Perma-tease is a technique where the wefts in a wig are pre-teased at the root before being sewn into the wig base. It is extremely desirable in theatrical wigs because it gives that subtle hint of height we naturally get from our own hair growing straight up and away from the scalp. Human hair doesn’t grow at a sharp angle to lie completely flat against our skin, unlike some animals with smooth coats.
Perma-tease is an amazing way to create a permanent layer of volume right at the base of the wig. It gives stylists a wonderful cushion of built-in tease, making it much easier to backcomb further and create spectacular, performance-ready styles.
How It’s Made (and Why It Looks a Little Unusual)
To create perma-tease, a thin layer of a setting product (similar to hair gel) is run along the very base of the weft near the tracks. The roots of the synthetic fibers are then agitated to create a dense cushion of volume. The product helps to keep the tease in place and it can initially look very thick immediately out of the bag, however, as you steam set and style the wig, the perma tease will relax and settle further.
If you try to part a wig too deep into the cap and don't know what you’re looking at, it can be a little confusing! I’ve heard people say it looks burned or singed, because the teased roots create a crinkled, padded effect similar to a kitchen scourer. The idea is to use this texture as a supportive base. You should avoid parting the wig deep into the perma-tease; otherwise, it will be visible and you’ll get little spiky ends pulling up from the weft roots.
Stage Presence vs. "Shake-and-Go" Wigs
For a wig to translate well on screen and on stage, perma-tease is essential. It helps maintain the illusion of real hair growth and makes the style more visible under heavy lighting. Typical "shake-and-go" wigs with no perma-tease can look limp and lifeless. They often sit too flat to the head, and you can frequently see the structural tracks because the fiber just lays flat across them.
You don’t need—and in fact, you can’t have—perma-tease on the lace areas of a wig. Because those fibers are hand-knotted, the illusion of hair growing away from the scalp is achieved naturally. This is why perma-tease is such an important feature of our theatrical wefted wigs - the entire wig mimics the natural volume that hair growth creates - not just the lace area!
Styling with Perma-Tease
You might notice that perma-tease appears denser on rooted shades. This is absolutely normal! The dyed root works beautifully with the texturizing product to achieve an incredible cushion. Our rooted HD and Glamour Kitten ranges feature this spectacular volume, making them a firm favorite with stylists looking to achieve BIG hair.
If you want to reduce the volume slightly, you can tame the perma-tease by smoothing a comb through it with a little steam. You can also direct the tease by applying a little heat and cool blast from a hair dryer while brushing the fibre into the desired direction. However, always remember that it serves a purpose: creating that natural lift we see from real hair follicles.
Is a Perma-Teased Wig Right for You?
If you want a wig that you can freely part anywhere and lay completely flat, you should invest in a wig with a deep-set parting space or a full lace top. A theatrical wefted wig with a small lace parting area isn’t designed to be parted all the way through the cap. The styling should be kept strictly above the perma-teased area, and the tracks should never be pulled apart enough to expose the texturized roots beneath.