1. Den of Angels is closing in August 2026. New account registrations are closed. Please see this thread in Den of Angels news for important information: /threads/the-future-of-den-of-angels.893314/
    Dismiss Notice

Wearables 4th Alpaca wig I have made.. need advice :)

Jun 3, 2016

Watch Thread
    1. This is my 4th Alpaca wig I have made. I am fully open to comments and suggestions as I want to get better. Ok, so I bought white hair and dyed it all myself. It was quite the process. I brushed it and then dyed it. I then proceeded to rinse and condition and re-brush. I then glued a few layers down and decided for me, wefts were easier, so I made wefts. Each time I made one, i pulled the hair so they were all even lengths if that makes any sense. I then took the wefts and glued them down. I did my split parting and covered it from underneath with some fabric. Here are my questions..

      What do you all use to make wig caps? I have been using pantyhose, but it seems too thin. I do a few different layers of glue trying to find the perfect combination, but I found that mod podge shrinks if its not left on the head, so I have been using a combination of fabric and tacky glue.

      How do you not add so much hair? It seems like my wigs are so thick and full when I compare them with others. I feel like I have to add more or the glue will show through the layers, yet when I see others in person, the glue does not show and theirs look so perfect to me..

      How do you get your hair so silky soft? Mine seems somewhat frizzy and no matter how much I comb, it still seems stringy to me.

      How do you not lose more hair? Once mine has dried for atleast 48 hours and I go to brush, I get clumps out. I did a very thorough job brushing before even gluing the hair to the cap. I'm not sure why the hair keeps coming out. I'm talking like a handful of hair each time I brush...

      To not critique myself, I feel that each wig is getting better. I love dying the fiber. I love watching the colors and wig come to life. Maybe I am being too hard on myself? Anyhow, please let me know what you think and if you have any suggestions. Thank you :)

      Here is the back of the wig
      [​IMG]

      Front ( still need to trim top corner)
      [​IMG]
       
      #1 wrxgal, Jun 3, 2016
      Last edited by a moderator: Apr 15, 2018
      Tools
      • x 8
    2. I don't know anything about wig-making so I can't help you, but I just wanted to say I think this wig looks gorgeous! :D Reminds me of cotton candy. :whee: Keep up the good work!
       
      #2 PeppermintPocky, Jun 3, 2016
      Tools
      • x 1
    3. this wig looks amazing! I love the colours!
      now I'm no expert but it sounds like you need to make your wefts thinner! that'll cut down on the bulk and having thicker wefts with not enough glue saturating the ends will lead to chunks coming out. also try to keep the glue as close to the top of the hair as you can get so it doesn't show through (if that makes sense). I'm still learning myself but I hope this helps!
       
      #3 Jextia, Jun 3, 2016
      Tools
    4. love your colors, my wigs are far smaller but I have the same challenges .. made 3 now :)
      Definitely thinner wefts made a big difference for me.
      I started making the cap with carpenters glue and a stocking, I have now moved to modpodge and a stocking as I was worried that the carpenters glue softened when I wet it.
      I found using anti-static spray helped manage the frizz, then after finished .. I run the tresses through warm water to reform the locks.
       
      #4 Dina, Jun 3, 2016
      Tools
    5. Your wig looks amazing!

      And I'd say that shedding-problem might solved following Jextia's advice. It might also solve the thickness problem, as with thinner wefts you can add more wefts but it keeps amount of hair lesser than you now have.
       
      #5 she_flame, Jun 3, 2016
      Tools
    6. For a cap, I use a bit of an old Shirt, stretched over the doll's head. I let it mostly dry on their head (until at least the top is dry) and then carefully peel it off, keeping it's shape, and letting it dry like that. I also use aileen's tacky glue or aileen's fabric clue. I find either works. Now, I work with synthetic wool, so I don't know how this would work with alpaca, but since I have to cut it into sections for wigs, I make sections about 2cm longer than the fibres, and then put glue on both ends and pull it apart. This prevents the wastage. I don't think this would work with alpaca, but smaller wefts is a great starting point, like Jextia said. The colours are perfect though!
       
      #6 Chameleon, Jun 4, 2016
      Tools
    7. @Chameleon, did you use part of a cotton t-shirt? Thank you all for the comments. I will try making smaller wefts, just afraid I will have to add more layers to cover the glue?
       
      #7 wrxgal, Jun 5, 2016
      Tools
    8. Never made a wig of this type, but to me it looks amazing! The colors are awesome!
       
      #8 j_not_in, Jun 5, 2016
      Tools
    9. Oh wow, I think you and I have the same problems when it comes to wig making lol. I just recently started making my own wigs as well so I hope a more experienced person can confirm or refute my following observation:

      I bought alpaca fibers of all sorts of colors from the same farm. I've only used two of the fibers so far (brown and black) but I've come to the conclusion that the quality of the animal's fur really makes a difference when I'm brushing the wig. The brown fiber was amazing and I barely had any hair come off on the comb. The black fiber, however, was a huge pain! Every time I comb the wig, a ton of hair comes out. I washed both fibers the exact same way so I don't think it was the washing process that made the black fiber so brittle. I even tested the hairs before and after washing by gently pulling them apart and the black fiber definitely was a lot weaker. I don't think the color of the fiber makes a difference. I just think that this particular alpaca's hair didn't grow as nicely as the brown's. So my advice is to try shopping around from different farms and hopefully you can find one with good quality and decent price.

      As far as getting the hair to be silky soft, try using conditioners with argan oil. My wigs are super shiney and soft because of this. No frizz either :D

      Good luck and I hope I was able to be somewhat helpful with my limited experience! :whee:

      Your wig is beautiful by the way! ♡
       
      #9 koloish, Jun 8, 2016
      Tools
    10. I haven't yet made any wigs. Yesterday I wanted to try, but I had a splitting headache all day. I love this wig, though, and I hope you keep making more! Good luck!
       
      #10 orinoco_flow, Jun 8, 2016
      Tools
    11. Thank you @koloish for the advice. I will try to use some argon oil on it, as I use it on my own hair :) I know a small spray or drop is plenty lol... I will buy some for my next wig. I love making them, but on my own time and it usually takes me weeks to finish one due to my busy lifestyle lol
      I don't know how these professional wig makers do it.. they are so amazing :)
      Thank you all for your kind comments!
       
      #11 wrxgal, Jun 9, 2016
      Tools
    12. I just use somethin thin and stretchy, and usually white so it doesn't stain.
       
      #12 Chameleon, Jun 9, 2016
      Tools
    13. Your wig look amazing, i've started making mine just recently, before i've used not alpaca but wool locksbut you have skills imo.
      What you can do about frizzy alpaca is also hair straightener and add some conditioner while you're straightener your alpaca.
      I was able to turn from curly locks to very straight wool using conditioner with hair straightener:
      Here you can see natural wool locks on right and than just brushed
      on left:
      [​IMG]
      Here after using hair straightener with conditioner on left, on right just brushed:
      [​IMG]
       
      #13 $avage, Jun 9, 2016
      Tools
    14. It looks great! I do the same method as you do... Mine are always thick..Although I do condition a lot.
       
      #14 Lacey Mclachlan, Jun 11, 2016
      Tools
    15. I don't make alpaca wigs for my BJD but I've done reroots on some off topic dolls.

      As someone else mentioned using argon oil, I use Tsubaki Oil (Camellia seed oil) to condition alpaca fibers.I apply it prior using a wooden comb/wire pet slicker brush to disperse the oil through the fibers.
       
      #15 pleiades, Jun 17, 2016
      Tools
    16. I think it looks great, and I love how thick and fill it is!
       
      #16 Shojo-Chan, Jun 24, 2016
      Tools
    17. Updating my thread with another wig I have just finished. I still need to trim the back a little bit but wanted to show the progress I have made... it's still very time consuming but I think I am finally figuring it out! :)

      [​IMG]

      [​IMG]
       
      #17 wrxgal, Jul 24, 2016
      Tools
      • x 2
    18. I don't know much about wig making but your colors are stunning!
       
      #18 CMYK-runway, Aug 5, 2016
      Tools
    19. Absolutely stunning, you did an excellent job!!!
       
      #19 $avage, Aug 9, 2016
      Tools
    20. Your wigs are fantastic, I am in love with this colors!
       
      #20 Stagnee, Aug 13, 2016
      Tools
(You have insufficient privileges to reply here. If this is a Marketplace thread, please remember that some areas are currently closed.)
Toggle Width
Styler
Styler
Color Options
Color Options