If you typed "what is a ear wig," there is a good chance you meant "earwig." An earwig is not a hairpiece. It is an insect, and the word is often misspelled because it sounds like two familiar words: ear + wig.
An earwig is a small insect in the order Dermaptera. It has a flat, narrow body and a pair of pincer-like forceps at the end of its abdomen. Britannica describes earwigs as insects with short, leathery forewings and folded hindwings; University extension sources note that they are often dark reddish-brown and easy to recognize because of those pincers.
They are usually nocturnal. During the day, they hide in damp, tight places such as mulch, under pots, cracks, garden debris, basements, or bathrooms. At night, they come out to feed on plant matter, small insects, or decaying organic material.
The name comes from an old belief that earwigs crawl into people's ears. That myth is much bigger than the real risk. Like many small insects, an earwig could accidentally end up somewhere strange, but it is not trying to live in your ear or attack your brain. Most earwig-in-ear stories are rare accidents, not normal behavior.
For people, usually no. They can pinch if handled, and the pinch can feel sharp, but they are not venomous. In gardens, they can be both helpful and annoying. They may eat pests and decaying matter, but they can also chew tender leaves, flowers, fruit, and seedlings when populations are high.
Because spelling is messy. "Ear wig" looks like it could mean a tiny hairpiece, a costume accessory, or something related to sideburns. In normal English, though, the standard word is "earwig," one word. If someone is talking about hair near the ears, they probably mean ear tabs, sideburns, temple pieces, lace ear tabs, or wig fit around the ears.
That is not an earwig problem. It is a fit problem. The cap may be too small, the ear tabs may sit too low, the lace may be cut poorly, or the combs may be pulling. Try loosening the adjustable straps, moving the wig slightly back, removing irritating combs, or choosing a petite/average/large cap that matches your head measurement.
Bottom line: an "ear wig" is usually a misspelling of "earwig," the insect. If you mean a wig issue around your ears, look for advice about ear tabs, lace trimming, and cap size instead.
