WIG FACTS ...... The Crowning Touch to Your Feminine Persona
The correct choice and care of your wig is essential in your over-all presentation and femininity. It frames your face and has to maximize your feminine image, while blending in with the entire package. This section will offer information to help you make the right choices, and give some insite on the world of wigs.
PETITE .... 21" or Smaler
AVERAGE ....21.5" to 22.5"
LARGE CAP .... 22.5" and Larger
HOW TO MEASURE ...... Your over-all size may have little to do with your actual head size. Measure your head with a tape measure going around the forehead at the hairline, under the hair, behind the ears and around the nape of the neck. If this is too difficult to do by yourself, have someone help you.
FACT: 19 out of 20 Women can wear an average size wig, and that size accounts for 92% of all wig sales. Due to this fact, the choices available in the large and petite sizes are limited, as the manufacturers concentrate on filling the Average Line with selections. Most wigs have some sort of adjustment in the rear band, that will allow the fit to be fine-tuned. If a wig is too large, it can be taken in slightly, by making tucks, and sewing it with a needle and thread.
FACE SHAPE ...... Your face and head shape determine the factors to look for in picking out the right wig that will look the best on you.
To determine your face shape, you will need a few measurements. Hold a tape measure on the top of one of your cheekbones, and measure across to the other cheekbone. Now measure the widest part of your jaw line. Next measure across the widest part of your forehead, generally just above your brow line and below your hair line. Finally, run the tape measure from the tip of your hair line to the bottom tip of your chin.
OBLONG FACE.... Face is longer than wide.
Short to Medium lengths tend to look best.
Do soft, wispy bangs, and fullness at the sides of your face.
Don’t have too much hair length as it will elongate your face. So, when it hits your shoulders, bring it back up to chin level or just below.
For straight hair, you can create more width with bangs. Chin-length bobs and cuts are also ideal for you because they create the illusion of width. Curls & waves also add width, but avoid short layers that add volume on top. Avoid: Stay away from extremely long or short cuts. These elongate your face.
OVAL FACE ..... Face length is almost exactly 1 1/2 times longer than the width.
Almost any hairstyle will look great, as this is considered the Perfect Shape.
Don’t clutter your face with heavy bangs, or blow forward shags, otherwise your face will loose it’s shape, and will add weight to it.
This is the most versatile face. Many different styles will work for you, but no matter the length of your cut, you'll look best with layers near your cheekbones, lips or chin -- basically whatever feature you want to highlight. Avoid: Short layers that add heighth on top of your head. This will make your face appear long. If your hair is thick or curly, avoid a blunt cut. You'll look like a pyramid.
ROUND FACE .... Face is just about as wide as it is long.
The angel face, look for fullness and height at the crown.
Do layer your crown hair and keep the sides close to your face and slightly longer than chin length as in the popular "flip" style, or go for a short, sassy, swept-back styles.
Don’t wear chin length hair that is rounded like your face, since the more weight put around your ears will give your face that “full moon” look and make your face appear wider.
Your best bet are styles that fall right below your chin. Also, layers from the top down remove bulk and weight from the sides. Go for wispy and tapered ends. These de-emphasize the roundness of your face. Avoid: One-length, blunt cuts if you have short hair. These only emphasize your round face.
HEART FACE .... Wide cheekbones and/or forehead and narrow jaw.
Sweetheart and side-parted or chin-length and longer styles.
Do incorporate swept-forward layers with wispy bangs or go for the classic chin-length bob ..... your cheekbones are an asset.
Don’t go short and emphasize your upper face since it will make you look top-heavy, with a pointy chin.
Your eyes & cheekbones tend to be the focal points of your face so you'll want to draw attention to these features by keeping your top layers soft & long if you have short hair. Side-swept bangs can have the same effect. If you have long hair, go for long, wavy layers that graze your cheekbones. This will downplay a pointed chin. Avoid: Blunt-cut bangs and harsh, choppy layers.
SQUARE FACE .... Forehead and jaw line widths are close to equal.
Do add a little wave and part your hair off center, play with wispy layers around your face.....soften the look of your face!!!
Don’t go for long or “linear” hairstyles with center parts and straight bangs, a straight bob ending at your jaw line will just not be flattering. However if it ends above or below, and you add some height in your bangs or at the crown, you’d look stunning.
What looks best on you: face-framing layers, but short, spiky cuts look great also, as do long, sleek styles with layers that start at the jawline & continue downward. Avoid: One-length bobs (especially chin-length) and blunt-cut bangs. These will make your face look even more square.
DIAMOND FACE .... Widest at the cheekbones, and forehead and jaw line are about equal in width.
Your face can wear about any style, but avoid having too much hair on it.
Do try everything, from curly to straight, with straight bangs above the brow, and swept-back styles and be sure, when going short, to leave weight in the nape area of your neck.
Don’t wear brushed forward styles or a lot of hair on your face.
AN ADDED NOTE: This is just a guide, and you will have to experiment a bit to get things right, but it's a good starting point. From our experience in doing transformations, bangs seem to always help, and hair styles that cover the ears and sides of the face worked well, as they disguised the look of the normal male face.
DETERMINING COLOR ...... Finding just the right color is almost a trial and error process, but there are a few things to consider to help you narrow the field. Your natural color is ofen the best place to start, and use as a standard that you can use to work off of, and often it may be your best choice, within a shade or two. Contrast is the most important factor in finding a wig color that will work well with your look....the greater the contrast with your face, the more attention will be drawn to your face. If you have a great complexion and young-looking face, use plenty of contrast with hair color to emphasize your face (example....fair skin with a jet black wig). If you want a more balanced look that does not draw attention to your face, lessen the contrast with a more matching shade or color. The most important facial feature to consider in wig color choice is eye color, but once again, contrast comes into play.
You need to find just the right contrast of color to create the right look.....avoid a no contrast appearance, as it gives you a washed-out look.
SYNTHETIC vs REAL HAIR ...... Synthetic wigs are the way to go.
Human Hair wigs are expensive, costing $350 and up. The lower cost of synthetics, lets you experiment more, changing colors and styles without braking your bank. Human hair wigs require a great deal of care ...they must be styled daily and washed more often than synthetics. Synthetic wigs come pre-styled and pre-cut ....human hair wigs do not.
EXTRA INFO: Monofilament wigs are constructed with hairs more evenly dispersed on the cap than a standard wig, making them very natural looking. They are more expensive, but can be parted and act more like natural hair. Once you get your exact look down, a monofilament wig might be a good investment, but for practical purposes, stick to the standard variety.
CARE and WASHING ...... Wigs can get extremely nasty with use, losing their shape, and taking on foul odors from perspiration. Synthetic wigs should not be washed with regular shampoo. Buy wig shampoo and conditioner at a beauty supply or other source, and follow the instructions on the bottles. You can also reference the cleaning instructions that may have come with your wig. In general, fill a sink basin with cool water, adding a capful or recommended amount of shampoo. Some sources recommend adding a teaspoon of baking soda, if the wig has picked up very strong odors from smoking or other sources. Gently swish the wig in the solution for the recommended amount of time, usually 30 to 60 seconds. Take some time to rub the wig cap gently at front if it has been soiled with makeup. Let the wig soak for the required amount of time per shampoo instructions. Empty the basin and rinse the wig thoroughly in cool water ....never use warm or hot water as it will relax the curl or style of the wig. Gently squeeze out the excess water....don't twist or try to wring-out the wig. Wrap the wig in a dry towel and let it sit. Some sources say to leave it in the towel until it is thoroughly dry, while others say to take it out after most of the water has been absorbed, and let it dry on a wig head. Read the conditioner bottle and apply per their instructions ....once again, some say to spray it in before being totally dry, and some say to wait. Be careful with the amount that you apply, as it can really alter the style if too much is applied. Shaking and fluffing the wig is a good way to start the styling process, and many times, it's enough to bring back the original style. Use a pick if neccessary, and try to avoid brushing. Never brush a wig with a regular brush....they make wig brushes for such purposes. If you have a human hair wig, pay attention to the manufacturers suggestions for washing....but most suggest buying special shampoos for these wigs as well, and washing instructions are generally about the same, other than using warm water instead of cool. This type of wig can be styled much the same as regular hair...set with curlers, etc.
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