Wig Making Supplies - Make Your Own Wigs
Wig making supplies are composed of a unique set of tools and construction items. Standard supplies include ventilation hooks and needles, T-pins, hackles and a model head on which to work. In addition, many choices exist when it comes to type of hair, netting and caps.
A model head provides a surface upon which to make your wig and can be made of Styrofoam, wood or canvas. A tripod or stand can be purchased to hold the head. T-pins are used to secure the base cap in place while working on the wig.
The base or cap is the foundation upon which you construct a wig. Lace is a popular, natural netting material; it is durable, breathable and looks natural. The three main types of lace are French, German and Swiss.
- French lace is strong, airy and, when matched properly to skin tone, provides and invisible, thin hairline.
- German lace tends to feel rough and stiff, compared to the other lace types; it's the strongest lace and provides the best base for blending.
- Swiss lace is the most natural and least detectable of the three, but it is also thinner, making it less durable and prone to tears. The most recent type of lace base is called injection silk, formed from two layers of Swiss Lace.
There are also synthetic alternatives to lace. Thin skin is made from a blend of polyurethane materials and mirrors skin. Compared to lace, it is not as breathable or comfortable, but is quite durable. Monofilament wigs are made of a gauze-like transparent material. Similar to lace, this option is breathable, strong and provides a natural look.
Wig caps are important in the fit and comfort, can be made from lace, cotton, nylon or mesh-material and be machine or hand-made. Cap styles and sizes include full caps that have no stretch, stretch from ear-to-ear or stretch around the entire perimeter of the head and front caps, which only add hair to the front of the head.
Next, you will need elastic and/or trim ribbon. Elastic is sewn around the base cap; it can be used to frame the base as well as other sections of the wig. Trim ribbon is pinned to the foundation model, around the edges of the base, and ultimately sewn into the cap. In addition to strengthening the edges of the base mesh, ribbon also provides a comfortable, soft edge.
Hair, the most obvious of wig making supplies, comes in a variety of colors, styles and textures. Hair can be purchased in bulk, which refers to loose strands of hair, or wefts, which is a bunch of hair sewn together at one end. The length of hair will be twice the size of the actual wig length, as it will be folded before knotting into the wig.
The hair is placed into a device called a hackle. A hackle is used to straighten the hair, blend different colors and strands together and separates the weaker strands not suitable for the wig.
The next group of wig making supplies is used to knot hair into the base, a process known ventilation and using needles and hooks. A ventilation hook, sometimes referred to as a knotting hook, is used to attach the hair in a process similar to rug making. The needles are used to insert individual strands or clusters of hair called wefts into the base material. You can purchase needles alone or with ventilation holders, which are adjustable tips that accommodate different sized needles.
Wig making supplies include hair, a base or cap, and specific tools that knot hair into the wig. The different types of caps and bases come down to the purpose of the wig and personal preference; also, hair wefts and strands come in many different colors, textures and styles. Finally, your tool set will require T-pins, ventilation hooks and needles and a hackle. Most of these items can be purchased at a wig supply store, in person or on-line.
