Jay birmingham reveals his wig making process
Published
11th Jul 2022
by Josie Jackson

Bespoke Wigs
Speaking to HJ, Jay explains “For certain styles, a bespoke wig is my go to option for the client. Whether we want to achieve a certain colour or length, there’s lots of occasions where wigs work best. When I begin the process of making any of my custom wigs, I collaborate with my client. They share their inspiration and I share mine. A collaborative approach is always best to create something that’s really special. As my diary at the moment is so full, I only have time to make wigs for my current clients." Jay's current clients include, Maya Jama, Amanda Holden and Munroe Bergdorf. "I work with most of my clients on a regular basis and have really good relationships with them. This enables us to work really well together and come up with some really cool concepts.” Explaining the wig making process in more detail, Jay says: “When it comes to actually making the wigs, there are two methods. I either make them completely from scratch or I customise a current wig. When I am making a wig from scratch, I will begin with buying the wig cap and the hair along with the lace frontal. That’s everything you need to get started, as well as a mannequin head to construct the wig on. I start by sewing the wefts to the wig cap, then carefully cut out the top area of the cap and begin to sew on the lace frontal. I will then bleach the knots on the lace to ensure it looks as natural as possible to tie in with the lace. Next, I will then colour the lace frontal so that it is a perfect match to the hair on the weft." “Finally, I will cut in the shape and begin to style the hair until I am happy with the finish. To complete the wig, I will trim the excess lace around the face in a zig zag shape to give more of a soft blend on the lace. This helps massively when fitting the wig for that seamless finish.”