Introduction: The Importance of Wig Care

Wigs are a great way to enhance your appearance, add volume, or experiment with different hairstyles. Just like natural hair, wigs require regular care to maintain shine, softness, and overall appearance. This guide will help you understand some essential wig care basics to ensure you maximize the value of your wig, covering everything from washing to styling.

Before discussing the specific maintenance steps for wigs, I would like to answer a few trivia questions that I am often asked by my wig newbie friends around me to help you better understand real wigs.

Straight Remy Human Hair Wig

Can Your Hair Still Grow Under a Wig?

Most people believe that wearing a wig inhibits one’s hair growth ability because of misconceptions they have about them. Actually, it is not that bad; it does not stop one’s hair from growing and still can grow healthy when properly taken care of. The most important thing is to keep the scalp clean to prevent the buildup of oil and debris, which can block the hair follicles and interfere with the normal growth of hair. It is by preserving healthy follicles that regular scalp massage and nourishing hair oil are employed for the development of hair.

Can You Wear a Wig Over Your Natural Hair?

Absolutely! That is quite okay to wear a wig on your natural hair. As a matter of fact, one of the best ways to protect your hair is to wear a wig over it. The advantage is that it will give you easy access to change styles. At the bottom of the wig cap, a head comb and bobby pins are available that may be used to keep the wig secure with the help of your natural hair. For the sake of your natural hair, preparation of the wig beforehand is paramount. Wearing a wig cap, braiding your real hair, or other protective hairstyles will keep your hair pleasant and dry while reducing friction between the wig and your hair.

What happens to your hair when you wear wigs all the time?

Although wigs are growing more and more popular and provide a variety of style options, wearing them frequently or continuously covering one’s hair with a wig might lead to a number of other issues.

Wearing a wig for an extended period may make your hair thin or even break around your hairlines and elsewhere. This friction between the wig and your hair may also dry out or make your natural hair brittle. If not taken care of regularly, your hair may get damaged.

Understanding Different Wig Types

The first step in proper wig care is understanding what type of wig you own. There are two main categories: synthetic wigs and human hair wigs. Each type requires different care to keep it looking its best.

Synthetic Wigs: Synthetic wigs are made from man-made fibers and hold their shape well. However, they are more sensitive to heat and can be damaged by high temperatures, so they require special care when it comes to styling and washing.

Synthetic Wig

Human Hair Wigs: Made from real hair, human hair wigs offer a more natural look and feel. They can be styled with heat tools and treated just like your natural hair, but they still need proper care to maintain their luster and texture.

Knowing the type of wig you have will help you make the right decisions when it comes to care and styling.

Best Practices for Cleaning Wigs

While it may appear easy, wig cleaning has a few basic things that have to be observed to do the job well.

Synthetic wigs are washed in warm water with special shampoo for wigs. This is since the fibers easily get damaged. Gently work the shampoo into the wig strands. Do not cause friction because this can also contribute to breakages. Ensure the wig is totally rinsed. Frizz and knots arise from the wearing of synthetic wigs; hence, try to avoid the wearing.

Human Hair Wigs: Clean real hair wigs in warm water with organic shampoo. Let the wig rinse well after washing it face down and gently working the shampoo. Don’t rub too hard because this will ruin the texture of the wig.

The washing process should be avoided：

1. Use hot water, which can damage the fibers.
2. Rubbing the wig hard, which can lead to tangles and frizz.
3. Using regular natural hair care products, which can cause buildup and damage the wig.
4. Washing the wig too frequently. Too much washing will make the wig lose its luster and become dry with frizzes. Quality may be reduced also from too much washing.

Drying and storing wigs

The right drying technique is crucial to preventing damage and preserving the wig’s best appearance after washing.

Synthetic wigs: Avoid drying synthetic wigs with a hair dryer. Instead, gently wipe it dry with a towel and let it air dry on a wig stand. By doing this, the wig’s shape will be preserved, and the fibers won’t warp or frizz out.


Human Hair Wigs: To dry a real hair wig, use a hair dryer set at a low temperature. The top portion of the wig can be blown dry first, and the remaining portion can be air dried. Frizz can be avoided by blowing the hair in a single direction with the hair dryer.

How to store your wig: It is equally important to store your wig. Always store your wig on a wig stand or wig figure to maintain its shape. Avoid storing your wig in crowded spaces where it could get crushed or tangled.

Wig on a Wig Stand

Regular combing and conditioning

Combing and detangling: A little shedding of hair from the wig while combing is quite normal. Please note that you can use a wide-toothed comb or your fingers to untangle the wig by separating the hair into sections and gently combing from the ends, brushing all the way to the top. Try to avoid pulling the comb through completely, sprinkle some hair oil or detangling spray, and gently comb out the knots, which helps to avoid putting a lot of pressure on the fibers. Combing must be light and not by pulling the hair, which causes breakage or tangles. Again, it is best to avoid combing hair wet, as it leads to breakage. Also, avoid applying gels, waxes, and other styling agents to your wig, since all of them make the hair sticky and difficult to care for.

Deep conditioning: Even though the follicles of real hair can be moisturized, wigs don’t have that ability. So, having regular deep conditioning treatments can definitely help replace lost moisture and shine to maintain the wig in a shiny, healthy appearance. You can have deep conditioning once or twice a month, depending on how often it will be worn. Deep conditioning is what keeps it soft and prevents the wig from drying out or even breaking.

How to Protect Your Wig from Damage

It will remain beautiful for a long time if it’s kept away from heat, humidity, and ultraviolet light.

Avoid excess heat: Keep your wig away from sources of heat, such as a stove or fire place, and protect it from strong UV sunlight. Oxidation is a chemical reaction that can break hair strands and discolor wigs. This happens from strong sunshine containing hazardous UV rays. Too many hot appliances, such as curling irons and flat irons, can damage them. Try to keep the heat as low as possible and apply some heat protectant spray before styling to avoid this. For more natural curls, try curling with rollers without high heat, without running the risk of damaging your wig.

Heat-Friendly Synthetic Wig

Moisture and Rain: Those who reside in humid regions should keep in mind that moisture frizzes hair wigs. This is essentially true for synthetic wigs. When heading outdoors, wear a hat over your head or simply cover a wig cover to save your wig from rain.

When to seek professional help

Even with self-care, sometimes a wig may require professional care. Here are a few signs you need to seek professional help:

Severe knots or tangles: If a wig is badly knotted or tangled, a professional can help untangle it without causing more damage.

Excessive hair loss: Some amount of hair loss is quite normal, but when you observe an extreme amount of hair falling off, then the wig will need repair or replacement.
Restyling: If the wig has lost its original shape or hairstyle, then it can be restyled by a professional wig stylist.

Conclusion: Incorporating Wig Care into Your Daily Routine

It’s not as hard as you may think to keep your wig looking its best; all you have to do is give it a little attention. Including wig maintenance into your daily routine will continue to brighten your life and make you seem refreshed every time you wear your wig.