TH 126 Wigs and Hair for Theatre

The Wigs and Hair for Theatre course is uniquely geared to train students to qualify for makeup and hair positions in the entertainment industry. The hairstyles and facial hair of the characters are an important element for placing each production in the proper genre and time period. The look of the hair, along with the costume and makeup, reveal for the audience the characters' age, personality, socio-economic status, as well as the sense of fashion for the period. This course features hands-on training in:

  • Creating basic hairstyle up-dos for stage and film
  • Proper care and treatment for human hair and synthetic hair wigs.
  • Roller setting wigs to achieve period styles
  • Standard placements and removals for hard front and lace front wigs
  • The cleaning, blocking, and restyling of wigs
  • The dressing, applying, removing, and cleaning of the facial hairpieces
  • Maintaining the wigs, hairpieces, and facial hair pieces for the run of a show
  • Ventilating (knotting) hair techniques for creating facial hair and wig fronts.

The course culminates with actors wearing the student projects in actual stage productions. This puts student technical skills to use in a real world context. These skills are essential throughout the broader entertainment industry, including film and television. Cerritos College is close to numerous entertainment venues and support companies, many of which have employed our students to utilize their theatre arts training.
The Wigs and Hair for Theatre course is a component of the certificate programs for costuming and makeup. Certificate recipients will have training and experience in each of the three integral areas involved in creating the visual look of the entire character. The goal of the training and certificate programs is to facilitate student transition into the entertainment industry.