Making the Wig Base

Padding out the block head, and attatching my wig template.

Ruskai, M. and Lowery, A. (2013). Wig Making and Styling: A Complete Guide for Theatre & Film. United States: Focal Press.

I measured my models head to be 57cm. I could only find a 56cm and 58cm block head, the 58cm head was too big for my template to fit onto. I then put my template onto the 56cm wooden block head which the template fitted onto pretty well. The block heads are generic size so to make sure my template fitted tight and snug to the block head I padded it out using cotton wool. I made sure there were no areas of the template that moved and weren't padded out to ensure when creating my wig base the size and shape of the head wouldn't change.

After I was happy I secured the template onto the wooden block using celotape ensuring the template sat flat to the block and no areas of the template were puckered or folded because this would chage the shape of the template and effect the making of the wig base.

I measured 5cm back from the hair line and marked it from ear to ear, this will be where I lay the lace. I then measured around the edge of the section at the back 8cm towards the center. Once I joined the dots together this gave me the circle section at the back which is where the caul net will be attatched. The middle section which goes the whole way around the head is where foundation net will go.

Once I had marked up the wig template I researched into the different laces and nets I needed to buy.
As I am creating the wig for a film I knew that the lace would have to be very fine otherwise the camera would pick it up.

www.banburypostiche.co.uk/SearchSite

Ruskai, M. and Lowery, A. (2013). Wig Making and Styling: A Complete Guide for Theatre & Film. United States: Focal Press.

At level 5 we had a lecture on creating a wig base. We practiced creating darts and attaching the sections together using tutu net. Before starting to create my base I recaped over the notes I made during that lesson. I had a rough idea of how to make the wig base but I was still very unsure so researched creating a wig in various books in the libary. I took out books such as 'Make-up, hair and costume for film and television'- by Jan Musgrove and 'Wigs and Makeup for Theature, Television and Film'- by Patsy Baker but I found they weren't overly helpful. The most helpful book I found on wig making was 'Wig Making and Styling, a complete guide for theatre and film'-by Martha Ruskai and Allison Lowery so used this book as reference when ever I was unsure.

I started by wrapping the foundation net all the way around the middle section marked on the head, over lapping the net at the center of the bottom of the head. This is because the area at the back of the head at the bottom is the most descrete area for the seam to sit. The foundation net needs to be sitting flat to the middle section so I had to create darts to ensure it was sat tightly flush to the head.

I folded the darts downwards in the direction the hair would be brushed and pinned it all in place using points ready for me to whip.

I whipped the darts with invisable thread up to the line where my caul net will be.
After I had completed whipping all the darts I cut the excess foundation net off leaving 1cm of foundation net past the caul net line.

I then applied the caul net to the back of the head. I pinned it in place and had to create two darts either side of circle to ensure the caul net was sat flat to the head. As I folded the darts I made sure they were folded in a downwards direction. I pinned them in place then whipped them with invisable thread.

I then whipped along the black line edge of the circle I marked out attatching the fondation and caul net together. Once they were attached I then whipped along the edge of the fondation net, securing the foundation and caul net together ensuring there were no parts left unattached.

I was really happy with how this wig temple base was going at this stage. As it was my first attempt I had allowed a lot of time in my time plan to make this wig base beacuse I didn't want it to be rushed and wanted to make sure I was completeting it correctly and at a high level.

I measured out a cm from the line and cut the foundation net following the line from the ear around the back of the head to the other ear. I then folded the foundation one fold under and pinned it into place. Around the ears I created tabs so there weren't any areas of foundation net which were puckered or folded because the foundation needed to lie flat. I then whipped along the edge of the wig and end of the foundation folded underneither ensuring there were no gaps or areas left un attached.

The angle this was I found it difficult and quite time consuming. I am pleased with the result considering it was my first attempt but next time I would try and make it a lot neater and try and whip the seam together in a much straighter line so the wig has a neater finish. This area wont be on show on the wig as the hair will be covering it and I didnt have enough time to completely re do it but next time I make a wig this is something I want to improve on.

I then wrapped the lace around the front section of the head, ensuring the lace was sitting completely flat towards the front of the head. The lace needed to be sitting as flush to the head as possible because the front section will be single knotted so no darts can be made near the front otherwise they will be visable. Towards the back of the lace a few very small darts were needed so the lace layed as flat as possible. I found this the hardest part of the wig as it was very fiddily and difficult to see the fine lace. The lace is so delicut I was very courshous when handeling it as I didn't want to rip it or create holes.

I completed making the wig base within 5 days spread over a week and a half spending aproximatley 12-14 hours on it. As I had never made a complete wig base before I am very pleased with the outcome. I learnt a lot of things to do and not to do and recognise areas I will improve on next time making a wig base.

I left the lace at the front un cut as I wanted to pin it and know how delicut it is.

Test Fitting:

I then cut the fondation net which was lying in the front section I had measured and marked for the lace to go at the front of the wig.

Before I started knotting the wig I wanted to ensure it fitted my models so pin cured the whole of her hair starting by creating the ancor points.

I was really happy with the fit of the wig base. I was most nervous about the lace fitting flush to the head as this is what will be on show and really visible if isn't right but it sat very flat to the head. The main area I noticed would need improving on next time I make a wig is the darts in the caul net. The dart to the left created a little area at the end of the dart which didn't sit completetly flat to the head.

Lucie Minty

Specialist Practice

Making the Wig Base