Wigs today are usually worn for a few simple reasons. Actresses/actors and other performers wear wigs so that they can change their hairstyle, length or color for a show, movie or performance. Some individuals wear wigs because they like to have a variety of different colors and styles of hair. And of course, wigs are often worn when an individual experiences hair loss due to chemotherapy or other medications and disease.
If you have ever owned a wig you quickly learned that caring for your wig is much like caring for your own hair. The better care of it you take the better your wig will look and the longer it will last. Follow any instructions for wig care that came with your wig or your wig care products. Keep in mind that how you take care of your wig will depend in part on whether it is a synthetic or human hair wig.
Synthetic Wig Care
The care of a synthetic wig is in some way different than that of a human hair wig. Remember that the synthetic wig is not real hair but rather fibers of artificial hair strands. You need to be cautious so that you do not damage the fibers of the wig. Your synthetic hair wig will not need to be washed everyday. In fact, washing the wig too often can lessen the lifetime of your wig. Washing the wig every five or six days for continued wear will generally be fine. Some cleaning guides say you can even go a little bit longer than that.
Synthetic wigs should be washed and rinsed in cool and cold water only. Do not use hot water! Hot water can and will damage your wig. Use shampoo for synthetic wigs and not the shampoo that you would use to wash your natural hair. You can wash the wig in the sink if you would like. Of course, you should never put the wig in the washer or dryer. The shampoo will go directly in the water before you submerge the wig. Move the wig around in the water. After gently working your wig throughout the water and soaping your wig, rinse the wig with cool water.
Towel dry the wig by blotting only. You cannot use a blow dryer on a wig! Allow your wig to air dry by spreading it out on a towel, placing it on a wig stand or setting it up to dry on a Styrofoam wig head. It always works well if you plan to wash your wig in the evening so that you can allow it to dry until morning.
Before setting your wig out to dry, you might want to use a conditioner. Put this in the wig once it is damp and not while it is saturated with water. You will use a specialty conditioner for synthetic wigs and it will not be one that you rinse out.
Remember that you should not comb your wig when it is wet. It is best to use a comb rather than a brush on your wig. Brushes are often too harsh on the fibers. You also want to comb gently to help avoid tangling or damage to the wig. Never use styling products for natural hair on your synthetic wig. If you do want detangling or styling products, purchase those that have been designed for use with synthetic wigs.
Human Hair Wig Care
Maintaining your human hair wig also takes special care. Whenever you wash your wig you will want to make sure you have shampoo and conditioner for wigs only. Even though there is human hair in the wig, you should not use natural hair products. Do not use too much of any products including shampoo so that chemicals do not gather within the wig.
The wig shampoo that you purchase will usually provide you with instructions on washing your wig. It will tell you how much water you will need as well as how much shampoo to add to the water. Remember you should be using cool water when washing a wig.
Before you put the wig in the water and shampoo solution, you can use a comb to brush it out which will help to remove any tangles. When you starting washing the wig you will want to get shampoo and water throughout the wig but do not be rough so that you do not damage the cap or the structure of the wig.
Rinse the wig out with only cool water. You can use wig conditioner after the hair has been rinsed. Follow the instructions on your conditioner very carefully. When the wig is still wet, you will not want to ring it dry like you do your natural hair. This can actually damage the wigs. Wigs should be blotted with a towel to remove excess water before drying.
Your human hair wig does not need to be dried by the air. You can use a blow dryer. These wigs are also designed so that you can change styles. Therefore you are able to use curling irons as well as hot rollers on your wig. When styling your human hair wig it is usually best to use a comb. If you do use brush, find a wire brush. When using hair spray and other styling products, find those that are made for wigs. Again, using natural hair products can do damage to your wig, which you want to avoid.
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