I know this is 5 years old, but, WOW, have you helped a girl out! Your explanation is so simple and easy to follow. My problem is a large head size and struggling to make wigs fit. I have a Raquel Welch whose color is awesome and I don't want to sell it. Now I'm going to try your method. Thank you!
This is not meant to be patronizing but you speak very eloquently. It's very pleasant to hear someone confidently phrase things so precisely, rather than apologetically talking in half-slang.
You are a life saver! I love toppers over wigs now! I followed your video and it really did work! I had a wig I didn't wear because it makes my head hot. I made it into a topper and now I wear it ALL THE TIME! BTW, you look adorable!
ABSOLUTELY ADORABLE ON YOU! I've done this and it works great! It's also a great way to make use of those wigs I'm not wearing because I've decided I prefer toppers! Great video. BTW, you can also use very fine fishing line (yes, I said fishing line) instead of thread. I've been a seamstress all my 71 years and eventually thread dry rots but with fishing line that fits through a needle, those clips will never go anywhere. Quilting thread is another good option. I got lazy once and tried crazy glue, but it didnt work.
This is great as some wigs are actually of better quality and you get more hair for your money but for me, I don't like the large caps as I don't need them....so turning them into a topper means you are getting more hair for your money and getting the right size of base for you...great....You look super cute in that xx
This is EPIC!! what a wonderful idea. I think I'm going to change my haute into a topper. I can't find a shape like that in a premade topper and I get to control the density and heat style!!
Thank you! I am going to try this. I still have a decent amount of hair in the back and do not need a full wig. IMO, toppers do not come in enough lengths. I want a long one. I also like some of the novelty colors not available in toppers.
Morning Heather... ok, as you may know it’s scorching here in UK & I’ve just been toying with the idea of transforming my January into a topper.. #blessed ... I found this tutorial 🙏🏻 I’m not sure I understand step 4... but I have some sewing experience, so will see if I can understand once I cut it... #outofmycomfortzone
Best bet: give this a whirl on a few wigs that have seen better days before you try it on a new unit. That will give you some practice and take some of the anxiety out of it for you.
You are so welcome! I am glad it helped. Also, if you absolutely any questions at all, please shoot them over to support@cysterwigs.com. They are amazing and can help with just about anything when it comes to wigs!
THERE IS ANOTHER SITE THAT TELL YOU HOW TO DO THIS .TOO. BOTH HAVE GOOD IDEAS TOPPERS ARE GREAT FOR SUMMER . THERE SHE IS DOWN BELLOW RIGHT TURN A WIG INTO A CUSTOM TOP PIECE. GOOD LUCK!
Thank you so much Heather. I bought Tony of Beverly Hunter because it looked so great on you but the cap is too big. I must be a petite so I'm going to cut her since I love it.
Hi thanks for the info. I didn’t quite understand what you were doing with the sewing bit, after cutting. Is there a video with a close up of the actual stitching you did. I only own toppers right now, but my hair is so thin, I can see me doing this in the near future. Thanks for your help.
Thank you for this tutorial. It was a little difficult to tell where to cut due to lighting. Would it be possible to do another video with the weft demarcated in some way?
Thank you so much for this. I’m thinning at the front only. I’ve lost my hairline and bangs. I have lots of hair in back area. Do you think there is a way to modify a topper to use as more of a bang piece and less hair in the back? Please help
Hi, Jeanette! You can modify your wig-to-topper however you like, but we caution against cutting the hair unless folks are familiar with how it behaves. It does NOT cut or act like human hair. Even if the wig is made of human hair, the processing will make it behave differently than hair growing out of the head. Your best bet is to either buy a wig with pre-cut bangs for this (we have lots) or aim for a wig with a lace front to convert into a topper without adding a bang. You can use adhesive tape (cysterwigs.com/products/blue-tape-roll ) to keep the hair in place. Hope this helps!
I have problems with curly wigs tangling in the nape of the neck. If I convert to a 3/4 wig will it eliminate this problem. The wig looks super cute on you. I like the blonde highlights.
Incorporating your biohair at the nape will cut down on static and tangling quite a bit. Human hair doesn't hold a static charge as long as synthetic, so that in and of itself helps with the tangling issue. Plus, since most of the friction (which causes more static) will be handled by your biohair and not the topper, this will also help reduce tangles. I think the degree of helpfulness depends on the length of the wig you're using. Long ones always tangle more. ;)
I often do this and trust me I can barely sew! 😂 it gives you so many more colour and texture options and I find it works out cheaper at times too. I did it with my amore laurel and a shilo too. Just choked on my kit kat laughing when you said you looked creepy.. you do crack me up! 😊
Heather, thank you for this video. I don't think enough people are aware how easy it is to make your own 3/4 topper! I was one of those people for a long time and I was always stuck wearing styles that didn't suit me like the Milan by Noriko. While I love the Milan, it just never looked right with my wavy,curly hair and I didn't want to straighten my hair all the time. Also even after i straightened my hair, the texture still never matched bc I don't have sleek shiny hair. It just looked weird. One of the main reasons I like to make wigs into toppers is because I get very bad headaches with any wig...even the larger sized ones. It's very frustrating. Do you have any ideas on how I can make a wig larger? Would it be weird if I cut the elastic from the base of a full wig and put clips in instead of making a topper? Sometimes I want to wear a wig shorter than my bio hair. Thanks! 💕
You can absolutely remove the elastic bands if they are of no use, and I have heard of some people inserting a bit of elastic into the band itself to make more room - just beware because caps do stretch with wear and the elastic will, too!
You are a genius! I am so glad I found you! I wear a large size in many wigs so it limits what I can get. I have some inexpensive wigs that I would like to try this on first. I'm not sure about some of your terminology as I've not learned it yet. Like you, my hair is thin on top so a topper has not worked for me either. No place to clip it. Is a track the elastic? Is the weft the pieces that go the other direction? Sorry for all the questions.
The "wefts" and the "tracks" are actually the same things - it is just different words for the portion of the wig that is the hair. Hope this helps! ;-)
This topper looks great on you. If I were you, I'd wear this one all the time. I'd love to do one myself but I'm too afraid I'd mess it up. I'm not crafty at all and I'd probably cut in the wrong place.
I have a long wig I would like to turn into a topper & shorten as well. Will cutting off the wefts at the nape area shorten the wig if it is a layered wig?
Hi Mary! So yes, it will shorten a layered wig. I would take the hair/wefts you want to cut off to make the topper and simply twist and pin them inside the cap and try it on before making any alterations to see how the length is going to work 😉
Well, they are going to relax a bit with wear - so gently combing them out and a soak in some cool water and a bit of fabric softener and then hang to dry (the hanging while wet should also help the curls relax a bit) - spray synthetic safe conditioner when dry and "brush" through with your fingers.
Well how do you turn a wig with lace construction into a hair topper?? You said any wig but can't see the tracks to cut off on the lace construction wigs.
Hi, Carrie! No, it doesn't NEED to be an open-wefted wig, but it makes everything a lot easier. The more complicated the cap construction, the more tricky it will be to cut up without spoiling it. Hope this helps!
It is super easy! Just grab a wig you have on hand that has tracks in the back. Now, find the track that runs all the way along the back of the wig from the bottom of both of the ear tabs. See all the stuff under that weft? Cut that stuff off. ;) If you cut too much or accidentally cut the elastic, that's no biggie whatsoever as long as you don't cut any of the wefts themselves. You can always reattach any elastic that you cut by accident before attaching the clips. Again, anything you do will be fine as long as you don't cut the tracks. It's basically a bulletproof, easy mod for you to do.
CysterWigs thanks so much,I would love to try on an old wig first,you amae me Heather..thank you for explaining how to do it. .I hope you are resting enough ,and I really appreciate you taking the time to share with me..you are the best.
That's a great question! Heather actually discusses the reason why you might do this at the beginning of her video. 😊 If you can make your own toppers then you have a much larger variety of hair textures, construction styles, and, on top of that, you can customize the topper so it matches your needs perfectly. This is actually very important for people that need 3/4 wigs (wiglets) or someone who has a hard time finding wigs that fit properly. I actually use this trick on to repurpose some of my older wigs for the summer! - Annie 🌺
It's a word for a variety store. TG&Y was a big dime store in the 60's. It's an version of what we know as a dollar store today. It carries inexpensive home goods. snacks etc
I know this is 5 years old, but, WOW, have you helped a girl out! Your explanation is so simple and easy to follow. My problem is a large head size and struggling to make wigs fit. I have a Raquel Welch whose color is awesome and I don't want to sell it. Now I'm going to try your method. Thank you!
Thank you, Pam! So glad to hear you found this helpful! 💖💓💗 Are you going to share pictures or videos when you're done?
OMG! This is GENIUS!!!! Thank you so much for sharing this, it is a GAME CHANGER!!!!!
You're very welcome, Kara! 💖💓💗
This is not meant to be patronizing but you speak very eloquently. It's very pleasant to hear someone confidently phrase things so precisely, rather than apologetically talking in half-slang.
Thank you for taking the time to compliment and even clarify your compliment! We appreciate the support! 🥰
You are a life saver! I love toppers over wigs now! I followed your video and it really did work! I had a wig I didn't wear because it makes my head hot. I made it into a topper and now I wear it ALL THE TIME! BTW, you look adorable!
💗 - CysterWigs Team
Thank you for taking the time to do this when you have so much on your plate. Glad to see that you are sitting down and "resting". Best wishes.
I love it! I'm going to try this on some of my old wigs. It looks adorable on you!
What a great tip!!!! I love this idea and it's a great way to use old wigs...also much cooler in the summer too. Thanks Heather!
I want to thank you for making these video's. You have changed my wig game. Thanks again . Ps you look amazing !
Agree!! I'm finally not scared to go out in a wig or wig-like thingy..
ABSOLUTELY ADORABLE ON YOU! I've done this and it works great! It's also a great way to make use of those wigs I'm not wearing because I've decided I prefer toppers! Great video. BTW, you can also use very fine fishing line (yes, I said fishing line) instead of thread. I've been a seamstress all my 71 years and eventually thread dry rots but with fishing line that fits through a needle, those clips will never go anywhere. Quilting thread is another good option. I got lazy once and tried crazy glue, but it didnt work.
Thanks for the tips, Dee! I will have to give that a go next time. Fishing line makes perfect sense! It's usually monofilament thread, after all! :)
Awesome video I’m definitely going to try this love all the comments too!
Love that color and style on you. It looks fabulous!
Absolutely adorable! You look so pretty in this topper! Great job! My favorite video, can't wait to try this!
Thanks, Marjorie! Please let us know how it turns out if you give this a go!
I MADE MY MILA OM 3/4 WIG AND IT LOOKS GREAT I LOVE SHADED PRALINE FROM YOUR CLOSEOUTS!
YOU LOOK ADORABLE IN THIS HAND MADE TOPPER THANKS FOR SHARING I WILL SHARE THIS ON MY FACEBOOK !
This is great as some wigs are actually of better quality and you get more hair for your money but for me, I don't like the large caps as I don't need them....so turning them into a topper means you are getting more hair for your money and getting the right size of base for you...great....You look super cute in that xx
Awww thank you so much! You are wonderful!
It looks so pretty on you. Thank you - most wigs I see are either straight or too curly. This one is perfect and it suits you so well.
Yay!!! I am glad you like it! You are so welcome and thank you for commenting!
THAT LOOKS AMAZING THANKS FOR THE INFO!
That's exactly what I want as a topper!!!
Awesome job looks so cute
This is so helpful. Thank you!!
Thank YOU! So glad it was useful! 💖
I loved this video!!
Really cute on you and you look great in it!!
Thank you so much! You are amazing!
Love it!
Excellent video, thanks for sharing.
My pleasure! Thank you for commenting. :)
This is the video I needed!!!! Thank you! All the wigs I’ve tried are too long at the nape!
You're selcome! So glad you found it useful! 💖
Beautiful!!
thank you soooo much.. I can not get wigs to fit my head right... and toppers work great.. just not a wide selection out there... this is awesome
Glad this helped you out Burrie!
I was just thinking about doing this with a mono top lace front wig I have! What timely advice. Thank You!
Glad to be of help, Becky!
Thank you thank you for this video!!!
This is EPIC!! what a wonderful idea. I think I'm going to change my haute into a topper. I can't find a shape like that in a premade topper and I get to control the density and heat style!!
also its great for summer options as its cooler!
Thanks, reann! Have fun and enjoy!
So cute and looks natural.
Thank you so much!
Thank you! I am going to try this. I still have a decent amount of hair in the back and do not need a full wig. IMO, toppers do not come in enough lengths. I want a long one. I also like some of the novelty colors not available in toppers.
You are so welcome! Please let me know how it does for you!
Wow! You just helped me so much. I just did this to a Noriko Joli. It’s much better and more natural.x
I'm thrilled this video helped, Katherine. Thank you for sharing. 😁- Whitney
Morning Heather... ok, as you may know it’s scorching here in UK & I’ve just been toying with the idea of transforming my January into a topper.. #blessed ... I found this tutorial 🙏🏻
I’m not sure I understand step 4... but I have some sewing experience, so will see if I can understand once I cut it... #outofmycomfortzone
Best of luck Donna! Let us know how you make out!
Looks great WoW
Thank you!
Great job! Thank you so much!
Can I send I my wig so u can make me a topper out of my wig
Awesome!!!
You're so pretty! Yeah I tried this on a wig. Worked ok! =) Thanks
Yay! Thank you! 💗 - CysterWigs Team
Thank you. I couldn't see where you sewed it to reinforce after cutting it. But this is great.
Thank you so much for the comment! I hope you are doing great!
I like it, It's fantastic and useful for me, Thank you so much...
You are most welcome! 😘 - CysterWigs Team
WoW! Thanks
That was great! Thank you. :-)
my fav on you x
This is just what I need!! I'd really be afraid of cutting the wig as I've never done it. It looks beautiful on you!
Best bet: give this a whirl on a few wigs that have seen better days before you try it on a new unit. That will give you some practice and take some of the anxiety out of it for you.
This is so helpful--I'm still not quite sure where you cut it, but I need to do this on a wig. Thank you.
You are so welcome! I am glad it helped. Also, if you absolutely any questions at all, please shoot them over to support@cysterwigs.com. They are amazing and can help with just about anything when it comes to wigs!
@@CysterWigs Thank you.
THERE IS ANOTHER SITE THAT TELL YOU HOW TO DO THIS .TOO. BOTH HAVE GOOD IDEAS TOPPERS ARE GREAT FOR SUMMER . THERE SHE IS DOWN BELLOW RIGHT TURN A WIG INTO A CUSTOM TOP PIECE. GOOD LUCK!
Thank you so much Heather. I bought Tony of Beverly Hunter because it looked so great on you but the cap is too big. I must be a petite so I'm going to cut her since I love it.
I think Hunter would make an excellent topper. ;)
Looks great 👍
Thanks so much, Norma! - CysterWigs Team
Thank you for a wonderful tutorial, you look very cute ❤️
You are so welcome! I hope you are having a beautiful day!
OMG.. Usually wear topper s..I'm 72.. Got a wig n HATE it.. I'm gonna make a topper!!! Thank you for this sweetheart..
You're very welcome. Janet! Glad you found this video helpful!
GENIUS .....THANKS
💗 - CysterWigs Team
Hi thanks for the info. I didn’t quite understand what you were doing with the sewing bit, after cutting. Is there a video with a close up of the actual stitching you did. I only own toppers right now, but my hair is so thin, I can see me doing this in the near future. Thanks for your help.
No, sorry not just yet. If you have any questions, please send an email to support@cysterwigs.com... Enrique@cw
Thank you for this tutorial. It was a little difficult to tell where to cut due to lighting. Would it be possible to do another video with the weft demarcated in some way?
Thats a great idea Simone! Thank you for the comment!
Good stuff thanks,
I MADE A 3/4 WIG WITH MY MILA . ITS NOT TO SMALL NOW . YOU CAN SEW IT ON YOUR HAT THAT WOULD BE COOK FOR SUMMER! FOR THE END S!
That's a great idea if you have a petite head in which your choices are limited. I'm going to do this. Thanks Heather for all your videos.
I do this to accommodate my large head, and because I can’t stand the nape area as it NEVER fits my head correctly.
Very nice
Thank you! 💖
So cute
Thank you so much! You are wonderful!
Thank you so much for this. I’m thinning at the front only. I’ve lost my hairline and bangs. I have lots of hair in back area. Do you think there is a way to modify a topper to use as more of a bang piece and less hair in the back? Please help
Hi, Jeanette! You can modify your wig-to-topper however you like, but we caution against cutting the hair unless
folks are familiar with how it behaves. It does NOT cut or act like human hair. Even if the wig is made of human hair, the processing will make it behave differently than hair growing out of the head. Your best bet is to either buy a wig with pre-cut bangs for this (we have lots) or aim for a wig with a lace front to convert into a topper without adding a bang. You can use adhesive tape (cysterwigs.com/products/blue-tape-roll ) to keep the hair in place. Hope this helps!
very helpful
Glad to hear that
I have problems with curly wigs tangling in the nape of the neck. If I convert to a 3/4 wig will it eliminate this problem. The wig looks super cute on you. I like the blonde highlights.
Incorporating your biohair at the nape will cut down on static and tangling quite a bit. Human hair doesn't hold a static charge as long as synthetic, so that in and of itself helps with the tangling issue. Plus, since most of the friction (which causes more static) will be handled by your biohair and not the topper, this will also help reduce tangles. I think the degree of helpfulness depends on the length of the wig you're using. Long ones always tangle more. ;)
I often do this and trust me I can barely sew! 😂 it gives you so many more colour and texture options and I find it works out cheaper at times too. I did it with my amore laurel and a shilo too. Just choked on my kit kat laughing when you said you looked creepy.. you do crack me up! 😊
Heather, thank you for this video. I don't think enough people are aware how easy it is to make your own 3/4 topper! I was one of those people for a long time and I was always stuck wearing styles that didn't suit me like the Milan by Noriko. While I love the Milan, it just never looked right with my wavy,curly hair and I didn't want to straighten my hair all the time. Also even after i straightened my hair, the texture still never matched bc I don't have sleek shiny hair. It just looked weird.
One of the main reasons I like to make wigs into toppers is because I get very bad headaches with any wig...even the larger sized ones. It's very frustrating.
Do you have any ideas on how I can make a wig larger? Would it be weird if I cut the elastic from the base of a full wig and put clips in instead of making a topper? Sometimes I want to wear a wig shorter than my bio hair.
Thanks! 💕
You can absolutely remove the elastic bands if they are of no use, and I have heard of some people inserting a bit of elastic into the band itself to make more room - just beware because caps do stretch with wear and the elastic will, too!
CysterWigs thanks!!
You are a genius! I am so glad I found you! I wear a large size in many wigs so it limits what I can get. I have some inexpensive wigs that I would like to try this on first. I'm not sure about some of your terminology as I've not learned it yet. Like you, my hair is thin on top so a topper has not worked for me either. No place to clip it. Is a track the elastic? Is the weft the pieces that go the other direction? Sorry for all the questions.
The "wefts" and the "tracks" are actually the same things - it is just different words for the portion of the wig that is the hair. Hope this helps! ;-)
This topper looks great on you. If I were you, I'd wear this one all the time. I'd love to do one myself but I'm too afraid I'd mess it up. I'm not crafty at all and I'd probably cut in the wrong place.
I wore it all day yesterday and felt like a million bucks! :)
Nice.
Thanks
=O Holy crap! Was that a brand new wig she just cut up?
ABSOLUTELY! :D
I have a long wig I would like to turn into a topper & shorten as well. Will cutting off the wefts at the nape area shorten the wig if it is a layered wig?
Hi Mary! So yes, it will shorten a layered wig. I would take the hair/wefts you want to cut off to make the topper and simply twist and pin them inside the cap and try it on before making any alterations to see how the length is going to work 😉
Also I love the Brittany wig but the curls are a little tight for my liking, what is the best way to loosen & relax them?
Well, they are going to relax a bit with wear - so gently combing them out and a soak in some cool water and a bit of fabric softener and then hang to dry (the hanging while wet should also help the curls relax a bit) - spray synthetic safe conditioner when dry and "brush" through with your fingers.
Well how do you turn a wig with lace construction into a hair topper?? You said any wig but can't see the tracks to cut off on the lace construction wigs.
Hey Girl, if you shoot this question over to support@cysterwigs.com they can help you understand. I hope you are doing fantastic today!
Do you need an open wefted wig for this?? Thanks
Hi, Carrie! No, it doesn't NEED to be an open-wefted wig, but it makes everything a lot easier. The more complicated the cap construction, the more tricky it will be to cut up without spoiling it. Hope this helps!
Can you leave out some of your bio hair to make it look even more natural?
Absolutely! Toppers are designed mainly to cover the top of your head, and let the rest of your hair show underneath! 💖
Thanks Heather, wish the lighting was better as you cut it ,it is hard to see where you cut..you are so crafty ...
I agree! I'm not sure where to cut and where not to cut. But great idea! Thank you.
It is super easy! Just grab a wig you have on hand that has tracks in the back. Now, find the track that runs all the way along the back of the wig from the bottom of both of the ear tabs.
See all the stuff under that weft?
Cut that stuff off. ;)
If you cut too much or accidentally cut the elastic, that's no biggie whatsoever as long as you don't cut any of the wefts themselves. You can always reattach any elastic that you cut by accident before attaching the clips.
Again, anything you do will be fine as long as you don't cut the tracks. It's basically a bulletproof, easy mod for you to do.
CysterWigs thanks so much,I would love to try on an old wig first,you amae me Heather..thank you for explaining how to do it. .I hope you are resting enough ,and I really appreciate you taking the time to share with me..you are the best.
My pleasure! If you give it a go, please let me know how it turned out! :)
I don't understand, my wig only has wefts no material under it
I know it 4 y/o but great idea
Thank you so much, Vivshd! 💖
Can you make a topper out of a closure wig please?
Thank you for the suggestion, Susan!
Can I ask why you’re making toppers from a wig rather than buying a topper?
That's a great question! Heather actually discusses the reason why you might do this at the beginning of her video. 😊 If you can make your own toppers then you have a much larger variety of hair textures, construction styles, and, on top of that, you can customize the topper so it matches your needs perfectly. This is actually very important for people that need 3/4 wigs (wiglets) or someone who has a hard time finding wigs that fit properly. I actually use this trick on to repurpose some of my older wigs for the summer! - Annie 🌺
Thank you
What's a "dime store"? Sorry, couldn't resist.
It's a word for a variety store. TG&Y was a big dime store in the 60's. It's an version of what we know as a dollar store today. It carries inexpensive home goods. snacks etc