Coloring wigs, an experiment in 3 acts
By Faye
@FayeHazel (40243)
United States
October 25, 2020 11:18pm CST
Hi MyLot,
As it turns out, mom and myself actually have quite a supply of new, unworn vintage wigs.
It's a long story, but - they have been carefully stored and are still in good condition.
So the dilemma is what to do with them. Apparently there are a few for sale on online auction sites so I'm trying that.
Another thought was to try coloring them. A good number of them are blonde or grey - and because these are salon quality wigs (meant to be worn as hairstyles, everyday, instead of costume style wigs) - they are all in "real" colors, not fun colors. Not until now , anyway.
So I did a bunch of research. Since these a not actual hair, and instead are synthetic fiber, you can't use hair dye on them. So one site I read suggested that you could use alcohol based ink and rubbing alcohol to color synthetic fiber. So, a little more research told me you could take apart sharpie markers and soak them in rubbing alcohol to make a tint for wigs. So I tried that and even after letting them sit for a day, it didn't take. Wow.
My next move was to get some Rit for synthetic fiber and, well it took 2 processes of it, and the picture is what I got for my effort. A little bit of my deep purple took. I am happy with it , I think it looks purple-like, maybe not what I was going for but it's alright.
I will likely not not try it more but it was a fun learning experience.
My photo of Madelyn (the wig head) wearing the wig I tinted
17 people like this
16 responses
@Hannihar (130218)
• Israel
26 Oct 20
@FayeHazel
Could you donate them to cancer patients?
3 people like this
@Hannihar (130218)
• Israel
27 Oct 20
@FayeHazel
Good luck with it all. I am glad I was able to suggest something.
2 people like this
@FayeHazel (40243)
• United States
27 Oct 20
That's a thought too, there are a quite a large number of them so I think I will try to sell some first, but the overflow donation is a strong possibility
2 people like this
@FayeHazel (40243)
• United States
17 Nov 20
I missed these comments, whups! I was thinking on it, I have a costume it would like nice with :-)
1 person likes this
@FayeHazel (40243)
• United States
26 Oct 20
Hm... maybe it would work out. Seems like those pastel colors are in fashion at the moment :-)
1 person likes this
@DianneN (247186)
• United States
5 Nov 20
@FayeHazel Forest green is my color!
Sounds good to me.
2 people like this
@FayeHazel (40243)
• United States
5 Nov 20
@DianneN Interesting you say - I watched a bunch of videos, tutorials about how to tint wigs before I tried it. The one lady was actually using a forest green color. It got pretty! :-)
1 person likes this
@FayeHazel (40243)
• United States
5 Nov 20
Too mild? You need bolder color? lol jk.
Good thought. We will try selling, but those that don't sell we have thought on donating
2 people like this
@FayeHazel (40243)
• United States
26 Oct 20
Thanks! It wasn't what I thought it would be, but turned out nice all the same
1 person likes this
@msdivkar (23359)
• India
27 Oct 20
@FayeHazel Yes it did. You deserve appreciation for that.
1 person likes this
@FayeHazel (40243)
• United States
27 Oct 20
THanks! Ah yes, too subdued ? You prefer neon? Just kidding :-)
1 person likes this
@FayeHazel (40243)
• United States
26 Oct 20
Thanks! It's funny - I had no idea what the style would be like - until I put it on the display head. :-)
1 person likes this
@Courtlynn (67085)
• United States
29 Oct 20
That stinks you couldn't use hair dye
1 person likes this
@FayeHazel (40243)
• United States
29 Oct 20
So true - that would have been so much easier . That fibre the wigs get made out of is really color resistant though :-)
1 person likes this
@FayeHazel (40243)
• United States
26 Oct 20
Thanks! Madelyn? Ah, just the name I gave to the wig head - no special meaning. I thought she looked like a "Madelyn". :-)
1 person likes this
@StormyRainStevens (46)
• United States
6 Nov 20
There is a huge market for wigs, I'm telling ya! I'm a wig wearer. My pic is my real hair, but my hair is so thin and always has been and more is disappearing by the day so yep, I proudly wear my wigs. I love that I can change it up and be whoever I feel like being on a given day!
I so wish we lived closer so I could come to help you color all your wigs! So much fun! I love the lavender wig! I would totally wear that!
@FayeHazel (40243)
• United States
10 Nov 20
Hi Stormy, great name! I think that is amazing! I have a friend, too - who wears wigs for an instant hair style or how easy you can change colors, etc. And it's amazing how different , different colors and styles can make a person look.
I wish you were closer too, you sound fun! Though, given the struggle I had to get the wig to even that light color I have given up on coloring them. I'm happy I got it to that shade though :-)
@FayeHazel (40243)
• United States
26 Oct 20
Thanks! I was hoping for dark purple, but this is nice too :-)
@happylife1 (13404)
• Karachi, Pakistan
26 Oct 20
Yes it seems really nice and funny
1 person likes this