How to Make Wigs Look Natural for Beginners: 11 Tricks

You’ve bought your first wig. 

Now that’s great. A wig can completely change your look without committing to a haircut or color. 

But beginners struggle with just one thing: how do you make a wig look as natural as your own hair?

We’ve all been there, and none of us want our wigs to look like Barbie’s hair.

Let’s walk through how to make wigs look natural for beginners, and along the way, we’ll cover essentials such as choosing the right wig and the best way to make a synthetic wig look naturally good.

1. Choose the Right Wig

First, we begin with choosing the right wig for your head, which is the first step towards achieving a natural look. 

• Choose a wig similar to the density of your hair. 
• Make sure the wig’s color matches your hair, or go with a wig with a different color that fits your skin tone.
• Decide on the style and length of your wig.
• Set a budget for your wig: a premium one that requires extra care or an affordable one with less care required. 

Here are some popular wigs that beginners can style easily:

HD Lace Wigs

HD lace front wigs are the most natural-looking wig type for your head, far better than synthetic ones. It is a Swiss lace wig made with ultra-thin, high-definition lace material that looks like it grows from the scalp undetectable against the skin.

HD lace wigs are available in a variety of lengths and textures. However, they are pricier due to their advanced materials and will require a bit of extra care. 

Bob Wigs

An affordable option for beginners is a bob wig, which is low-maintenance. A bob wig falls between the chin and shoulders and is shorter in length. 

Bob wigs are timeless fashions with less tangling and are easy to style when compared to longer wigs. Unlike longer wigs that require regular styling and upkeep, a bob wig maintains its shape and style. 

2. Right Wig Size

Here’s how to make sure your head fits right with the wig cap:

• Circumference of your head: Wrap a measuring tape around your forehead, going over the tops of your ears and around the back of your neck. Most adults have a head size between 21.5″ and 23″.
• Nape of Your Neck: Start the measuring tape behind one ear and wrap it around the back of your neck until it reaches the other ear.
• Front to Back of Your Head: Place one end of the measuring tape at one te­mple and wrap it around the back of your head to measure for wig hair fitting, but do not include the nape of your neck measurement and stop the tape at the other temple.  

Your wig might be too tight, causing discomfort, or too loose, making it prone to slipping. So, be sure to get one that fits you well.

3. Customize for a Realistic Look

After choosing the right wig type, it’s time to change your wig’s hair to make your fake wig’s hairline look real.

• Trimming: If you want to customize the front lace wig, you’ll need to trim the excess lace for a natural look to the wig. We recommend trimming the excess lace off the wigs while cutting small sections at a time to avoid cutting too much lace.
• Plucking the hairline: Pluck a few strands of hair from the wig’s hairline, using tweezers and be gentle while avoiding overplucking to create a more realistic hairline by focusing on thinning out the hairline around the temples and edges to mimic the irregular pattern of natural hair growth.

Alternatively, you can opt for a Nadula HD lace wig, a Nadula bob wig, or another style with slight tailoring of the hairline of the wig to look natural.

4. Reduce Shine on Synthetic Wigs

Synthetic wigs have shiny fibers, as you may have noticed. A synthetic wig looks better if the shine is reduced.

To reduce the shine of your fake wig, apply some dry shampoo or talcum powder to the wig. Simply focus on areas that appear more shiny. Gently rub or shake the wig to distribute the powder evenly and absorb any excess shine. 

5. Baby Hair

Styling your baby’s hair makes your wig look natural. Here’s how to achieve that flawless finish:

• Start with a small section of hair near the edge of the wig around the temples, and trim those sections to a shorter length than the rest of the wigs to make the synthetic wig look real. 
• Use a small amount of gel to apply to those trimmed hairs to give them a natural vibe. 
• To create a wispy vibe, use a fine-tooth brush or toothcomb to style the baby’s hair.

6. Color your roots

Shaded roots feature a darker tone at the root that gradually lightens as it moves away from the scalp. This coloring technique adds depth and realism to your wig, mimicking natural hair growth.

For a more daring look, you can choose colored roots. Bright colors can add a trendy twist to your wig.

Choose a wig with shades or colored roots that match your skin tone. It’s important to make the wig look like it’s growing from your scalp.

7. Bleach the Wig Knots

When you look closely at a lace wig, you’ll notice tiny knots where each strand is secured. Though necessary for construction, these knots often reveal that you’re wearing wigs.

Bleaching the knots can make them less visible, resulting in a more natural-looking wig. Start by mixing a bleaching powder and developer. Apply this mixture to the underside of your wig, focusing on the lace areas. Use a brush to distribute it evenly, but remember, a little goes a long way.

Leave it on for about 15-20 minutes, but keep an eye on the color change. Rinse it off, condition it, and let it dry. Your knots are now less noticeable, making the wig look more natural.

8. An imperfect parting

An imperfect parting can add an element of realism to your wig. Nobody has perfectly parted hair all the time, so why should your wig? In fact, a slightly messy parting can give your wig a more natural, lived-in appearance. This style conveys an effortless look as if you simply woke up looking like this.

• V-part: allows your natural parting and hairline to be the focus. Plus, it requires less styling because there is little leave-out.
• Middle-parting: works well for round-shaped faces.
• Deep side-parting: looks great on heart-shaped faces.

Play around with different parting styles like a zig-zag, side, or middle part with a few stray hairs to find out your signature style.

9. Blend with makeup!

Using makeup, you can seamlessly transition between your skin and the wig to make it look more natural. Lightly dust some powder on the wig’s hairline to help it blend better with your complexion. Using a powder that matches your skin tone will give the illusion that the wig is part of your natural hairline.

You can also use an eyebrow pencil or eyeshadow to fill in any gaps on the wig’s hairline, making it appear fuller and more real-looking.

10. Tame away the poofiness

Many wig wearers can attest to the struggle of dealing with an overly voluminous wig. But we’re here with all the right tips to help you manage this.

• Less is more. Backcombing or teasing your wig excessively may create unwanted volume. Rather than brushing your wig, try using a wide-toothed comb to distribute the fibers evenly.
• A wig spray can help you tame any flyaways while balancing volume. Make sure you spray from a distance to avoid over-saturation.
• If your wig is heat-friendly or a human hair wig, use a flat iron on the lowest temperature setting to press down the poofiness lightly.

11. Try a half-updo

It’s the best of both worlds – the grace of an updo and the allure of free-flowing locks.

Half updos are versatile and look good on anyone. Start by pulling your hair’s front section back into a loose ponytail or bun. Let the rest of the hair fall naturally for a chic, effortless look that enhances the wig’s natural appearance.

Make the ends a little loose and wavy for extra glamour and to help it resemble real hair more closely. Despite its simplicity, it can instantly change your look. It’s okay if you don’t get it right the first time. Practice makes perfect. Keep trying, you’ll only get better with time.

Wig Maintenance Tips

• Wash the wig with shampoo every 7 to 10 uses.
• Gently detangle using a wide-tooth comb or wig brush and begin combing from the ends of your hair to the way up.
• Keep more than one wig, so it is easy to take care of your wigs and maintain their natural look instead of using one wig for every use.
• Use mild and sulfate-free products for wigs to prevent damage.

Bottom line

Wearing a wig is an incredible experience, but it is often the challenge of making it look natural that can leave you feeling self-conscious. Blending, styling, and personalizing your wig are key to slaying that natural, effortless look. Following these tips, you now know how to make wigs look natural.