How to Care for Your Wigs

So you have bought a lovely synthetic wig that perfectly suits your style. The next problem would be - how do you take good care of it so that it can last for a long time? To be perfectly honest, it isn’t very hard to care for your wigs as long as you know the techniques and what to look out for. Using a wig is not as high maintenance as you might think, especially if you compare it to maintaining and changing the style of your own hair at the salon.

Just like taking care of your own hair, you will need to invest in the proper tools and materials specifically made for wigs. When you need to wash your wig, you would need to use synthetic wig-specific shampoo, conditioner and if possible, wig detangler as well. This will ensure that your wig is washed clean, and detangled properly without tearing out the fibers or making it frizzy.

Other than the detergents you need to clean your wig, you will also need a wig stand, a wig comb and a wig brush. The wig brush is important as regular hair brushes will pull out the fibers from the wig cap and also damage the fibers by making it all frizzy. On the other hand, the wig comb is somewhat like a wide tooth comb that is used to detangle your wig before washing. As for the wig stand, you will need it to hold your wig when it is drying so that it doesn’t get tangled or warp out of shape. The wig stand is also used to reshape your wig back into style and to store it properly, so that it does not get stretched or tangled.

When you wear a wig, not only is it exposed to the elements, it will also absorb sweat from your scalp and hair. Although you don’t have to wash your wig as often as your own hair, you would still need to wash it after you’ve worn it a few times whether it is a long wig or a short wig. You will need to play by ear on when to give your wig a good bath.

There are times when it may still smell and feel clean, so all you need to do is hang it on the wig stand to start your detangling process, letting it dry and giving it a good brush before storing. However, you will still need to wash your wig after approximately 10-15 wearings even if you think it still feels clean. This is to avoid letting all the oil, sebum and dead skin stick to the wig and shorten its lifespan.

Washing your wig is not difficult. All you need to do is soak it for approximately 5 minutes in some cold water and wig shampoo, then dip it in and out of the water a few times to get all the dirt out. If there are makeup stains on your wig cap, you can use a soft toothbrush to gently brush it out. Then, rinse your wig gently in some cool water, condition by soaking the wig in a water and conditioner solution, then rinse it again.

Drying your wig is also important to avoid your wig cap getting stretched and ruining the style. You should never let it hang dry, and never use a hairdryer. The best way to dry your wig is to gently squeeze it with an absorbent towel, then hang it on a wig stand to dry naturally at room temperature. Don’t use a foam head to dry your wig as it might keep the inner part of the wig cap damp and moldy. 

Storing a wig is not just about dumping it in a drawer, or just leaving it on a wig stand on the table. If you just leave it lying around, it might collect dust and get damaged, especially if you don’t wear it every day. The best way to store your wig is in the wig box it came in; however, if you don’t have that anymore, don’t fret! You can just fold your wig properly from ear-to-ear and place it in a plastic bag. Try to make it a point to keep the net that comes with the wig, as that can keep your wig in shape when storing or when packing it for travel. 

If you plan to store it for long term, you can either store it like how it was in the packaging, or better yet, place it on a wig hanger or mannequin head. This ensures the shape and the style is kept intact. However, you need to ensure that it does not collect dust or it might get damaged.

Although hair spray can be used to keep your wig in place, you should try to avoid products meant for normal hair. If you need to use hair spray, try to get one that is meant for synthetic wigs as hair sprays meant for human hair will destroy the synthetic fibers and ruin the wig.

Another product to avoid is styling with heating tools, whether with a hairdryer, curling iron or straightener. This will damage the wig especially if it isn’t heat-resistant. Even for premium synthetic wigs that are heat resistant, you need to know which heat setting to use and how to use it without burning your wig to a frizz.