How to Attach a Merkin
Buy a merkin online or from well-stocked wig supply shop., Trim the merkin, if necessary, using a sharp pair of scissors., Wax your pubic hair if you plan on wearing a merkin for more than 2 days., Shave your pubic hair if waxing is too painful, and...
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: Buy a merkin online or from well-stocked wig supply shop.
The more realistic, natural-looking merkins are made from human hair hand-tied to skin-colored lace or netting.
These can get quite expensive.
If you are wearing a merkin as a gag, prank, or novelty, you might be interested in a fake-fur one instead.Some cosmetic salons may be able to apply a merkin for you.
These merkins are made from fox fur, and are glued onto your skin. -
Step 2: Trim the merkin
Some merkins come "oversized" so that you can cut them down to the right size and shape for your body.
Most of the lace-backed merkins are already made to fit, but the novelty fur ones can be cut into all sorts of weird shapes. , You can still wax your pubic hair, even if you plan on wearing the merkin for just one day.
Waxing is recommended for those who wish to wear their merkins longer, because it lasts longer than a shave.
Choose a full Brazilian wax, as opposed to a bikini wax or a “landing strip.” , Use a shaving gel or cream suitable for sensitive skin and a clean, sharp razor to get the closest shave possible.
Because shaving does not last very long, it is not recommended for those who wish to wear their merkins for longer than 2 days. , Whether you shave or wax your pubic area, you will need to wait a few hours before you can apply the merkin.
Both of these procedures place a fair amount of stress on your skin, leaving it sensitive and tender.
You will need to give the area time to recover.
Once the inflammation is gone, you can start applying the merkin., If you cannot find any spirit gum, try another type of cosmetic adhesive meant for gluing on lace-front wigs, mustaches, and beards.
For example, the Telesis 5 silicone matte lace adhesive is designed for use with skin and lace-backed cosmetic items.
Try to get something high quality.
It may be more expensive, but a cheaper product may irritate your skin.
If you have not used spirit gum before, or have sensitive skin, consider doing a patch test on your inner elbow or wrist to see whether or nor you are allergic to the spirit gum.
If you are allergic, consider using wig tape instead. , Place the merkin in your genital area to approximate its proper placement.
Draw a guideline with an eyeliner if you do not feel you will be able to apply the glue in the right area.
Once you apply the spirit gum, it will be tricky to remove it. , Twist the cap off the spirit gum, and use the brush to trace the perimeter of the merkin.
Most bottles of spirit gum will have a brush attached to the cap, like nail polish.
If yours did not come with a brush, use popsicle stick or a clean brush with short, stiff bristles instead. , Position it just above the pubic mound, where the majority of your pubic hair would be.
If you need to make any adjustments, do so now. , Start smoothing the merkin from the center and move to the edges.
Don't worry if the merkin starts to slip; it's simply because the spirit gum has not finished setting.
Simply hold the merkin in place until it stays still.
It should only take a few seconds for it to finish setting. , Avoid scrubbing the merkin itself.
Spirit gum is typically waterproof and can last a few showers.
Remember, this is not a permanent accessory, so you will need to remove it after day or two.
Do not wear it for more than 3 to 4 days.
Merkins are reusable.
If you'd like to wear your merkin more often, take it off, clean it, and reapply it using the same method listed above.
You can also secure it using some wig tape instead. , If you cannot find any, try baby oil or olive oil.
Some sources will recommend rubbing alcohol, but this is not a product you'd want close to such a sensitive area.
If you must, use some facial toner for sensitive skin instead. , You do not want to rip the merkin right off.
Spirit gum is very strong, and you could damage your skin this way.
You might also end up ripping the merkin itself if it is lace-backed.
Be sure to have several q-tips handy. , The spirit gum remover will get under the merkin and start dissolving the spirit gum. , Keep doing this until you can peel the merkin away completely.
Do not try to forcibly pull or rip the merkin from your skin.
Allow the remover to dissolve the spirit gum. , If you feel any resistance, get out a q-tip, soak it with some spirit gum remover, and run it around the area where you feel resistance. , Wipe the area down first using some cotton balls soaked with spirit gum remover.
Next, wash the area using some soap and water.
Pat yourself dry.
Some people recommend applying moisturizer or baby oil to the area to keep the skin soft., Dampen an soft-bristled brush (such as an old tooth brush_ with spirit gum remover.
Gently scrub the back of the merkin where the spirit gum is.
If the spirit gum is not coming off, try using some 90% rubbing alcohol instead.Keep doing this until the spirit gum residue is gone.
Once it is gone, gently pat the merkin dry.
Spirit gum remover can leave behind an oily residue.
If this happens, simply wipe it off using a soft cloth soaked with rubbing alcohol. -
Step 3: if necessary
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Step 4: using a sharp pair of scissors.
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Step 5: Wax your pubic hair if you plan on wearing a merkin for more than 2 days.
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Step 6: Shave your pubic hair if waxing is too painful
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Step 7: and you plan on wearing the merkin for only 1 or 2 days.
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Step 8: Wait several hours before attaching the merkin to give your skin time to heal.
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Step 9: Buy some spirit gum online or from a costume shop.
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Step 10: Stand in front of a mirror
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Step 11: and figure out where to place the merkin.
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Step 12: Apply the glue to the back
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Step 13: perimeter of the merkin and wait about 20 seconds for it to get tacky.Flip the merkin over so that the mesh side is facing you.
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Step 14: Place the merkin
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Step 15: glue side down
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Step 16: onto your skin.
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Step 17: Smooth the merkin down onto your skin
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Step 18: and hold it in place until the spirit gum sets.
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Step 19: Wear your merkin
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Step 20: and wash your body as usual if you want to wear for 3 to 4 days.
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Step 21: Find some spirit gum remover.
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Step 22: Dip a q-tip in the spirit gum remover
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Step 23: and make sure that the cotton part is saturated.
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Step 24: Wiggle the q-tip under a corner of the merkin.
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Step 25: Once you have the q-tip under the merkin
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Step 26: run it around the edges.
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Step 27: Gently lift the merkin away and set it aside.
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Step 28: Clean your skin using spirit gum remover
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Step 29: then follow up with soap and water.
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Step 30: Clean the merkin using more spirit gum remover.
Detailed Guide
The more realistic, natural-looking merkins are made from human hair hand-tied to skin-colored lace or netting.
These can get quite expensive.
If you are wearing a merkin as a gag, prank, or novelty, you might be interested in a fake-fur one instead.Some cosmetic salons may be able to apply a merkin for you.
These merkins are made from fox fur, and are glued onto your skin.
Some merkins come "oversized" so that you can cut them down to the right size and shape for your body.
Most of the lace-backed merkins are already made to fit, but the novelty fur ones can be cut into all sorts of weird shapes. , You can still wax your pubic hair, even if you plan on wearing the merkin for just one day.
Waxing is recommended for those who wish to wear their merkins longer, because it lasts longer than a shave.
Choose a full Brazilian wax, as opposed to a bikini wax or a “landing strip.” , Use a shaving gel or cream suitable for sensitive skin and a clean, sharp razor to get the closest shave possible.
Because shaving does not last very long, it is not recommended for those who wish to wear their merkins for longer than 2 days. , Whether you shave or wax your pubic area, you will need to wait a few hours before you can apply the merkin.
Both of these procedures place a fair amount of stress on your skin, leaving it sensitive and tender.
You will need to give the area time to recover.
Once the inflammation is gone, you can start applying the merkin., If you cannot find any spirit gum, try another type of cosmetic adhesive meant for gluing on lace-front wigs, mustaches, and beards.
For example, the Telesis 5 silicone matte lace adhesive is designed for use with skin and lace-backed cosmetic items.
Try to get something high quality.
It may be more expensive, but a cheaper product may irritate your skin.
If you have not used spirit gum before, or have sensitive skin, consider doing a patch test on your inner elbow or wrist to see whether or nor you are allergic to the spirit gum.
If you are allergic, consider using wig tape instead. , Place the merkin in your genital area to approximate its proper placement.
Draw a guideline with an eyeliner if you do not feel you will be able to apply the glue in the right area.
Once you apply the spirit gum, it will be tricky to remove it. , Twist the cap off the spirit gum, and use the brush to trace the perimeter of the merkin.
Most bottles of spirit gum will have a brush attached to the cap, like nail polish.
If yours did not come with a brush, use popsicle stick or a clean brush with short, stiff bristles instead. , Position it just above the pubic mound, where the majority of your pubic hair would be.
If you need to make any adjustments, do so now. , Start smoothing the merkin from the center and move to the edges.
Don't worry if the merkin starts to slip; it's simply because the spirit gum has not finished setting.
Simply hold the merkin in place until it stays still.
It should only take a few seconds for it to finish setting. , Avoid scrubbing the merkin itself.
Spirit gum is typically waterproof and can last a few showers.
Remember, this is not a permanent accessory, so you will need to remove it after day or two.
Do not wear it for more than 3 to 4 days.
Merkins are reusable.
If you'd like to wear your merkin more often, take it off, clean it, and reapply it using the same method listed above.
You can also secure it using some wig tape instead. , If you cannot find any, try baby oil or olive oil.
Some sources will recommend rubbing alcohol, but this is not a product you'd want close to such a sensitive area.
If you must, use some facial toner for sensitive skin instead. , You do not want to rip the merkin right off.
Spirit gum is very strong, and you could damage your skin this way.
You might also end up ripping the merkin itself if it is lace-backed.
Be sure to have several q-tips handy. , The spirit gum remover will get under the merkin and start dissolving the spirit gum. , Keep doing this until you can peel the merkin away completely.
Do not try to forcibly pull or rip the merkin from your skin.
Allow the remover to dissolve the spirit gum. , If you feel any resistance, get out a q-tip, soak it with some spirit gum remover, and run it around the area where you feel resistance. , Wipe the area down first using some cotton balls soaked with spirit gum remover.
Next, wash the area using some soap and water.
Pat yourself dry.
Some people recommend applying moisturizer or baby oil to the area to keep the skin soft., Dampen an soft-bristled brush (such as an old tooth brush_ with spirit gum remover.
Gently scrub the back of the merkin where the spirit gum is.
If the spirit gum is not coming off, try using some 90% rubbing alcohol instead.Keep doing this until the spirit gum residue is gone.
Once it is gone, gently pat the merkin dry.
Spirit gum remover can leave behind an oily residue.
If this happens, simply wipe it off using a soft cloth soaked with rubbing alcohol.
About the Author
Samantha Ramirez
Brings years of experience writing about practical skills and related subjects.
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