How To Thin A Wig With Thinning Shears So It Looks Natural
- Posted on 06 October, 2020
- Bangs
- By Anonymous
Wondering how to thin a wig so it looks great? This is my system for thinning the front and bangs of my synthetic wigs featuring one of my very favorite moderately priced wigs, Paula Young Dance.
So you have a wig, it could be cheap, it could be expensive, but it's too much hair. You can fix that at home and make it your very favorite wig and it's easy and actually a little fun, keep watching to find out how hi i'm christine and i'm on a campaign to make wig wearing more mainstream. So we can express ourselves any way we want and not have people look at us sideways just because we're wearing a wig for practical tips on wearing wigs win reviews, as well as a little creative inspiration thrown in. Please subscribe to my channel and hit the notification bell, so you never miss a video. Now i have had to thin and trim almost every week i own from a 50 poly young to a 200 john reneau, and it's super easy once you get the hang of it thinning a wig can turn something like this, which to me is just way too Much hair up here into something that you love and wear every day now i'm going to demonstrate on my dance from paula young. This is my very favorite paula young wig. I have it in a whole bunch of different shades um. I love experimenting on paul young. Wigs because they're relatively inexpensive, yet they're completely wearable - i mean i wear my dance in whatever color out all the time. Now. First, you have to try the wig on that may seem obvious, but everybody's got a different head shape, a different face, shape and different tastes on how they want the hair to feel so before you thin anything, try it on and see what it is that you Want to change about it now for my taste, i can see right away that this wig is too heavy up in here for me to feel comfortable and the bangs are too long, and even the sides are like way heavy and fall in my face, and i, Like things to be a little bit fringier and light around the entire front, now some people will turn their wigs uh. Once they've tried it on and see what they want to do, they'll put it on a little styrofoam head. I always trim mine, because i can see immediately how it's going to fall. I can see immediately what i have to do more of what's fine now, and it just makes the process faster for me, but you do whatever feels most comfortable. Okay, i've got my wig on, and i've got my supplies. I recommend that you lay a couple paper towels down on whatever surface you're doing it, because lots of hair falls out and this process gets very messy very quickly. And if you have a paper towel, you can just scoop it up and put it in the trash for my wig trimming. I use three tools. These are the hair cutting shears, the plain old, nothing, special, regular hair, cutting shears, and these are the thinning shears. You can see, let's see well, my camera. Does camera, doesn't focus but i'll, try and insert a clip uh there's little notches so that when you cut hair only like every other piece will come out. These are essential and i love them. I got both of my shears from sally's. They were very reasonably priced um. I don't know where else you can get them, i'm sure get them on amazon and i have these nifty hair clips. I find that these are the best kind for holding back large sections when i'm fitting. So i've looked at my wig assessed where i want to cut so now, i'm going to pull everything but the very most front fringe back. My um wig is glued on with my wonderful got, to be uh, which i love and use all the time, because it really keeps my hip wig on um. Now, like i said i, like things, this is gon na, be a little hard without my glasses but um. You know what maybe i will go get my glasses. Okay. I'Ve got my glasses on so i can actually see now. So that's good. So i'm just pulling back the hair around the very perimeter because i'm just going to do the perimeter first now i always thin. First, before i cut primarily because synthetic wings, wigs don't cut well they're plastic they're, not hair, so they tend to have a really blunt cut when you cut them, so i thin first. So that way i can actually cut as little hair as possible. So what i'm doing is normally i do this in the mirror. Um. Now i put the scissors right against the um scalp or yeah right against the weft and because i don't want, i want to completely thin it at this point, i'm not putting an extra finger which i might do later. Okay, um come on get out of there. Okay, this one just got a little tangled um and i know from doing my wigs that um. This is how i like it so we're just going around the perimeter and pulling out putting the shears flush up against the wig cap, because i'm not trying to get i'm just trying to thin it out. At this point there will be a point or there may be - maybe a point where what i want to do is um like make them uneven, in which case i might cut it here and here, but for now i'm thinning it. Okay. Now, let's take our clips out and do another layer, basically, so i'm pulling this much hair back um, so i'm just going like a weft or two deeper than i did now, unless if it's a regular open cap like this, is you don't necessarily have to uh? Do what i call a protective layer? That'S not cut, because this will never be pulled back um. The fringe will always be falling down onto my face um. So here i have my second keep looking over in the mirror. Here make sure i got my second uh layer um and i am being a little rougher on this hair than i probably should be um. Really. What you should do is um, let's see, is just cut it and then pull out the hair with your fingers. Um. Okay, now i take my pens out my glasses off, so i can actually look in the mirror now at this point i am still thinning. I haven't cut any bangs yet and i'm putting it how i will probably wear it um and i'm still getting some weight too much weight in through here. So i just go in um flush. Let'S see, okay, we're getting there we're getting there um over here. It seems like there's a little heaviness and basically i just do the same thing until i get to the point where it is not, it feels light enough for me. Okay, i'm going to be doing a little bit more snipping here, uh, i'm not going to bore you with all of it. So i'll speed this up a little bit and then uh when i've done the thinning i'll, come back and show you how i cut my bangs now i wanted to show you something before i um finished up now. This right here is a little a little heavier, but not really super heavy. So what i do is i, instead of cutting um all the way flush with the cap. I just want to get it fringier and then that's also. You can't see that, but i have blonde hair all over my black shirt and the other thing i'm going to want to do now that i'm starting the bangs. So i take i pull the bangs down. I don't pull them taut, because i want them to fall. Where they're going to fall, naturally, but i pull them down and then what i do is - and this is a personal style. This is not the way you have to do it, but i take still thinning shears, still thinning shears and cut like above my eyebrows to thin out that uh. What i know is going to be falling in my face um. So now i've got that done um. So it's pretty good. It'S looking pretty good, now, final step. Now that i've thinned everything is to cut the bangs short enough, so they don't fall on my face now, since i've already thinned them uh, it won't take much cutting okay. So i got my trusty shears. Your shears yours and put my glasses back on so i can see what i'm doing and there i don't know if you can see it, but there is hair everywhere. There'S hair on my face, there's just oh sure. It'S just basically everywhere. That'S why i say: put something down: okay, glasses on um, so what i'm gon na do and it's harder to do it in the viewfinder, so i'm going to check it in the mirror and then turn and show you okay. So i've got these little pieces here. Now you never want to cut straight across because, like i said it's plastic, so you want to do tiny snips at an angle. Okay, i think that's good i'm going to do some fine tuning in the mirror and then i'll be back to show you the finished product. Okay, here is the finished dance by paulie young um. I don't know if you can remember what it looked like before, but i'll put a picture up here you can see um. I actually did take out quite a bit of thinning up through here and through and through the bangs and the temple area, and i itch because there is hair everywhere. I also usually end up thinning them on whatever part the side is on like over here um, but again i have a really little head. So the best way for you to tell is to put on your wig and your style with your head shape and face shape and see where you like it. I hope this was helpful. Thing is, don't be afraid to thin your wigs, because i thin every week. I get because there's always too much hair, especially up here in the front, but practice on a less expensive week. First, until you get the hang of it. Let me know in the comments, if you have ever customized a wig this way or if you have another way, that you thin and trim your wigs and especially if you try this method hair in my mouth and especially if you try this method, let me know How it turns out for more content like this, please subscribe to my channel and hit the like button and leave a comment, because all that helps youtube to decide to show my videos to more people, which is the best way. I can get the word out that wigs are one more easy but powerful way to express yourself.
Comments
Christine McGraw: How do you think your wigs? Do you use shears or some other tools or technique?
oldgypsytap: This is the first time someone has clearly explained and shown me not only that I CAN thin my own wig but HOW to approach it! Thank you so much! I too have a small face and head and I can't count the number of wigs I've thrown/given away because I looked like a balloon head....and an obvious wig wearer! Every wig I put on my head just cries out..."she 's wearing a wig!". This approach should solve my problem YEAH! Too bad wig makers don't make wigs for women who want a less hair, more natural look. Now I have a new use for my thinning shears. Thank you.
Margie Martin: I absolutely love your tutorials and am so glad I found you! I am definitely a subscriber now. Keep up the good work. We wig-wearers need you!
Anissha Blackwell: Beautiful. I used a thinning razor on my synthetic wigs and I have so many chopped fibers that my wigs look like a bird's nest. Thank God for your advice.
JustJeep: Christine, I subscribe to many wig channels but you have become my favorite! You are so helpful and fun to watch. I have learned more from you than any other channel. Keep sharing your expertise with us. We wig wearers need you!
Vegans in the Wild Over 50: I have a little head too. You did an awesome job! My thin, scraggly hair is growing out after my self-induced pandemic buzz cut and looks awful. I’ll see my hairdresser in Texas in a couple months so until then, it’s wig time! Which also keeps my head warm. I just thinned my first wig, a very expensive one that made me look like Edith Bunker (and I thought it looked so gorgeous when I bought it this summer!). It’s wearable now, but I’ll be thinning it more. I couldn’t do it on my head so I put it over my electric kettle for stability. Thanks for the video!
Sassy B.: Love the before and after of Dance! Looks great...you talked me into buying the thinning shears. I started last night to thin an Amazon wig. Actually the results were pretty good, but for sure the thinning shears is the tool to use. Your video has given me the courage to continue to thin with a thinning shears this time! Your explanation was great...Thank You!!!
z2010able: April 10, 2021 - Thank you; your tips are SO helpful, esp the one re thin first then cut, I never thought of that and the reason for thinning in that order.
Mollie Yeager: Thank you so much for the tutorial on thinning your wig. I just received my Halle from Paula young today and I really don’t do well with side swept bangs. I knew it was like that when I bought it but oh well I bought it anyway! After watching your advice I’m going to get some thinning shears and go to making myself some bangs. Thanks so much
lil poohbear: Great job!! I use thinning shears and sometimes hair scissors for "angling" my bangs or taking a little off the side edges...just depends on how much hair is in those places of course. That wig was doggone cute when you got done with it Christine:)/ Thanks for the tips!
Jane Ann Steiner: Thank you, very informative. I am wearing wigs during chemo and have felt they are way too bulky. Your advice is really helpful. Thank you!
Mary Kelley: Terrific demo! Thank you thank you!!
Kill My Dream Dorothy: Thank you so much! Just found your channel and I think you’re absolutely wonderful! I thin out all of my wigs. I agree. There’s just too much haaaaiiirr.
Karen Pontarelli: Thank you for the simple demonstration. I feel like I can do it now.
Dorothy Lee: You look great after thinning this wig. I tried one time but botched it magnificently!!! It ended up in the trash. I will try your way, and I hope that mine looks as good as yours! Thanks for sharing.
Linda Hays: Thank you for this. Just found your site and subscribed. I, too have several Dance wigs, but have a quite a few more expensive ones, too. The Dance is my everyday go-to. Yours is the third thinning tutorial I’ve watched. Have you ever had an Adelle wig by ROP? OMG. I’ve never seen a wig so dense. I’m now attempting to thin it, along with my Dance pieces. Thanks for your help.
Pam Avery: Love this! I think you are so smart to do it while wearing it. I'm going to go work some of mine over!
Revell Mach: Thank you so so much! I am very shortly going to thin a very thick bob wig all one length so this was very helpful! Revell Mach
IAM BLACKBEAUTY: THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS VIDEO! YOU SAVED ME FROM THROWING AWAY A VERY EXPENSIVE WIG!....
ElaineinArizona: This was perfect! Thank you.
Molektra McGuigan: This was awesome thank you! I have a petite size head and so far every wig has been tooo tooo tooo much hair. I am going to practice now one of one the cheap ones!!
Patti MacLaughlin: Everyone else does the three cuts to thin. Now I understand why my wig was still too thick!!! Thank you. YOU make more sense!!!!
Susan Martinez: This is great! Thank you so much! I will now buy thinning shears after watching your video.
Dorothy Lee: Oh, thanks for this video. I have a narrow face, and so many wigs are just too much hair on top. I LOVE High Impact by Gabor, but it is too much hair. Hope I don't mess up the style when I thin it.
Kat Pham: Thank you so much. Very helpful to me ❤
Di Hinegardner: I just watched this video. I so enjoy your content. I hope you’re doing well and miss seeing more videos. Thank you for your great help and knowledge. Have a beautiful day!♥️
Phyllis Porter: Really nice, I think it looked good on you before cutting, it look natural. This was very helpful.
7swordMary: I usually thin with the same type of shears. But I haven't be brave enough to do the top or front. I'm afraid of leftover spikes at the root. Have you tried a razor comb?
Donna Blackiston: I do not pull the shears through, I use my comb to pull it through because otherwise it can damage a longer wig, making it frizzy. Thanks for sharing!
Henrietta Lazo: Thank you again. This is another great tutorial.
Angelika Bliss: Hey Christine, this is Angelika from Bavaria, Germany. I am soooo happy that I found your Chanel. Because I have a small face my wig 's do look like helmet 's and this way I don't want to were them. I will definitely try to slim them down and can't wait to see the results Thank you so much
Marsha Miller: I love it & awesome tutorial!!!
Pamela Hill: Looks Fantastic!❤️
BG Smith: Thx so much for sharing! I’ll buy cheap Amazon ones and work on them. Takes forever but worth it. I get so many compliments but not when I’m doing my usual hair! Ha. I always tell people it’s a wig. Sometimes I feel guilty I look so much better!
Lori Mikulec: I am a new subscriber and so excited. My hairdresser won't touch my wig ( it is like yours and just too much hair) I will try myself. You present very well and give confidence. TY
Yvonne Dorothea: THANKS sooo much ‼️for this video. So helpfull
melinda: I have super thin, stringy straight hair with no body. I have always wanted to wear a wig, but I have a tiny head and a tiny face. Wigs are so big with more volume than my face and head can handle. However, after watching your video, I may look into getting a wig or top piece and do some serious trimming. Thank you for your video. very informative
T Value: Thinning a wig with thinning shears can be tricky because it leaves shorter hairs that causes root tangling. She does go to the root but it’s still a chance you take so the best way imo to Thin your wigs is by either removing wefts by cutting them out or removing the thread or make sure you cut out the hair to the root/base of wig very closely
HairKittyKitty [CysterWigs]: Great tips, Christine! :)
Janie Guizlo: Thank you for sharing how to thin!!
Jill Long: Ah, at last - have always had wigs with too much hair. Have now learned how to cut bangs on the slant. Thank you.
Delores Smith: I always wear wigs. Most everyone I buy has to much hair. Will try your technique. Thanks .
Donna Q: Very informative video. Thank you. But you sure picked a hard wig to do this on. I chopped up many a wavy wig because it's so hard to thin the layers. My question is, why do they put so much hair on these wigs to begin with. No one looks natural with these wigs. All I can think of is my grandmother in 1956. I can't wear anything but a lace front because of this. I do not care who knows I have a wig on but it would be better for them to have to guess than know straight away.
SharCon: I just got a topper, the color is a wonderful match to my own hair but it's a cheap one...which means machine made, which means a matted top with no part. Nobody's hair grows like this; I don't know why they make them so thick. I would like to suggest that these machined wigs have a wider mesh which would alleviate the matted look. Am about to try to create a part and thin it with my new shears. Wish me luck.
Dawn Kinsley: love it can you tell me what you use to stop your wigs moving please, looking for cheap alternative
clara jones: Great video. Thank you so very much...........................
Linda p.p.: I was always told not to thin right up to the cap. I did ruin a wig doing this because the short hairs left stuck up.
Casey Price: Do you have trouble finding petite wigs? Can you recommend a wig company that carries a larger selection of attractive short petite wigs? Thanks in advance. Casey
Rachel's Remedies: going to try to thin my wig. !!!!!!
Joy: How do you wash, if you wash the wig at all?
Cathy Thomas: You mentioned you have your wig glued on; I have hair but it's so thin. What would you recommend to keep a wig on my thin hair???
Cathy Thomas: Christina which dance wig do you have on; one was hand tied (most expensive ), ohers were either cool cap or whisper lite. I love the one you have on so would appreciate your answer??????? Thanks
Jorge Celio: Good video, you had a beautiful wig that was perfect on you. But you destroy the wig. It looks much more worst than the original wig . Sorry but that is what I think
Maryann Towndsend: I destroyed my Dance. Too bad I didn’t see this video before my scissors went cutting all,over the place.
brooksbaby35: Very helpful! Thank you
Roseann L: great job ,
Real Talk: Thats the biggest issue wigs have, it's way too much hair on it.
Sharon L: I have 2 Charlottes and both are SO much hair. Like you I have a very small, petite face so a lot of hair is overwhelming to me. My face is so small that the lace front wigs I have won't lie flat because my forehead is to narrow so I have to glue them down. I think I'll try thinning Charlotte a little at the root to see if I can make her less voluminous. Thanks!
Toni Stinchcomb: Your words and mouth movement are not in sync in any of your videos I've watched. It's very distracting.
glam: Cute.