Quick tutorial: How to trim & style bangs!

I wanted to share a quick tutorial on how I trim the bangs on my doll's wigs ^__^"

The full post is on my blog, with more photos - http://archangeli.net/2013/02/13/how-to-trim-style-bangs-on-a-doll-wig/

 

This is a new wig that I just bought, but as you can see the bangs are WAY too long in the front. Nana looks very silly right now! (I believe my European friends refer to bangs a 'fringe,' just to avoid any confusion! ^__~" )

 

I've found that most doll wigs from various companies come with their bangs a bit long - I think it's just the way that they are manufactured and it's not a bad thing. Since there are many types of dolls out there, with differently sized and shaped heads, having the bangs a bit long gives some styling options.

 

Of course, an easy way to solve this is to just brush the bangs to one side, maybe apply a bit of product to help it stay put, or put a clip.

While this doesn't look horrible, I don't really like it. Think of it this way, if I were to scale things up, that would be a very big hair clip sitting smack in the middle of my forehead! If I went out in public like that I'd look very foolish!

 

Something else that I see very often is doll owners that style the bangs into what I've called the "M-bangs" and I think it looks even more ridiculous than a big hair clip in the middle of the forehead! Nana is demonstrating the M-Bangs look:

I've never seen anyone walking around in public with their hair style like this, or in an anime either! I see many doll owners doing this to their doll wigs, and it makes me cringe inside! >__<"

 

Since I prefer the look of the bangs without the clip, I've decided to just trim them. Typically bangs should fall just above or at the eyebrows. There's not very much to trim in this wig but if it's done badly it won't look very nice.

 

Here are some of the styling tools that I keep for taking care of my doll wigs:

 

- Wig conditioner (Large white bottle: Prisila brand from Japan; next to it is the Volks Wig Oil. Don't be misled by the 'oil' in the product name. It's not oily at all! I use the big bottle at home and bring the smaller Volks one to doll meets)

- Spritz bottle for water (can be any size, I like this small one for taking to doll meets)

- Volks Mist (basically non-aerosol hairspray)

- Volks Water Wax (used to define curls and smooth flyaway hairs)

- Wig brushes: the metal one from CoolCat is a pet grooming brush. It's great because it doesn't create static and combs through long wigs beautifully. I also keep a soft-bristled baby toothbrush for general wig maintenance.

- Various small hair clips

- Scissors - in the picture are a pair of thinning shears and a pair of nail cuticle scissors. I like them because they are sharp, small and good for detailed trimming.

 

I won't need all of these items today, but they are good to keep around anyways.

 

Use small clips to separate out the pieces of hair you do not want to trim and clip them out of the way. Then make a "bib" using aluminum foil and put that on the doll.

 

 

Next, analyze the wig before you cut it. The bangs on this particular wig are made up of 2-layers of wefts. The bottom layer is shorter than the top layer (and is actually the ideal length I'm aiming for).

 

Then I start trimming with the small scissors. As a general rule, cut lower than what you want so that you can go back and clean things up afterwards. Human hair grows back, but wig fibres don't! Better to err on the side of "too long" than to trim things too short.

 

To avoid the "freshly chopped bowl-cut" look in the front, cut vertically into the bangs to soften up the harsh edge.

 

When you're done cutting, gently fold the front edge of the foil bib inwards to trap the loose wig bits and slide it off the doll.

Carefully crumple it up so that the wig bits are trapped, and then discard it. Ta da! No mess!

 

Here's what the wig looks like after the trim! Nana looks so much better now!

 

I know the thought of cutting a wig may seem terrifying to some people, but sometimes a little trim really does improve it's appearance!

 

- ♥ Archangeli

Edited February 18, 2013 by Guest

All them years of cosplaying have helped you with styling wigs... XD hehe

those are some posh nails

I got so distracted by your heavenly nails, but this is a great tutorial!

 

I already trim most of my doll wigs, but there are soooooo many pictures I see with dodgy bang's which makes me wanna scream!

 

Hopefully we won't see so many now

those are some posh nails

Truly! I envy your lovely nails. We're not allowed to wear our nails long at work so I'm so jealous!

And yes, awesome tutorial.

those are some posh nails

Truly! I envy your lovely nails. We're not allowed to wear our nails long at work so I'm so jealous!

And yes, awesome tutorial.

 

LOL, here's a picture of nails, since they seem to have stolen the show

 

I got so distracted by your heavenly nails, but this is a great tutorial!

 

I already trim most of my doll wigs, but there are soooooo many pictures I see with dodgy bang's which makes me wanna scream!

 

Hopefully we won't see so many now

 

Oh I know!! It drives me crazy, especially the "M-bangs" look >__<"

 

I know sometimes it's a bit scary to trim a default wig, but for some dolls Volks does make the bangs a bit long, and if it's going to be her "forever" wig I don't see any harm in trimming it.

Great post! Why wasn't this posted sooner?! I have destroyed many wigs in my short DD career already! lol

Oh I know!! It drives me crazy, especially the "M-bangs" look >__<"

 

I know sometimes it's a bit scary to trim a default wig, but for some dolls Volks does make the bangs a bit long, and if it's going to be her "forever" wig I don't see any harm in trimming it.

 

Heeeeeeeey, don't hate on M-bangs! I keep my Akira's bangs like that not because I'm afraid of trimming them, but because, yes it is an anime look. Like this or this or this. It's used all the time. I'm not trying to instigate something, it's hard to convey tone over the internet. Just, to each his own.

Heeeeeeeey, don't hate on M-bangs! I keep my Akira's bangs like that not because I'm afraid of trimming them, but because, yes it is an anime look. Like this or this or this. It's used all the time. I'm not trying to instigate something, it's hard to convey tone over the internet. Just, to each his own.

 

I've been thinking this same thing but I couldn't recall where I had seen it. Gray From Fairy Tail, Yu from D.Gray Man, and especially Soul from Soul Eater might have a few complaints to launch. Stylistically it rather rampant in some styles of anime & manga, and I don't see anything wrong with that. It's just like long haired-samurai.

 

~Sister Kyoya

Great post! Why wasn't this posted sooner?! I have destroyed many wigs in my short DD career already! lol

 

Oh dear

 

Oh I know!! It drives me crazy, especially the "M-bangs" look >__<"

 

I know sometimes it's a bit scary to trim a default wig, but for some dolls Volks does make the bangs a bit long, and if it's going to be her "forever" wig I don't see any harm in trimming it.

 

Heeeeeeeey, don't hate on M-bangs! I keep my Akira's bangs like that not because I'm afraid of trimming them, but because, yes it is an anime look. Like this or this or this. It's used all the time. I'm not trying to instigate something, it's hard to convey tone over the internet. Just, to each his own.

 

Oooh, someone defending the "M-bangs" look! I'm actually glad you posted this.

I had a look at the 3 links you posted, and I can't completely agree they are the M-bangs look. If anything, it's more a "WWW" look since the bangs look long and wispy to me and are swept off the eyes. It's just a matter of how you interpret the 2D artwork I guess, and everyone is allowed their own creative interpretation.

 

Coming at this from a cosplayer point of view, I have to think about how an anime hairstyle would translate into real-world wig. Some things don't translate very well from 2D to reality.

To use Nana as my example - if I had walked around in public with my bangs gelled into a "V" in front down to my nose I would have looked pretty silly.

 

I've been thinking this same thing but I couldn't recall where I had seen it. Gray From Fairy Tail, Yu from D.Gray Man, and especially Soul from Soul Eater might have a few complaints to launch. Stylistically it rather rampant in some styles of anime & manga, and I don't see anything wrong with that. It's just like long haired-samurai.

 

~Sister Kyoya

Ditto what I just said for the middle photo. And the other guys have "chunky" hair all over.

 

Not to say that male dolls get off the hook for having silly looking hair either

 

The bottom line is that how you style your dolls it is a matter of personal preference. I just wanted to illustrate that it's not a heinous sin to trim a wig

Oooh, someone defending the "M-bangs" look! I'm actually glad you posted this.

I had a look at the 3 links you posted, and I can't completely agree they are the M-bangs look. If anything, it's more a "WWW" look since the bangs look long and wispy to me and are swept off the eyes. It's just a matter of how you interpret the 2D artwork I guess, and everyone is allowed their own creative interpretation.

 

Coming at this from a cosplayer point of view, I have to think about how an anime hairstyle would translate into real-world wig. Some things don't translate very well from 2D to reality.

To use Nana as my example - if I had walked around in public with my bangs gelled into a "V" in front down to my nose I would have looked pretty silly.

 

I've been thinking this same thing but I couldn't recall where I had seen it. Gray From Fairy Tail, Yu from D.Gray Man, and especially Soul from Soul Eater might have a few complaints to launch. Stylistically it rather rampant in some styles of anime & manga, and I don't see anything wrong with that. It's just like long haired-samurai.

 

~Sister Kyoya

Ditto what I just said for the middle photo. And the other guys have "chunky" hair all over.

 

Not to say that male dolls get off the hook for having silly looking hair either

 

The bottom line is that how you style your dolls it is a matter of personal preference. I just wanted to illustrate that it's not a heinous sin to trim a wig

 

Well I certainly agree that Nana looks silly there, but her bangs are too long even for that look prior to cutting. It shouldn't go past the bridge of the nose, and it should have other smaller chunks over the eyes. But I guess if you mean that look specifically as M-bangs, then I'd have to agree that it needs restyled a bit.

 

And like I said, I'm not against wig trimming, I agree. This is still a very useful tutorial, I just wanted to poke fun.

As far as the tutorial itself, it is great for beginners to trim wigs in a more uniform way.

 

I'll bite on explaining 'm-bangs' a little. This is not defending them, because whether they are liked or not is irrelevant to me. This is explaining why people do them.

 

http://safebooru.org/index.php?page=post&s=view&id=982432

Thats from Tamako market a currently running anime.

 

"m-bangs" are actually very common in anime. I'm Not going to offer more examples because I am lazy.

 

Its also a device for owners to show the eyebrows of their doll, and can be considered a cute or moe point. Typically it is reserved for younger looking characters or dolls. I have noticed many japanese customizers making use of the "m-bangs" style.

 

The example pic you gave with the dolls hair hitting her nose is not how most folks style their doll's "m-bangs". Of course it looks ridiculous in that context. The hair is far too long in front for most styles of bangs or fringe anyway. I am sure that at least someone has done it that way, but it is not the norm.

Great post! Why wasn't this posted sooner?! I have destroyed many wigs in my short DD career already! lol

 

Oh dear

 

It's ok, at least I only tried my hand at hairstyling on a couple of the cheaper ebay wigs.

 

I've never seen anyone walking around in public with their hair style like this, or in an anime either!

I just wanted to illustrate that it's not a heinous sin to trim a wig

 

I just had to argue a little because being around Raven for so long I've learned that always and never realistically rarely happens. I just had to fight for the losing side a little.

 

I do agree that depending on the company you get the wig from it might need some help with the bangs. Even with the wig sitting properly mat not be enough to help. Here is Rainie's LeekeWorld wig before it was trimmed:

 

No matter what I did with it, it was simply too long.

 

~Sister Kyoya