Cosplay Wig Styling Tools and Products for budgets

New to cosplay wigs and have a small budget? Here are some essential tools and budget tips

Yes, its true! The statement "cosplay is an expensive hobby" is true! who'd a thunk?

I only recently got back into the hobby after a 7 year hiatus and actually properly styled 3 wigs using actual tools (ikr im so kewl)

But in these past few months my kit has been growing rapidly and ive noted down some bare bones essentials for people getting into the hobby, from where to buy cheap yet high quality wigs and what tools are essential for actually styling them

Wig Sourcing

SECOND HAND WIGS!!

Do NOT sleep on buying second hand wigs from the thrift store, it is not gross, its not icky, its environmentally friendly and your wallet will thank you! I personally source most of my second hand wigs from Vinted and eBay. My favourite brand of wigs if I can find them secondhand is Coscraft, SUPER COOL STUFF.

Not only is buying second hand good for the wallet and environment but it can also allow you to buy a wig that you can use as your sacrifice wig >:)

Cleaning is essential! I'm genuinely convinced that people who find second hand items gross don't know how to actually wash their own clothes lul. MAKE SURE TO HAVE CLEANING PRODUCTS WITH NO SULPHATES, THE SULPHATES WILL DAMAGE YOUR WIG

A basic is to; Get a sink full of warm water (NOT HOT) and use some baby shampoo, and swirl around in the tub and then soak your wig for a few minutes, and then scrub the wig cap. Once you are confident its clean, squeeze out the water and hang to air dry

Once dry, spray the wig cap with a disinfectant spray for double the clean. I use a mixture of 1:1 vodka and water but if you're underage and you can't buy vodka, you can use any household disinfectant and then leave it to fully dry, I'd say about a day or so.

Styling Tools

Second hand will always be your best friend in budgeting, be sure to keep an eye out on facebook marketplace, ebay and vinted or if you have great friends, they can let you borrow their stuff!

The tools I would say are essential to wig styling are:

Garment Steamer
Small Crimper (you can double this as a straightener :))
Fine tooth comb
Wide bristle hairbrush
Alligator Clips
T pins
PLASTIC ROLLERS NOT VELCRO PLEASE DONT GET VELCRO ROLLERS I BEG OF YOU

Products don't buy these at major retailers, go to your local savers, onebelow or your discount store near you.

Got2b Glued hairspray
Clear PVA Glue
Styling wax

When it comes to helmet wigs, (wigs using felt/fosshape as the wig cap) I have 0 experience, especially with ponytail wigs so i cant offer any advice on that

My major tip for building your wig styling or sewing kit is simply let the kit grow with you! Each project I work on, I take on a new piece of equipment. Don't buy every single item you see on popular wig stylists pages and realise you dont actually enjoy wig styling, thats a waste of money!

Work with what you have until you can buy proper tools!

I used a pen for smoothing out my wig fibres with glue instead of a proper tool

I used hair ties to seperate sections of my wigs before I got proper clips

I used sewing pins before buying t pins

I made my own wig head with rice and old fabric