There are many, many different ways of putting on a wig, and you need to experiment to find out what works best for each dancer. Below are some pictures showing one way of doing it. This is for a dancer with relatively short hair who already has a fringe. There is a link in the more information section to instructions from the Ryan Academy which are good if the dancer has longer hair or needs to create a 'fringe'.

You can click on any of the pictures for a larger view

 

1. What you need

 - a wig! (these instructions are for a full head wig)

 - a comb

 - hair bands/elastics that grip well

 - hair grips (an old credit card with a couple of notches 

   cut out can be useful for keeping bands and grips

   together)

 - hair spray

 

 

2. Before you start..

Sit your dancer down somewhere as comfortable as possible, and where you can reach her head easily and brush out any tangles.

 

 

 

 

 

 

If your dancer wears a crown with elastic that goes around the head you need to put it around her neck to begin with and let it hang loose as it will be very difficult to put on once the wig is on.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3. Create the anchor points

Separate the top section of hair, behind the fringe and create two small pony tails near the front. These will be the anchors for the front of the wig.

(Some dancers find they can have a single pony tail at the front and the wig still be secure enough)

 

 

  

 

Now separate the remaining hair into two sections and create two more pony tails low down on the head to act as the anchors for the bottom of the wig.

 

 

 

 

4.  Pin up or braid (plait) pony tails

 

Next you need to pin the pony tails to the dancers head to keep them tidy under the wig.

If they are very long it may help to braid or plait them first.

(Some dancers pile the braids up on the top of the head to give the wig more height once attached)

 

 

 

 

5.  Attach the Wig

 Push the bottom comb of the wig under the bottom pony tails.

 

 

 

 

 

Then stretch the wig up and over the head (it should be slightly elasticated).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Finally tuck the front combs under the front pony tail.

 

 

 

 

6.  Add headress

 

 

If the dancer is wearing a crown it should already be around her neck so you can simply lift it up and hold in place with a couple of large hair grips.

 

 

 

If she wears a tiara, this can now be tucked behind the wig and held on, again with a couple of large hair grips.

     

(providing the tiara does not have combs, if it does put it on before the wig, or consider removing them)

 

 

More Information

Alternative Full Wig Instructions	Excellent instructions for putting on wigs from the Ryan Academy. Particularly good for those with long hair who want to add a 'fringe' at the front
Bun Wig Instructions	Instructions from Youngblood haircutters for putting on a bun wig
Banana Clip Wig Instructions	More instructions from Youngblood haircutters - these are for putting on a banana clip wig