Let’s talk wig care! You have been wearing your absolute favorite style… you know, the one you wear to the dentist, the doctors, your date night out, and pretty much everywhere! You start to notice it doesn’t have quite as much bounce and vibrancy as it did when you first took it out of the box. I’m guessing, and correct me if I am wrong, there is a chance you haven’t washed it in a while. No worries, this is bound to happen with the wig you love and don’t want to put down. But now the question now is, where do you start?

Thankfully, washing your wig is a pretty easy process that will leave it looking instantly refreshed and back in action in no time.  If you have never washed your wig before, the first couple times through the process might feel a little intimidating, but that is why we are here; to make the process as easy as possible. Your favorite wig is an investment, and one you want to not only take care of, but more importantly, not ruin. Fortunately, we have done our research and come up with our best tips for washing your wig.

To begin, gather the supplies you are going to need.

• An open and clean sink you can easily work around. 
• A wide tooth comb.
• Shampoo and conditioner specifically formulated for the specific hair fiber you are washing. 
• A soft, clean towel
• Wig stand

The essential basics of taking care of your wig

First let’s break down the basics. We suggest washing your wig around every six to ten wears depending on your lifestyle. Some people decide they can wait longer to wash their wig and others find they need to wash it sooner. Lifestyle plays a role because if you tend to use more product on your wig then it creates build-up after a while. If you are the active type, then workout routines may result in some sweat building up in the cap of your wig. For synthetic wigs, a good wash will not only clean the inside of the cap but, it will also refresh the built-in style or hair pattern. 

1. Prep Your Wig

Before you even start the washing process gently brush through your wig, removing any tangles or knots. A wide tooth comb just like this one (Jon Renau - Wide Tooth Comb) is a favorite of ours for brushing all different hair types and textures. Using the correct comb for your piece can be essential to keeping the fibers safe. A wide tooth comb is a great option for most styles!

2. Rinse Your Wig

Place your hand inside the cap, holding the wig at the top. Turn the temperature of the water to lukewarm or cool (make sure it is not too hot) and run it over the entire wig including the cap and all of the hair. You can use your favorite shampoo formulated for synthetic hair. If you do not have one, take a look at some of our customer-approved name brand favorites:

Jon Renau - Fiber Love Shampoo for Synthetic Hair

BeautiMark - Shampoo

Brandywine - Shampoo for Synthetic and Human Hair

3. Shampoo Your Wig

Once the hair is wet pour about a quarter size amount of shampoo in your hand to begin. Then slowly lather through the hair, only adding more shampoo as needed. Make sure the hair stays traveling in the same direction. You will also want to avoid excessive rubbing as this can be hard on the fiber and lead to tangling. Once the hair is well shampooed begin to rinse with lukewarm to cool water. As soon as the water runs clean and you are not seeing any suds or left-over soap residue in the hair you can begin the next step.

4. Condition Your Wig

While the wig is still wet you are going to want to apply conditioner. Conditioner is important because it will help protect your wig fiber. Here at Name Brand Wigs/Joshua24, there are two different types of conditioner that you could use. The first is a squeeze-bottle conditioner that you would apply to the wig just as you did with the shampoo. The other option would be a leave-in conditioner which many brands have started to provide.

If you choose the squeeze-bottle conditioner, take a small amount and gently run it through the hair, focusing on the bottom three-quarters of the wig. Make sure to keep the conditioner away from the roots and very top of the wig cap because it can loosen the knotting after a while. Rinse the conditioner out with lukewarm water.

If you choose the leave-in conditioner then you will want to first gently dry the hair with a towel so that it is still damp and not excessively dripping with water. Spritz the hair with a few pumps of conditioner and again, gently being the key word, use your fingertips to make sure it is well distributed. Even with this leave-in conditioner you want to focus on the ends of the hair to about halfway up the hair for longer styles. Remember to be especially careful not to get too much conditioner on the cap when it comes to lace or monofilament tops. Because the conditioner is meant to detangle, it will do just that and eventually loosen the hand tied knots on the cap causing strands to fall out. You do not have to worry about this as much with a traditional cap.

Here are some well loved synthetic fiber conditioners:

Jon Renau - Fiber Love Conditioning Spray

BeautiMark - Leave In Conditioner 

Brandywine - Conditioner

5. Dry Your Wig

After washing and conditioning your wig (I bet she is smelling pretty fresh right now!) wrap the hair in a towel to pat off any excess water (do not rub the hair). Now place it on a wig stand and allow it to naturally air dry. If you have a very curly style, you can prop a book up underneath the curls to keep them from stretching and losing their form. This will take some of the tension off the curls as they dry.

6. The Finishing Touch

You are almost there, but we have one more helpful tip for you! Once the hair is dry you can apply some HD Smooth Detangling Spray to your wig and this will give it some extra protection along with keeping those fibers tame. This is highly recommended for heat friendly and mid to longer styles. When spraying it on, focus on the bottom of half of the hairpiece. We suggest using your fingertips or a wide tooth comb to evenly distribute it throughout your style. And there you go, you have made it! Your piece is fresh, vibrant, and ready for days of wear!

Final Thoughts

Let’s re-cap a couple of our most helpful tips:

• Keep in mind when conditioning, avoid the very top of your monofilament or lace front wigs. Conditioner is meant to detangle, and will loosen the hand knotting, which can cause strands to eventually shed from your lace front or monofilament.
• Another thing to avoid is brushing the hairpiece when it is still wet. This will stretch the fiber when it is in a compromised state. 
• Always use shampoo and conditioner made specifically for synthetic wigs. This will keep your hairpiece looking its best. Regular shampoos and conditioners have added sulfates, chemicals, and dyes that can damage synthetic and processed human hair. If you want to ensure that you are getting the intended lifespan out of your style, make sure to use the correct products for that hair type.
• Lastly, no setting is necessary after you wash the piece; curls will snap back into position when the hairpiece is completely dry. Make sure to store hair similar to the way it will be worn.

 

Thanks for joining us on our wig-washing journey! We hope these tips bring your hair all the love it needs and keeps you feeling amazing! Feel free to share this article with a friend in need 💝 Contact us with any questions.

 

Phone: 320-685-7100

Email: support@namebrandwigs.com