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Wig Install Time & Difficulty

From a headband wig that's on in under a minute to a full lace that takes half an hour or more. Pick a wig and how you'll fit it, and see how long it takes you, how hard it is, the steps and what you need.

The wig
How it's heldLace wigs only
Your experience
It comes withLace wigs only; tick what the listing says

4x4 or 5x5 closure, glueless: easy, about 20–40 minutes for you.

10–20 minutes once practised. The first few times, allow about twice that: our rule of thumb, not a measurement.

A good first wig: a small patch of lace to place and lay, and nothing to glue.

The steps

  1. Prep your own hair flat: brushed back if it's short, or two to four flat braids going back.
  2. Put on a wig cap in a shade close to your skin, just below your hairline.
  3. Adjust the straps before the wig goes on.
  4. Place it from front to back: the parting in line with your nose, the ear tabs level, the hairline just in front of your own.
  5. Push the combs in: front, sides, then the back.
  6. Trim the lace along your hairline in small snips, a little at a time.
  7. Lay the lace: an elastic (melt) band over it for 10 to 15 minutes, and a little foundation or powder to blend it with your skin.
  8. Style it, and check it from every angle.

Read more: fitting a glueless wig · wigs ranked by ease.

Before the first wear

Trimming the lace
Once, the first time: cut close to the hairline in small snips. Pre-cut lace skips it.
Plucking the hairline
Optional, and slow: thinning a hairline by hand can take hours, and what's over-plucked can't be put back. A pre-plucked hairline is usually the better buy.
Bleaching the knots
Optional: most knots lighten in 10 to 20 minutes, then rinse, shampoo twice and deep condition. Overdone, the parting sheds.

Or skip these: wigs sold pre-cut, pre-plucked and with bleached knots arrive ready. Doing it yourself, safely.

What you need

ForCheapest we listPrice
Wig capsA smooth base that keeps the wig from sliding and the inside cleaner. Pick a shade close to your skin. 4 Pieces Wig Caps Invisible HD Wig Cap Super Soft and BreathableUNice $8.90
Wig standKeeps the wig in shape overnight and lets it air-dry after washing. 1pc/3pcs Portable Wig Stand Durable Collapsible Wig Holder for All WigLuvme Hair $14.90
Grip bandStops sliding, gives combs something to hold, and spreads pressure away from your edges. Upgraded Natural Max 1pc Wig Cap 2.0 – Non-Slip Wig Gripper with Grip Band & Transparent Lace for Lace Front WigsLuvme Hair $15.90
Elastic (melt) bandPressed over the lace for 10–20 minutes after fitting to lay it flat without glue. Adjustable Elastic Wig Band Removable Elastic Band For Wig Wearing 1PcIshow Hair $15.90

Plus: a wide-tooth comb, a rat-tail comb and a few clips; a mirror, and a hand mirror or your phone for the back; foundation or powder close to your skin, to blend the lace; small, sharp scissors for the lace. Build the whole kit within a budget.

Glueless 4x4 or 5x5 closure wigs, pre-cut and pre-plucked first 257 in stock

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Where the times come from

Fitting times and difficulty are from our ranking of beginner-friendly wigs and the cap constructions compared; the steps from fitting a glueless wig and the V-part guide; adhesive from adhesives and safe removal. They are typical times once you've practised. Everyone is slower at first, so allowing about twice as long for your first few installs is our rule of thumb, not a measurement.

Questions people ask

How long does it take to install a lace front wig?

A glueless 13x4 or 13x6 takes about 15 to 30 minutes once you have practised. Allow about twice that the first few times, and 15 to 30 minutes more with adhesive, while it sets under a band.

What is the easiest wig to put on?

A headband wig: on in under a minute, with no lace. V-part and half wigs take 5 to 10 minutes. For a lace hairline, a glueless, pre-cut, pre-plucked 5x5 closure or 7x5 is the easiest.

Is a glueless wig easier than a glued one?

Yes. There is no adhesive to patch test, apply, wait for or remove, and taking it off is quick. Glue holds the lace flatter, but removal is where most hairline damage comes from.

Read more

Try next

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