What if I told you there’s a way where you can wear your natural hair and a wig all at the same time? Half wigs, partial wigs, or three-quarter wigs, as they’re sometimes called, allow you to do just that. These wigs offer a bit more versatility for those of us who want the fullness of a wig but want it to look as natural as possible.
Half wigs are great for adding volume, length, and even color to your hair without having to sit in a salon chair for hours to achieve all the above. You can find them in synthetic and human hair textures that will make them even more desirable as they cater to more people.
My name is Lauren, and I have been wearing wigs and extensions for many years. They are great for on-the-go and make a suitable option for special occasions. However, when I learned about half wigs, I found them easier to install and more natural looking.
If you’d like to wear a half wig with your natural hair and just aren’t sure how, then continue reading this article as I showcase some easy ways in how to do so. All you need is a half wig of your choice, some styling products and tools, and the eagerness to learn.
Keep reading to learn how you can wear a half wig with your natural hair!
How to Wear a Half Wig with Natural Hair: 2 Best Methods
Here are my top methods for how to wear a half wig with natural hair.
Method 1: Top Knot Bun
Now, to wear a half wig with your natural hair, you can try the top knot bun method that uses a leave out all around. Here are the tools you will need:
- Half wig
- Bobby pins
- Edge control
- Elastic hair ties
- Paddle brush
- Smoothing hair brush
- Blow dryer
- Hairspray
- Rat tail comb
Prep your natural hair: Before you wear your half wig, you want to make sure that your natural hair is washed, conditioned, and moisturized. This will help to keep your hair hydrated while you are wearing your half wig. Also, make sure to get a half wig that resembles your natural hair texture so that it blends well.
Step 1: Section your hair where you are able to leave about one to two inches out along the perimeter. Put the hair in the middle into a ponytail out of the way.
Step 2: Loosely cornrow or flat twist the hair along the perimeter to keep it out of the way.
Step 3: Take the hair in the middle and divide it into two sections and cornrow each section, or twist it upwards towards the top of your head and pin it.
Step 4: Now, attach your wig to your head with the combs attached. They are usually located at the top and bottom of the wig. Use additional bobby pins if necessary.
Step 5: Once your wig is securely on, loosen the hair along the perimeter.
Step 6: Take your paddle brush and brush your natural hair into your wig, away from your forehead.
Step 7: Pull your natural hair and the half wig up into a high ponytail and tie it with the elastic band.
Step 8: Divide your ponytail into two equal sections and twist them all the way down together.
Step 9: Wrap your twisted ponytail in a clockwise direction around the elastic band and use several bobby pins to secure it in place.
Step 10: Use your smoothing brush to smooth any flyaways followed by hairspray and your edge control to lay your edges.
That’s it! You have successfully completed your top knot bun with your half wig. Add accessories like a headband or bedazzled barrettes to finish off your look. You can also skip the bun and wear your half wig in a high ponytail with this method.
Method 2: Half up & Half down
This second method is equally appealing as the first. The half up and half down method is becoming fairly common and pretty simple to do. Here are the tools you will need:
- Half wig
- Bobby pins
- Flat iron
- Edge control
- Elastic hair ties
- Curling iron
- Paddle brush
- Smoothing hair brush
- Blow dryer
- Hairspray
- Rat tail comb
Prep your natural hair: Before you wear your half wig, you want to make sure that your natural hair is washed, conditioned, and moisturized. This will help to keep your hair hydrated while you are wearing your half wig.
Step 1: Section your hair where you are able to leave about one to two inches out along your hairline. Pin this hair down or loosely cornrow it to keep it out of the way.
Step 2: Take the remaining hair and divide it into two sections and cornrow each section, or twist it upwards towards the top of your head and pin it.
Step 4: Now, attach your wig to your head with the combs attached. They are usually located at the top and bottom of the wig. Use additional bobby pins if necessary.
Step 5: Once your wig is securely on, loosen the hair along the hairline.
Step 6: Take your paddle brush and brush your natural hair into your wig, away from your forehead.
Step 7: Pull some of the hair from the half wig with your natural hair and tie it with the elastic band into a ponytail.
Step 8: Take your smoothing hair brush and smooth your natural hair for flyaways and set it with hairspray. Follow with your edge control to lay your edges.
Voila! Now you have worn your half wig in a half up and half down style. Use the top knot bun method if you want to put your ponytail into a top knot bun. Style your hair with heat styling tools if needed.
FAQs
Here are some common questions that you should know when it comes to how to wear a half wig with natural hair.
How do I Prep my Natural Hair for Wearing a Half Wig?
Besides washing and conditioning your hair, there may be other steps that you will need in order to prep your natural hair before wearing a half wig. Depending on your hair texture, you might want to consider blowing out your hair to help with blending it into your hair better.
Blowouts make it easy to comb through your hair and make it viable for straightening and curling your hair. This might be suitable for kinky and curly hair textures if you want to wear a half wig that has straight hair.
As always, use a heat protectant when using heat on your hair and make sure that your hair is well hydrated and moisturized.
What Kind of Half Wig Should I Buy?
When it comes to half wigs, the options are endless, but you will normally find that synthetic hair is being used. There are also human hair options if you want to color or bleach the hair and style them a certain way.
You should decide how often you want to wear your half wig before you buy one. If you prefer to have different styles, then the synthetic options may be better and they are also more affordable.
Hair textures like curly and wavy are also favorites when it comes to half wigs because they come pre-styled for you. So consider how you want to style your hair and for how long you would like to wear it before making a purchase.
Should I Braid my Hair Under my Half Wig?
There are perks to braiding your hair under your half wig, but it isn’t entirely necessary, especially if it’s just for short-term wear. Depending on the thickness of your hair, you may find that pinning your natural hair under your wigs is quite suitable.
However, if you have thick hair, braiding your hair might be the better option if you want your wig to lie flat. Braiding your hair is also great if you decide to wear your half wig every day. This makes it easier to attach when you are ready to wear it again.
Flat twists are also a simple way to manage your hair underneath your wigs. They aren’t as tight as braids and can also be a bit larger.
Wrapping Up
Styling half wigs with your natural hair can be an easy and quick way to add volume to your hair and change your look in minutes. You get the option of wearing your natural hair out and fullness all under the guise that you are wearing your natural hair.
Once you build confidence with these methods, you can try more complicated styles to wear with your half wig. Just remember to practice the method that you enjoy wearing and make it your own.