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Cosplay Wigs; for that perfect cosplay wig
Topic Started: Feb 5 2012, 11:04 PM (315 Views)
Harmony_KH_Kairi
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We all know that buying the perfect wig can make or break a cosplay and sometimes can also break the bank. I've been the victim in the past of wigs for $50, $60, even $70. I swore never again would I pay these outrageous prices for wigs that weren't even that great. So i did my research to find out what constituted "good quality" for wig fibers and what to look for to find the best wigs for the best prices.

So we've all been there in our wig searches have you found any great websites for cosplay wigs? Leave a review here of the site, your experiences with the wigs, shipping, and even customer service to let other TOA members know where they might find their perfect wig.


I've got three websites that I like one of which is something i just found so I'm still not entirely sure of the fiber quality until I receive the wigs but all other things about the site seem very good.

First off Cosplay Anime Wigs: http://cosplayanimewigs.com/kashwi.html
I personally have a couple wigs from this website and so do a couple friends. They have a great selection in both heat resistant and standard kanekalon fiber wigs. The prices are good, the shipping decent and quick, and overall I just can't say enough how beautiful and soft these wigs are. In fact they're often so pretty that I'm loath to do anything to them cutting or styling even if I must (the first cut is always like TT_TT such pretty hair). An example of a wig from this site can actually be seen in my FB profile picture my wig test for Zidane Tribal.

Next up is Arda wigs: http://www.arda-wigs.com
While not the best in terms of price that I have ever found the fact is if Arda doesn't have it it probably doesn't exist. And they have more than just wigs they have things like wefts, odangos, buns and ponytails that can be essential pieces to styling a wig for some of the more crazy haired anime characters. Wefts in particular are great to help create multi colored wigs which may otherwise not exist (see Yugi from Yu-Gi-Oh....), and Arda's wefts are a great price ($9 for a package of 18in hair that unrolls to 7'7). Their colors are also expansive, again if they don't have it it doesn't exist. The wig styles are very good for those who want or simply need to style the wig themselves as they don't really offer character specific wigs (YET!). So you'll find all the cosplay wig basic styles particularly the always coveted Jareth (their equivalent of the Punky) which comes in short, long and lace front (great for cosplays where you need to create crazy hairlines, bangs, etc).

Lastly the newest site I've found: http://miniwigs.ecrater.com/index.php
The pictures of the wigs look amazing (even if the website is barebones), there's free shipping to anywhere in the US, and the prices are some of the best I've seen around. Like I hate paying $25 or even $30 for a short wig (I don't see the point since you're getting less fiber overall), on here none of their short styles are over $20 and the longer wigs are really well priced too, their longest wigs are 150cm and go for $26, they also have wigs with pigtails (which are usually very expensive) for only $30.

I'm going to order a pair for my sister and I for Ao no Exorcist for KhaoticKon and maybe a one day con too since I'm planning our AnE costumes to be very simple at this point (pants, shirts, ties, accessories, ears, fangs, and tail for Rin, glasses for Yukio which I actually bought today at the flea market, and Yukio's guns which I have already and MAYBE Rin's sword and some flame hairpieces) and then we'll add to them at a later time (I REALLY want to make the coats I saw in the promo story for the movie; blue for Rin and White for Yukio). Once I get the wigs that'll determine how good the quality actually is compared to the photos on the website. Says "high quality heat resistant Japanese synthetic fiber" which in my experience is usually damn good stuff, heat resistant is always a big plus.


I'd also like to make this topic open to posting requests for where you might be able to find a good wig for a specific character. So feel free to ask if you've been unable to find something someone else may have the answer.
Edited by Harmony_KH_Kairi, Feb 5 2012, 11:08 PM.
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Ghaleon
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Well, i'll be in need of buying a short blond hair wig for my president shinra cosplay in the near future. (I'll post an example pic for those who might not know the character)


As Harmony has said I really loathe being overcharged for any part of my cosplay, especially wigs. So i'll need to find a good price on a wig like that. Any suggestions are appreciated! (I also know this isn't the place, but while on the topic of hair, anyone know where i can find a good mustache to match the wig?


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Harmony_KH_Kairi
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To get a wig perfect for that you'd actually need a lot of work. Probably a lace front wig with a hairline sewn into the front and sides to get that extreme slicked back look. But if you want to go as close as possible without all the extra work finding a good Germany (hetalia) wig would probably work well. I'll see what I can find on both fronts and post some links.
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Ghaleon
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Thanks Harmony! The only other option I can think if is if some sorta hair coloring exists that can be washed out easily. (as my hair is naturally the right style, and shape, only in black)

But idk if they actually exist or not, nor if they are safe to use or not. So i'd much rather try a wig.
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Harmony_KH_Kairi
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http://mossn.ecrater.com/p/11879426/hetalia-axis-powers-germany-cosplay very close match to shinra. It also might be a good idea to get a bald cap and spirit glue to tack down the front and sides to the forehead. Unfortunately with this wig there would be no way to create the extreme pointed hairline with sides receding.

As i was searching i also remembered a tutorial i once watched on YT when i was intending to be Axel from Kingdom Hearts. Everyone knows he's got a crazy hairline and if you don't want to pay dearly for someone else to create and style a specifically Axel wig for you (upwards of $50) then the best option is creating the hairline for which there are many methods but i saw this tutorial and was seriously considering doing it this way except I ended up deciding not to be Axel afterall due to over popularity of the character and never again found use for the tutorial. So yeah the video is here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eTP5ghLlxLU You can get bald cap and latex from my favorite local costume store which is House of Make Believe in Clearwater (or online). And then for the hair you could get it from Arda wigs. http://www.arda-wigs.com/ShortWeft.html You could probably get two just to be on the safe side and be find for creating Shinra's hair and what's great is that unlike the loose hair in the tutorial Arda's comes pre-wefted so all you'd have to do is cut the wefts into lines place them on the bald cap with the latex starting from the back and then cut the hair (since it'll obviously be too long) and then use the loose hair you've cut to complete the wig particularly in the front where you definitely don't want to have wefted hair on the hairline. Or an alternative to the bald cap would be to do basically the some thing but on a lace or net cap and sew the wefts to the cap just like a wig you would buy. This would allow the ability to create the exact style since cosplying Shinra isn't exactly something that warrants a wig style that websites would carry.

Or you could use Arda's http://www.arda-wigs.com/Malinda.html wig and simply add the hairline to the front which can be done simply with a piece of net or lace or even felt material cut to the shape you want and then the hair you cut off the wig sewn or glued (depending on what material you use) to the hairline material.

Also in regards to hair coloring if your hair is black there's no way to go blond besides bleaching. Dye especially temporary ones are for going darker not lighter if you don't bleach first which can forever screw up your hair (i know from experience, don't ask though).
Edited by Harmony_KH_Kairi, Feb 6 2012, 05:09 PM.
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Ghaleon
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That wig you found is actually perfect. As ashamed as I am to admit it, I do have a receding hairline xD

So if I position it just right, it should look natural. I'll go ahead and order it in a bit. Thanks!
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Harmony_KH_Kairi
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No problem. Glad to be of help.
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