Wondering how to fluff up a wig after repeated use has made it fall flat? Like natural hair, wigs sometimes need a little extra TLC to achieve that va-va-va-voom factor. Whether you’re looking for a thirty-second quick fix or you’re ready to totally reinvent your style, this helpful guide covers the 6 best ways to add volume to your human hair wig!
How to Add Volume to a Wig: 6 Foolproof Methods
Backcombing (Teasing)
Let’s start with how to get more volume at the roots. That’s right: it’s time to bring back the ‘80s tease. Teasing, also called backcombing, is the process of combing your hair toward the scalp. You don’t need to backcomb as extensively as the ‘80 aesthetic required — using this method in moderation will do the trick. Backcombing works just as well for wigs as it does for natural hair.
Do so in two inch sections of hair. Start from no further than four inches away from the root, placing the comb on the underside of the section so the top layer of hair remains smooth.
Just note that the hair on a human hair wig requires gentler handling than the hair growing out of someone's head, so to minimize breakage and damage and maximize your wig's longevity, we wouldn't recommend making a habit out of teasing the hair too often.
Trimming or Cutting
If you want to learn how to make a wig bigger, you wouldn’t think that cutting it would be a solution. But just as with natural hair, too much length weighs down the wig.
Think of a packed dance floor: If there's too many people, no one will have room to dance. Sometimes, purposefully cutting some layers and texture into the hair is the key to giving it the movement you're looking for! To create a tighter curl with more volume, or encourage straight hair to be more choppy, flippy, or airy, a trim or a chop can be just what the hair needs to move more freely.
Our team of in-house stylists can perform haircuts on any human hair wig, including ones that aren't from Milano! If your wig is in need of a cut, you can call us at (562) 426-2971 to book an appointment at one of our showrooms.
Blowouts + Styling
Is adding volume to straight wigs possible by simply switching up your style? Absolutely!
Again, wigs require gentler handling than the hair growing out of someone's head, but with a proper heat protectant, they can be styled using curling irons, straightening irons, blow dryers, and any other heated styling tool! If you don't feel like styling your wig at home, our in-house stylists also offer wash and set services where they can refresh your wigs and pop in some waves, curls, or another volume-enhancing style of your choosing!
If you want the look of a fresh, voluminous blowout but don't feel like taking your wig to our stylists or the salon, our favorite tool to make life easier is our hot air brush! Instead of dealing with the hassle of a blow dryer in one hand and a round brush in the other, you can effortlessly achieve salon-quality results with just one simple tool!
Rollers
Similar to styling with heat, self-hold rollers add volume by creating soft, smooth curls and waves, while avoiding any risk of heat damage to the hair. And the best part about using rollers on a wig is that unlike using them on the hair growing out of your head, you can put your wig on a mannequin head, put the rollers in, and forget about it!
As a general rule, the longer you leave rollers in the longer the curls/volume will stay in the hair, but some also use them by curling a section of hair first and then putting that section in a roller in the same direction as a curl. Letting the curls cool to room temperature while their shape is held by the roller can maximize how long the added volume will last in the hair!
Depending on your specific wig and the exact look you want to achieve, you can choose between a 12-piece or 18-piece set. Starting at the ends of the hair, simply roll sections of the hair up toward the wig base. If you’re just looking for a voluminous lift without the defined waves or curls, you can brush the hair out after removing the rollers. Don't forget to finish with hairspray to set the style and retain that gorgeous volume!
Styling Products
This method is best used in tandem with one or more of the other methods on this list in order to maximize its results! After you tease, tousle, or style your wig, set with hair spray so it won’t immediately flatten. Note that dry air flattens curls and moist air frizzes hair, but high-quality hairspray is helpful in both environments. Make sure to use sparingly so it doesn’t create product build-up that requires you to frequently wash your wig.
Not a fan of hair spray? Opt for dry shampoo instead but use it sparingly! Dry shampoo is another quick trick for how to make wigs fluffy and voluminous or assist in holding curls. Like hairspray, spray the dry shampoo at arm’s length away from the base for best results.
Hair Topper
To clarify, a hair topper is not a way of adding hair to a wig- It's more like a method of adding volume to your hair as an alternative to wearing a full wig. Also known as a wig topper, half wig, or wiglet, a hair topper creates more fullness by blending with your natural hair. It can be used to cover thinning hair OR just to boost volume on any hair that needs some extra body!
Hair toppers are great because they create fullness with hardly any effort on your part. Plus, they feel lighter on your head than a full wig! To rock a hair topper, you’ll need a Milano Topgrip to keep it secure without adhesives, clips, or combs. Clip the hair topper to the TopGrip, then secure on your head with the elastic TopGrip band and blend with your natural hair. (See our more in-depth instructions on how to use a hair topper.)
Still Not Sure?
If you don't know which of these methods is the best to add more volume to your wig, OR you just want some more personalized guidance with making your wig look amazing on you in general, We highly recommend a consultation with one of our specialists.
We offer consultations both in-person out of our four showrooms across CA, FL, and NY, AND virtually from the comfort of your own home! If you're investing in a human hair wig, you deserve to take advantage of every resource at your disposal to ensure it fits you and looks exactly how you want, and our experts are here for you every step of the way!
