The Boyd School of Irish Dancing, Swindon - Information

Boys / Men

Brush/comb, maybe use a little hairspray or gel - and be glad you do not need to read the rest of the page !

Girls / Ladies

It is a convention in Irish dancing for girls to have ringlets or curly hair. No one is certain where this derives from but one likely theory is that girls would have their hair curled for church on a Sunday as part of their 'Sunday Best', then dancing would take place in the afternoon after church.

Until relatively recently, if a dancer wished to follow the convention and have curled hair, she would need to spend many hours winding, then removing curlers or rags (and have an uncomfortable night sleeping on them). Foam curlers made especially for Irish dancing have helped somewhat to improve this, but the most significant time savings can be made by wearing a wig.

There are a lot of options and pro's and con's to the wig v. natural hair debate and your teacher will likely have a strong opinion.

Curling

Curling hair is something of an art-form and improves with practice. A full head of natural curls can look wonderful and is cheaper than buying a wig, which needs to be carefully looked after. However it does take a lot of time and the need to sleep in the curlers is not ideal the night before a feis.

Some hair is much easier to curl than others and the end effect is also dependent on the length so for some dancers it is a more realistic option than others. Most dancers will at least curl their hair to begin with before buying a wig.

Click here for more information on how to curl hair

Wigs

Wigs have become very popular over recent years as they are quick to put on, give a consistent result every time, and are good for teams where all dancers wish to look the same. Wigs are also very good for dancers whose hair is not long enough to curl properly or for those whose hair will not hold a curl no matter what !

There are different types of wig available;

Full Head Wig

This is the most popular type of wig, although the most expensive at around £60, and is a cap that fits over the whole, or 3/4 of the head.
There are a wide range on the market with different qualities, length and density of curl.

'Banana Clip' Wig

A Banana Clip has curls attached to a banana clip which is worn over a french plait or braided pony tail down the centre of the head. They look less heavy than a full head wig and give less height.
Banana clips are not readily available or particularly common in the UK but they can be shipped from the US. Again a good colour match is important. Cost approx $40 (£20).

Bun Wig

This is a small hairpiece on a string or elastic which is put over a bun created high on a dancers hair. It is important that the wig colour matches the dancers own hair as there will be a lot of their own hair visible. This is usually the cheapest option (£15-£20).

Split Curls

Split curls are a variation on ringlet curls that can be used in any of the wig types above. They have a softer look than traditional ringlets and are popular with some older dancers.

(Full head picture from www.cameliarose.com, other pictures from www.irishstepdancingwigs.com )

Buying a Wig

When purchasing a wig, speak to your teacher first to see if they have any preferences regarding style.

There are a number of different makes available for each type of wig with some variation in price and quality, but generally the choice comes down to personal (and teacher!) preference.

It is difficult to judge colours when buying wigs online, so if you can, buy at a feis when you can see lots of different colours. Otherwise you could ask if anyone at the your school has a colour ring (samples of the different hair colours you can match against your own), or a wig in the colour you need that you can ask the colour code for. (Boyd dancers, Gemma has a Kirkit Wigs colour ring if anyone wishes to see it)

Failing that some vendors will be able to send you a colour ring for a fee, which is usually refundable, or you may be able to send them a lock of hair and they will select a colour for you. Colours can vary slightly between different makes of wig even where they have the same name (this can be useful if you are struggling to find a colour match for one maker, another manufacturer may have a better match).

Full head wigs generally come in 'junior' and 'senior' sizes, with a smaller cap for younger dancers so the wig is snug.

Putting on a Wig

Putting on a wig is more straightforward than you may think, but it is always best to practice before the first time you need to wear it for something important to make sure it will look right and feel secure.

Click here for one method of attaching a full wig

Dancers sometimes want more height to their wig so it shows above their headress. Ways that this has been acheived include wearing more than one wig (expensive and hot), piling up hair on top of the head in a bun, and putting socks underneath the top.

It is now possible to buy a 'donut' (in shops such as Claire's Accessories and Boots in the UK, or Celtic Creations online). Use a single pony tail on top of the head as the anchor for the front of the wig and pull this through the hole in the donut and hold with a grip. The wig is then stretched over and the combs tucked into the anchor as normal.

Caring for a Wig

Be sure to follow instructions from the manufacturer/seller of your wig. Some other tips below - use these tips with care and your own judgement!

- Air out after each wear

Stands can be bought fairly cheaply from wig suppliers and give the wig an opportunity to air out after wearing. They are also useful when fixing curls etc.

- Keep in as small a box as it will comfortably fit

This helps to stop the curls drooping in between wears. Keeping it in a slumber net as well can make it easier to handle.

- Spray lightly with Wig Lustre

Used sparingly this can help maintain shine and reduce frizzing. Too much will build up on the wig. Never use products designed for human hair or ones not recommended by your wig manufacturer.

- After wear, carefully reshape any untidy curls around your finger or a pencil

This helps to stop the curls drooping in between wears. Keeping it in a slumber net as well can make it easier to handle.

- As a last resort, re-set curls and trim frizz

If necessary as a last resort as it is risky, on wigs that have memory curl, individual curls can be dampened, re-curled around a pencil and then pinned with a hair grip while they dry. Frizz can be trimmed off very carefully with a pair of sharp scissors - don't get carried away!

More Information

Kirkit Wigs	Great quality UK wig manufacturer with online store.
Celtic Creations	Creator of the well known 'Alana' and 'Erin' wigs among others - Belfast based with online store
Young Blood Wigs	A US based website with reasonable postage costs to the UK
Melanie Murphy	Sell the popular Lady Jane wigs - UK with online store
Wizards Den	UK supplier of lower cost wigs (styles 1 & 2 = £15), perhaps not as great a quality as some of the more expensive wigs but good value and good customer service
Magik Wands	Online UK source for Magik Wands
Soft Spikes	US Supplier and manufacturer of soft spikes for curling hair. Will post to the UK

		Full Head Wig
		This is the most popular type of wig, although the most expensive at around £60, and is a cap that fits over the whole, or 3/4 of the head. There are a wide range on the market with different qualities, length and density of curl.

		'Banana Clip' Wig
		A Banana Clip has curls attached to a banana clip which is worn over a french plait or braided pony tail down the centre of the head. They look less heavy than a full head wig and give less height. Banana clips are not readily available or particularly common in the UK but they can be shipped from the US. Again a good colour match is important. Cost approx $40 (£20).

		Bun Wig
		This is a small hairpiece on a string or elastic which is put over a bun created high on a dancers hair. It is important that the wig colour matches the dancers own hair as there will be a lot of their own hair visible. This is usually the cheapest option (£15-£20).

		Split Curls
		Split curls are a variation on ringlet curls that can be used in any of the wig types above. They have a softer look than traditional ringlets and are popular with some older dancers.

(Full head picture from www.cameliarose.com, other pictures from www.irishstepdancingwigs.com )

	- Air out after each wear
	Stands can be bought fairly cheaply from wig suppliers and give the wig an opportunity to air out after wearing. They are also useful when fixing curls etc.

	- Keep in as small a box as it will comfortably fit
	This helps to stop the curls drooping in between wears. Keeping it in a slumber net as well can make it easier to handle.

	- Spray lightly with Wig Lustre
	Used sparingly this can help maintain shine and reduce frizzing. Too much will build up on the wig. Never use products designed for human hair or ones not recommended by your wig manufacturer.

	- After wear, carefully reshape any untidy curls around your finger or a pencil
	This helps to stop the curls drooping in between wears. Keeping it in a slumber net as well can make it easier to handle.

	- As a last resort, re-set curls and trim frizz
	If necessary as a last resort as it is risky, on wigs that have memory curl, individual curls can be dampened, re-curled around a pencil and then pinned with a hair grip while they dry. Frizz can be trimmed off very carefully with a pair of sharp scissors - don't get carried away!