Lace wigs aren’t just for celebrities anymore. Although many women buy lace wigs online and in stores, there are not always enough qualified and affordable stylists to apply them. Some women prefer to apply the wig at home for privacy reasons, while others do not want to pay for what they can do themselves. Whatever the reason, here is a simple step-by-step guide to applying a lace wig.

Preparation Application

Before applying any type of lace wig, you need to purchase the proper supplies and prep your own hair. Supplies include:

1 lace front wig

1 skin tone wig cap or Ace bandage (optional)

1 set of tweezers

Salon quality cutting scissors

Bonding agent (glue or tape)

Multiple hair clips and bows

isopropyl alcohol

protective skin

If you use glue:

powder makeup

Q tips

Suggested but not required:

Knot sealer product, that is, seal the knot

Spray Lace Cap Protector i.e. TDI Lace Cap Protector

Once you have all your supplies, you are ready to prepare your own hair. You will need to wash and condition your own hair before installing the lace wig. To keep your hair healthy and your scalp free from itchiness, a good wash and deep conditioner is suggested. Make sure your hair is completely dry and moisturized. If you have damaged hair or split ends, a trim is also recommended. One of the main reasons for wearing a lace wig is to promote healthy hair while also having versatility.

After cleaning your hair and performing any of the suggested hair treatments, you have 2 options. Some women choose to wear a skin tone wig cap under their lace wig for added security, while others simply brush their hair back and then apply it. If you choose to wear the wig cap, make sure it matches your skin tone. You can braid your hair under the cap or just wrap it.

A great idea to create an even more realistic looking scalp is to apply the Ace bandage. The Ace Bandage is a very inexpensive sports bandage for muscle injuries that can be purchased at your local pharmacy. It sticks to itself so no glue or tape will be applied to your hair or scalp. The texture of the bandage gives it a rough appearance that mimics the appearance of the scalp under the lace front wig. It should simply be wrapped around the head, either on top of a normal wig cap or directly on the hair. Be sure to clean your hairline with rubbing alcohol and let it dry completely.

If you decided to buy the suggested products, your wig will last much longer than others. The knot sealant helps prevent the lace wig from shedding during regular brushing and styling. Spray the product inside the lace wig cap. Let it dry and then gently pat dry. Next, apply the lace cap protector. This will keep your lace wig cap strong and last longer. Since lace wears down over time, this is a great way to protect your lace front wig cap. Spray the inside of the wig cap being careful not to get directly on the hair. Spray lightly so that the product does not soak into the lace wig cap. Once dry, apply a second coat. Let it dry completely for at least an hour. You are now ready to start applying the wig.

A lace front wig has lace around the front perimeter of the hair from ear to ear. Depending on the lace wig you buy, it can be ear-to-ear stretch lace or straight lace. It is suggested that you purchase a French lace wig as Swiss lace is extremely delicate and must be applied professionally.

First, apply the skin protectant to your own hairline. While you allow this to dry, prepare the lace front wig. Pull all of your hair up into a ponytail or bun. Any hair that falls close to the hairline or layered hair should be clipped back. When applying the wig, you don’t want the hair to fly in the way or on any bonding material.

Then adjust the lace wig to your head. This is the time when you will want to look at it from all angles and play around with the lace wig to make sure it is perfectly positioned to your liking. Next, you need to cut the cord. Make sure you don’t cut too close yet, as you’re just looking at the position. When cutting, leave approximately 1 ΒΌ inches of lace remaining.

If the hairline of the lace wig is too thick, please take out the clips. A thick hairline rarely looks natural and needs to be altered to adjust the density. Slowly epilate one strand of hair at a time. Make sure you don’t pluck too many hairs from the same row or section. After every few strands, go back and see if the density of the hairline is improving. This process should take some time. Once the hair is removed, it can only be professionally reinstalled.

After adjusting the hair and fixing the hairline, you are now ready to apply your bonding agent and finish cutting the cord. Now that you are sure of the position and have removed all the hair you want from the hairline, you can cut the remaining cord. This cut should be as close to the hairline as possible without cutting into the hair of the lace wig.

To attach, keep your tweezers out if you’re using tape. If you are using long strips of tape, 2 should be enough, while 4 strips should be used if you have the shorter regular tape. Gently flip the hairline of the lace wig back so the inside is exposed.

Next, look at the area to be engraved. If you apply the 4 shorter stripes, you should aim for both temples and above both eyebrows. Most tapes have 2 sheets of peel-off paper. Remove the first sheet by hand and apply. The next sheet can be removed with the tweezers so as not to stick your hands to the tape. This will ease any frustration and accidentally ruining the tape. Follow this method on the rest of the tape lace wig hairline. Once all of the tape has been applied, readjust the placement so that when you go back down the hairline, you can press down. Press down on your hairline and run your finger over each strip of tape to tighten the seam.

If you are using glue to apply your lace front wig, the steps are very similar. Follow the same steps until you flip the hairline of the lace wig back. After flipping the hairline of the lace wig back, apply a thin layer of glue close to the natural hairline. Allow this to dry completely for about 2-3 minutes. On the lace wig cap, apply the tape in the same way as above. Using tape in addition to glue helps keep the lace wig flat and gives it extra hold. Once the glue is dry on the hairline, press down the hairline of the lace wig after removing the remaining paper tabs from the tape.

With glue, you may see a minor shine on the scalp. First, be sure to remove any excess glue before attempting to reduce the shine of the glue. Take a cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol and gently rub it over the glue. For minor glue stains, this should loosen the bond and be easy to remove. Once the hairline is dry, you can apply a pressed powder to reduce the shine of the glue.