Help with wig/fake hair

[William Blackheath]

Squire Mickey, I had the exact same idea!  I had grown my hair out, and by last summer it was to my shoulders and looked great.  But I had to cut it for job-hunting.  I kept what was cut, tied in a rubber band, for color and texture reference (my hair is extremely wavy).  I didn't know about weaves, clip-ons or falls, so I thought of cutting down a wig (I didn't want the extra bulk and heat retention on top of my head), and attaching it with an elastic band like Gypsylekat suggested.  But I wasn't sure if it was practical, so thank you for blazing the trail here!  I checked the web sites Lady De Laney and Dona Catalina posted, and I like the idea of the Magic Weave Clips.  Since they're designed to be layered, I could add to them until I reached the desired effect.  Also, since they're already sewn into a strip at the top, it seems that construction will go a lot faster.  Does anyone see any possible problems with this method?

Again, Mickey, many thanks.  This has been invaluable!  I'd like to see pictures also.

[gypsylakat]

wait a minute, synthetic hair with hot glue?

[Squire Mickey]

Could the loose hair be glued into a double fold bias tape & then sew the tape to the bandana? 

I agree with Taffy that gluing this to bias tape might work. Hot glue would probably be
best since it would bond with the fabric.
And we'd like to see pics of the finished products.

What do you ladies think about stich witchery? I am thinking that I will use the biased tape to secure the loose yaki hair and then use the sitch witchery to attach it to the headband. I am going to use a thin piece of fabric that I can wear inside of the various headbands/bandannas that I have so that I am not limited to just the one look,

[Lady Kathleen of Olmsted]

Having had worked with wigs for many years when at the Costume  Shop, I DO NOT RECCOMMEND using any kind of heat on Acrylic based wigs.

If the wig is animal or human, then some heat is appropriate.

[Squire Mickey]

Squire Mickey, I had the exact same idea!  I had grown my hair out, and by last summer it was to my shoulders and looked great.  But I had to cut it for job-hunting.  I kept what was cut, tied in a rubber band, for color and texture reference (my hair is extremely wavy).  I didn't know about weaves, clip-ons or falls, so I thought of cutting down a wig (I didn't want the extra bulk and heat retention on top of my head), and attaching it with an elastic band like Gypsylekat suggested.  But I wasn't sure if it was practical, so thank you for blazing the trail here!  I checked the web sites Lady De Laney and Dona Catalina posted, and I like the idea of the Magic Weave Clips.  Since they're designed to be layered, I could add to them until I reached the desired effect.  Also, since they're already sewn into a strip at the top, it seems that construction will go a lot faster.  Does anyone see any possible problems with this method?

Again, Mickey, many thanks.  This has been invaluable!  I'd like to see pictures also.

I looked at the clip in's as well at the beaty shop. I even had the girl take the bannaa clip out and looked at the mesh that the fake hair was sewn into.  I don't know, it just looked kind of "fake". Now, I know that it IS fake and all but, it also looked HOT. (and not in a good way). It did have layers and curls which I DID like, but it was also a much more expensive solution (around $35 for a decent one).

And your welcome. Here is a picture with a wig I WAS wearing. It was my kids halloween witch wig that I co opted and doctured up, but it give you the idea. The thought of wearing that during the heat of the fair season is not attractive! Also, it was too strawlike and too long...

[Squire Mickey]

Here is what I have so far

This will be the strip to wear under the bandana. Its mad of black linen.



Here is the length of real hair for a weave



I then cut it down and used fray check on the ends.



These are the longer synthetic hair sections. I am going to attache the weave strips with hot glue and then sew a stich or two in  them to secure them.
I Have no idea what to do with synthetic. I am going to try to make small little loops with yarn and tie them off and sew that into bias tape so that I can attach the tape to the black fabric.
I have to say that sounds like I am adding a bunch of steps that I may not have to...


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[Squire Mickey]

Ok, here is the first wave of "side hair" being applied



Here it is with 3 "layers" applied to the sides and 2 to the top.



Next I need to attach the long hair to run all the way down the back of my head and neck. Problem is that I do not have a sewing machine. Any ideas out there how to do this with out one? I am kicking around the idea of duct tape...

[Squire Mickey]

Ok, here is what it looks like with out the long pieces and before I get my wife to curl it for me...

[Taffy Saltwater]

Nice work!  I don't think you can curl artificial hair as it could melt, get terminally frizzy, or otherwise ruin the hair.

[Squire Mickey]

Nice work!  I don't think you can curl artificial hair as it could melt, get terminally frizzy, or otherwise ruin the hair.

Actually what you see in these images is the real hair. I have not yet added the artificial stuff yet!

[Sitara]

You can use heat on fake hair just don't use extremely hot things on it as it will melt.  Mild heat does make it shrink though so keep that in mind.  Here are some links you may find helpful.

Making wefts from loose hair
http://www.doctoredlocks.com/catalog/Tutorials-Making-Wefts/

Curling fake hair
http://www.doctoredlocks.com/catalog/Tutorials-DIY-Bits-and-Pieces-Curling-Synthetic-Fiber/

Hope this helps!

[Squire Mickey]

You can use heat on fake hair just don't use extremely hot things on it as it will melt.  Mild heat does make it shrink though so keep that in mind.  Here are some links you may find helpful.

Making wefts from loose hair
http://www.doctoredlocks.com/catalog/Tutorials-Making-Wefts/

Curling fake hair
http://www.doctoredlocks.com/catalog/Tutorials-DIY-Bits-and-Pieces-Curling-Synthetic-Fiber/

Hope this helps!

That is perfect. Thank you very much. I was thinking along those lines for making wefts (didn't know that is what they were called!)

The look that the first one came out is great for a more rough and ready pirate. I am  happy enough with the way that came out, but I have enough left over that I think that I want to try using a stretchy cotton headband, and attach the real hair to the back of the headband and the long synthetic hair to the front and run it over the top of my head. the sides are not really as necessary to match the original look I was going for in the 1st post.

[Squire Mickey]

Well, here is the finished product. Thanks for everyone's help!

[Taffy Saltwater]

Well, butter my butt & call me a biscuit!  That looks wonderful - good work & you rock long hair!

[LadyElizabeth]

That looks really great!  So happy to see it worked out for you!