Things I Need to Make a Lace Front Wig
Whether you need to hide hair loss or genetically thin hair -- or you want to play with hairstyles and colors -- wearing a lace front wig is the most natural way to achieve a beautiful head of hair without surgical intervention. The lace is a fine mesh covered with hand-knotted hair that is virtually invisible when worn. Lace front wigs can be parted and worn in almost any style. You can make your own lace front wig using supplies and instructions from companies specializing in wig making. Does this Spark an idea?
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Wig and Hair-Weaving Cap
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The mesh or lace wig cap should be custom-made or sized to fit. It allows lace to be attached to the front and sides of the cap for a natural look.
Wig-Making Head Block
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The head block is a Styrofoam or padded, head-shaped mannequin set on a base. The easiest head blocks to use allow the head to tilt at various angles as you attach and knot the hair. The wig cap and lace front is secured to the head block using T-pins.
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Lace
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French, German or Swiss lace, three types of almost transparent mesh specifically made for lace front wigs, are the choices available for the base of the wig. The lace is used near the natural hairline on the forehead. French lace is sturdier, requires less maintenance and comes in more colors than Swiss lace. German lace is the strongest but may need to be tinted to match your complexion.
Hair
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Unprocessed or processed human hair, synthetic hair or a blend can be used in the lace front wig. Real hair looks most like your own hair and is more expensive than synthetic hair. It can be washed, colored, permed and styled, even with curling irons and electric rollers. Synthetic hair requires less care, but can’t be colored or styled with heat.
Hackle and Drawing Cards
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A hackle consists of a base with multiple rows of pointed needles that is bolted to the table and used to blend different shades of hair strands, or for straightening hair. The hair is held in a bundle and repeatedly drawn through the hackle’s needles until the hair is blended.
Drawing cards, also known as holding cards, are leather straps with rows of short pins bent parallel to the strap. They are often used in pairs to hold the hair while the wig maker ventilates the wig. The hair is placed on the bottom card and another card is snapped onto the top.
Tools
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You will need T-pins to hold the wig cap to the head block and professional 5 1/2-inch stainless steel cutting shears to trim the cap, lace and finished wig. To ventilate (attach and knot) the hair, you’ll need ventilating needles with a holder, curved needles and crochet hooks. For attaching the wig to your head, get special wig tape or adhesive, or sew clips to the underside of the wig using hair thread.
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References
- Photo Credit Jemal Countess/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images
