How to Make a Lace Front Wig Look Natural

Most people have one main goal when buying a wig: they want a natural look that trumps their natural mane. However, sometimes wigs just look plain fake. And nobody wants to walk around downtown or head off to their office wearing an obvious headpiece.

If you’re struggling with a lace front wig that looks anything but natural, don’t panic. You don’t need to say sayonara to that wig you love so much (and paid good money for, too, right?). Instead, use my simple tips and tricks for making a lace front wig look natural.

Spoiler alert: it’s super easy, and you’re going to love the way you look, honey.

1. Buy Human Hair Wigs

Ok, ok, I get it. Lace front wigs made with synthetic hair are really cost-effective, and they look gorg. But I am going to level with you: it’s going to be a bit more challenging to make a synthetic wig look natural instead of a human hair wig.

However, I don’t think it’s a necessity. While shelling out some extra dough for flowy, beautiful human hair is recommended, it’s not imperative. If you opt for synthetic hair, spritz some dry shampoo into the mane and tousle it up a bit to get rid of obvious fake hair shininess.

2. Make Sure The Wig Fits

Plenty of wigs come with adjustable straps or are made of an elastic material that stretches. Great, right? That means that the wig will fit, regardless of your head shape and size. Well, not exactly.

While you can certainly adjust as necessary, if you want the absolute best fit of your life, make sure you’re buying the right size. Don’t rely on adjustments to get you where you want to be. Instead, find a lace front wig with a cap size that directly accommodates your head.

3. Wear the Wig Correctly

A wig that’s worn incorrectly is a recipe for bad news. Not only will it look off, but it will be more prone to slipping and sliding. Can you imagine stepping onto the dancefloor, only to find yourself with your wig halfway off to one side? That’s what nightmares are made of.

Instead, make sure you’re wearing the wig correctly. It starts with the right wig cap, but it ends with how it’s applied. Your natural hairline should match up 100% with the wig. From there, secure your wig using glue, bobby pins, tape, or a wig grip. But make sure nobody can see these items!

4. Hide and Flatten Your Natural Hair

Some stylists will actually tell you that this is the most important part of making a lace front wig look natural. After all, if your natural mane is visible or there is a giant lump underneath your wig, it’s going to be a clear indicator that you’re wearing a hairpiece.

So, what should you do instead? You want to braid your locks as tightly and flat as possible. You shouldn’t have your hair styled in a way that’s going to cause puffiness on the crown. Cornrows are a great way to style your locks to keep them out of the way.

Girls with extra-long hair will need to be extra careful with hiding their hair. Pin the hair securely, so nothing falls out from the bottom!

5. Pluck the Part

It’s not even to look the part – you need to pluck the part, too. What does this mean? Well, look at your lace front wig’s parting. A lot of wigs come with a clean-cut parting that’s just a little bit too perfect.

Unfortunately, nobody was blessed with a perfect part. So, something too clean-cut is going to be an obvious sign of fakeness. Avoid this by taking a pair of tweezers to the part. Pluck out a few hairs along the parting line, and don’t hesitate to make it look a little unkempt.

6. Bleach the Knots

When a lace front wig comes with bleached knots (and a pre-plucked parting), it definitely feels like you’ve bought a prized possession. This means so much less work for you. However, that’s not always the case. 

Plenty of lace front wigs do not come pre-plucked or with bleached knots. Those that buy a bleached, pre-parted lace front might end up hating the way the manufacturer did it. Either way, you need to take control of the process.

Start by plucking the part, as mentioned above. Then, turn your attention to the knots. We need to hide these, hon. And don’t worry – it’s not super difficult. 

Even if you’re not experienced using bleach, it’s a fairly simple procedure. Just slather a thick coat of bleach and developer to the knots, wait 20 to 30 minutes, and rinse, shampoo, and condition. 

7. Cut the Lace

Okay, so the lace front wig is adjusted correctly, your hair is properly pinned down, and your wig is plucked and bleached to perfection. Now what? Your job still isn’t over. It’s time to cut the lace.

When cutting the lace, it’s important not to overdo it. While you don’t want the whole several inches of lace hanging around on your forehead all afternoon, too little lace won’t give you wiggle room.

Go slowly when cutting. You want to cut around the hairline and make the lace as unnoticeable as possible. 

8. Add Baby Hairs

Oh no – your lace front wig didn’t come with baby hairs, either? Yikes! It’s all good. Just bust out your scissors and create some of your own. Remember that you want it to look natural, so try to base your customized baby hairs off of your natural baby hairs.

All you need to do is cut some of the hairs around your hairline short. Do a few strands at a time to avoid over-cutting. Then, you can get to work styling them how you prefer. Easy-peasy!

9. Blend, Blend, Blend

Using concealer, foundation, or another favorite product featuring your skin tone, blend your forehead into the hairline of the lace front wig. This will create an illusion that the false hairline is all-natural. This is a simple trick, but one that can really work wonders!

10. Style That Mane

Sometimes the best way to make your hair look like the real deal is to style it, so you love it, girl. You can style your locks at home – cut, layer, straighten, curl, crimp, wave, whatever you want to do. A little bit of styling goes a long way when it comes to a lace front wig.

However, you can also opt to have the wig professionally styled. Sometimes a hairstylist just knows the best cut and look for your wig. They will treat it like it is your real hair and give you an appearance you’ll adore.

Final Thoughts

A lace front wig is an affordable yet superb option for getting the hair you crave. However, sometimes, a lace front wig can look fake. The best way to avoid a fake-looking hairdo is to opt for human hair wigs and make sure they fit correctly.

Some other very important steps are hiding and flattening your natural mane, plucking the part, bleaching the knots, and cutting the lace. From there, you can style your wig and enjoy your brand new hair!

My name is Michelle and I've been using hair wigs for about five years. I use them when I am heading out on a hot date or looking fierce for a special event. I created this site to help those new to the lace wig world.