How to Cut a Lace Front Wig

Understand Lace Front Wigs

Before cutting the lace, it's important to learn about lace front wig construction. Doing so will ensure you don't ruin your wig in the process. Reference the below image to understand how a lace front wig is built：

Lace front wigs are made of the following components:

1. The front lace: Every lace front wig has a lace panel in the front. Strands of hair will be hand-tied to the lace. This front lace allows you to create a natural hairline, and to customize your wig with a middle part, side part, or deep side part. Know that the front lace is very delicate, so you need to be careful not to accidentally rip it while you're cutting it. The lace comes in several sizes, including 13x4, 13x5, and 13x6 inches.
2. The weft cap: The wig cap (minus the lace) is considered the weft cap. This is where the hair wefts are stitched to elastic netting. 
3. The adjustable straps: Adjustable straps enable you to get a customized fit so your wig won't come off or be uncomfortably tight. You can adjust the straps to be looser or tighter based on your preferences. One end of the adjustable straps is connected to the lace near the ears (ear tab), so we suggest exercising caution when cutting the lace around the ears. Cutting your adjustable straps can ruin your wig. 
4. Three combs: The combs help to secure the wig to your natural hair. They are removable if you don't want to use them. 

Cutting a lace wig is easy with the right instructions. Here are the steps you should follow to cut the lace off of your wig the right way.

Step one: Decide how you want to cut your lace

You can cut it while the wig is on your head or a mannequin head. For beginners, we recommend cutting the lace on a mannequin head - it's the safest and easiest way to do it. 

Step Two: Put the wig on

•  On your head: The hairline of the wig should be about a quarter-inch above your natural hairline. Secure the unit using its clips and adjustable straps. Make sure that the lace is lying flat to your head.

• On a mannequin head: Put the wig on the mannequin head and use a few T- pins to secure it. That way, it won't slide all over the place. 

Step Three: Map out the hairline

Use a white makeup pencil to trace your hairline from ear to ear. All it takes is drawing a line on your skin in the shape of your hairline. Make sure that you leave about a quarter-inch of space between your hairline and the traced line. If needed, comb the wig hair backward and use clips to keep it out of the way. Use a little styling mousse or water if needed to keep the hair in place. 

• If you’ll be using a mannequin head, put the wig all the way on, secure it to your head, and draw the line on top of the lace a quarter-inch in front of your natural hairline. That way, when you put the wig on your mannequin head to cut the lace, you can use the line on the lace as your guide. 

• Mapping with measuring tape is another option to consider. It's great for anyone who doesn't have an irregular hairline and wants to cut the lace in the shape of the wig's hairline. First, put the measuring tape at the front, middle of the lace (on the wig’s hairline). Make a dot about a quarter of an inch above that point and do the same near the ears. Then, draw lines to connect each of the dots. 

Step Four: Cut the lace off

Make sure you follow below when cutting the lace off

1. Use a tool that feels comfortable for you. You can use hair-cutting shears, an eyebrow razor, or even nail-cutting scissors. Just make sure that your tool is sharp. If it isn’t, it won't cut through the lace properly and can even cause damage to it. 
2. Hold the lace taut as you cut so you won't accidentally cut off too much lace. 
3. Make small cuts in a subtle zig-zag motion. When the lace has a slightly jagged edge, it melts easier and looks more natural—no straight lines. 
4. Don't forget to cut the ear tabs. To cut the ear tabs, use your rattail comb to part a one-inch section of hair right above one of your ears. Let the hair you sectioned out fall downward. Grab the lace ear tab and cut away the excess lace right in front of the wig's hairline. Cut it in the shape of a C for the most natural results. Repeat on the other side.
5. Make sure you don't cut the elastic band near the ear tab or the construction cap of the wig. 
6. If you did not make a mapping line, cut the lace right in front of the baby hairs. 

Alternative for Beginners

If you don’t feel confident cutting the lace off in one piece, no problem. You can cut the lace in small sections to make the process easier. Follow these steps: 

• Cut the lace vertically from the edge of the lace to the guide line you made. Make as many vertical cuts as you'd like. One in the middle and two more on each side should work well. You should have several small strips of lace to cut afterward. 
• Pick a lace strip and cut it horizontally in the shape of your line using the same guidelines in the previous section. 
• Repeat with the other lace strips. 

Wrap up

Cutting your lace front wig may seem daunting at first, but if you follow all of the steps in this guide, you'll be a pro in no time.

We'd love to hear from you! What's your biggest challenge when cutting the lace off of your wigs? And if you're no beginner, do you have any tips to share about how to cut a lace front wig? Feel free to share your thoughts in the discussion section!