How to Care For Your Wig

There are many budget friendly synthetic wigs that look incredibly realistic and come in a variety of colors, textures and styles. So, how do you care for your wig? Although synthetic wigs are in some ways more resilient than human hair wigs, they do require care to make them last.

Wash & Dry Regularly

Some ladies never wash their wigs and expect them to last months while still looking fresh. To wash, fill a basin or sink with water and pour an ounce of shampoo in to dilute. Gently swirl the wig around in the water. Run your fingers through the wig in the direction of the hair to cleanse but also avoiding tangles. Empty the basin and repeat until the water is clear.

To dry, set it on a mannequin head or a wig stand. Drip drying is best, but if you are pressed for time here are a couple of tips. Use a terry cloth towel or t-shirt to wrap around the wig unit and twist. Do not rub, tousle, or shake as this will only cause tangles and age the wig. Set the wig on a mannequin head and place under a hooded dryer on the lowest setting. Most dryers even have a cool air setting.

Tip: Even if your wig is made with heat-safe fibers, I would not advise blow drying.

Use a wig brush

While your wide tooth combs are gentle on the strands of a wig they are not able to detangle and smooth as well as a wig brush can. These wire brushes will not get tangled in the strands and can remove even the toughest, most matted tangles. A vigorous brushing can also revitalize the curls of a synthetic wig.

Proper Storage

If you are limited on space and do not have room to store multiple wig heads, then save the packaging the wig comes in. When you store the wig, ball up newspaper or tissue paper to place in the dome area and slide into the bag in the direction of the hair with the “open” area facing downward. Do not fold the wig as this may cause a permanent bend in the area and cause the wig not to sit closely to your head.

Utilize your stand or foam head

When you remove your wig to sleep at night, place your wig on either a foam head or a stand. This helps the wig to retain its shape and preserve the style.