I am always happy to talk about books and if they are from fellow cosplayers even better. Therefore, I wanted to start a new section of my blog talking about useful books for cosplayers. The Wigs 101 Book Review will be the first in the series. This book is written by cosplayer Kukkii-san and it teaches you everything you need to know about wigs for beginners.
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My book collection is constantly increasing, and in particular my cosplay and sewing related section is getting bigger and bigger. Through the years I have come across some useful books that I would love to share with you. In my opinion, every single book has something to teach you. A little guidance can help you find the best one for you to read at the right time. With this new section I intend to show you what to expect from your book. I hope this new section is useful for you and you enjoy reading books like Wigs 101 as much as I do.
About the author
Kukkii-san is the author of Wigs 101. She is a very experienced cosplayer from Germany, who found her love for cosplay in 2005. Also, she was the first German scholar who wrote a doctoral thesis on cosplay!
She has published papers on international fandom and cosplay across cultures. Kukkii-san or Karen has over 10 years experience teaching cosplay workshops and moderating panels in German and English. Also, she has won several prizes including the DCM (German Cosplay Championship) and was the German finalist for EuroCosplay. She has also been the jury on many competitions througout Europe.
“No matter how simple or complex the technique, my goal is to guide the reader through step-by-step tutorials and make my instructions as simple and clear as possible.”
Wigs 101 is not the first book Kukkii-san has written. Other titles include “Fan Costuming und Cosplay” (only in German), “Perücken 1×1” (Wigs 101), “Perücken hoch²” (Wigs²) and she is also one of the authors of “How to Make myCostumes”, a top-selling how-to guidebook for cosplayers in German.
Photo by Meermiau 
Photo by bild-er-leben 
Photo by bild-er-leben
This cosplayer also has a blog which is called Wigs 101 like her book. In it you can find lots of amazing tips and tutorials for wigs and cosplay. The blog is a bilingual site in German and English. Here you can also find lots of general information about our favourite topic, which is of course cosplay. You can also follow Karen on Facebook and Twitter.
About the book
Wigs 101 is a book with 32 full-color pages with clear step-by-step instruction and plenty of pictures. The book is organised in different sections. These sections include how to:
- find the perfect wig and what to watch out for when you buy one
- put on regular wigs and lace-front wigs correctly
- detangle your wig and take care of it
- cut a wig
- whip up simple styles: straightening, shaping with heat and hairspray, moving the parting on a wig
The book also includes a glossary of wig terms and tools that every stylist should know. As well as some extra photos of Karen wearing her cosplay and wig creations.
At the moment the wig is only available on pdf in English and you get a convention exclusive book if you are lucky enough to meet Kukkii-san at a con.
Wigs 101
| Author | Karen Heinrich (Kukkii-san) |
| Format | e-book (paperback convention exclusive) |
| Print length | 32 pages |
| Language | English / German |
| First released | September 2017 English version June 2019 |
| Photographer Graphic designer | bild_er_leben Anna |
Wigs 101 Book Review
I must admit it, I am a fangirl and I have been following Kukkii-san for quite a while. When I knew she was translating her books into English I couldn’t wait to read them. Furthermore. Probably I was one of the first to download the book. When I got it I read it straight away in one go. As it is a short book with lots of pictures it was a very quick and entertaining read.
I believe one of the strong points of the book is the detailed pictures that are included in it. It makes it very easy to follow and it also includes pictures of what not to do with a wig. Giving plenty of examples and step by step instructions. The sections are well organised and the text is clear and well written.
The book is aimed at cosplay beginners and has basic information about wigs. However, even if you are an experienced cosplayer you will find very useful tips and some extra information you may have not come across before. It is definetely worth a read. I totally agree with Kukkii-san when she talks about the importance of choosing the right wig, and I myself have several tutorials and wig reviews on my page if you need help deciding.
In my opinion, if there is one thing this book is missing is perhaps a more detailed section on how to cut bangs on a wig. The book does show how to cut a wig in a general way though. However, there are so many fringe styles I believe this topic could be big enough to make a whole new book. Please enlighten us with this difficult art, Kukkii-san!
Conclusion
Wigs 101 deserves a place in your cosplay book collection. It is a simple and straightforward book which will teach you the basics you need to know about wigs. You will be able to answer all your questions about wigs in this short book which at the moment is available in English and German. The PDF version is super inexpensive and you should be getting it right now before the price goes up!
Also, I can’t wait for the translation of Kukkii-san’s next book Wigs² which should be out soon and includes all kinds of hairdos and ponytails. If you are a lucky person that can speak German go to her page to get it now, otherwise, keep an eye on this link and her social media where she will tell you when it is available!
Do you like this new section? Are there any books or cosplay related items you would like me to review? Let me know in the comments and also let me know if you liked my Wigs 101 book review. And remember that if you are a cosplay junkie you can also get my Cosplay Planner and check my pattern collection to help with your cosplays. You can also support me on my Ko-Fi page if you really wanted to. But for me your likes and comments are the best appreciation.
