Caring for your wig
You look after your wig in much the same way as you look after your own natural hair. Excessive washing and styling can cause it to lose its natural style and shape so the trick is not to overdo it.
A lot depends on how long you wear your wig and in what type of environment. If your wig is exposed to a higher level of wear and tear then it will need to be washed more often than usual. And a human hair wig requires more washing than a synthetic hair wig.
A good way of approaching this is to wash a human hair wig after wearing it 10 times: and a synthetic hair wig after wearing it 15 to 20 times.
When you do wash it make sure you use products which are specially formulated for wigs. And choose those which are best suited to the style of your wig. And clean your wig with special tools such as a wig pick or brush.
Brush away any grime or dirt from your wig which helps to smooth it out (and remove any tangles).
Then fill a large bowl with lukewarm (NOT hot water) and add a special wig shampoo. Place the wig in this water and allow it to rest for 2 to 5 minutes. Then drain off this water and rinse off the wig under cold, running water.
Use a towel to dry off the wig but don’t pull, twist or place any unnecessary force on the hair. Place it on the head form to retain its shape.
You can add a special conditioner to your hair which will help to keep it clean and fresh. Doing all of this will ensure that your wig remains in a tip top condition.
You can style your wig in a way to suit you but be aware that there is a difference between doing this with a wig and your own natural hair. If you have chosen a human hair wig then you have more leeway with this as they don’t retain their shape once washed so they need to be restyled each time.
But synthetic wigs are more limited in this aspect. There are far fewer hair styles to choose from which is something to consider when you are buying a wig. The hairs on a synthetic wig snap back into place after washing which means that you cannot have a completely new style, for example changing from curly hair to a short crop.
You can, however, accessorise your wig. For example, you can add a ponytail to your existing wig, which adds length if you have a short style.
You may want to change your style to a curly one by using curling tongs but the problem with this is that the heat generated by these will frizz or damage the hair. It is better in this situation to approach a professional hairdresser as they have the equipment and expertise to do so.
Just a point of interest: there are some people who unfortunately, find that they develop an allergy to wigs, for example, the nylon material used in synthetic wigs. There is treatment available for this but if you cannot get on with a wig then there are still options open to you and these include wearing a scarf or hat.
Wig Index:
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- FAQS About Hair Loss
- Glossary for Hair loss
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- What is a Hair Transplant?
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- Preparing for your Hair Transplant
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- Female Hair Transplant
- Finding a Hair Transplant Clinic
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- Hair Transplant Glossary