How to Wash a Wig | Expert Tutorial

It's always worth it to invest in an upgrade human hair lace wig. And it requires proper care to maximize your investment. No matter how often you use your wig, you must commit to taking care of it. And your efforts will be repaid with incredibly stunning looks!

To help you in having your style always on point, we created this complete guide about how to wash a wig. You can do it at home.

How To Wash Your Human Hair Wig: STEP BY STEP Tutorial

To keep things simple and clear, we want to start with a list including the essential steps you should follow in your wig wash routine. We will go more in-depth in the next sections!

1. Use a comb to detangle your wig

2. Rinse your wig with warm water

3. Pour some shampoo in your hands and apply it to the wig evenly in circular motions

4. Rinse with medium-warmth water

5. Apply some conditioner from the mid-shaft to the ends, making sure you avoid the root or any knots

6. Leave the conditioner for a few minutes

7. Rinse your wig with water again, with water flowing in the same direction of the hair, to avoid tangling

8. Squeeze the hair to remove excess water and press it with a towel. Avoid wringing it!

9. Let your hair air dry completely. Or blow-dry your wig, but not completely, 80% of dryness will be enough.

10. Brush your wig until smooth.

The Tools and Products that You Will Need

Here is a list of all the materials and tools you need for the wig cleaning process: make sure you have everything on hand before starting taking care of your wig!

• A Wig Brush
• Gentle Shampoo
• Gentle Conditioner
• A Wig Stand (This is optional but it might make your life a lot easier)
• A Clean Towel

As you can see, washing your wig does not require any particular tool that you don't have already at home. Just like with your natural hair, it is simple but essential to know how to take the best care and avoid ruining it.

Make it a priority to choose gentle shampoos and conditioners, which won't damage the fibers of your human hair wig. Prefer products that are free of sulfates or parabens and go for products containing glycerin or aloe vera instead, for example.

Step 1: Prepare Your Wig For Washing

To prepare your human hair wig for the washing process, begin by brushing it gently. You should start brushing from the bottom in the direction of the roots to decrease sheeting. Be mindful and apply extra care during the process. Avoid brutal strokes and instead, go in gently, in order not to ruin the hair fibers.

The aim is to remove any knots or spray build-up, so keep going until you can brush or comb the wig without snagging.

Generally, it is best to use a wire brush for straight or slightly wavy wigs and wide-toothed combs or your fingers if you have to take care of wavy and curly hair wigs.

After having detangled your wig, it will be ready to get washed!

Step 2: Rinse Your Wig With Water

Alternatively, for more effective cleaning, you can decide to "soak" your wig for a couple of minutes in water, especially if you think it's very dirty or if it looks particularly damaged. It is important, however, that no matter how soiled your wig is, you avoid rubbing, twisting it, or wringing it. Doing so will heavily damage your wig.

Use room temperature water of slightly warmer: for better results and avoid using cold or hot water.

Rinse starting from the roots to the ends and remember not to rub the hair, to avoid tangling.

If you notice makeup stains on the cap, it is time to take them away! Gently clean them using a toothbrush, but remember to be gentle and avoid applying too much pressure.

Step 3: Add Shampoo

After having rinsed and washed your wig with water, you should apply some shampoo.

Pour a small amount in your hands (just like as if you were washing natural hair) and apply it to the wig, by distributing it evenly throughout the hair.

When it comes to the cap, you should apply shampoo in circular motions for better cleaning.

It is best to use a shampoo suitable for the type of hair your wig is made of. For instance, use a shampoo specifically for curly hair if you are washing a curly wig.

For even deeper cleaning, you can try turning your wig inside out, with the wig cap reversed and press your wig into the water. This will help for a better distribution of the shampoo, especially around the wig cap, which tends to be the area where most of the sweat, dirt, and oil accumulate.

After shampooing, rinse your wig to remove all of the soap. Make sure the shampoo is all gone before moving to the next step.

Step 4: Apply Conditioner

Applying to condition is an important element of your wig-washing routine as it helps to keep its original styling.

You mustn't apply conditioner to the root as it will cause loss of fiber and it will undo the knots in the cap, causing the strands to fall out. This is especially important if you have a lace wig, where the fibers are not sewn on the cap.

You should apply conditioner from the middle to the ends, gently working your way through the hair with your fingers.

Leave the conditioner on for a few minutes before rinsing, to allow it to nourish and to penetrate the hair.

Step 5: Final Rinse

Rinse your wig with lukewarm water to remove the conditioner. Let the water from the top to the ends to avoid tangling. You can squeeze and press your hair but you must not wring it.

Step 6: Dry Your Wig

Drying your wig is a step that should be performed with extreme care, as wet wigs are vulnerable and easier to ruin.

Firstly, you should gently squeeze the water out over the sink you used to wash your wig.

Remember that twisting or wringing will cause the fibers to break or to tangle, so be careful when squeezing your wig.

Also, keep in mind that you mustn't brush your wet wig, as it will not only damage it but also cause it to be frizzy.

A good method to dry your wig, after having squeezed some of the water out, is to use a clean towel.

For better results, place the wig on a clean towel, towards the end and roll the towel. Press down on the towel and then gently unroll it and remove the wig.

For even better results, it is recommended to blow dry your wig (and here's where the wig stand might be useful). Start by drying the wig cap first and then dry the rest of the wig. Do not dry it completely and use a brush to smooth your wig at the end, for optimal styling.

If you are looking for some extra volume for your wig, dry it upside down somewhere you can leave it air drying.

Step 7: Apply Additional Products For Extra Care (Optional)

If you want, you can also decide to apply some additional products to complete your wig-care routine.

For example, you can spray some conditioning on the wig to ensure easier detangling when you'll need to use it.

You might also want to curl your wig for better styling, using the same technique you would be used for natural hair. Hair rollers also work fine!

Be creative with your style, experiment, and try new ways to wear your wig, but do so while taking proper care of your wig and making sure you are not damaging it!

Step 8: Make Sure You Always Take Good Care Of Your Wig

Washing your wig appropriately is essential for the health of your wig, but that alone won't be enough. It is important that you also take proper care of your wig even when not wearing it and during your styling process.

For instance, you should keep your wig on a wig stand or a vase when not in use.

You should also commit to using products that are not too harsh on the fibers of your wig and that contain parabens or sulfates.

Also, avoid using too high temperatures, not only when washing your wigs but also when blow-drying it or straighten it/ curl it with an iron.

Don't forget that wearing a wig also means that you should keep your hair and scalp extra clean to ensure your wig stays cleaner for longer.

Generally, make sure you take care of your wig just as if it was your natural hair, and you'll be guaranteed good results!

Tips For Curly Hair Wigs

Curly hair wigs usually require some extra considerations to be taken care of. Here are some tips you should keep in mind.

For example, you should rinse your curly hair wig with the hairnet left on in order not to ruin the styling.

Make sure you use curly hair shampoos when washing your wig for better results.

Also after having washed your wig, consider applying some styling mousse for better-looking curls.

It is important to state once again that you should not use brushes on curly wigs. Instead, use your fingers or wide-toothed combs, as those won't damage your curly wig as much and won't cause frizziness.

How Often You Should Wash Your Wig

It is not easy to tell you how often you should wash your wig, as that will depend on the use you make of it. A general rule of thumb is to wash it every 10 uses, which translates, for many to more or less every 4-6 weeks.

However, your styling preferences and your lifestyle also influence how often you'll have to wash your wig. If you are a heavy smoker (or are often around people that smoke), or if your use perfume and you tend to wear your wig in areas with strong odors or perfumes, you might need to wash your wig more often.

As important as it is to wash your wig frequently, you should avoid washing it too often, as it will reduce the lifespan of your wig. The key is to find the right balance and the right routine.

Usually, it is good practice to take a look at your wig, to assess whether it needs to be washed or not. When you notice your wig being tangled, dull, over-sprayed, or lifeless, it is time to wash it!

The Bottomline

So, we have come to the end of this essential guide on how to wash a wig. By following steps outlined in this guide, you should be able to keep your wig healthier and more beautiful for longer, as well as avoiding it from getting damaged. Read this guide to learn how to store your wigs properly

If you found this useful, don't hesitate to let us know in the comments, as we will be more than happy to hear that we helped you!

Let us know too if you think that there is some information missing, we want to do our best to help you and to have you satisfied.