Have you bought your first lace front wig and need the information to install it properly? Don’t worry. I am here to help you.
My name is Rosalba and I am a passionate and avid wig wearer who knows several methods to apply a lace front wig.
In this short tutorial, in fact, I explained how to install a lace front wig easily and only with a few steps.
If you are ready to learn more, follow my guide from the beginning to the end.
3 Best Methods to Install a Lace Front Wig
Lace front wigs are very common nowadays. They are largely used both by beginners and expert wig wearers.
Unfortunately, both of them may have trouble installing these types of wigs. Why?
The trouble is in the cap construction of the wig. A lace front wig, indeed, has a cap formed by a small portion of lace placed on the frontal part of the wig.
It is just this part that must perfectly adhere to your forehead, in order to partially cover your ears and give you a natural look. In short: a lace front wig is developed to look like your true hair. When you wear this wig, none notices you have it, provided that you are capable of installing it.
Maybe you don’t know that a lace front wig is easier to install than a capless or full lace cap wig.
You have only to choose the right method. In this case, the official and proven methods to install a lace front wig are three:
- Glue
- Elastic Band
- Needle and Thread
Before installing your lace front wig with one of these methods, you must prepare your hair and your head to apply the wig.
The preparation is the same for every application method:
- Hair washing
- Hair drying
- Hair tying, braiding, pony tailing, or cornrowing
- Careful skin cleaning, especially on the forehead, to remove any spots of sebum and dandruff that can prevent the wig from sticking to your skin.
Let’s start from the method 1.
Method 1: Install a Lace Front Wig with Glue
Glue is the most used method to easily install a lace front wig. It is also used by wig wearers who don’t have particular skin sensitivities, nor scalp allergies. This method can be used on a bald head, as well. Only make sure to use quality glue that does not irritate your scalp.
After the aforementioned preparation, follow the subsequent steps to install the lace front wig with the glue.
Step 1: Smooth your tied hair with a hairstyling gel or wear a stocking cap to better flat your natural hair. If you have a bald head, you can skip this step.
Step 2: Wear the wig as if you wore a normal hat. Use you hands to put the wig on your head starting from the forehead.
Step 3: Pull the wig slightly backward to uncover the hairline of your forehead and ears. This process is fundamental (and necessary) when you must install a lace front wig with glue.
The latter, indeed, must be applied just on the hairline among the sides of the ears and the forehead.
Step 4: Apply the glue on the hairline included in the sides of the ears and on the forehead. Be careful to apply the glue following this path and avoiding drops or sticky clots.
Use the tip of a comb or a makeup sponge to flat the glue and remove the drops. As soon as the glue is clear, apply another layer. The more layers of glue you apply, the more secure the hold is.
Step 5: The core step of all this process is to stick the wig on the hairline marked by the glue so your wig stays securely on your head. Pull forward the wig to bring it back to the initial position. After that, press on the hairline, so that the wig can perfectly adhere to the glue.
Let it dry. To speed up this process, wrap a scarf around your head.
Step 6: Cut the excess lace of the wig. Use the scissors of hairstylists to perform this operation.
Cut vertically above the highest part of your eyebrows. This way, you’ll be sure to remove all the external lace, making the wig seamless and perfectly natural. After this process, style your wig how you prefer.
Tip: Make sure you remove all the glue when you take off your wig to protect your hairline.
Method 2: Install a Lace Front Wig with Elastic Band
Elastic bands with wig tapes (adhesive strips) are a good option when you want to install a lace front wig without glue.
The elastic bands are suitable for those people who have a sensitive scalp. These tools, indeed, don’t irritate the skin because the adhesive strips are above the band.
Let’s see how to install them on your head.
Step 1: First of all, smooth your tied hair in order to better apply the elastic band. With this method, you don’t need to cover your head with a stocking cap, because the band automatically flattens your hair. If you are bald, skip this step and move to the next one.
Step 2: Apply an adhesive tape along the hairline I described here: from the sides of the ears and on the forehead. Measure the length of your hairline and use a band with the same size.
If you are bald, the elastic band won’t give any problem to your skin, because, as said, the adhesive strips are above and not under the band.
Step 3: With this method, you must wear the wig after you apply the elastic band. Start from the frontal part and always with your hands, pull the wig slightly backward and press to let it adhere to the strips.
The strips don’t need to dry to get glued to the wig. This way, you can touch and move your head soon after the installation of the wig.
Step 4: Always cut the excess fabric of the lace front wig. Use the same method explained in step 6 of method 1. After that, style the wig to your liking.
Method 3: Install a Lace Front Wig with Needle and Thread
Sewing is the most traditional method to install lace front wigs. It is also the trickiest among the ones you saw in this guide.
In this case, the lace front wig gets literally sewed on your head, with thread that has the same texture and color of the strands of the wig.
Due to the complex procedure, lace front wigs with sewn thread must always be installed by a hairstylist.
However, if you want to know the procedure, take a look at the following steps.
Step 1: With this method, you must always cover your head, because the cap does not serve only to flat your hair, but also to sew the wig. Hence, in this case, the stocking cap is mandatory even though you have a bald head!
Without a head cap, in fact, you would end up sewing the wig straight on your skin. And believe me, that is not an enjoyable experience.
Step 2: When you sew the strands on your head, the wig must be installed from behind your neck, not from the frontal part.
Since you can’t see your back, (unless you are possessed by a demon that makes you turn your head like in a horror movie), the wig placement must be performed by your hairstylist.
Step 3: After installing the lace front wig, the hairstylist will sew the wig with needle and thread on the protection cap you previously applied. The sewing will be invisible and you’ll have a perfectly secured wig that looks extremely natural and fascinating.
Don’t try sewing the wig by yourself, it is impossible to carry out this procedure alone. Sewing, indeed, is a work of art and if you don’t have experience, you risk piercing your head.
After installing the wig, you can style it to your liking.
My Favorite Method to Install a Lace Front Wig
After discussing the most popular and used methods to install a lace front wig, I am sure you now know what is the most suitable for you.
Don’t fear securing the wig, because the three methods you’ll find in this guide guarantee a stable and immovable hold. You won’t lose your lace front wig after installing it. This is a promise!
As regards my favorite method, I prefer the one with an elastic band. My choice depends on the fact I have a very sensitive scalp. Moreover, this method is perfect on both hairy heads and bald heads.
The touch of the bands is soft and slim, totally unperceivable. If you tried it, let me know. I’ll be glad to hear your opinion about this matter.