Makeup Kit Favourites: Perfect for Postiche

Our favourite products for wigs, hair pieces, facial hair and all other items of postiche, to keep all things faux cheveux shiny, shaped, stuck on and smooth. Of course, some regular products for our hair can be used on human hair wigs and some synthetics, but here are the ones that you might not know about or how they work on postiche.

Vitapointe: Leave In Conditioner

• Got a real hair wig or hair piece that is dry, then use a touch of Vitapointe. It’s not going to magically transform the hair into luscious locks, but it will add shine, moisture and help prevent further drying out. Plus it smooths fuzziness.
• Use it only on dry hair and only on real hair. It is not for use on wet hair or synthetics.
• Massage a bit into the hair either during dressing or before dry setting. Use it similar to a serum: get a pea-sized blob into your hands, rub together and smooth into the hair. Can add a little more if needed.

Where to buy: Boots, Superdrug, Tesco and other such stores

Clynol: Hair Shine

• This spray product adds shine to wigs (both synthetic and real hair) that look dull and need a bit of life putting into them. Real hair in particular can dull with age and use, ending up really flat looking. A shine spray won’t take away the dryness, but it will make it look better.
• Spray on dry hair from a short distance – read the instructions – and watch the shine magically appear.
• Also use it to detangle wigs. When faced with a matted wig, just spray into the hair and it helps you to brush the hair out much easier.
• This stuff really smells nasty. Only use in a ventilated area or, better still, take it out of the wig room/makeup trailer before you spray, else you could gas everyone in the vicinity!

Where to buy: Sallys and other salon suppliers

Paul Mitchell: Freeze and Shine Super Spray

• A finishing spray that really locks hair into place. A quick spritz, let it dry and it will hold the hair (real or synthetic) and keep it from moving.
• We use it on the areas of a wig where the hair needs to be “solid” and not move or flop about. For example, if the wearer is leaping about or dancing, we spray any rolls or waves at the front to keep it from getting in faces (but the longer hair at the back can stay looser with movement, so doesn’t need fixing in place).
• It is sticky until dried, so if you use your fingers or comb to mold, hold or smooth a section of hair, they will need a quick wash afterwards.
• Also adds shine to hair.
• Can be used on all hair types.
• None of the Paul Mitchell range is, or ever has been, tested on animals and is BUAV certificated. Hurrah!

Bicarbonate of Soda

• Good ol’ bicarb is a great secret weapon product for wigs to help get hairspray build-up out of wigs (synthetic and real hair). That nasty white-grey stuff that appears on the hair when you wet/shampoo the wig is simply product build-up.
• Gently rub into the damp/wet hair where the build-up is – often it’s the roots or firmly set curls etc. Go in the direction of the cuticles, from the roots towards the points (i.e. go down the hair to the ends). Shampoo out and rinse as normal for wigs.
• Re-apply the bicarb as needed until shampoo can get in there and do the rest.

Foad’s Moustache Wax

• We discovered this one by chance – and it’s great. The firm wax provides a medium to strong hold on one’s facial fluff.
• Blends smoothly into hair without adding colour or any noticeable shine.
• Made from just a few ingredients (pure English beeswax, petroleum jelly, gum arabic, zinc oxide, and essential oils) and it smells, well, essential oily. There’s a vegan version too called Toad’s Wax.
• It needs to be heated up first before applying. Gentlemen probably keep it in their pockets to warm it up, but to start out from cold, just roll a wee ball in your fingertips until it has become nice and soft and pliable.
• Lasts really well and stands up to heat, sweat and humidity. Only a cup of steaming hot beverage may cause need for a little more application or a minor tweak.
• Comes in a 15ml metal tin with a rather splendid funky design. This tin will last quite a few applications.

Where to buy: Online from Foad’s

WM Creations: Xtra Hold Spirit Gum

• Hair lace should be glued to the skin using spirit gum (also called mastix). Never use Pros-aide, latex or anything else: they’re not designed for this purpose and it’ll ruin the lace.
• Our favourite glue is this matte spirit gum from makeup artist Matthew Mungle, used for the application of fine hair lace wigs and facial pieces onto foam, gelatin and silicone appliances as well as skin.
• Shake thoroughly before use.
• Unlike most other spirit gums, where you have to dab the glue to increase its adhesion, this is simply applied to the skin and back of the lace using a brush, leave for 10 seconds and press/roll into place using a nylon stocking or the end of a tail comb.
• See below for info. on removing glue.

Where to buy: Any film makeup supply store

Glue Removers

There are several ways to remove spirit gum glue from a) skin and b) the hair lace. We have all four items in our makeup kits:

• Surgical spirit: Use surgical spirit to remove lace glued to someone’s skin.
• Spirit gum remover: Spirit gum remover is also called mastix remover or MME (top picture). Use this to remove lace stuck to skin. It can leave an oily residue on the hair lace, which can be removed with IPA or acetone.
• Abschminke makeup remover: A thick, white cream that’s good for getting glue remnants off skin. Kerling, Kryolan and Grimas all make a version of this product (Kerling’s product bottom in picture).
• Acetone: A very wiffy solvent that removes all traces of glue from hair lace. Only use acetone to clean hair lace once it is completely removed from the wearer – don’t use acetone on someone’s skin. Always use in a well ventilated area and use protective gloves when using. It is highly flammable so should be used and stored away from heat and naked flames. For more information, here is the safety data sheet for acetone.

Where to buy: Any film makeup supply store

Banbury Postiche: Hair Pins and Matte Grips

• We like pins and grips from Banbury Postiche as they do a good selection in sizes, styles and colours. They also last a long time and do the job. There are not too many places to buy these particular “heavy duty” matte grips and hair pins.
• Essential for dressing hair and wigs, as well as for pinning wigs and hair pieces on to keep them firmly attached to one’s head. The matte grips really do hold things in place, especially when X-gripped.
• Matte grips don’t show up as much as shiny grips. plus they come in various hair colours (black, dark brown, light brown, blonde, white and grey) meaning there is a shade that will blend into the hair colour.
• We love the wiggly pins as they hold hair better. The big kick-ass “Geishas” (pictured far left) are great for really holding on heavy hair pieces and wigs.

Where to buy: Banbury Postiche (UK-based and ship worldwide)

So that’s our personal faves for wigs and all things postiche. If you have any products for wigs or postiche that you love to use, let us all know by kindly leaving a comment. Or if you have used any of the above, share your experience. Jolly good!