How to Make Synthetic Hair Soft Again
- Posted on 02 November, 2021
- Hair Knowledge
- By Emma & Stuart
Synthetic hair is a great option for everyday wear thanks to its versatility, weather resistance and low maintenance, but when it gets a little dry or frizzy, you might be asking yourself how to make synthetic hair soft again. In this post, we’ll explore how to care for your synthetic wig to keep it soft, how to get synthetic hair soft again if it dries out and what not to do.
How to Get Synthetic Hair Soft Again
The most important thing you can do to keep your synthetic hair soft is to take preventative measures, including:
1. Wig maintenance
Keep on top of cleaning and maintaining your wig to extend its life and ensure it isn’t too shiny. We recommend a dedicated wig shampoo and conditioner after every six to eight wears.
2. Washing your wig
As synthetic wigs can have some shine when you first wear them, regularly washing your wig is a great way to make it look a little more natural. Some of our customers even use the shine to create a stunning ‘just stepped out of the salon’ look and then slowly cycle the wig into their normal day wear after washing.
3. Styling
If your wig is heat-resistant, you could use a very light heat (such as a hairdryer on a low setting) to very carefully smooth down the wig, but this must be done with great care.
What Can You Put on Synthetic Hair to Make it Soft?
If you find your hair becoming dry or frizzy despite the washing, you might be wondering how to make the synthetic hair soft again. We recommend using a dedicated balsam for synthetic wigs. This balsam by Ellen Wille has a light, fresh scent and will help your wig stay gorgeously soft to the touch.
Speaking of Ellen Wille, they have created a wig care set for synthetic wigs, which includes their shampoo, conditioner, hair spray and the balsam. These products are specifically designed for synthetic wigs, which means that they’re safe to use and will help your wig last longer.
Alternatively, the Dimples range has a wig care set of shampoo, conditioner, and hair spray, as well as a fibre oil conditioner to reduce dryness (and therefore promote softness).
We know that fabric softener is commonly used in the synthetic wig community as a cheaper alternative to make synthetic hair soft again. We do not actively recommend this method, but it is widely used to soften hair, reduce static cling and make it easier to comb. For the best care for your wig, a product developed for synthetic hair will always be the better option.
What Not to Do
While it can be useful to know how to get synthetic hair soft again, it is also important to know what you should avoid. However well-intentioned, the wrong care can cause irreversible damage to your wig. Make sure you’re using the right products in a way that is going to benefit synthetic wigs specifically.
USE INTENSE HEAT
You should never use intense heat on a synthetic wig to soften or style it, as this can melt or even burn the wig. If you use heat on a wig, firstly, check if it is heat-resistant. Then use your styling tool on a low setting and, if possible, hold it at a distance from your wig.
Wash in hot water
As well as avoiding using intense heat, you should wash your wig in cool or lukewarm water at most. Using hot water can overheat the fibres, thus ruining the look and quality of the wig.
Use human hair products
You might see a wig product that looks perfect for you, but if you have a synthetic wig and it says human hair only, steer clear! Human hair wigs and synthetic wigs are very different, down to their chemical composition and porosity, so what works for one could damage the other. When it comes down to what you can put on synthetic hair to make it soft, always make sure that the product is earmarked for synthetic hair specifically.
Aggressively comb/brush
Forcing a comb or brush through your synthetic wig can do infinitely more harm than good. We have a guide to detangling synthetic hair properly to avoid any damage and keep your wig looking gorgeous and lasting longer.
Dry by hand
After washing a wig, you want to make sure that you aren’t trying to dry it by hand. Don’t wring it out or rub it with a towel – instead, we suggest lying the wig between two layers of a towel, gently dabbing some water away, and then resting the wig on a wig standto dry fully.
While preventative care is always the best route for your wig, we hope this guide helps if you need to know how to make synthetic hair soft again. While synthetic wigs are cheaper and more low-maintenance than human hair wigs, it is best to look after your wig or hairpiece to get the most life out of it.
