Here’s part 1 of my tutorial on how to make an Axel wig using the lace wig-ventilating technique. Actually, this tutorial can be used for many wigs that require widow’s peaks, severely combed back styles or out-of-the-ordinary hairlines that can’t be found on regular wigs; I just used Axel as the example because I chronicled much of my progress on that wig.

Some of you may be wondering “What is lace wig-ventilating?” Lace wig-ventilating is an intricate process of weaving hundreds, sometimes thousands, of individual hair strands onto a piece of fine-mesh netting. The process is time-consuming and intense – it can range from a couple hours to a couple of months to complete depending on the size of the area being ventilated. This is serious wig construction, but the outcome is beautiful if done correctly.

Why use wig ventilating for a widow’s peaks, severely combed back styles or out-of-the-ordinary hairlines? Personally, I like what the technique provides, and that’s an illusion that the hair is growing out of the wearer’s scalp, as opposed to looking like it’s just sitting there, which, unfortunately, is what most wigs look like.

NOTE: This tutorial teaches the steps of how to prepare for the ventilating progress and how to attach the lace to the Punky wig. It doesn’t go into detail regarding hot water straightening (A.K.A. “preparing”) or exact styling for Axel’s hairstyle. These other steps can be easily found on the internet. I wanted to keep this tutorial short and sweet – if I included all of the techniques mentioned above this thing would involve 50 steps!

Here is the link to my ventilating technique:
[link]


So, enough talk. On with this tutorial!

For VENTILATING, you will need:


-1 bright red Punky wig

-Lots of loose bright red hair about 12 inches in length (about half a wig’s worth if you chop it off a wig)

-Tulle netting that matches your skin tone (found in fabric stores for about $4.00 per yard)

-1 ventilating needle (you can buy one for about $30.00, or you can make one like I did. Simply use a fine wire and bend it so it resembles a small fishing hook. Make sure the hook head can fit through the tiny squares of the netting. Adjust the hook head so about 3 hair stands can fit into it)


-1 foam wig head

1 knit cap (make sure you can easily see the netting color)

1 needle

Thread that matches the inside color of the Punky wig’s wig cap.

1 comb (to comb the loose hair occasionally)

TONS OF PATIENCE!



OPTIONAL:

Prismacolor markers (light purple, dark purple)




FIRST THINGS FIRST!
Get a bright red Punky wig and pin it to a wig head. “Prepare” the Punky hairline using the hot water straightening technique mentioned on cosplay websites. BE CAREFUL WHEN DOING THIS!

1. Here’s what the wig should look like from the front.

2. And the side…

3. Buy that tulle netting from the fabric store! Again, make sure it matches your skin tone. For the Axel hairline you’ll only need about a piece about half the size of a paperback, but it never hurts to buy more! X3 I purchased a yard, so I have enough netting to least for plenty of hairlines. And if I ever want to do it, I can ventilate a mustache or beard! Sideburns, too.
Cut out the netting LARGER than the intended size of the hairline. Doing this will give you an area for 1.) sewing the finished hairline to the Punky wig and 2.) applying the optional make-up quality prosthetic adhesive. I’ll talk about the prosthetic adhesive in step 13 of part 2 of this tutorial).

4. Make or buy the ventilating needle! Again, you can buy them, but they’re expensive (about $30.00. I just made mine with a 2 inch piece of craft wire that was small enough to fit through the netting mesh. Basically, make a small fishhook at one end and a larger CLOSED fishhook on the other end. The larger fishhook is what you’ll hold – adjust it so you can easily hold it between your thumb, index and middle fingers. Finally, bend the wire slightly so it resembles a “Z”. SEE THE DRAWING EXAMPLE AT THE RIGHT OF THE PHOTO! That “Z” shape makes it easier to twist the needle during ventilating). Put the needle somewhere safe BECAUSE THEY CAN DISAPPEAR EASILY! I’ve had to make about six needles because I keep misplacing them.
Now, hold the needle with your thumb, index and middle fingers on either hand. Which hand feels more comfortable holding it? That will be your ventilating hand!

5. Remove the Punky wig and place it somewhere safe. Get the knit cap and stretch it over the wig head, like the head is wearing it. Aww, how cute! X3 Pin the knit cap to the wig head so it doesn’t slip everywhere. Now, pin the cut piece of netting to the knit cap. Pin it in a few areas so that it won’t lift up during the ventilating process.

6. Grab that loose hair! Don’t use it all at once – grab a small chunk that measures about the width of a pinky finger. Hold the hair in the hand opposite your ventilating hand (see step 4).

7. Let the ventilating begin! Please see my ventilating technique: [link]
Make sure not to ventilate the top 1 inch of the net because you will have to sew that section of lace to the wig cap. Also, if you want to use the optional prosthetic adhesive to keep the net applied to your skin (see step 13) keep the bottom ½ inch of net clear on the bottom.

8. After some time (like, hours and days or weeks), you will have a full widow’s peak hairline! To attach it, please read Part 2 of my tutorial: [link]