Dyeing Wig Tutorial
Mar. 14th, 2008 06:50 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
affreca0) So you want a wig in a color that they just don't make. In my case, I want a blue-green wig in order to cosplay To Eigetsu.
1) Buy wig. Rumor has it that nicer quality wigs are harder to dye. I'm starting out with a light blue wig (style Perfect from cosworx.com) and want to make it more green.
2) Procure dye pot, spoon and thermometer. I found a large enamel pot at Goodwill. You do not want to use a pot or utensils that you will ever use for cooking, as dye is a toxic chemical. The thermometer I used was a basic meat thermometer, wired so it hung in the center of the pot.
3) Procure dye. I'm using one packet of kelly green RIT dye. I used RIT as it is the best dye I know for synthetics. There are wig dyes out there, but I know where to buy RIT, and it comes in cosplay colors.
4) Add water (I figure I put about a gallon in) to put and heat up. Try to stablize the temperature at 160-170. Try to stay below 180, and don't boil. Synthetic fibers melt. Also add dye and 1/2 cup salt (or that's what I used. I'm still questioning the salt in RIT, I haven't had it affect anything else one way or the other, but that's me). Stir dye in now.
5) Wet down wig with normal water. Carefully place in pot. Try not to agitate to much, as you'll just snarl it up. Try to push wig down into pot.
6) Leave the wig in the hot pot for several hours (I went 5 hours). Turn off stove, and cover pot. Let sit for another several hours (I left it for 15 hours).
7) Lift wig out of pot, and rinse carefully in tub by allowing water to run from top of wig to bottom until water runs clear (as if you had dyed your own hair). Place on wig head and allow to dry.
8) Spray on wig detangler. Brush out any snarls (carefully) with a wide toothed comb*. If dye stains your fingers or the comb, you might consider washing the wig with wig shampoo.
9) Style as desired.
*If you were particular about the final color, I recommend that you cut a chunk out from an unnoticeable section and dye that first. I'm experimental. However, as I did not stir my pot once the wig was added, the color varies. Which looks more natural to me (as natural as blue green hair can be).
**You might want to wear gloves during the process. I didn't, as I have days before I need to care about my appearance.
1) Buy wig. Rumor has it that nicer quality wigs are harder to dye. I'm starting out with a light blue wig (style Perfect from cosworx.com) and want to make it more green.
2) Procure dye pot, spoon and thermometer. I found a large enamel pot at Goodwill. You do not want to use a pot or utensils that you will ever use for cooking, as dye is a toxic chemical. The thermometer I used was a basic meat thermometer, wired so it hung in the center of the pot.
3) Procure dye. I'm using one packet of kelly green RIT dye. I used RIT as it is the best dye I know for synthetics. There are wig dyes out there, but I know where to buy RIT, and it comes in cosplay colors.
4) Add water (I figure I put about a gallon in) to put and heat up. Try to stablize the temperature at 160-170. Try to stay below 180, and don't boil. Synthetic fibers melt. Also add dye and 1/2 cup salt (or that's what I used. I'm still questioning the salt in RIT, I haven't had it affect anything else one way or the other, but that's me). Stir dye in now.
5) Wet down wig with normal water. Carefully place in pot. Try not to agitate to much, as you'll just snarl it up. Try to push wig down into pot.
6) Leave the wig in the hot pot for several hours (I went 5 hours). Turn off stove, and cover pot. Let sit for another several hours (I left it for 15 hours).
7) Lift wig out of pot, and rinse carefully in tub by allowing water to run from top of wig to bottom until water runs clear (as if you had dyed your own hair). Place on wig head and allow to dry.
8) Spray on wig detangler. Brush out any snarls (carefully) with a wide toothed comb*. If dye stains your fingers or the comb, you might consider washing the wig with wig shampoo.
9) Style as desired.
*If you were particular about the final color, I recommend that you cut a chunk out from an unnoticeable section and dye that first. I'm experimental. However, as I did not stir my pot once the wig was added, the color varies. Which looks more natural to me (as natural as blue green hair can be).
**You might want to wear gloves during the process. I didn't, as I have days before I need to care about my appearance.
