Tips for wearing a wig

Keeping your wig in place

One of the most common worries that people have about wearing a wig is how to keep it in place. There are various ways of making sure that your wig is secure. Although a well-fitting wig should stay in place on its own, you may feel happier using an extra type of attachment, such as double-sided tape. Wig specialists have hypoallergenic tape which does not irritate the skin. The tape is attached to the underside of the wig and gives a secure but comfortable bond. Surgical spirit can be used to remove any leftover adhesive. If your skin is very sensitive due to your cancer treatment, you can ask your doctor or specialist nurse which tape you can use and whether it is ok to use surgical spirit.

The wig specialist will discuss this and other ways of securing your wig with you, so that you can decide which method you prefer. A simple way to check your wig is securely in place is to bend over and shake your head.

If you are going shopping and know that you will be trying on clothes or going to the doctor, it is a good idea to wear something that is easy to slip off, such as a cardigan or a shirt, rather than something that goes over your head and may pull your wig off.

Protecting your scalp

The lining of the wig can irritate the scalp, so it may be helpful to wear a thin cotton scarf or skull-cap underneath. These are usually available from wig suppliers. They can make a wig slip though. You may need to experiment to find out what works best for you.

Safety

Take care not to expose your wig to a flame, for example from a candle or gas cooker, as real hair will frizz and synthetic hair can melt. Even the heat released when opening an oven door can make the hair frizzy. Do not use the highest heat setting on your hair dryer as this can also melt the hair.