admin Every wig and hair add-on we sell comes with a care tag, but some customers cut off the tags and toss them out without realizing there is important care information on the reverse side, so we’ll offer this brief procedure for washing and conditioning a synthetic wig:
1) First, gently brush out the wig to remove any tangles (unless the wig is extremely curly and/or it came with a tag telling you that it shouldn’t be brushed). Most of the longer styles will become quite matted towards the back, and it may be necessary to gently separate the tangled strands with your fingers. TIP: Apply wig spray as Lubricant to aid brushing and easy removal of any tangles.
2) When the wig is ready to be washed, fill the sink with about 2 quarts of cool water. Never use hot water, as this could relax the curl that was set into the wig during the manufacturing process. Pour about 2 capfuls of synthetic wig shampoo into the water and then submerge the wig. When the wig is fully wet, swish it around for about a minute and then let soak for about another minute. TIP: Leave the wig to soak in the shampoo and water for 5 minutes before washing. This will loosen any stubborn debris and require less rubbing friction. Repeat the washing process if you feel that the first wash has not fully cleansed the hair or fiber.
3) Remove the wig and rinse in cold water until no suds remain. Then place the wig on a bath towel to completely dry overnight, or you may place it on a folding wig stand, which will speed up the drying process. It is all right to blot the wig with a towel, but don’t twist the wig or ring it out. You can use your fingers to gently separate and arrange the strands as the wig is drying, but don’t try to comb or brush the wig while still wet. The fibers could be stretched to the breaking point. Tip: Always rinse the shampoo off with the water flowing in the direction of the hair fiber. Lightly spray conditioner onto the wig after towel drying to aid later brushing and to return oils lost through the washing procedure.
If you wish, you can use a spray-on conditioner on the wig while damp. Work the conditioner through the strands with your fingers, NOT a brush or comb. When the wig is completely dry, you can brush it and style it as you usually would.
If you’d like to put a bit of curl back into your wig, read on. While re-curling a wig is possible, it can be very time-consuming if it is a very curly style. The best curlers to use are soft sponge rollers, and choosing the size will, of course depend upon the tightness of the curl that is desired.
First, slightly dampen the wig with cool water and then put in the rollers. It is important to get each strand combed through before rolling it up to avoid any unsightly “kinks” when the curler is removed.
Once the wig is all set, run HOT water all over it until fully saturated, then gently squeeze each roller to remove excess water. Let the wig dry completely before removing the rollers. If you have a folding wig stand, this will speed up drying time. Once completely dry, carefully take out the rollers and you should have a nicely re-curled wig!
Please be aware the hot water actually will take the curl completely out of a wig unless the rollers are in place, as it acts as a relaxer (kind of like a perm) which softens the fiber to the point that it can take on the new shape of the roller. So…if you decide to just re-curl the wig in a certain spot or two, it is really important to avoid getting any hot water on the rest of the wig!!!
One word of warning: don’t ever use any type of electric styling appliance on your synthetic fiber wig, thinking that this will be quicker than the method described above. Even on the coolest settings, a blow dryer, hot rollers, and curling irons will frizz the fibers, and may even melt them, therefore ruining the wig.
