Caring for a wig might sound like a hassle when you’re undergoing treatment. But, the good news is you don’t have to do this every day (or even close to every day). We spoke to three expert wig stylists about guidance for keeping your wig well-tended, clean, and long-lasting. This guide is organized first for items that are useful for all wig types (synthetic and human hair); and then a section specifically for each.
Some general wig care tips
For both human hair and synthetic wigs, you’ll want to wash your wig every two weeks to once a month, because your wig doesn’t receive extra oils from the scalp. It’s best to handle your wig gently, especially around the cap so the knots stay tight, and even more so if you have a human hair wig. For both human hair and synthetic wigs, follow the washing and care instructions from wherever you got your wig, but in general, experts recommend that you comb it through before shampooing or conditioning, use cold water and a very light flow from your sink faucet, and air dry on your wig stand after squeezing as much water out as possible with your hands and a towel.
From shampoo and combs, how to store your wig, and other practical advice, we’ve gathered the necessities—and some nice extras.
Necessities for Both Human Hair and Synthetic Wigs
First, a Plastic Holder
For a place to keep your wig whenever it’s not on your head, you’ll want to get a wig stand to help maintain its shape (and air it out).
Kristin VandenBrink, the owner of Beautiful Me Hair Studio in Michigan, recommends this stand because it’s also very suited for air-drying your wig after washing. While you won’t be washing your wig every day (more like every two weeks), it’s helpful to get some air under it after each wear.
A Metal Brush to Detangle
When detangling a wig, human hair or synthetic, you want to be gentle—start combing from the ends and continue moving up as the knots come out. For this, you also typically want to avoid using a normal hairbrush, because it can pull at the wig a little too harshly. VandenBrink recommends a metal brush, or a wide tooth comb for detangling, like this small pink one. These metal bristled brushes are handy to detangle and refresh your wig, and gentle enough to keep it lasting a long time.
A Wide Tooth Comb
Or, you can use a wide tooth comb, like this one from Jon Renau, a brand that also makes wigs. Erica Broderick, the owner of The Wig Outlet in New York, recommends Jon Renau products for synthetic wigs, and this small and affordable comb is another option for detangling your wig and keeping it looking smooth and refreshed.
Rubbing Alcohol to Keep Clean Between Washes
A wig doesn’t get greasy like your normal hair, and so it’s typically sufficient to only wash it every two weeks to once a month. To help with perspiration and to freshen up the band in between washes, Suzanne Chimera, a custom wig designer since 1994 and co-founder of Hair We Share (a nonprofit that provides children and adults facing medical hair loss free human hair wigs), says you can use a “gentle wipe with rubbing alcohol” on the inside of the cap to remove any perspiration and oil.
Products for Human Hair Wigs
A Simple Shampoo and Conditioner
When it comes to caring for your human hair wig, you typically can use any regular shampoo and conditioner. Broderick recommends sticking with something simple, like this drugstore shampoo and conditioner from Suave. “We recommend that you use something super basic like Suave, because it’s a nice conditioning and moisturizing for the hair,” says Broderick.
A Clarifying Shampoo
If it feels like there’s product build up–or if you’ve been sitting by a campfire and your wig has really picked up the scent–your wig might need a more thorough clean. For this you might want to wash it with a clarifying, “heavier-duty” shampoo, VandenBrink says, like this one from Malibu C. This shampoo is strong-and-gentle enough to help you refresh it.
A Spray to Keep the Knots in Your Wig Together
If you have a human hair wig, the hair is probably knotted into the wig cap, and it’s important to be gentle with these knots while washing. For a bit of extra insurance that they stay in place, this knot sealing spray from Walker Tapeco is great to spray on the knots before, and after washing. VandenBrink gives this product to anyone who buys a wig from her, and suggests they also spray the knots around once a week to keep them from loosening and to help the wig keep its quality for longer.
A Deep Conditioner
Because your wig doesn’t receive natural oils from the scalp and it doesn’t require you to wash it as often, it still may require a bit of a deeper conditioning on the days you wash it, to make sure it stays soft. So you might consider using a conditioner that says it’s for dry and damaged hair, like this one from Joico. VandenBrink recommends this salon-grade deep conditioner to make up for the lack of natural oils and to keep your wig feeling soft.
Products for Synthetic Wig Care
The Perfect Care Kit for your Synthetic Wig
When it comes to synthetic wigs, you have to be a bit more picky about the care products you use. Human hair products over time can take away some of the shine and style of synthetic hair. “[Human hair products] are just too heavy for the synthetic fibers,” says Broderick.
A Silicone Hair Treatment for Shine
To keep your synthetic wig shiny and lasting, you can also give it a silicone bath once you’re done shampooing. VandenBrink suggests this treatment to essentially reapply silicone to the ends of your wig and revive the fibers, which can erode over time and cause the wig to lose its shine.
To do this, you’ll want to squeeze as much excess water out of the wig as possible after shampooing, and then apply the paste-like silicone treatment to the ends, as if you’re conditioning (and avoid the knots in the cap). Comb it through with a wide-toothed comb to ensure it’s applied evenly, and roll the wig up in a towel or place it in a Ziploc bag and let it sit for a couple hours. Rinse it out thoroughly, squeeze as much water out as you can, and then put just a little bit of the Bambu Leave-In throughout the hair, and place it on your wig stand to air dry.
