How To Wash A Wig

When buying, sellers tell about how to wash a wig correctly, manufacturers write in instructions, online stores post checklists and recommendations on their websites. But practice shows that half of the owners of wigs and hairpieces initially care for them incorrectly, and then they begin to complain about the poor quality, unaesthetic appearance of the product.

We interviewed hairdressers and professional stylists to write the most detailed instructions on how to properly wash your wig. Bookmark the article immediately so as not to lose it and always have it at hand.

How often should you wash?

Experts advise not to overdo it and wash a wig as it gets dirty, optimally after 12 days of wearing. But there are some nuances here.

The product needs to be washed if the hair is tangled from wind and rain, or if it has been stored in a stuffy place for a long time and has acquired a specific smell.
Short wigs need to be washed less frequently than long wigs. And natural strands get dirty faster than artificial ones.
When the air humidity is high, the hair becomes dirty faster, so they need more thorough care and frequent washing.

But then again, everything is individual here. If the strands even after daily wear for 10 days look clean and do not have an unpleasant odor, you can wait a little with washing. But if you are caught in a downpour and heavy wind, without washing, you simply cannot comb your tangled curls.

What to wash a wig?

Before you wash a wig, you need to decide on the appropriate product:

Models made of human hair can be washed with regular shampoo and conditioner. It makes no sense to spend serious sums on buying special care products – what is good for natural hair will also be good for natural wigs.
Experts recommend washing kanekalon and thermofibre hair with products for weakened split ends. We also recommend including conditioners in the care – it facilitates combing.
Cheap polyamide and acrylic get dirty very quickly. In addition, these synthetic fibers cause increased sweating, which leads to discomfort and is accompanied by a characteristic odor. Products made from these materials are washed with ordinary shampoo, and in order to slightly remove the artificial shine and untangle the strands, they are soaked for 12 hours in fabric softener.

Important! Frequent washing will shorten the life of the wig, so for non-critical contamination, it is enough to use dry shampoo. And it is desirable to minimize the use of various styling products.

How to wash a wig of kanekalon

At one time, Kanekalon made a real revolution in the wig industry and made these products as affordable as possible. The material, the formula of which is based on an extract from seaweed, is characterized by high elasticity, strength and incredible lightness. At the same time, it is devoid of artificial luster and is not inferior in aesthetics to natural curls.

The main plus of kanekalon wigs is the ability to return to the shape after each wash, which is set during their production. These products perfectly hold curls, curls and volume even in windy rainy weather. After washing, it is enough to dry and comb them – the hairstyle will be the same as on the day of purchase.

And now in detail about how to wash a wig:

Boiled warm water is optimal for washing. But if there is no time, you can simply soften the water by adding a little soda to it. So pollution will be removed more efficiently.
In a bowl of water, dilute a cap of shampoo and dip a pre-combed wig into it. Leave to soak for 10-15 minutes.
Lightly rinse the curls, without enthusiasm, sudden movements and active rubbing. Pay special attention to the most polluted places – the area of the forehead, temples, neck. Rinse under a light stream of water.
It remains to soften the hairs for easy combing. To do this, fill a bowl with water and dilute a cap (2 tbsp.) of conditioner in it (you can Lenore). Leave the product in this liquid for half an hour, and then rinse under cool water.
Put the washed pad to dry on a soft cloth, and then on a special blank or jar. Dry your wig away from the sun and heat sources.
After drying, the kanekalon strands need to be combed. It is better to do this with a comb with sparse teeth, so as not to damage the hairs.
The final touch is styling. To do this, just shake the wig, and it will return to its original shape without any effort on your part. This is the magic of kanekalon!

If you have a modacrylic wig, feel free to follow these instructions, since this fiber is similar in composition and shape to kanekalon and needs similar care.

Read Also: Hair Masks: Benefits And Uses

How to wash a wig of thermal fiber

These products are resistant to high temperatures, so they “painlessly” tolerate styling with a curling iron, ironing, and hair dryer. At the same time, the fibers are completely devoid of shine, pleasant to the touch and natural in appearance. You need to wash a wigs according to the above rules, but with some nuances:

If the strands become very electrified, dilute a little fabric softener in water and rinse the wig. The usual antistatic for clothes also helps well.
For washing, give preference to shampoos for the care of brittle split ends.
Small dirt from thermal fiber can be easily removed with dry shampoos.

Despite the resistance of curls to heat styling, professionals often do not recommend curling with a curling iron and drying with a hot hair dryer. The more you take care of your wig, the longer it will last flawlessly.

How to wash a synthetic wig

Natural wigs are recognized bestsellers, because no matter how hard the manufacturers of artificial fibers try, human hair will always win in beauty and naturalness. They can be dyed and tinted, curled with thermal curlers and styled with a hairdryer – in general, experiment with images to your taste and mood.

Caring for a natural wig is no more difficult than caring for your own hair: gentle combing, regular washing, gentle styling. Hairdressers give clear instructions on how to properly wash natural wigs at home:

It is recommended to start with gentle unraveling of the strands and combing the hair. For this, a flat wooden comb with sparse teeth is suitable. If the hair is curled into curls and curls, then comb the curls with your fingers.
Prepare warm soft water for washing – add a little baking soda and shampoo to it. Soak the pad for a few minutes and walk lightly along the hair. In no case do not rub or squeeze the strands.
Rinse off the shampoo under running water and apply conditioner to the strands to keep them supple and vibrant. After 5 minutes, rinse off the conditioner by holding the wig vertically under running water so that it runs from base to ends.
Lay wet hair on a soft towel and leave to dry for several hours. It is recommended to lay curls with a hairdryer on a blank or a regular jar.

Important! In order not to spoil natural hair with a curling iron or tongs, try to curl only the ends.

Rules for combing a wig

It is allowed to comb only a completely dried wig, so as not to damage the hairs and not pull them out of the base. Professional stylists do it in the following way:

Choose a regular scallop with rare large cloves.
Start from the end. First, they are thoroughly combed, gradually rising to the top.
For convenience, the hair is divided into small sections and each is combed separately.
Tangled hairs are carefully untangled with your hands so as not to be pulled out of the base.
Nodules that cannot be untangled are cut with pointed scissors.
Lay and give the desired shape, putting a wig on your head.

You need to store the wig in a special breathable mesh bag that protects from dust and dirt. Away from ultraviolet rays, radiators and heaters.

Now you have a detailed diagram of how to wash a wig without harming it. Follow our advice and be always beautiful!