Wig Basics
Cosplay wigs are almost always synthetic fibre. The specific fibre properties determine how the wig behaves: most synthetic wigs cannot be heat-styled with conventional tools above low temperatures (high heat melts the fibres). Heat-resistant synthetic wigs can tolerate low-heat styling tools. High-temperature (HT) wigs tolerate significantly higher heat, approaching what human hair wigs can handle.
Cutting and Thinning
Cut cosplay wigs dry — synthetic fibres behave differently wet than dry, and wet-cutting produces different results from what you see in the final dry state. Thin thick wigs with thinning shears in layers from underneath rather than on the surface. Remove no more than 15% of the density at any single session; you can always remove more but can't put it back.
Spiking and Fantasy Styling
For extreme spikes: wire armature inside the wig fibres, secured at the base, provides the structural support that no product alone can maintain across a convention day. Mould the fibres around the wire structure, secure with a product (Got2b glued is the cosplay standard), and seal with hairspray. The wire carries the weight of the spike; the product holds the fibres in shape.