"Tender Loving Care"

"guess what?"

"I'm sorry"...but I have to say this.

In no "area" - can an experienced tranny spot "a new gal" faster - than with her wig". 

"How?" 

New girls usually haven't had their wig "restyled" - since they first bought it - and it's obvious.

"The big problem?"

Very few men start this "process" - with even the slightest understanding - of female hair styling options.

You don't know how to style your wig? 

Well, don't feel "bad". 

I still don't. *Laugh*

However - I'm not about to walk out of the house with a "worn" looking wig. No matter how good the rest of me looks - such a mane will seriously detract from my overall appearance.  

I'm not 'gonna let "you" - do that either. **kiss**

section overview

Here I'm going to show you how to:

• Wash & care for your wig
• Store & transport your hair 
• Wig accessories you'll find useful 

wig accessories

First off, we'll need a few "tools" for basic "home care" of our wigs. Items you'll find quite useful to acquire in this "process" include:

• Wire Hair Brush - Get the "heavy duty type" (the cheap ones usually fall apart). Buy from a wig shop.
• Teasing Comb - Sized based upon your hair. I use a medium length & size.
• Hairspray - Need "water based" for wigs - particularly for your "natural" looking hair. You'll also want some "mega hold" - for any super-styled wigs.
• Woolite - Or any fine fabric wash with a neutral ph of "seven". I buy the cheaper "house" brands.
• Infusion - Conditioning shampoo. I buy mine at Wal-Mart.
• Plastic "Spray Bottle" - From Wal-Mart. A cheap "spray bottle" for touch ups.
• Baby Wipes - Any brand - a simple canister will do just fine.
• Styrofoam Wig Heads - These come in all shapes & sizes. I've included sample photos of various types in this section.
• Wig Hair Pins - Long steel pins designed to hold a wig in place on a styrofoam head. Available from wig suppliers.
• Two-Sided Hair Tape - Optional: For use in firmly "setting" your wig on your 
• Metal Wig Stand - Optional: For letting your hair "dry" after washing. You can also hang it from a shower head, etc.
• Hair Nets - Optional: For use in "storing" your hair - and keeping a "style" in place. Buy from a beauty shop or wig store - be sure and get a size large enough for the mane you need.
• Baking Soda - Optional: For use in "washing". Eliminates smoke & other carbon based odors.

These items are fairly essential to a basic wig "care" routine. You'll find a few other items discussed in this section. 

basic wig care

Wig "care" occurs - after each and every "wearing". If you'll sustain a basic regimen - you'll control the cost of "professional" maintenance.

Following is a simple and workable care "program" most any gal can "live" with.

The Touch Up - Perform after "each wearing"

Ever get a few "make up" stains around the front edge of your wigs? 

We all do. 

If you wear "white" or bright blonde hair - you'll notice this "problem" - after only one wearing. 

You can use baby wipes to clean up these "edges" - rather than wash the entire wig. 

Try to remember to do this relatively soon after each wearing - as the pigments from certain make-up can stain pretty bad. Carefully clean those places around the temples. 

It's easy! 

The Oil Change - Perform after three to four wearings

To keep your hair looking and feeling soft and natural - try this little "trick".

1. Brush your hair thoroughly with a wire hair brush.
2. Buy a bottle of "Infusion" shampoo (Wal-Mart) - and put it in a small hand held pump spray bottle - mixed with a little more than "half" water / "half shampoo. Lightly spray the entire wig - and recomb to allow the mixture to permeate the inner fibers.
3. Allow to dry - (it'll get a little stiff) - and lightly comb out the stiff residue from the shampoo.

This "mixture" is a  great "interim" cleaner - and possesses heavy conditioning agents. It also adds a nice clean "scent" to your hair.

The Tune Up - Perform after ten or so wearings

You can wash your wig at home with relative ease. Most wigs will retain much of their basic styling after such a cleaning - or you can enhance this shape with curlers. To wash your wig at home, first "brush" the wig thoroughly with a wire brush - and remove all "tangles" before washing. 

1. Fill your bathroom sink with warm water - adding one "cap full" of detergent. Use "Woolite" or another ph neutral detergent. I repeat - only use "one cap" of detergent - it doesn't take much. Too much - will remove coloring from your hair. I add a couple of spoonfuls of baking soda to this wash formula to eliminate smoke odors and remove hair spray residue. 
2. Before removing the wig, dip it up and down several times in your shampoo & baking soda solution and "squeeze" out the water.
3. Drain the shampoo solution.
4. Rinse wig well with cold running water.
5. Fill sink with cold water and add another cap full (table spoon) of conditioner. Soak for 5 minutes - rinse out with cold water.
6. "Press" the wig dry in a rolled towel.
7. Put wig on bathtub faucet or metal wig stand to drip dry.
8. When dry - fluff with a wire brush and arrange.

Use only a heavy duty wire brush to comb your wig. Don't overbrush - as you'll create a "frizz" look in a hurry. 

The Professional Restyling - Perform after 15 to 25 Wearings

You'll still need to have your wig professionally cleaned and styled by a salon every so often - depending upon how often you wear it - and what you "put it through".

Most people recommend 20-30 wearings between such service. That equates to about 2-3 weeks of "wear". It'll cost you between $20.00 and $40.00 for such wash, condition, & styling from a pro - and you'll usually need to leave your wig with them for a few days. 

Trust me - regular wig styling and care is essential to you looking your best. If you "wait" too long between service - you'll sometimes exhaust a wig beyond repair. I know - I did "that" a few times. ((hugs))

I also take hair for "restyling" - versus routine care and shaping. This usually runs me about $75.00 - but includes a total design, varied colored, minor extensions, etc. I tend to offer my stylist "carte blanche" in such matters. I give him a basic direction - and let him "have at it". In other words - I don't hire an artist and sit like a school boy painter looking over his shoulder - telling him where he's wrong.

A couple of times - I've been disappointed. However - most often - he's created hair that's the envy of every other tranny on the planet.

I appreciate that sort of creative genius - and extra effort.

storing & transporting your wigs

Wig Heads

Wigs do best when stored on a wig "head". There are a number of choices in this category. You can buy the "basic" Styrofoam head or an elongated version for those extra long "hairs". You can also get them with "faces" - made up to appear more realistic - for a few bucks more.

If you don't "dress" often - you might want to "write" any unique make-up or styling procedures on the head - to serve as a reminder for how to cause that particular hair unit - to look best on you.

They also sell collapsible "metal" head stands for travel / drying. 

If you have a normal sized wig - you'll want to keep it "covered" with a wig net - to help it retain its ideal shape between wearings. Humidity has a way of causing loose strands to "fray" - and take away from your styling. 

Of course, larger wigs are usually best left "loose". I've never found wig nets large enough for my "big hair".

You can purchase the various "smaller" heads from most any beauty supply / wig vendor. I buy the elongated versions from "Chris" at Hollywood Wigs.

Transportation

Your primary concern with transporting your wig is not letting it get crushed and losing its styling. You'll also want to keep it free from dirt or any other staining substances. For some - "discretion" regarding the fact they're carrying a female wig - is an issue during travel.

If you're transporting your wig in a car - you might want to consider constructing a single-headed "wig board" (See photo). Wig boards are very easy to construct in a variety of sizes from minimal materials. I've included photos of singular, three -head & four-headed versions that I own. I use them for storage, extended car travel - and "picking up / dropping off" wigs from my hair stylists.

You can also create a "quick version from cardboard by "pinning" the base of the head to an oversized piece of cardboard. (Stick the pins "upward" through the base of the cardboard in an "angled" manor to create a very firm "grip")

You can place a large "colored" plastic bag over the complete ensemble - if you will be walking through areas where you'd just assume others not notice - that you're carrying a wig.

For air travel, you might want to invest in a "wig box" - if you're taking fully styled hair that can't be stored in a plastic bag. These custom boxes are found for under $10.00 each week on ebay - and are ideally suited for travel with your wig. I bought a suitcase large enough to hold this case - and a couple of weekend ensembles & accessories. 

When "she" travels by air, I first add a bit of two-sided tape to the wooden dowel protruding from the base of the wig box - to add sturdiness to its "hold" on my styrofoam "head".  I add a "hair net" when possible to keep the styling in place. I travel like "this" often - and I've yet to have any challenges beyond lost luggage.

other accessories

A "brush" seems like an obvious accessory  - but which one should you purchase? Wigs are notorious for "knotting" at the scalp. Thus, a strong metal toothed brush is ideally suited to "work out" these issues - and keep your wig looking smooth and healthy.

Sadly, few people sell the stronger versions you'll need - other than wig shops. The cheap versions fall apart when they encounter their first significant tangle.

One mistake I made early on was "brushing" too much. Wigs do best being "finger pulled" for basic shaping. Too much brushing tends to steadily split ends on your hair. And we both know - this hair - doesn't grow back "for free". *Laugh*

Another helpful item is a teasing comb. I hesitate to try and "show" you how to use such a comb here. You need to practice with them. They'll add tremendous life to any "do" with a bit of work. They key is getting down to the root of the wig - and really "working it.

Hairspray is always a useful item. I utilize super strength to "lock in " my show and custom designed styles. Water based hair spray is your best best for "normal" use. The others can gum up a wig so badly - it's a nightmare to subsequently ever fully "wash out" - thus, substantially reducing the life of your hair.

For routine maintenance between washings, a dispenser of baby wipes is awesome. You can easily clean make up that becomes encrusted around edges with a few steady pulls of a wipe.

I'd also suggest you buy a bottle of "Infusion" shampoo (WalMart) - and put it in a small hand held pump spray bottle - mixed with a little more than "half" water / "half shampoo. This "mixture" is a  great "interim" cleaner - and possesses heavy conditioning agents. You can spray your wigs between wearings - comb out tangles, let it dry - and lightly comb it with a standard brush - to retain a nice "luster" to your hair.

I sometimes use hair "spikes" and decorative pins to pull up hair. Sadly, I've found the very best looking ones aren't cheap. A box of bobby pins is helpful in  holding more detailed styling - but that's a bit beyond the purview of these tips. If your stylist set your style with such pins - you might want to have some around. They invariably come loose or fall out.

Metal wig head "pins" are used for keeping the wig securely attached on a Styrofoam head. I prefer the "pearl toped' versions - as the heads on the "all metal" versions often snag otherwise perfect styling when I remove them. What can I say - I'm just slightly neurotic. *Laugh*

Two sided hair tape is available to give you a firm fit at the forehead. If you'll be sweating a good bit - get the "waterproof" versions (AKA Lace Front Tape). These tapes are "cut" to the front and rear "shapes" of a wig - and once fully bonded with your skin - cause a wig to stay fairly secure. 

You can buy this tape from hair replacement vendors or costume shops. You'll need to get some adhesive remover as well - as the remnants can end up "gummed' in your hair. Acetone or lighter fluid can be used to remove residue as well. In a crunch - you can make your own such tape by looping a piece of duck tape to create a two sided "sticky" surface.

Storage

I don't face the challenges of most t-girls when it comes to "hair storage". I'm very "out" regarding my lifestyle - thus, discretion is not a big issue.

Most gals find themselves having to worry about "what others see". 

My dear friend " Lady Ashely" - developed one of the best systems I've ever seen for storage of items for her "alternative" gender. From cabinets purchased from Home Depot - she organized a "line" of lockable, clean "storage cabinets" in her basement - away from prying eyes.

If I faced similar challenges - I'd duplicate her method. Even if you keep your "stuff" in a small storage locker - you'll do best with it in such a "clean" cabinet.

If you only have one or two wigs, invest in cardboard boxes ideally suited to hold your hair while it remains situated on a wig head. You can use those long hair "pins" to keep it in place by sticking a couple through the "bottom" of the box.

"personal" wig styling

If you already know all about hair styling - you need no tips in this department. In fact - if this is the case - why are you even here? *Grin* Trying to find subjects in which we've erred, huh? Move on girlfriend, you're perfect - all queens are...*laugh*

The only area "most of us" aren't exactly perfect is in our knowledge regarding hair "styling". For newcomers - I'll continue to preach using the services of a pro. Still, you might find yourself in a situation where you're forced to do a bit of styling on your own. These tips might prove helpful...

A quick way to "bail" yourself out of a "flat hair night" - is duck into the ladies room and try the "pick and roll" method. I get this trick from Charlie Brown - one of the nation's best DRAG performers. It's essentially a means of creating the effect of a teasing comb by rapidly pulling and "lifting" the hair with your fingers - one after the other - in fairly "rapid" fashion. Usually, you'll concentrate on one "side" To create such a "lift". I've performed this method in bathrooms for "GG's" - and they've walked away in awe of what a pair of fingers can do to "dress up" an otherwise flat mane.

You might want to practice and "perfect" this little move. It's saved me from an otherwise "dead hair" night on more than one occasion. 

Finally, consider taking a couple of classes in professional hair styling. This is on my "agenda". It's not too expensive - and I've "heard" it pays nice dividends.

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