Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by BaldGirlsDoLunch.org on December 16, 2009 at 7:19pm

For head measuring there's circumference, front of ear to front of ear and front to back as the basics. Other measurements can be taken, but those are the most commonly used. But that doens't work for everyone. Heads are proportioned differently even with those measures done right. If you google "measure for a wig" there are lots of sketches and how-to videos.

I've found for myself that there is no stock wig from any vendor that is comfortable in all directions. So I have all my wig caps custom made. I even have my caps made by one person and the hair put on in another state by someone else. Or, if it's from a high volume seller like Wilshirewigs.com that also has ventilators on site, I'll have them cut wigs apart and re-sewn to make them feel right. Give them a heads up when you're in Los Angeles and you can drop off in the morning and pick up later. And even with custom caps, I'll usually have them sent back to the workroom to raise the trim line over the ears...for some reason that is always about 1/4" too low ( or my ears are too high!). Knowing this, I give a long lead time to get my wigs made. In a pinch I can always put a pre-made wig on my head, but it would not have the comfort that I like for long wearing time.

So you're not unusual...I think most people other than those in a cap from a mold or laser scanning are not in the best fit cap.

Thea
baldgirlsdolunch.org

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Cal on December 17, 2009 at 7:01pm

Oh dear, that's a bit of a bummer to read. I had kind of hoped it was just my cheap emergency wigs and that once I moved on to the good stuff I wouldn't have the same problem. Maybe it is that my ears are too high!

I'm a bit of a seamstress myself, though, and know the ins and outs (so to speak) of fitting fabric to bodies, so maybe what I need to do is buy a couple of really cheap and nasty wigs, cut them to bits and practice fitting and remaking the cap. Interesting. I certainly won't be paying for a professional to custom fits the lots and lots of wigs I hope to collect (Flapper bob! Blonde curls! Flame red tresses! Lost in Translation pink! You will be mine, oh yes, and probably more). Trimming and styling, sure; I'm no hairdresser. But I reckon with some courage and a bit of practice, I can do the cap fitting part myself and work from there.

Thanks for the info and the inspiration. I don't know why altering the cap to fit hadn't occured to me - I tweak most of my shop-bought clothes for a better fit. I guess my wigs will be the same.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by meg on December 18, 2009 at 8:17am

Using the least expensive wig you have and since you are " a bit of a seamstress" figure the areas that are too large and cut-out the strips of lace in which the hair has been attached and re-sew the lowest strip to next highest lace strip. If you are unsure and afraid to cut the strip out at first: Attach the strip below the piece that can be cut out to the next strip above it ... in other words you will be making a seam and the seam will be the piece you will be cutting out. Then put the wig on and get an overall look and fit. Then go and select the areas that you can cut out further. This sounds complicated but really simple to do when you have the wig in front of you.

I have a really small head and have to alter all of the inexpensive wigs I purchase. I use to make it so involved but then one day I said "So What" and started cutting out strips and before you knew it ... I had a great fit.

Good luck.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Cal on December 18, 2009 at 12:40pm

No, I know exactly what you mean and plan to have a bash at one of them soon. The sizing on one is such that it can be worn pulled all the way down over one ear (it's an asymmetric bob, so this works quite well) and is reasonably comfy to wear. The other needs to be worn with the band over the middle of both ears, which I discovered today is very uncomfortable and gives me a headache. So that's the one I'm going to have a go at! It's longer too, so a bit more forgiving of my messing around with the cap.

Thank you for the advice!

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by BaldGirlsDoLunch.org on December 18, 2009 at 3:49pm

Sounds like you can do this pretty easily with your sewing experience. From brand to brand the caps are unique, but each one you do will yield tricks and short cuts for the next one. One of the sewers for a wigmaker I use turns the wigs inside out and pins it down to a canvas head block to see what she's doing and for sewing. If you need good blocks and clamps, check wilshirewigs.com for quality supplies at a good price.
Have fun! Good luck and let us know how it turns out. If you need any practice wigs to cut apart I have plenty of good caps with ruined hair to give to the cause.
Thea
baldgirlsdolunch.org

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Cal on December 18, 2009 at 4:13pm

Well, it turned out to be pretty easy after all! I took maybe half an inch of cap from the very back of the neck (and one row of fake hair, which now looks very sad and slightly creepy sitting by itself on my desk) cut and stitched and it fits really well! I know other styles of cap could be more problematic but now that I know its possible I feel a lot more confident about getting future wigs to fit right.

Thank you so much for the offer of old wigs to practice on, but I'm in England and the postage (as I know from sending presents to friends in the States recently) can be prohibitive.

• ▶ Reply