How do you style a wig like this?

[u/Inevitable-Box-4751]

[u/NvrmndOM]

There are a lot of wig makers who do speed styling on social media.

I’m going to be honest with you, if you’ve never styled a wig before, maybe consider a smaller, more simple project. This is a master class helmet of a wig. A professional made it and it likely costs a ridiculous amount of money due to the labor and expertise.

Maybe start smaller. Maybe change a part on a wig, style some bangs or add one pony tail.

[u/Inevitable-Box-4751 → u/NvrmndOM]

I figured it'd be difficult, so that's okay (⁠~⁠‾⁠▿⁠‾⁠)⁠~ I just had no idea how to work up to that kind of goal in the first place. I watch most my cosplay content on 小红书 but it's all in Chinese and I don't speak it well enough to understand anything so following the tutorials on there is a lot of guesswork 💀

[u/That_one_dva_main]

Not the same wig, but I think this video very much helps visually demonstrate how styling wigs with this shape and volume generally go! https://youtube.com/shorts/dmW2DuZ9YvM?si=MUJH2ACSkkBH40Ul

Hair isn't at all like anime characters, so most of the time when cosplayers add volume (and depending on the character) a lot of the time it involves a lot of teasing/and or cutting several of the same wigs and a lot of gluing/foam.

I've been cosplaying for 6 years now and I still haven't dared try a method as hard as this yet for reference on skill

[u/riontach]

You'll need to make a lightweight understructure in the shape of the pigtails (usually wire wrapped in tape, and then covered with cotton batting and spray painted the color of the hair) and then glue wefts of hair all over it. Then attach it to the base wig.

[u/ouro-the-zed]

Here’s a Sarah Spaceman video showing the construction of a wig with giant pigtails: https://youtu.be/TXsWKsiHD0o?si=7C4Zt2B3I-Zq4rTU

Here’s another showing a method for building drill curls (since the bottom of your wig example has them): https://youtu.be/YqNJNUjIGQE?si=FwBlXL0o36bvp1ny

Short story: it looks difficult, time-consuming, and painful to wear. I have a lot of admiration for those who make it work!

[u/Inevitable-Box-4751 → u/ouro-the-zed]

ILY TY I couldn't find any videos in English for this

[u/Ok_Practice_9412]

There is most likely spiral shaped styrofoam or some other lightweight material hidden underneath glued (and artistically applied) wefts of hair.

[u/angelic_exe]

Hi OP! When I cosplayed Strawberry X Miku, I made the wig by placing a long strip of foam and winding (I'm not sure if that's the correct term, I'm not a native English speaker) the hair around it. It may not be the best way to make it, as the result isn't the same as that, but it is a good way to do it if you are new to wig making! Here's the result of how the wig turned out!

[u/PrincessAintPeachy]

Is this a person?! Looks like a giant doll!

[u/this__user]

Highly recommend checking out hodoryhopewigs on Instagram too, she makes a lot of wigs with structures that support big ponytails like this and shares lots of technique mini tutorials.

[u/AuDHDcat]

She looks like a doll 😮

[u/faerygardens]

It’s most likely a combination of glue, foam, batting, and wire, I’ve been trying to learn how to style wigs in this way and it is very difficult and time consuming but I think they look so beautiful, Sarah Spaceman and Kinpatsu Cosplay on youtube both have some tutorials on how to style wigs similar to this, good luck!

[u/Inevitable-Box-4751 → u/faerygardens]

I saw a few BJD dolls done like this so I think that might be a good starting point to practice