How To Make A Wig Bigger?

A tight wig can make you feel uncomfortable and even lead to headaches. Some clients may ask "Should I throw away it?" Of course not, you can try different methods to stretch your wig and make it suitable for your head. That's what we will guide you in this article, we will show you how wigs get tight and explain how to take accurate head measurements while teaching you effective methods to enlarge your wig.

Now, Let's get started!

Why Does My Wig Fell So Tight?

There are various reasons that make you feel the wig is tight.

• Wrong Cap Size: Most wigs come with standard cap sizes, but they may not accommodate all head sizes. Or you buy a smaller cap size accidentally.
• Adjustable Straps Are Too Tight: Many wigs feature adjustable straps inside, when squeezed tightly, you may feel uncomfortable.
• Natural Hair Is Not Flattened: Your natural hair length and thickness can reduce the wig's size when you do not prepare and flatten your hair properly.
• Wig Shrinking Over Time: The size of some wigs decreases slightly after washing and heating applications, particularly affecting synthetic wigs.

Check the wig size to determine why it feels too tight since the wrong measurement can cause discomfort.

How to Measure Your Head for a Wig?

Measuring your head should always be the first step before attempting wig stretching. Proper head measurements will determine whether the wig needs resizing or simply requires some slight modifications.

Steps to Measure Your Head:

1. Circumference: Place a measuring tape across your forehead before it moves behind each ear and finishes at your neck's back.
2. Front to Nape: The measurement from your forehead middle to your neck base represents a front-to-nape length.
3. Ear to Ear Over Forehead: Measure the distance between the ears by stretching the measuring tape over the forehead.
4. Ear to Ear Over Top of Head: The measurement span crosses over the top of your head from ear to ear.
5. Temple to Temple Around the Back: The measurement technique requires tracing the distance across your temples while keeping your head bent backward.
6. Nape of Neck: Measuring the hairline starts by determining its width at the nape section of your neck.

Check your measurements against a wig size chart to determine if your wig dimensions are suitable.

How to Make a Wig Bigger - A Little Tight

There are several ways to make your wig bigger, you can choose one according to your own situation.

1. Stretch the wig with a mannequin head

A mannequin head can make the wig cap wider over time.

Steps to stretch with a mannequin head:

1. Pick a mannequin head slightly larger than your head size.
2. Put the wig on the mannequin head and secure it with T pins.
3. Allow the wig to expand for a few days.
4. Gentle heat (for heat-resistant wigs) can be applied if needed to soften the cap.

This method can be used well on human hair wigs and stretchable caps.

2. Using water and heat to stretch a wig

For a slightly tight wig, you can loosen it using water and heat.

Steps to stretch a wig with heat:

1. Dampen the inside of the wig cap with warm water, be careful, and avoid soaking it.
2. Put the wig over a larger mannequin head or wig stand.
3. Warming the cap with a blow dryer turned to low heat.
4. Before wearing it, let the wig dry completely.

Keep in mind that there is no use of too much heat on the synthetic wigs as this can cause the fiber to be damaged.

3. Cut the lace deeper behind your ears

The place you normally feel tight is your forehead, like you can't pull the lace to cover your hairline, the effective way to make you feel comfortable is to cut the lace deeper behind your ears. This method can only work with lace wigs.

4. Remove hair combs in side and the back elastic band

These tools inside help secure and adjust the wig to fit the head, if you feel too tight, just remove them to help your head get more space.

Pro tips: Remember to keep the back comb that can give your wig extra security.

5. Add the length of elastic band

You can adjust most wigs because they include straps inside. Adjusting the length of elastic bands inside your wig will improve tightness when these bands cause discomfort.

Steps to add the length of elastic bands:

1. Search for the adjustable straps that are built into the wig.
2. Use scissors to make slow cuts through the straps.
3. Use needle and thread to attach a new elastic band to the wig design.
4. Adjust the band until the wig feels better on your skin.

The technique shows excellent results on wigs made with built-in caps.

6. Stretching a Wig by Hand

When you lack tools, you can attempt to stretch your wig using only your hands.

Steps to Stretch a Wig by Hand:

1. Grip the wig close to its ear tabs on both sides.
2. Press the sides of the wig slowly until they stop.
3. To loosen the cap, stretch and pull it several times in a controlled manner.
4. Put on the wig straight away to allow the cap to form against your head.

This strategy provides the best outcomes when stretching stretchable cap wigs.

7. Cut Small Slits on the Wig Cap

You can create additional space in tight wig caps by making small openings with scissors.

Steps to modify the wig cap:

1. Locate the parts of the cap that restrict movement.
2. Use small scissors to open up tiny (½ inch) cuts along the rear part of the wig cap.
3. Adjust the wig to your head while wearing the cap. Continue cutting slits when necessary.
4. Use either sewing or fabric glue to protect the cut edges of your wig cap from damage.

Trimming too much fabric will alter the wig's structure.

How to Prevent Wigs from Feeling Too Tight?

To avoid future problems, follow these tips:

• Buy the Right Size: Measure your head size before shopping for a wig because the wrong size affects the fit badly. Choose petite, average, and large capacities when picking a wig.
• Adjust the Straps Correctly: Keep the straps from getting overly tight while adjusting them.
• Store Wigs Properly: Put your wigs on mannequin heads or wig stands to keep them from shaping themselves.
• Wash Carefully: Regular washing tends to make synthetic wigs and similar types shrink. Wash only when needed.

Can a Wig Be Professionally Stretched?

Take your wig to a professional wig stylist when stretching techniques do not give you the desired results. A wig expert can:

1. Add extra weaving threads to extend the wig size.
2. Get a bigger wig cap to replace the current one.
3. A professional wig stylist will alter the wig structure.

Professional wig alteration costs heavily but delivers perfect size adjustments.

Can I Add Extra Fabric to a Wig Cap?

When stretching fails to match your wig size use needle and thread to sew fabric directly onto the cap.

Steps to Add Extra Fabric:

1. Shop for wig cap fabric or lace that matches your selected wig.
2. Take a small piece of suitable fabric to repair the back or side parts of the wig cap.
3. Stitch the fabric pieces to the cap using a needle and thread.
4. Put on the wig to evaluate if it fits properly. Adjust if necessary.

You should try this approach with lace wigs as well as full caps and wigs with sewn-in wefts.

Note: This technology requires some skills, be careful, your wig may be ruined if you destroy the wig structure, so if you have never done this before, we suggest you hand it to a professional wig stylist.

When to Replace a Wig Instead of Stretching It?

An extremely tight wig requires replacement when regular fitting methods fail to fix the problem. The need for a bigger wig shows through these signs:

• The cap fails to expand regardless of all the stretching tests applied.
• You develop continuous head pain because of excessive pressure.
• Continuous stretching makes the wig fabric come apart.
• The product goes back to its original small size after being cleaned.

You should consider choosing a wig one size up if your current wig problems persist.

Final Thoughts

A tight wig feels unpleasant but several solutions can enlarge it. You can resize a wig by putting it on a wig stretcher and mannequin head while adding heat, elastic bands, or manually stretching the fabric. Take waist measurements before purchasing a wig so the product fits properly. When stretching fails to work, you should move to a larger wig for lasting comfort.