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.
All great suggestions for wig-wearing. I classify wigs intothree categories, first and lowest are CosPlay or what I call PhotoWigs. Theseonly look decent in pictures but don’t wear one “out” if you hope to blend in and don’t want to look like you’re M2F Trans. The exception (if you’re bold enough) are various true costume wigs such as a rainbow, or an outrageous color like Green or Red. these can look good in context such as St. Patrick’s Day green or red at a Christmas party. I think wearing these styled as normally looks best since the bolder the style the more of a Drag Queen you will look. Next up are decent synthetic or best 80/20 wigs which are 80% synthetic and 2% human hair. These are generally affordable and are the best at making you appear “blendable” (a.k.a. passable) and can sustain various styles. Get some basic tools like good cutting and thinning scissors to trim your wig for you. Or pay a local stylest to cut it for you on you. Wigs out of the bag are not fitted to you and look best with a bit of trimming and selective thinning. Learn to use styling gel like Got 2bGlued for sustained body and hair effects. Straight wigs are a dead giveaway as few CIS seldom have perfect hair so use your fingers to mess it up a bit. The final class are wigs I can never afford and run from several hundred to thousands of dollars. These are beyond my budget so I just admire those that have it. There are a few that offer these in Manhattan, Las Vegas, London, and Paris and some can be intricate affairs in some cases more like helmets than wigs. Enjoy…
I absolutely love dressing as my True Self. I’ve spent years and years trying to just make life meaningful but I was never happy. Now I go out shopping all dolled up and no one else gives me any odd looks. I get many compliments from other women and have some very nice conversations with other women. I just wish I were a little more shorter and had smaller feet. Buying heels is difficult.
Oh, time to go look Fabulous dear. Tootles!
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Write me as I can pass along some exercises my speech therapist shared with me to eliminate and balance the mouth post Bell’s Palsy.
My blonde wig
My favorite wig hairstyle
Hi Beautiful Ladies. This means all OF YOU… I have 20 wigs. Six of them are human hair. There long and long curly. Neck size, straight or curly, and short wigs. The human wigs feel much better than the syncretic wigs. However, I love all of them. I dress five days and nights a week. I guess I’m a regular woman who can never decide what I’m going to wear each day. What makes it harder to decide, is I change my outfits every day. What makes it harder to decide is I have close to 200 to pick from. When I dress, I feel freer then I’ve even felt in my entire life. Especially after I put on my last piece. A Wig.
I like trying different colors, shades, highlights and lengths
oh Robin dearyou look absolutely stunning and your very attractive I am trying to look pretty myself but I keep struggling like everyone. I would like to talk to you one on one if you like .
I have many wigs. My femme self is one of six (sextuplets). LOL
My wig!
I have a variety of wigs. My femme self is one of sextuplets LOL.
What a lovely display of femininity.. thank you for sharing…
Leonara