The single most requested tutorial I’ve had over the years has been for a Saber (Fate/Stay Night) wig. I’ve been cosplaying this character since 2009 so I’ve made several variants of this wig over the years. I've also been using the SAME wig since 2009 for regular ol’ FSN Saber, so I figured it was about time to let that one rest in Avalon and make another. Here’s my step-by-step process for doing just that!
Supply List: Arda Wigs Eowyn in Ash Blonde 1 Pack of Short Wefts in Ash Blonde 1 Pack of Long Wefts in Ash Blonde Strong hairspray (Got2BGlued or similar) Buckram or Dome Shape Hot Glue Gun & Glue Blowdryer Scissors or Razor Hair Pins Rubber Bands Curling Iron or Hot Roller Comb Optional items: Wig or Hair Net Toupe Clips
For this project, I’m using Arda Wigs Eowyn in Ash Blonde along with long and short weft packs in the same color. I chose this wig because of its large skin top. I like to use a skin topped wig for this character because it lends a realistic quality to the end result. You could follow these styling steps on a wig without one.
The first thing I recommend you do when making this wig is to sew on toupee clips into the front of the wig’s hairline. This wig will be back heavy and toupee clips will help the wig stay in place.
Braid the long pack of wefts. I used about 75% of the pack to make this braid. You can add or subtract fibers to adjust how thick your braid is.
If you use the same wig I am using for this tutorial, you’ll want to set a part in the skin top. Part down the middle and spray the wig fibers with water. Use a hair dryer to heat set the part.
Cut the bangs and fringe to flatter your face shape. You will want to try the wig on periodically as you cut it to make sure the length of the bangs and side fringe looks right on you. Don’t just trust how it looks on your wig head. You’ll have better results if you check it on your own head. After the bangs and fringe look good, shorten up the back of the wig so that it is a good length to make a small bun with. From there, you’ll need to pull the wig back into a ponytail. I prefer to do this in stages, making a ponytail from the lower part of the wig, and adding the top layer of hair after carefully smoothing it in place with a comb and a light layer of hairspray. Turn the ponytail into a bun. You can do this any number of ways, but I used a spare hair net to collect the hair and pinned it in place. You could also use a stubbing method if you prefer.
Next, you’ll need to create the bun that will be visible. I prefer to make the structure of the bun out of buckram. It is a relatively lightweight material that works well with wig fibers. I wet formed the buckram over a dome shape. Once it was dry, I removed it from the dome mold and prepared a work space to glue on the contents of the short weft pack to it with hot glue.
I recommend cutting the wefts into small sections to make this process easier. You’ll want to use plenty of strong hairspray and hot glue to adhere the wefts to the form you’ve made. Take your time with this step- It can be the most frustrating part of making this wig if you rush.
After you have the dome covered in wefts, trim off the edges and hot glue on the braid to the edge of the bun. Overlap the edge a bit so the raw edges of the bun won’t show once it’s attached to the wig. Tuck the ends of the braid inside the buckram form and glue them in place.
Next, you’ll want to test fit the bun cap you’ve just made over the wig’s small bun or stub. Make adjustments to the wig if it doesn’t fit over it easily. Then glue the heck out of that bun! Take your time and fill in gaps where the bun cap isn’t affixed well.
Once you have the bun in place, it’s time to style Saber’s ahoge! Skip this step if the wig is supposed to be for Saber Alter who doesn’t have one.
An ahoge is a ‘dumb hair’ sticking up on a character’s head. I prefer to make Saber’s ahoge thin as though it were a few stray hairs, but some want to make theirs bigger. It’s personal preference & both can be achieved following the same steps.
Gather a section of hair from your wigs bangs. Curl those hairs around a curling iron or hot roller. Remove the heat tool and allow the hairs to cool into an arch. Spray the section of hair with strong hairspray and gently work the fibers together with your fingers. Hold it in place until it dries. If you are making a thick ahoge, sometimes it helps to put a drop of super glue at the base of the hair so it is stiff enough to support the curl.
And that’s it! You have a Grail War ready wig to wear- Go forth and make saber-faces!!!
Want to see how it looks when worn? Here’s some photos of me in costume with the new wig:
Major thanks to Arda Wigs for providing the wig and wefts for this guide. I use their products for many of the costumes I wear because they are high quality. I firmly believe a good wig makes all the difference in a cosplay- So much of a likeness is achieved from the neck up. Arda Wigs offers a very good range of wig supplies that can help you nail your next cosplay project. Thanks for reading! (Be sure to tweet me your cosplay if you use this guide to make a similar wig!) -Maridah
Post Update:
This post has been relocated in its original form to my new website hosting in January 2021. Previous comments on the post were not migrated.