Gaara Cosplay help!

[mistresskat.livejournal.com]

Greetings all.



I recently acquired a very beautiful Kazekage Gaara coat, and plan to wear it this year's Otakon. I have pretty much everything ready for the costume, sans the shoes, which will come later. One thing I hadn't thought of until recently is a wig. This will be my first venture into cosplay, and my first venture with wigs, but I shall say this now; I have VERY long hair. Ungodly long hair past my bum. Originally I was going to just go as "Kaze-Gaara with really long hair lol". But I would very much like to try this wig thing, as I think I would enjoy having "short" hair for a day. So... My first burning question, and I apologize if it's been asked before, but;

1) How the HELL does one go about trying to hide 3+ feet of hair underneath a short-hair wig? From what I've researched, most websites suggest to either braid it and wrap it around the head in a spiral pattern, then put a wig cap on, or pony-tail tied at the nape of the neck and pinned to the head with clips and such. Again, I am REALLY unfamiliar with how to go about this [I don't plan on cutting my hair anytime time soon either XP], and if anyone is experienced in this department, I'd love to listen and learn from you. @_@ [It is also to my understanding that wigs can also be dyed and trimmed, but need to be special synthetic dyes and such? Another question for another day, I suppose.]

3) With that said, I've been looking online around for some wigs and simply can't choose between the dozen or so I picked out. I'm not particularly looking for MOST GAARA LIKE WIG, but one that really will just look nice, and resembles Gaara, recognizably. [Ideally, I'd LOVE and KILL to have one that looks just like here. Very awesome, gorgeous hair. @_@] I have a budget of about $60 I'm willing to spend on a wig, not much more, unless it's just like how I want. I don't plan on wearing it again and again on a regular basis. Just for cosplay, or special photo-shoot sorts of reasons.
I've narrowed it down to 9 and complied my choice wigs HERE, if you care to look. These were all found on ebay. [I know people have told me to beware buying wigs on ebay, but again, I don't plan to live in this wig. xD] ...Or if you happen to know any other wiggies on your own. Really just... what do you think?


[Also, going to get this stupid shout-out out of the way, but, concerning anyone coming to Otakon this year, I invite you all to crazy Naruto Gekitou Ninja Teisen 4 hotel parties at my room. xD Me and my comrades be at The Hyatt this year, and I'll get a room number up asap if anyone is interested. VIVA LE CHAIR.]