4 tips for getting wigs ready for Mardi Gras
Wigs are a key part of New Orleans' costume culture, and stylist Natalie Chosa is here to help get your faux hair ready for Mardi Gras.
The big picture: Too often, people wear their wigs and then toss them in the costume trunk or closet.
If that's you, here are four beginner tips from Chosa to rehab your synthetic wig.
🪮 Brush it out. Use a bristle brush. "That will do a ton to the life of a wig."
🧼 Wash it. Use cold water and regular shampoo. Soak it in the sink or the tub and rinse it out. There's no need for conditioner.
It won't change the texture of the wig, like washing out curls, she says.
🌬️ Dry it. Put it on a hanger and let it air-dry. You can also get a canvas head block to hold the wig while drying and styling.
🦄 Style it. Don't use heat like curling irons. Instead, think about braiding the hair, putting it in a ponytail or adding special items, like Mardi Gras decorations.
Between the lines: People with thick hair sometimes think they can't wear wigs, Chosa said, but they just need to learn how to prep their natural hair properly. Go deeper
What she's saying: "We have so many opportunities to dress up here and I still somehow think there's not enough," says Chosa, who is a member of the Sirens dance troupe. "I want to dress up all the time. ... I love our costuming culture."
Zoom out: Chosa got started with wigs while working on the set of "NCIS: New Orleans."
She then began making wigs for the Krewe of Dolly at her Irish Channel studio.
Now, she's expanded to drag queens and several more krewes, in addition to special events and her regular hair and makeup clients.
Clients drop off their wigs to be reset or they can order new ones. Prices start at $50/hour.
What's next: She offers wig application lessons and wig styling classes over the summer so you can level up your costume skills. She posts the schedule on Instagram.
Go deeper: New Orleans' costume shops
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