Hello gorgeous! Ever thought about how best to clean your wig? If you said yes, that’s awesome. You’re about to read an insightful step-by-step guide on how to clean a wig.
My name is Tee and I’m a great lover of wigs. Wigs are very delicate and require the utmost care in the world. Over the years, I’ve discovered efficient ways to clean wigs. From my experience, I know the dos and don’ts of cleaning your wig.
Cleaning a wig is not something difficult. However, you may get thoughts like; what tools should I use? How much time is needed? What method? Well, I’m here to simplify those thoughts for you and show you how to clean a wig.
Keep reading, I promise to unravel all you need to know!
Tools Needed
Get these essential tools prepared before cleaning your wig to achieve the best results.
Hair Shampoo
The shampoo serves as a cleaning agent to remove excess sebum and dirt from your wig.
Using ordinary soap to clean your wig is a big NO. It will damage the texture of your wig and make it look frizzy and unattractive.
Hair Conditioner
This helps to improve the texture and appearance of your wig. Hair conditioner makes your wig super soft and bouncy. It also makes it easy to brush your wig by reducing friction between the strands.
You can also opt for a leave-in conditioner that will retain the softness of your wig over time. If used occasionally, it minimizes the number of split ends on the wig.
Hair Brush
A hair brush is needed to brush through your wig before washing it. Don’t try to use a comb instead of a brush. You’ll destroy your wig that way.
Also, it’s quite important to brush your wig regularly. This helps to untie any knots that may have built up over time. The right wig brush helps maintain the beauty and quality of your wig.
Towel
A towel is as important as any other tool you need for cleaning your wig. Keep in mind that using a hot dryer instead of a towel can cause your wig to melt, distort the hair fiber, and leave your wig in an irreversible condition.
Wig Stand
The wig stand is a great tool to achieve a thorough, smooth, and flawless outcome. Also, you can use the stand to style your wig as desired when you are done cleaning.
6 Easy Steps to Clean a Wig
Here is a step-by-step guide to clean your wig.
Pro tips
- Use your fingers to detangle any knots on your wig before you start. This is a very important step before you start cleaning your wig. It’s quite essential to make sure that your wig is knotless.
- Avoid using 2-in-1 shampoos.
- Never brush your wig when it’s wet. You’ll damage the fibers easily and they’ll pull out from the roots.
Step 1
Get your wig stand ready, place a wig cap on it, then carefully put your wig on the stand. Ensure that the wig is well fitted in its natural position. This allows for easy access and convenience.
Step 2
Starting from the edges, and in an orderly manner, carefully brush the wig. This will help you remove any remaining knots on the wig. Continue this step as you work your way up until the brush can get to the roots of your wig without clutching together.
For curly and wavy wigs, use your fingers or wide-toothed brushes. And for straight wigs, make use of a wire wig brush.
Step 3
Get your basin or sink of cool water ready. Add the required quantity of shampoo to the water, and then stir thoroughly. Put the wig inside and allow it to absorb the mixture for about 4 to 5 minutes.
Gently spin the wig while submerged in the water, use your hands to run through as you wash off the dirt. Don’t swirl, squeeze, or thrash your wig too much. Else, your wig fibers could twist and get tangled up.
If your wig is dyed, make use of a color-safe shampoo. And if your wig is curled, make use of a curls-friendly shampoo that still retains the curls.
Step 4
After washing, you can now rinse your wig with fresh cool water until every trace of shampoo is gone. However, you may have to rinse your wig more than once. This depends on the thickness of the wig, and the quantity of shampoo used.
Step 5
Spread in the desired quantity on your wig and gently use your fingers to smooth it from the edges. However, if it’s a ventilated wig, you’ll need to handle the wig carefully so as not to botch the wig cap.
After applying the conditioner, leave it on the wig for about 2 to 4 minutes to allow the nourishing oil to seep in and revamp the overall look of your wig. Afterward, rinse again with cool water. However, if you use a leave-in conditioner, feel free to skip this step.
Step 6
Finally, take your wig out of the water and squeeze it lightly to avoid fiber break.
Then you can use your clean towel to remove the remaining water in the wig. Roll the wig gently with the towel and slowly press down. Repeat this for 2 – 3 times.
Apply hair spray or hair oil to give your wig a flawless look and pleasant smell.
FAQs
Here are some commonly asked questions relating to cleaning a wig.
Does Washing Your Wig Damage it?
No. But It becomes a threat when you wash it too often. Frequent washing causes your wigs to become dry, coarse, and brittle. If you wear it every day, wash your wig 1-2 times a week is a good idea.
Can I Wash my Wigs in Hot Water?
That’s a big no, never a good idea. It’s advisable to use cool water to wash and rinse your wigs, never hot water. If you want to remove excess oil or sebum, you can use lukewarm water. If you use hot water it will destroy your wig.
What Can I Use to Wash my Wig Instead of Shampoo?
According to my experience, baking soda is a useful alternative if you’ve run out of shampoo. Fill a bucket or your sink with about 2 to 3 quarters of lukewarm water. Then pour half or a quarter cup of baking soda into it.
After the baking soda has dissolved, soak your wig for some hours. After soaking, rinse well and dry at room temperature.
Final Thoughts
Easy peasy. That’s how to clean a wig. Share your comments and questions below, and let’s know how it goes.
Stay Safe!