We present todays moment of Geek Zen

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Let’s face it; cosplay can be a pain if you find your hair not suited for the costume you’re planning.

If your hair is too long, or falls too short, you’ve most likely found yourself contemplating the use of a wig instead of chopping off your locks or getting extensions. Some characters have outrageous hair color, to boot! Bubblegum-pink hair for a convention is one thing, but try pulling off the look when you’re at your day job and it might not go over so well with your boss.

Sometimes, wigs are a must!

HezaChan as ChibiUsa (Sailor Moon)

Searching for appropriate wigs can be a hassle, too, but there are a few key ideas to keep in mind if you ever find yourself in a position to purchase a wig.

ONE- Know your material. Ask around on forums, or get in contact with people who use wigs on a frequent basis if you’re not familiar with the terminology: Japanese Kanekalon fiber is different from human-hair wigs, and knowing what ‘skin-top’ means – a wig where the hair parts and looks like human scalp - can make or break a wig. Make sure that, if you’re styling the wig, you know the kinds of products that will work well and stay in place with the fibers you’re working with.

TWO- Know your seller. This is important. If you’re using e-bay, make sure that the seller has good reviews and will work with you if you aren’t satisfied with your purchase. Legitimate wig selling sites, like CosWorx, are great, but lack the larger selection e-bay offers if you’re going for a peculiar color or style of wig. On a personal level, I buy from cosplaywig on e-bay. I’ve purchased at least six wigs from them, and have been satisfied with the communication, not to mention the price and the shipping time. Make sure that the seller offering the wig you’re interested in won’t end up being a larger pain than going without!

THREE- Know your dates. Unless you’re purchasing a wig within the country you live in, you might be waiting for a week or two, sometimes three. Most of the larger wig sellers on e-bay function out of Hong Kong, and mail from them going to the US can take upwards of three weeks, depending on if your wig was held up in customs or not. If you’re going to a convention next week, don’t purchase a wig you aren’t 100% sure will arrive before you leave. Give yourself a good month, three weeks at the barest minimum, if you’re going to buy overseas. Better safe than sorry!

FOUR- Know your limits. If you don’t think you can style a wig, commission someone to help you. There are communities on LiveJournal where people are all too eager to help out, or at least point you in the right direction. Just as well, there are styled wigs for sale on e-bay, or in the marketplace of cosplay.com if you happen to chance upon what you’re looking for.

HezaChan as Yoko (Gurren Lagann)

FIVE- Know how deep your wallet goes. If you’re like me, chances are you don’t have $150 to drop on a pretty, styled wig. Most of the wigs on e-bay range anywhere from $15 to $300, so watch what you click on. On a personal level, I’ve never paid more than $35 for a wig, shipping included, but that’s only because I’ve lurked around and waited for prices to go down. A little patience can save you big bucks!

-HezaChan cosplay photos courtsey of HezaChan herself, posted with permission. Check out Heza’s other cosplay photos, as well as her art, at HezaChan’s DevaintArt page, or at HezaChan’s personal website. ChibiUsa wig totorial can be found on LiveJournal, in a post entitled This to That.