★ Get Your Cute New Wig Into The Right Size ★
Have you ever purchased a new wig only to discover that it does not fit? As someone with a tiny head, I understand this sensation. The wig ends up blocking my ears and making me appear ridiculously large. It is quite disappointing. What if I told you that you could easily fix this with just a needle and thread?
By removing the wefts in front and rear of the ear tabs or inserting a piece of elastic in the back of the ear, you may make your wig larger or smaller. In this manner, you may tailor whatever wig you have to the size of your head.
If you're like me and have a small head, you may discover that the wigs you buy are too large. This isn't as visible if you have a wig with all-around bangs, but if you wish to reveal any area of your hairline or construct an up-do wig, the massive size is noticeable. Properly fitting wigs are also more comfortable, especially around the ears.
Check out our method to make your huge wig smaller and the perfect size for your head!
Tools
✦ Scissors (sharp) https://amzn.to/3DFS9AD
✦ Sewing Machine / Needle and Thread https://amzn.to/3UtY5Ub
✦ Wig Stand https://amzn.to/3T7B9ZM
✦ Needle https://amzn.to/3UtY5Ub
➊ Put On The Wig ➊
The first step is to put on the wig to get a sense of how big it is and where it seems to be huge on you. For me, wigs tend to be large all over, but especially around the forehead. As a result, the ear flaps rest on top of my ears rather than in front of them as they should.
Turn your wig inside out and get comfortable with the various pieces. Seams will run along the length of the fabric, connecting the rows of wefts.
➋ Flip It! ➋
We can look at the wig's inner workings look at the inner workings of the wig and tweak it now that we know where it feels huge on us. Turn the wig inside out and examine the construction.
Rows of wig wefts are stitched along elastic lines. The outside elastic on the front and rear of the ear tabs will be scrutinized. This is the place where any wig changes will be the least obvious.
➌ Clip The Seam ➌
The first thing we'll do is minimize the wig's front region so the ears sit where they should. Disconnect the ear tab at the spot where it is sewn to the front of the wig to do this. Snip down the seam until you reach the next horizontal cross seam.
I suggest using a seam ripper to avoid having to cut the real wig cap. Instead, you're severing the strands that hold the two components together. You can also use a razor blade, although they are more difficult to wield and are more likely to injure your fingers.
At the seam, there are two vertical rows of wefts. Cut those off, then stitch the wig back together, approximately half an inch overlapping the front seam and the ear tab.
➍ Removing ➍
You want to remove part of the wig wefts now that you've opened the seam so you may stitch the wig to reduce the size. Snip two rows of wefts parallel to the seam you just snipped. Take caution not to break the wig strands while doing so.
Remove the two weft lines and re-pin the area closed. Align the forehead area and the ear tab by approximately a half-inch to make that area smaller. Reconnect the ear tab with the same color thread as your wig (or a neutral-colored string that won't stick out). I like to stitch using a curved wig needle to avoid snagging the wig strands in the thread. If that's all you have, a straight sewing needle will suffice.
Try on your wig when you've done stitching everything up. Check the stitch to make sure the sewed area isn't visible from the outside, and make sure the ear tab lies in front of the ear. You should also consider whether the rear of the wig is still too large. If reducing the front of the wig already improves fit, you can ignore steps 5 and 6.
➎ Cutting ➎
Shortening the rear of the wig is a little easier because the weft lines are wider off and easier to see. Any modifications will also be less visible on the exterior of the wig, therefore you don't need to be as cautious with this section.
You want to detach the ear tab from the outside band behind it in the same way you did the front. If you want a cleaner finish, use a seam ripper to cut the threads, but you may alternatively clip the band around half an inch in the rear of the ear tab for a speedier technique.
➏ Remove and Sew Closed ➏
Remove the elastic band's first 2 sets of wefts. If you need to make the wig tighter, remove 3 or 4 threads as needed. I normally cut the elastic immediately below the second row, then the wefts next, and repeat. Pin the elastic band end to the bottom of the ear and stitch them together.
Use a thread that is the same color as your wig or a neutral hue (such as the color of the wig cap). Make careful to stitch them tightly in place since this region will have to expand somewhat when you put the wig on, and you don't want the thread to snap. It doesn't have to be particularly attractive because no one will see it when you're wearing the wig.
Most wigs will feature an elastic hook to aid with simple resizing. You may keep it in if you like, but I normally take it out because it's no longer necessary for my custom-sized wig.
When you're finished, try on the wig to ensure it fits properly. You can always take out more wefts if it's still too huge.
➐ Repeat ➐
All you have to do now is repeat the technique on the opposite side of the wig. Don't bother about making both sides as equal as possible. Nobody will notice if one side is a quarter-inch shorter than the other. If it fits and you're happy with how it feels, you've successfully modified your wig for a smaller head.
✦✦✦
And that's it! ♡
You are ready to wear that wig according to your size and feel comfortable with it. I hope this helps and see you next Monday!
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Disclaimer: Use your tips at your own risk, we always recommend contacting people that know and are professionals to help you with your wig.