Wig Out!

Go historic or just plain silly! Transform your look with a colorful wig. You design it and choose the color.

1. Today we mousse, gel, spray, and volumize our hair. We tease, blow dry, and curl. It seems like a lot of work until you look through the history of hairstyles. Some of the elaborate "dos" of the past were even more difficult to style.

2. An easy way to achieve these old-fashioned dramatic looks was to wear a wig. Think about the advantages---all that work won't be undone after a good night's sleep and you weren't stuck with your own hair color (or no hair at all!).

3. Open a roll of cotton. Separate the layers and divide into wig-size sections. Make any kind of wig you want. Here are two possibilities.

4. For a female's historic-style wig, twist a section of cotton into eight ringlets. Combine four ringlets and wrap ends together with a chenille stem. Do same at the other end of the chenille stem with the remaining four twists. Rest the stem over the top of your head to see how ringlets frame your face.

5. Drape more cotton over the chenille stem atop your head. Bunch up on both sides to cover the chenille stem. Attach cotton to stem with Crayola® School Glue. Dry.

6. Tease and pouf up cotton so you wig doesn't look like you slept in it. For a festive look, blot Crayola Gel Washable Markers on the wig. Diffuse color with water from a spray bottle. Add glamorous highlights with Crayola Glitter Glue. Dry.

7. For a male's historic-style wig, join two chenille stems in a circle that fits around the top of your head. Glue one section of cotton around front stem and one around back stem. Crimp together cotton slack to fit into circle. Glue on a cotton ponytail to stem frame. This will hang down your back. Dry.

8. Add realistic color with Crayola Multicultural Washable Markers. For fun colors, use Crayola Gel Washable Markers. Diffuse color with water from a spray bottle. Dry.

Adult supervision is required for any arts & crafts project. Observe children closely and intervene as necessary to prevent potential safety problems and ensure appropriate use of arts and crafts materials. Some craft items, particularly beads and buttons, are potential choking hazards for young children. Avoid use of such small parts with children younger than 3 years. Craft items such as scissors, push pins and chenille sticks may have sharp points or edges. Avoid use of materials with sharp points by children younger than 4 years. Read all manufacturers' safety warnings before using arts and craft supplies.

Costumes & Masks— CAUTION: When children wear hand-crafted costumes and masks, make sure the crafts do not obstruct the child’s vision, hearing, or impede movement. Do not use feathers, fabric, or raffia on wearable costumes and masks because these items do not pass costume flammability tests. Wearable masks are those held in place on the face with elastic, yarn, or other materials. Keep away from open flames.

Glitter Glue— WARNING: CHOKING HAZARD—Small parts. Not for children under 3 years. Not for use on skin.

Leopard-Spot Doll Chair

My First Mask

Flying-Fish Stick Puppets

Crafts

crayola supplies

• Multicultural Markers
• Gel Markers
• No-Run School Glue
• Glitter Glue

household supplies

• recycled newspaper
• paper towels
• spray bottle filled with water
• chenille sticks
• cotton roll

"Each guest made wigs for a 'ball' at my daughter's birthday party. "
Chanipun C., mom of 8-year-old.

"These look like wigs worn in the 17th century. Kids create them for skits about the French Revolution."
Gus M., museum docent.

Periwigs (later called wigs) were introduced into fashion by the French king Louis XIV (some say in order to hide his baldness). Later, tall powdered wigs became the rage for both men and women. The most expensive wigs were made of human hair, the cheaper ones of horsehair.