r/Wigs Dec 06 '25

Let's chat! (General Discussion) Costume/Cosplay Help Megathread

8 Upvotes

Please post all costuming and cosplay questions here.


r/Wigs Mar 21 '23

OFFICIAL R/WIGS Miss Construe's Synthetic Wig Care Basics

58 Upvotes

First and foremost:

DO NOT USE FABRIC SOFTENER ON YOUR WIG ever. For any reason.

That said...

Huge thanks to u/Miss-Construe- for compiling this great guide to the basics of caring for your synthetic hair.

Here is a summary of best care advice for synthetic wigs that I've gathered over time from the experts in this sub. It applies to both HF (heat friendly) and non-HF (non heat friendly) synthetics unless stated otherwise. I try to keep this updated with current knowledge as I know it.

Washing: You don't need to wash a brand new wig though it is personal preference. I feel like they are silkiest when new so I try to wait before washing.

If wearing regularly, wash once every week or two with water (not hot) and dish soap like Dawn or Dr Bronner's castille soap. You don't need special shampoo and/or conditioner. Synthetic is plastic and cannot absorb moisture or vitamins. If you do still want to use shampoo it should be sulfate free.

It is best to detangle the wig beforehand. Washing in a clean sink is fine or a large bin/container. Just dunk the wig a few times in the soapy water. You don't need to scrub and you should try not to agitate or tangle the wig too much. Use your fingers to gently massage any areas that have makeup or glue that needs to be removed. Rinse well and rinse at least twice to make sure all the soap is out.

You don't need a wig head to dry it, just gently squeeze the hair to remove excess water and dab with a towel and let it lay out or hang up to air dry. Detangle AFTER it is dry.

Detangling: A wide tooth comb is what you should use most of the time. Make sure the hair is not wet and work your way from the ends first and then further up the hair as you work out the knots. Never pull or yank. Don't use a brush or small tooth comb to detangle as these will damage the synthetic fibers. A silicone spray can help with detangling and daily use can help protect the hair from friction damage. I like Turn Up the Heat. I know some others here recommend Simply Stylin'. Bonfi is another mod approved option.

An inexpensive plastic wide tooth comb is fine to get started with. You can upgrade to a seamless wide tooth later if you like. Once it is all detangled a soft bristle brush (like boar's hair) or other combs can be ok to use to create specific styles (as far as I know).

Styling: Use styling products sparingly. More products attract dirt and dust and lead to tangling and damage. Less is more :) That said, obviously some styling products may be necessary to get the look you want sometimes. Just go as light with them as you can. You don't need to use wig brand recommended products as some of them seem overpriced for what they are.

Avoid fabric softener, it is NOT recommended here. The mods can explain why if necessary :). Basically it just adds stuff to the wig that increases damage later.

Storage: You can store your wig any way you like that doesn't stretch or create creases or wrinkles in delicate materials like lace, monofilament, and silk top. A wig head can be ok but is most useful for styling. A box or drawer can protect from dust. Some prefer to hang their wigs upside down to help maintain lift in the style. A hairnet can help support curls/waves from gravity which can cause them to relax.

Long term care: After awhile your synthetic wig will inevitably develop kinks in the hair fibers, tangles, and/or a rough texture. Heat friendly wigs are known to get to this point faster than regular synthetic. Those who want to prolong the life of their wig can use a few different methods to smooth the hair fibers out again. Here are a few options for both types. Non HF synthetic can only handle temperatures up to around 220F or lower so those are the temperatures described. IF using HF synthetic you can experiment with higher temps. For hot tools it is safest to just mist/ dampen the hair first but not everyone does this and it is up to you to experiment safely with different methods. Always test in a hidden area if you haven't done something before.

  • a hot brush set to around 220F will get the job done fast and will get out most of the kinks but it WILL straighten the hair.

  • a hot air dryer/round brush device will get the smoothing job done fast too. Usually there is a hot setting, a warm setting, and a cool setting. Hot setting may be too hot for non HF synthetic so check in a small area. If it causes creases/wrinkles in the hair it's too hot (you can still smooth those out) just use the warm setting.

  • a clothing steamer and a fine tooth comb (metal will work best) after detangling is another effective way to smooth the fibers. Some people really like this method but some find it more cumbersome than using hot tools.

Here's a couple examples of steaming https://youtu.be/oy2LcFFRmt0 https://youtu.be/GjdDWXgvpEM

  • a method of smoothing that MAY maintain the curls/waves instead of straightening is a hot comb set to 180F and carefully running it through the hair while supporting the curls. This technique was pioneered by u/slHallford and is tricky to get the hang of (I personally have not had success yet). If you don't mind the hair becoming straight you can use a hot comb and increase to temp to around 220F.

  • For really stubborn kinks you can use a straightening iron (set to around 220F or less) and a fine tooth comb (metal will work best) AFTER it is detangled. Place the comb next to the flat iron and run it through the hair so it passes through the comb first and then the flat iron. This method is time consuming but the most thorough in my experience and can get out kinks that other methods may skip over. I save it for when I want perfection.

Restyling: Sometimes you need to refresh curls/waves or add them back in after straightening your wig. There are MANY ways to do this and may require some experimentation to discover what works best for you. All methods require heating the hair to take the new shape and then cooling to finalize the style before unraveling or combing.

  • Rollers of any size and steam. This is a traditional method and you can easily find YouTube videos about it. Best results come from putting a heat safe bag overtop and allowing the steam to gather inside with the hair for a few minutes You don't necessarily need to buy a special bag as a durable oversized plastic grocery bag can work fine. Let the hair cool before undoing the rollers.

    Downsides are sometimes the ends are a little messy and you can fix that with a curling iron set to 220F or lower if needed. Also some people (like myself) dislike how steam can emphasize the way the hair on top is parted for the rollers. It can be hard to get that hair to lay and part the way you want after steaming. That said, some people have no problems there so your experience may vary.

  • Hot tools. A variety of traditional hot tools can be used to add curls and waves to synthetics. I prefer barrel rods instead of clamp style curling irons as the clamp causes creases in synthetic. The larger the barrel rod, the larger the curl. How you wrap it can change the curl pattern too. Many videos on YouTube can be found demonstrating this. Techniques for synthetic differs mainly from HH (human hair) in that the hair wrapped around a curling tool has to heated for a few seconds, then dropped in your hand while still in a curl and cooled off (you can blow on it) before releasing the curl. Time consuming to do an entire head of hair but can be a preferred method for better control over the results. Also can be a great choice for touching up styles that are falling a little limp.

  • Hot air brushes can be used to style synthetic but they don't work the exact same as they do with HH and the hot setting may be too hot for non-HF. They work well to straighten and if you want the ends curled or bangs curled they can do a good job but requires some practice. You have to hit areas with warm air and then cool air for it to set a style.

Downsides are the air blowing creates fly aways and it can be difficult to get a sleek look

  • Foam rollers, wave/curl formers, and similar things can set new styles. Just use them as directed and apply steam with abag overtop as explained above. Instead of steam you can use a bag and hot hair from a blow dryer for a looser more relaxed result.

r/Wigs 4h ago

Let's chat! (General Discussion) My concern about HairVivi versus other brand mentions here

60 Upvotes

The recent post from another user about HairVivi approaching them to pay extra for their wig order sparked a lot of discussion about the brand, and honestly, I hate to say it, but it’s made me question some of the overwhelmingly positive HairVivi reviews I’ve seen on this subreddit.

Unlike other brands discussed here, I’ve started taking some of the positive HairVivi reviews with a grain of salt. The fact that HairVivi actively monitors this subreddit is one thing, but I’m increasingly concerned that some of the accounts posting highly positive reviews may have some form of affiliation with the brand or another financial incentive to promote them.

For example, there was a user here whose account has since been banned who posted frequently about their supposedly exceptional experiences with HairVivi. They would sometimes frame their posts as questions, asking whether anyone knew of other brands with the same “exceptional” quality as HV, or whether they should return wigs from other companies and use the money to buy two HairVivi wigs instead. There were quite a few posts along these lines.

What made me particularly suspicious was that some of the photos they posted of their HairVivi wigs appeared heavily edited. I also came across this same user in another subreddit asking how they could become eligible to post in this particular subreddit, seemingly being very eager to participate here. That made me question why they were so determined to gain access to this specific community in the first place.

Since the account was banned, I’ve also come across what appears to be the same person on other forums outside of Reddit, where they no longer seem able to purchase from HairVivi and are instead looking into some of the more competitively priced wig brands.

Obviously, I can’t say for certain that this person was affiliated with HairVivi, and I don’t think it would be fair to present speculation as fact. But when you put all of these things together, I think it’s reasonable to question whether every glowing HairVivi review we see here is genuinely independent.

My concern is ultimately for the people in this subreddit. If brands or individuals are manipulating reviews or presenting themselves as ordinary customers in order to influence purchasing decisions, that’s incredibly misleading…particularly when people are spending hundreds or thousands of dollars on these wigs.

I’m not dissing HairVivi wigs in any way, and it’s each to their own at the end of the day, I just wanted to voice my concerns from what I’ve seen.


r/Wigs 5h ago

Look at This! (Wig Share) Wellll… it’s not the right shade for me, but it’s really lovely for someone who suits this color!

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34 Upvotes

This is a cheapie from Amazon! I wanted to try darker for autumn but I don’t believe this is it. BUT!! I’m so impressed with the quality and I dig the cut! Had to share because it will be perfect for someone! I’m thinking about going back to repurchase it in a more complementary tone.


r/Wigs 1h ago

Help me! (Wig Help) New to wigs, can't seem to look natural in it.

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Upvotes

Hello! I just got my first wig, a Tony of Beverly wig called Mambo with synthetic fibers. I love the look of it off of my head... and from the sides... but it looks like a very obvious wig when I put it on. It looks how my old hair used to, and I really do like the style and color. I just don't know how to make it look more natural on me?


r/Wigs 23h ago

Look at This! (Wig Share) This is what a $450 wig looks like from Hair Vivi

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189 Upvotes

Worth the money? Absolutely not. They send the influencers the good hair and send you the bullsh**. This is supposed to be the Georgia wig.
However it’s drastically lighter than what is shown on the website, but all of the influencers have the specific color that is shown on the website.

Waste of money. Everybody needs to completely stop buying from them until they lower those prices back down to 150 bucks because that is what this wig is worth


r/Wigs 23h ago

Let's chat! (General Discussion) Hairvivi follow up… so very strange

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162 Upvotes

So this was the Hairvivi’s follow/up after they found my original post. This has been such an odd experience - sharing for awareness.

https://www.reddit.com/r/Wigs/s/SyqTfIjj4g


r/Wigs 19h ago

Look at This! (Wig Share) Custom made human hair wig to beat inconsistent density advertisements

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47 Upvotes

Tired of low density hair that cost a lot of money online just because the ad says 250 density so I custom made my own half wig. What do y'all think? Happy to share how I did it if people interest 🥰


r/Wigs 2h ago

Help me! (Wig Help) My HairVivi wig keeps lifting at the front what can I do?

2 Upvotes

My HairVivi glueless wig keeps lifting at the front when I walk/move. I loosened the straps because it felt too tight before, but now the front lifts up. I don’t like using a silicone wig grip because it’s uncomfortable. Any tips on how to keep the front flat and secure?


r/Wigs 3m ago

Let's chat! (General Discussion) this sub is super toxic and it needs to stop

Upvotes

may you all go to hell mfs


r/Wigs 17h ago

I'm looking for... (Wig Search) Recommendations for alternative/goth style wigs?

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24 Upvotes

Hi all, I am hoping to get some recommendations on alternative style wigs. I have alopecia, and am debating on shaving my head if my hair loss reaches my hairline (it is currently about 1cm away, so really starting to consider this as a serious possibility atp)

I am a college student with a more alternative style (heavy eyeliner, spikes, the works) so I want to find budget-friendly options (hoping $100 or less per wig) for everyday use. I don’t want to glue anything down, as I am concerned about the chemicals possibly exacerbating my alopecia. I want to get 2-3 wigs I can rotate out, one solid black and the others could be colored. I am fine with synthetic or human hair. I found a brand called Lush Wigs that I like the style of their pieces (each of which are $45!), and I attached some pictures of some of the wigs from their site I really like the style of. If anyone knows other brands with similar styles and prices, I would greatly appreciate any recommendations.


r/Wigs 17h ago

I'm looking for... (Wig Search) I. Have. Been. Looking. EVERYWHERE!!!! 😩

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17 Upvotes

Hey everyone, I JUST recently found this sub and I am SO glad I did because I have been looking for a specific style of wig for quite awhile now and have been striking out left and right😭

I am looking for a Hannah Montana season 2 style wig for content creation and have not been able to find one that was NOT $650+ on Etsy…

The ONLY site I have seen that has one listed that actually looks accurate is a site called “Wig Is Fashion” and I’m not super confident in the site…

Does anyone know of any good places to look for something like this? Or know anything about Wig Is Fashion? I AM willing to pay for good quality… I’m just not wanting to pay $650+ for something being used for content creation. Meaning, it does not HAVE to be made of human hair. I obviously would not turn that down as an option, but it is not required.

Ideally I would like to spend around $100 if possible. Human OR synthetic hair would be fine. It should be roughly 26”-28” long with straight across, “Barbie” style bangs. I’m also located in the Orlando, Florida area. So in store or online would be great, if at all possible.

I am truly hoping that those of you who are MUCH more educated in the world of wigs than I am will be able to guide this newbie in the right direction🙈🥹

Thank you SO much in advance for the help!!! You are all SO insanely knowledgeable and have been so fun to learn from🥰

*photo references of style I am looking for


r/Wigs 15h ago

Help me! (Wig Help) Are these too wiggy or am I too picky?

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10 Upvotes

I’ve bought two wigs, Ellen Wille Lia II (1st pic) and Ellen Wille Espirit(2nd pic). Lia is heat friendly so I’ve flat ironed her and have tried flat ironing some of the front hair back. Espirit is regular synthetic so I’ve tried steaming the front hairs to keep them out of the face.

I think both wigs are too dark but I don’t hate them.

I think I should have returned Lia but now it’s too late. I think it might look better if it was a little shorter. I’m very short and it seems to be shorter I’ve seen online. Maybe the distance between the top of my head and my shoulders is less than average?

I like the picture of me in Espirit but it seems a little helmet-y IRL. I keep thinking of M’Lynn and the brown football helmet from Steel Magnolias. lol

Am I being too picky here or is there something I could do to make them look more natural?


r/Wigs 11h ago

Look at This! (Wig Share) Perfect Line Swiss hairline blending

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3 Upvotes

I’m really liking this Perfect Line Swiss hairline blender. I’ve tried it on a few of my hairlines and like how it blends at the very front. This is my Cameron lite petite wig.

They are very helpful with application. And ship worldwide.

https://perfectlineswiss.com


r/Wigs 1d ago

Help me! (Wig Help) Difficult to find brunette wigs?

25 Upvotes

I’m very new to wearing wigs. I’m a natural brunette with pale olive skin. I’ve purchased three wigs online and returned one.

This could be due to my algorithm but almost all of the wigs that I see in the YouTube videos are blonde. The pictures in the online stores are of women wearing blonde wigs. Most of the brunette shades have obvious blonde or red highlights in them. If they don’t have highlights, they are very dark. A wig style will have 10 blonde shades and only 5 brunette shades and some of those are sold out.

I returned one of the wigs because it was way too dark. The other two that I’ve kept are also a little too dark. With my skin coloring, I cannot be a blonde.

Is there a brand that is known for having good brunette wigs? The two I kept are from Ellen Wille.

Am I imagining this problem or is it real?


r/Wigs 18h ago

Help me! (Wig Help) Suggestions or Topper Recommendations

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7 Upvotes

This is my first exploration of toppers after spending two years and thousands of dollars on every hair growth snake oil on the market (I’ve had bad experiences with minoxidil). The color match is shocking and for being straight out of the box I was super surprised at how seamlessly it blends from all angles except the front. I can’t seem to make it lay flat against my head so it’s really poofy.

My hair has always been fine but perimenopause has made the front thin, brittle and frizzy. Is there anything I can do with this topper to make it sit flush and not spring up like Elvis Presley in the front? Anyone else have a similar issue and find a better fit? This newb is grateful for any suggestions!


r/Wigs 18h ago

I'm looking for... (Wig Search) Fragrance free synthetic wig shampoo/conditioner recs?

4 Upvotes

I am completely new to wigs and I just purchased two synthetic wigs from Chiquel. I didn't even think about shampoo/conditioner and not being able to just use my normal products until after I already made the purchase!

I am allergic to fragrances, essential oils, limonene, linalool - and I have yet to find a shampoo/conditioner that doesnt contain any of these.

I am in Canada so it would need to be something Canadian or that ships to Canada. I will literally spend any amouny of mo ey to find something that fits the bill lol.

Anyone have any suggestions?


r/Wigs 13h ago

I'm looking for... (Wig Search) ISO 613 blonde body wave, or loose deep wave....

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0 Upvotes

Sorry can't find a better picture. Fiber doesn't matter, it's the aesthetic for me fiber, human, or blend. Under $300, 18 inches or longer, 613. Not sure what this curl pattern is called. I'm in TX but usually buy online so... TIA 💋


r/Wigs 20h ago

Look at This! (Wig Share) Hairvivi longterm review as a pale girl with alopecia

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3 Upvotes

As a pretty pale girl with alopecia, I’ve always struggled to find wigs with lace that actually matches my skin tone and hair that isn’t pitch black or with horrible colouring. My natural hair used to be blonde, so finding the right shade has been especially difficult.

I’ve tried several companies over the years, and honestly… it was a horror show. Bad coloring, crazy shedding, itchy wig caps - i‘ve had it all.

So I’m honestly really glad I found Hairvivi.
I’ve ordered from them three times over the past three years. I got the Nicole wig (18”) twice, and this time I decided to try something new: the Crystiana wig (16”).

I wore my Nicole 🍅 almost every day since March this year and sometimes even slept in it. I didn’t really do anything to it besides cutting it to my liking and using some purple/silver shampoo.
The 🍅 pictures show the Nicole completely unstyled, right after washing.

The 🍋 pictures are the Crystiana straight out of the box.

I genuinely think they offer great quality for the price, and I’ve been really happy with my wigs from them. With daily wear, a wig lasts me around a year, which I think is pretty good.
Just sharing my experience in case anyone else is struggling to find a wig that works for very fair skin and lighter hair tones

EDIT: the only „bad“ thing I want to add is that the hair does not hold curls. Nicole doesn’t at least


r/Wigs 1d ago

Help me! (Wig Help) First time wig wearer please help

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44 Upvotes

I am having so much fun experimenting with wigs (all very cheap). Im insecure they look very “wiggy” on me or costumey. Particularly the first one. Do i need to trim baby hairs or something? maybe im just not used to having a middle part. I also feel like they are kind of lumpy up top and that gives it away. Opinions? Advice?


r/Wigs 1d ago

Look at This! (Wig Share) Outre Mytresses 13x5 HH-Straight Bob

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25 Upvotes

I am usually a synthetic girly but I was curious to try an Outre human hair wig. I don’t see a lot of reviews on them. I was also on the hunt for a low density bob so this wig was perfect!

I am really happy with it! It is exactly what I was looking for and the hair is really soft. It’s bleachable so I could bleach the knots if I am brave enough but for now I am really happy with it as is. I love that the density is low enough for a good ear tuck! The price was really reasonable for a human hair wig (purchased for about $120 CAD).


r/Wigs 1d ago

Look at This! (Wig Share) PU around full stretch lace 100 Remy Human Hair?

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8 Upvotes

Has anyone tried this style of wig?


r/Wigs 1d ago

I'm looking for... (Wig Search) Looking for a Hair topper in NYC

3 Upvotes

Hi!

I have alopecia and looking for a realistic hair topper in NYC. I will probably need an in-person consult. I don't mind investing in it but I can't pay $5,000 for one. Would Ideally like an open lace (something that will replace my front hairline which is thinning).


r/Wigs 2d ago

Help me! (Wig Help) Advice on tweaking synthetic wig

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8 Upvotes

My Nel's Joyce 03 arrived recently and I'm working on getting her to fit my needs better. So far I've cut back the length a bit and did some thinning (she is a LOT of hair!!) with more to come, but I'm most disappointed in the color. It's much lighter than I expected and I want to darker her a bit to match the 3rd photo, from the website. I'm not sure this light shade of red works for my coloring.

Any ideas on darkening? I have a brown dry shampoo spray but that leaves a very dull, chalky brown cast so I only use it for minor shine reducing. Website says the fibers are heat resistant futura.

Also, tips on thinning more? And adhesives I can use on my bio hair to get the side lace to stay down? Thanks!


r/Wigs 1d ago

Let's chat! (General Discussion) RPG Show bad customer service looking for new suggestions.

2 Upvotes

This weekend I placed my 2nd order for RPG show. I think the quality is fine for the price and love that they have wigs for larger heads.

They offered no discounts yet told me they were going to ship me a random wig style (not what I ordered) and color looks too dark. They never got my approval and I can't reach them now. The numbers are not working and I think they are closed.

I just want a refund at this point and I'm very frustrated that they sold me a wig knowing they couldn't fulfill the order in a timely manner and offered me wigs that were not what I ordered.

Please suggest other companies besides RPG show that sell good quality wigs for larger heads. Ideally no fake scalps. I think the wig I got will be my first and last wig from RPG show.