Growing up with trichotillomania, I had no idea so many women were unhappy with their hair. Call it naïveté or maybe even jealousy, but I couldn’t imagine that women who didn’t suffer from trich or alopecia had anything to complain about.
Dorin was wearing UniWigs Chrissy Lace Front Human Hair Wig – SKU: LS1813
Now I know better. As a hairstylist, I hear men and women of all ages describe how unhappy they are with their thinning hair. It doesn’t matter how much hair they actually have – one person’s bald is another person’s Chewbacca.
When it came to my own insecurities about my hair loss, I would cope by making myself the victim and developing a bitterness towards women with a full head of hair.
In reality, this mindset did more harm than good.
Comparing my hair loss to those without trich or alopecia around me didn’t stop me from pulling and didn’t make my hair grow back any faster. Instead, it left me in a negative mind space where my trichotillomania was the center of everything that was wrong in my world.
At my worst, my bitterness and resentment spread to my own people.
I didn’t know anyone else with trichotillomania growing up. When my hair stylist in high school suggested that I go to a trich support group to meet other people with the disorder, I dismissed the idea after she told me that the majority of people at the meetings only pulled out their eyelashes and eyebrows.
The road of comparing hair loss is a lonely one. It divides those who are suffering from finding fellowship and support in a common struggle.
If you need to put someone else’s hair loss (or lack thereof) down to feel better about yourself, you will never be able to respect them and their experiences. Moreover, you will never to able to appreciate yourself and your own hair, because your sense of self will always be through the lens of someone else.
Every time we find ourself comparing hair loss, refocus your mind and energy on your own goal of learning to love your hair, your trichotillomania, and most importantly, yourself.
“Every girl’s best accessory” has changed over time and for this decade, it is undoubtedly the wig. Different styles with different colors and lengths have flooded the world’s market and can be found in the room of every girl who is considered stylish. And if you are not on this train, really, what are you waiting for?
Maybe you do not have so much of a variety of wigs, but you want to look different at every event. Why not? This is very possible when you style your wigs; creating new looks from what you believe is a limited number. Different styles can be made but this article is focused on styling your wigs with bangs.
Why should you style with bangs?
The most obvious reason is that bangs are always in style. Think back to all the movies you have watched for at least the past 2 decades; actresses, celebrities and everyone in between have worn bangs at some point and totally killed it. Bangs have had their peak seasons but one thing is certain; they have always been and would always remain stylish. So, depending on the shape of your face, you can always find the right size and style of bangs to fit and accentuate your facial features.
Reasons to style your wigs with bangs
We have agreed that bangs are stylish and special, but why should you style them on your wigs? There are a couple of reasons actually, but we would be looking at just a few of them
• Bangs are known to help frame, shape and accentuate the face.
• They are used to cover up forehead and facial skin issues e.g. pimples, acne, and reactions.
• They remove the need for a frontal lace and would make your wig look as natural as possible.
• In fact, most people believe that bangs provide a younger look as it was most common with teen idols in the ’90s who needed to always look young and appealing.
Procedure for styling your wigs with bangs
To style your wig with bangs, a couple of steps must be taken. It is essential to have your selected wig ready and decide on one of the 3 popular styles; the side-swept bang, the curtain bangs and the most common which is the straight bang. Each of them has different ways to make and can be more specific to different facial shape (more on this later).
The only common thing with all three styles is that you need to wear your wig and pack up your hair in a bun before you begin. Also, remove the hair from the bundle gradually, rather than all at once so you can fit it nicely and gradually into the style you want. Ensure you have a mirror and sharp scissors so your work can go on smoothly.
1) For the side-swept bang
side-swept bang
The side-swept bang is a one-sided bang with your front hair made to be arched at a particular angle on the face. After doing the procedure stated above, you should
• Use a small-sized comb (e.g. the rat tail comb) to comb and straighten the hair in front.
• Choose between your right and left side for the bangs to be at. This is a personal decision and should be determined by your more photogenic side, better eyesight, etc. (Note: your bangs should cover your non-flattering side).
• Next, pull your bangs on the side you want them to be at, hold them in place and make a cut at an angle, preferably around 45 degrees. Continue to comb and snip until you achieve your desired result. Watch out for any uneven ends.
2) For the curtain bangs
curtain bangs
The curtain bangs are unique from the side-swept bang as they are usually longer, not angular and you might not be particular about achieving even ends on either side. Following the basic steps already stated, you also need to
• Comb the hair you plan to use for the bang, straighten it up and then cut up to the length that you desire.
• Make a defined parting either at the center or any point across the bang and sweep each half to its side.
The advantage of this style is that you can change the “curtain” by increasing the amount on either side depending on your preference.
3) For the straight bangs
straight bangs
This is the most popular style and there are a lot of reasons why it is so; it is a simple look and extremely flattering. Even though it looks simple, it requires as much effort as the other types but may be properly packed into an updo if need be too. So, it acts as a 2-in-1 style. Besides, it is the style that makes wigs look as real as human hair and is the most protective of the forehead while covering receding hairlines and messy eyebrows. The procedure for this style includes
• Comb the bang and make sure it is as straight as possible.
• Place the hair between your fingers and cut the hair in tiny snips (This would ensure that you have the opportunity to quickly correct an error if it arises).
• Continue combing and snipping and ensure the bang is as straight and even as possible.
Tips for choosing the right bangs
1) Side swept bangs
This style helps to cover up unflattering sides of the face and may also add length to the face. Therefore, they are ideal for shapes that are fuller in the middle e.g. round, square, heart and diamond-shaped faces.
2) Curtain bangs
Curtain bangs are also very flattering and lengthening for short shaped faces. If your face shape is a good fit for the side-swept look, then congratulations, the curtain bangs are also a great option for you. So, the round, square, diamond and heart-shaped faces can enjoy the curtain bangs too.
3) Straight bangs
While the former styles soften the facial features, the straight bangs tend to make the face even more angular. For example, a triangle-shaped face would be best suited for the straight bang so that there would be less focus on the lower side of the face and also give the needed width to the top of the face.
Overall, bangs are beautiful hairstyles that always seem to trend. So why not use this knowledge to style your wigs as such and beautify yourself in the process?
