If you’re a crossdresser or transgender woman, you know how much a wig can transform your look.
The right wig can make you feel more feminine, attractive, and even take years off your appearance!
But, let’s face it – not all wigs are created equal. Wearing the wrong wig, or wearing it incorrectly, can completely throw off your feminine image.
That’s why in this blog post, I’ve compiled the top 14 tips to help you look and feel gorgeous in a MTF (male to female) wig. Let’s dive in!
1. Wear the Right Size
Wearing the right size wig is a critical first step to looking your best in a wig.
If the wig is too small, it will slide back on your head and show your hairline. A wig that’s too big can also slide around, irritating your scalp.
Fortunately, wigs come in different sizes to accommodate a range of head sizes.
The key is to take precise head measurements so you can find your proper wig size. The video above will show you exactly how to do this.
2. Wear the Wig at Your Natural Hairline
One of the things that can be a dead giveaway for a wig is wearing it too high or too low on your head. The wig should always be aligned with your natural hairline.
Here’s how to put on a wig and position it correctly:
- Tilt your head forward and position the front of the wig above your eyebrows.
- Slide the wig over your head from front to back.
- Once the wig is on, adjust the wig so that it sits evenly on your head.
- Use the ear tabs to align the wig with your temples.
- If the wig has adjustable straps, adjust them to make sure the wig fits snugly and securely.
- Finally, slide the wig forward or back so it’s aligned with your natural hairline.
3. Use a Wide-Tooth Comb
Using the right comb on your wig is very important for preventing damage and keeping your wig looking its best.
You should never use a regular brush on your wig since it can cause it to look frizzy. Instead, use a wide-tooth comb to gently comb and style the wig.
Wide-tooth combs are especially important for curly hair wigs since brushes can ruin the curls’ shape.
4. Choose a Flattering Style
One of the best ways to make your wig look natural is to opt for one that flatters your facial structure and features.
Soft waves or layered hairstyles are a great choice as they create a natural and feminine appearance.
On the other hand, hairstyles with harsh or angular lines are not as flattering, especially if you have strong or masculine facial features.
5. Look for a Wig with Highlights or Color Gradients
Avoid choosing wigs with a single-tone or solid block of color, as this can result in an artificial and “wig-like” appearance.
Natural hair typically has dimension, with varying shades and gradients throughout.
Therefore, opting for a wig with lowlights or highlights can create a more realistic look. Rooted wigs can also be a great choice since they mimic the look of natural hair growth at the roots.
6. Switch Up Your Wigs
If you plan to wear MTF wigs regularly, you might want to buy a few extras, so you can switch them out between washes.
Each wig will be exposed to less wear and tear over time because you’ll be wearing them less frequently.
Additionally, you can select from a variety of styles to keep things interesting. After all, half the fun of wigs is playing around with different looks!
7. Wear a Wig Cap Liner
My next piece of advice is to always wear a wig cap liner under your wig.
Wearing a nylon, bamboo, or mesh wig cap liner can keep your wig clean by creating a barrier between the oil in your scalp and the wig.
Wig cap liners can also help keep your natural hair from peeking out, and ensure that the wig fits comfortably and securely.
8. Don’t Keep Adjusting Your Wig
As much as possible, try to leave your wig alone and refrain from fiddling with it after you’ve put it on.
Constantly readjusting your wig can mess up your hairstyle and irritate your scalp. Not only that, but it can also draw unwanted attention and make it obvious that you’re wearing a wig.
9. De-shine Your Wig
Synthetic wigs are made of plastic fibers that can look unnaturally shiny. This can make the wig look fake.
A simple solution is to use dry shampoo to dull the shine. First, put the wig on loosely. Then, spray dry shampoo over the wig like you would with your natural hair.
After you’ve applied the dry shampoo, lightly comb or run your fingers through the wig. This will help reduce the shine and give your wig a more natural appearance.
10. Look for Wigs with Side or Front Bangs
Many wigs tend to look unnatural because of the hairline. A simple way around this issue is to look for a wig that has side or front bangs.
Not only do bangs give the wig a stylish appearance, but they can also help conceal the hairline and make the wig look more natural.
Plus, bangs are cute, youthful, and always on-trend!
11. Be Gentle with Your Wig
If you want your wig to last longer and look its best, you should always handle it gently.
Use a wide tooth comb and never pull or tug on the wig. Avoid styling it with high heat, as heat can damage MTF wigs as it would natural hair.
Finally, store the wig on a wig head or in a bag or box to protect it.
12. Wash Your Wig Regularly
Wigs are like regular hair in that they need to be washed regularly to keep them looking clean and fresh.
How often you should wash the wig depends on how frequently you wear it, the climate where you live, how active you are, and how many hair styling products you use.
As a general rule, consider washing your wig every 8-10 wears.
13. Use Products Formulated for Wigs
To make your wig last longer and look better, always use products specifically formulated for wigs. This includes wig shampoo, conditioner, and hairspray.
This is especially important for synthetic hair wigs, which can be damaged by products formulated for natural hair.
If you have a human hair wig, you can use regular hair products but stick to those formulated for processed hair.
14. Replace Your Wig Regularly
Wearing an old, frizzy wig is the best way to let everyone know that you are wearing one.
Unfortunately, wig styling products can’t revive MTF wigs that have seen better days. Therefore, plan to replace your wigs regularly.
Human hair wigs can last 1-3 years with proper care, but synthetic wigs have a shorter lifespan of 4-6 months when worn every day.
The good news is that this is a great excuse to go wig shopping!
In conclusion
I hope these simple tips help you look and feel your best in your wig! After all, wearing a wig is one of the easiest ways to transform your appearance.
As always, I’d love to hear your thoughts. Take my MTF wigs poll and share a photo of you in your favorite wig in the comments below!
Love,
Lucille
P.S. After you’ve mastered your hair, the next step is makeup! Get started now with my FREE Male to Female Makeup Mini Course.
how do you keep the hair out of your eyes and mouth
I have a synthetic wig that I cannot wear any more because of all the tangles. Is there any product that can help comb them out?
This is a montage of all my different wig styles and colors. Sometimes I just think I’m schizophrenic LOL!
For a few years I preferred being a blond. Recently, I have been presenting as brunette, and have received a lot of encouragement!
I’m one of those Tgirls that has to wear her hair always when I have to be my fem self and the photo here is like my natural color and I like how it stays out of my face. I had a few dates tell me I should wear longer hair, but it’s a real pain for me. I have just recently discovered bobs and I love the style. I went wild and bought a blond bob but it kept falling into my eyes and I looked like a nitwit trying to keep it out of my eyes, face and mouth, especially while eating. With a few tips from the videos here, I think I can make it work better for me and I really want it to I like the style so much. I do like my shorter hair styles and I even have a pixie wig that looks great. It had to “grow” on me but glad I got it. I might suggest that you try something like that too. Playing with colors and styles is so awesome. I love it!
In the photo the top 2 on left are human hair the rest are synthetic
Wigs are very expensive sadly I don’t have money for really good ones so Amazon does have some good options but it can be a bit overwhelming with all the choices and variance in price ranges. Personally I do prefer Human Hair over synthetic also (surprised it wasn’t mentioned) but whether synthetic or real hair I recommend getting either a front or full lace wig ad they tend to look more natural and give you more styling options as for the part otherwise you have to leave the part where it is. But they don’t last quite as long I find. So it depends how much you wear it and also what you’re doing when you wear it.
What do you think about using hair toppers to complement your existing hair? I bought one from Amazon and it was much lighter and cooler on my head than I traditional wig. Felt like I could go all day either way it on, although I felt it was more prone to slipping off if I was active.