Although society’s recent obsession with wigs has become popular in the recent years due to celebrity wig-wearers, the fascination with wigs originated with the Egyptians in 2700 B.C.E. Like modern day, Egyptians had the option of human hair wigs and synthetic wigs. While the Egyptians didn’t have access to plastic fibers to make synthetic wigs, they did use wool and leaf fibers to curate more affordable wigs options. Wigs might date back thousands of years; however, this is one fashion statement that has yet to go out of season.

Today, there are many reasons that could make someone choose to wear a wig. Whether you want to protect your natural hair from heat damage, you have experienced hair loss, or you simply want to alter your look from time to time, wigs are a versatile and functional fashion accessory.

From Kylie Jenner to your neighbor, everyone is wigging out about wigs. However, you don’t have to spend thousands of dollars on one to look like your best self in a cheap wig. While the most inexpensive natural human hair wig can be a bit beyond a college student’s budget, synthetic wigs are an affordable alternative. Though synthetic wigs can look surprisingly realistic and some are even heat-resistant, it can seem a bit ambitious to wear a $15 Halloween wig during a girls’ night out. Thankfully, there are a few simple and cost-efficient tricks that can help you make any synthetic wig wearable

1. Get Rid Of The Shine

While we aspire for effortless shine in our natural hair, wigs (especially synthetic wigs) can be a bit too shiny. Because synthetic wigs are typically made from plastic fibers, their gleam can be just that — plasticy. However, there are two simple methods that you can use to make your artificial hairdo’s sheen more natural, and it’s likely that you have both of these supplies in your apartment right now.

Baby powder can help dull your wig’s luster. Dust half a handful of baby powder on your wig and brush it through your faux locks with a wig brush or your fingertips.

Dry shampoo can be a less messy alternative to baby powder. While baby powder won’t make your wig look messy, it could make your bathroom counter top look like an episode of Narcos. You only need to spritz some dry shampoo on each layer of your wig and the artificial factitious shine is gone.

2. Stick To Your Roots

At times it can be tricky to line up the front of your wig with your hairline, especially when you have a widow’s peak. It can be even more laborious to find the position for your wig when your wig is a completely different color from your real hair. Buying a wig with roots similar to your current hair color will make your wig look more natural without having to do any additional work.

3. Give It A Quick Snip

A lot of wigs seem unnatural because they just look too perfect. After all, who doesn’t have an unhealthy amount of baby hairs? Baby hairs aren’t particularly common in wigs; however, there is a painless way to mend this problem, so take some scissors and cut some random strands of hair toward the front of your wig.

4. Add Your Wig To Your Makeup Routine

Use a makeup brush, a q-tip, or your pinky and pat a bit of your concealer onto the hairline of your wig. Typically the lace cap on a wig can differ greatly from your actual scalps’ hue. The concealer that you use under your eyes will more closely match the color of your natural hair line, which will help disguise where your wig starts and your forehead begins.

If you choose to place the front of your wig before your hairline begins to incorporate your real hair into your style, then you might notice that there are some patches on your wig’s base that don’t match your natural hair color. If this is the case, you can use a foundation brush and some eyebrow pomade to paint these seemingly “bald” patches of your wig.

The moral of this article, is that fashion is work. You can’t simply take a wig out of its packaging and expect it to look effortlessly beautiful. Granted, these four tips don’t require much labor at all.