available now. Just remember to trim them down to fit your eyelids as unless you have large eyes they’ll probably be too long!
Who to turn to – there are support groups through Alopecia UK which you might be interested in. More immediately, the lovely team at Simply Wigs will be very happy to talk to you about the options, have a look at the contacts on the website and call or email – they’re all really helpful and sympathetic. Simply Wigs sell all of the options I mentioned above and their team will be able to talk you through them
Hope that helps, and keep your chin up my lovely
Lizzie xx
Hi this is the first time I have seen this I lost all my hair about 18months ago and then all my body hair eye lashes and eye brows I have not had good experiences with wigs I have now bought a real hair wig but as I am a small lady I am hinking about having one made to fit me I have looked into this a bit and found that they are very expensive to go to London they start at £4,000 pounds which I just can’t afford anybody got any ideas I am finding having no hair hats do not fit it all seems so difficult and you just do not know who or where to go to get help my doctor was less than useless people just do not understand how demoralising it is I can’t even where makeup very well I have had eyebrow tattoos but can’t where mascara as I have not lashes Help.
Haha you ladies do make me chuckle! I never thought of using wig tape to guide eyeliner application, or indeed to deal with squabbling children!
Lizzie xx
This is brilliant, Lizzie! I absolutely loooove this! I use wig tape not As wig tape….
I use it to hold the baggy tops to my chest…… I use it to help do winged eye liner……….. I said one day to my kids who were arguing “I’ll stick you two together with double sided tape” producing wig tape to show them!?! (No idea why I thought this would be funny or even realistic) x
I love this x
You emhave made my day, honey x. Xx
I love this article Lizzie. I laughed out loud, about your hem tape comment :). I am wearing a pinafore dress today, which fastens at the shoulder with buttons, The material was sticking up, so back to the old faithful wig tape, to flatten it down. Hands up for multi-functional wig tape ! 🙂 xx