Wearing and Caring for your wig.

Wearing wigs can seem tough at first, however, if you follow some simple rules you will do fine. Let my experience help you along.

Prior to putting on a wig you will need to do something with whatever natural hair you have remaining. Short hair is fairly easy to do by brushing your hair behind your ears and close to your head all over. Longer hair may require the use of a wig cap that will help hold your hair in place close to your head. This will allow you to place the wig easier. You can also pin your hair up – evenly – so as not to make “bumps” anywhere. Remember when doing this step to leave some of your own hair on your forehead to blend with the wig.

After leaving some hair on your forehead, gently shake your wig prior to placing on your head. Next, be sure to place your wig on your head with the label at the back of your head. Place the wig, holding it at the sides, so that it lies partly on your forehead. Now slide the wig towards the back so that it slides past your natural hairline SLIGHTLY ( no more than ¼”). Be careful not to place the wig over your ears and have the tabs slightly in front on them. The wig should now feel secure but not too tight. If needed, you can adjust it using the Velcro tabs.

At this point you can “blend” your hair in front with the wigs hair being gentle. Use a wig comb or wig brush to do this. I recommend practicing a few times doing this procedure. Practice makes perfect!

You may want to consider a “Comfy Grip” to help hold your wig more securely. I personally do not use one and have not had any trouble even in high winds.

Most wigs are pre-styled from the manufacturer. You can, however, create variations in the style. Make sure you use a WIG brush or comb, or you may use your fingertips which I use all the time and works well. Definitely DO NOT use brushes or combs used for human hair, as they WILL damage the hair on synthetic wigs. Remember to gently shake the wig prior to wearing or styling.

More creative style variations can be achieved by using a wig mousse. After applying a small amount to your wig, use your hands to style the hair or use a wig brush for straight styles. You may add height by gently lifting with a wig comb. Fullness can be added by gently teasing or backcombing and then bring the surface hair over the tease and smoothing it out. You may also use wig hairspray for hold when needed.

After all this you can return your wig’s hair to it’s basic pre-style by washing and allowing to air-dry.

Wash your synthetic wig according to the directions on the wig shampoo you use. ALWAYS use products designed for your type of wig! Use cold water and add shampoo according to directions on the bottle. Let it soak for about 3 to 5 minutes. Agitate gently and do not rub the hairs together. Drain the water and refill with fresh cold water and rinse – twice is nice – or until thoroughly rinsed. Blot – do not rub – with a dry towel. Make sure you do not wring or squeeze your wig. If desired apply a small amount of conditioner as directed on the bottle. Allow to air dry. DO NOT use a hand or hot dryer on synthetic wigs!! Heat is bad for synthetic wigs. Place a towel over an object smaller than a wig stand and let it air dry. Some suggest that the use of a Styrofoam head may stretch your wig. I use a wire wig stand and have not noticed any problems. You choose how you would like to do this. Slight styling with your hand or fingers may be done at this time during drying.

With regular daily usage, your wig should be washed every 10 to 14 days or when you feel it needs it. This will change if you are using styling products on your wig or if you live in harsh climates. Under these circumstances, you should wash your wig more often, say weekly. You will get to know when your wig needs washing after a short time. Remember also that the more you wash a wig, the shorter the life of the wig. Wigs will generally last months if properly cared for.

Human hair wigs require their own type of products so be sure to get the correct ones for your wig. The steps will be similar but you can use a hot hair dryer on human hair wigs.

Some last tips:

·       Only use products designed for your wig.

·       Keep synthetic wigs away from heat!

·       I store my wigs on wire wig stands.

·       Major restyling or cutting must be done by a professional.