Protective Styling: Wigging It

Is your hair care routine considered a part of your self-care? For me, it is. Washing, detangling, deep conditioning and styling my hair is time-consuming, but it is also necessary and therapeutic. I rocked a lot of crochet braids last Summer and Fall. The style was handy as I recovered from my myomectomy surgery, it was fun and it gave me the opportunity to switch up my look. Not to mention my hair grew A LOT over those 4 months!

This summer, I added a different protective styling method to my capsule…wigs! I’ve always wanted to try a wig but I was hesitant and perhaps afraid to. Based on my observations, lace front wigs seem to be the most difficult units for amateur wig wearers to install. Even some women who have been wearing wigs for years haven’t mastered the art of concealing the lace on the front of their units. How did I pull it off? A headband wig!

The Wig

Luvme Hair gifted me a headband wig and I couldn’t wait to try it! I knew I wanted a look that wasn’t too close to how I wear my natural hair and I debated back and forth between curly, wavy, and straight hair. I also considered if I should choose a color or stick to dark brown and black hair. I’m not afraid of color. In fact, I’ve worn it before. However, I did not want to go blonde or ginger in this instance. I chose a wig that could be a practical everyday wig, not a special occasion/alter ego wig. End the end, I chose a 14-inch deep wave wig. A similar wig is linked here. I liked that the length was neither too short nor too long. The hair color was a win because the color of the hair was still dark, but lighter than my own.

Sidenote: The last time that I straightened my hair was in 2014. I remember being bored out of my mind with my look that week. It wasn’t as giving or fun as my curls. Although it was nice to see how long my hair actually was, I’ve never done it again because your girl doesn’t do boredom.

The Prep

Even though headband wigs are really easy to install, I prepped by watching a few YouTube videos. The videos helped to confirm how easy they are to install. I don’t know how to braid, so wearing cornrows under my wig wasn’t an option unless I had someone braid it for me. I was beyond relieved when I saw several YouTube videos with women wearing their hair in twists, instead of cornrows, under their wigs. Now twist I can do! I washed and deep conditioned my hair. While my hair was still wet I applied my leave-in conditioner, sectioned my hair into four sections, made two two-strand twists in each section, and let my hair air-dry overnight. The next morning I used hairpins to secure the ends of the twists to my head and I was ready to install the unit!

Installing The Wig

I gelled my edges down a little, but I still need lessons in the baby hairs department. LOL. I purchased a wig cap from my local beauty supply store that resembled the color of my scalp. Now that I had the wig cap on it was time for the exciting part, installing the wig! Installation was really simple. I slid the combs attached to the wig into my hair, adjusted the strap in the back to secure the unit, and slid the headband back a little. As I did, I thought to myself, “not bad at all!”. I then used a wide-tooth comb and my fingers to separate and fluff the hair. I was finished!

Wearing the Wig Out and About

I took my wig with me on my recent trip to San Franciso, CA. It held up well and survived a windy boat ride under The Golden Gate Bridge and around Alcaraz. I was nervous that the winds on the boat would snatch it, but she held steady! Overall, I loved the wig and it has encouraged me to try different styles. Since then I’ve tested out various other style wigs and will eventually try a lace front wig. If you are looking for protective styling options or a way to spice up your look, I recommend a headband wig to get you started! Check out Luvme Hair to see their headband wig collection.