How to Wear Wigs with Locs

For a long time, locs were seen as a restrictive style that didn’t allow for much styling freedom. Well, not anymore! Locs are super versatile - so much so that you can wear wigs over them. But you’ll have to take some special precautions to make sure your unit lies as flat as possible and looks natural.

If you’ve never worn a wig over your locs before, you should know it’s a bit more complicated than wearing a wig over your natural hair. There’s no need to worry, though. In this article, we’ll tell you exactly how to wear wigs with locs - by the end, you’ll be able to prep your locs for wig-wearing in no time!

Choose the Right Wig for Your Locs

We’d like to start by letting you know that not every wig will work for every person’s locs. If your locs are extremely thick and long, there’s no way to get them flat enough to be worn under a sleek bob wig. Instead, go for a wig with some height at the crown - like curls or waves. That way, even if you’re not able to get your locs completely flat, any bulkiness at your crown will be camouflaged by the wig’s shape.

On the other hand, if your locs are short or not yet mature, you shouldn’t have any trouble getting them flat enough to be undetectable underneath any type of wig. Feel free to go for sleek wigs, curly wigs, wavy wigs, asymmetrical wigs, or any other wig type you desire.

Once you select your wig, the next thing to consider is how to make your locs undetectable under your unit. That’s what we’ll address in the following sections.

3 Ways to Flatten Your Locs Under Wigs

Flattening your locs under a wig isn’t as hard as you may think, and anyone can do it right at home. With the right instructions and some perseverance, you’ll be rocking your unit in no time! Here are three ways to flatten your locs under wigs.

Braid Your Locs Down

 

Braiding your locs down is one of the easiest ways to flatten them in preparation for wig-wearing. Choose this method if you’re low on time or don’t know how to cornrow. Here are the instructions to follow to braid your locs down flat:

  1. Start with your locs hanging down. Ensure that they are free of loc jewelry or elastics.
  2. Separate your locs into four equal sections. Create more sections if your locs don’t yet reach your shoulders. The way you section out the front portion of your locs will depend on where you plan on parting your wig. If you’ve got a middle-part wig, ensure that your locs are parted down the middle in the front. The same idea applies to side-part and deep side-part wigs.
  3. Use scrunchies or elastic bands to keep all of the sections separate.
  4. Pick a section and three-strand braid your locs from roots to ends. Wrap a rubber band around the ends to keep the braid from unraveling. 
  5. Repeat this for all of the other sections.
  6. Use bobby pins to pin your braids flat to your head. Follow the contours of your head and make sure that none of the bobby pins are yanking on your roots.

If your locs are very long or thick, braiding them in this manner may not get you the flat results you’re looking for. But keep reading - one of the other methods will work better for you.

Straight Back Cornrows

 

If you know how to cornrow, straight-back cornrows will likely give you the flattest foundation for your wig to sit upon. If you’re up for a little extra work for a more natural result, this is the loc flattening method for you.

Follow the below instructions to do straight backs on your locs:

  1. Part your locs down the middle or to the side, depending on where your wig is parted (or how you plan to part it). Part it from your hairline to the nape of your neck. Since your hair is loc’d, the part may not be perfect, but that’s not an issue.
  2. Using the first part as a guideline, part the rest of your locs from front to back. You should end up with at least five sections. The thicker your locs are, the more sections you should make.
  3. Cornrow each section so that it’s as flat to your head as possible. Wrap a rubber band around the ends of each loc.
  4. Repeat the process for all of the sections.
  5. Pin any loose ends flat to your head for the flattest overall results.

Be careful not to cornrow your locs too tightly, or you could experience pain and even breakage at the roots of your locs.

Low Bun

Not everyone has time to braid their locs down. If that sounds like you, a low bun may be the perfect solution. It requires you to part your hair where your wig will be parted and then gather your locs into a low bun.

Keep in mind that you may not get the most natural results, especially at the back of your head. So, if you plan on doing a low bun, your best bet is to choose a wig with some length and volume in the back - most long, voluminous wigs will do.

After you’re done flattening your locs, you’ll put on a nylon wig cap and proceed with the rest of the wig installation process.

Now you know several ways to prep your locs to be tucked away under a wig. Following the steps in this article will ensure that your locs are no barrier to slaying your unit. Now let’s hear from you. Do you have any tips for wearing wigs with locs? Feel free to share your thoughts below in the comment section.


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