Wearing a wig: Trimming the lace

The only thing you really need to trim the lace is a sharp pair of scissors, but there are a few other things that can help with this job. 

Optional items:

-pinking shears, or other patterned scissors (I like scalloped)

-claw clip(s)

-hair clips or Bobby pins

Additional items used in my method:

-dark eyeshadow

-thin eyeshadow brush

The most basic method of trimming the lace involves cutting the lace around the hairline, leaving 1/4” to 1/8’ of lace from the hairline. Some people prefer to cut right up to the hairline, I like to leave a little more because it seems to lay flat better and I have a little more to trim if it frays a bit. If you plan use glue or tape to tack the lace down, leave 1/4” so that you have enough room on the lace to avoid getting the glue on the hair. If the lace is darker than your skin, you’ll want to stay closer to 1/8” or go right up. the hairline. 

***Important tip*** If you’re trimming the lace for the first time, start by cutting off less than what you think you need to, try it on, then go back and cut more if needed. You can always go back and cut more, but once it’s gone, it’s gone. 

I like to take a few extra steps iin trimming my lace to get a result that I like. Below is step by step instructions on how I do it and a video for the visual learners. This method works well for people with a little bio hair on the sides who plan to blend their bio hair into the front of the wig. Note that this is more steps than you need if you don’t have any bio hair, or if your wig color is very different from your bio hair.. (See below for more info on that.)

1. Put the wig on your head and adjust it so that it’s in the correct position. The ear tabs (if you have them) should be even on both sides and the front should be in the position that you plan to wear it in., probably about a 1/4” in front of your natural hairline. 

2. Pull the majority of the hair in front back with a clip to hold it away from your face. Then place a few smaller hair clips or bobby pins in the very front to hold back any short or return hairs close to the hairline

3. Using a thin eyebrow brush and some dark eyeshadow, mark the lace where your side bio hair is.. You will want to cut right up to the lace or possibly into the lace a little in this area. So that the lace isn’t visible over your bio hair and you can blend your bio hair into the sides. 

4. The the wig off of your head and cut 2 straight lines at the mark with the eyeshadow. A this point, you might want to put the wig back on your head to make sure you’re happay with where these cuts are. Then take the wig back off your head and get ready to cut!

5. To cut the sides - below the first cuts you just made on each side, cut to the hair line or even just into the hair line. Remember, you can always go back and cut more if needed.

6. To cut the front - with scalloped scissors facing so that the arches are going away from the hair (see image above or below), cut along the hairline about 1/8” from the hairline. Remember, you can always go back and cut more if needed.

7. Try it on and see how it looks. Pull your bio hair on the sides forward a little and blend it in with the wig hair. If the lace in the front lifts away from your forehead, grab the wig by the eartabs and gently pull down and back to “shimmy” the front down flat. You can also try making the circumference tighter with the adjusters at the nape if this happens.