Maintaining A Human Hair Wig

Note: For a more detailed tutorial, please watch our video called How To Wash, Condition and Dry A Human Hair Wig

Human hair wigs are the superior option for individuals seeking to look and feel beautiful in the hair they wear; however, human hair wigs require frequent maintenance and care to retain their longevity and shine. Special care must be taken when caring for a human hair wig, as improper handling may result in irreversible damage to the wig. One of the most common issues wearers experience when performing self-maintenance on hand-tied human hair wigs is the reversal of hair into the wig cap. The following instructions are meant to help prevent this from happening as well as provide general information on how to care for a human hair wig.

Human hair wig maintenance is best left to the professionals, so implement the following care instructions at your own risk.

WHAT YOU WILL NEED:

Rubber Mannequin Head
Small Pins (T-pins are not recommended as they will create holes in the cap)
Paraben-free, Sulfate-free Shampoo AND Conditioner (Deep Conditioner is optional)
Lukewarm water (i.e. out of a sink)
Towel

If you do not have access to any of the above items, they are available in our online shop.

STEP 1: Preparation

Use Small Pins to fasten the wig to the Mannequin Head.

Using a wide-tooth comb, gently comb out any knots.
Attach wig to Rubber Mannequin Head using Small Pins

STEP 2: Wetting

Wet the wig in a downward motion

With the wig securely fastened to the mannequin head, wet the hair in a downward motion from the crown ends.
DO NOT USE CIRCULAR MOTIONS.

STEP 3: Shampooing

Lather shampoo into wig with gentle downward strokes. Do not do so in a circular motion.

Using a quarter-sized amount of shampoo, work shampoo into the hair from top to bottom by squeezing the hair gently with fingertips.
DO NOT USE CIRCULAR MOTIONS.

Next, rinse the wig with Lukewarm Water ONLY from the crown to the ends.

STEP 4: Conditioning

After working Conditioner into wig, a Wide-Tooth Comb may be used to reduce tangling.

Gently work Conditioner into the hair with your hands, starting at the nape and ending 1/4″ away from the roots.
DO NOT WORK CONDITIONER INTO THE ROOTS, as this may loosen hand-knotted wigs.
NOTE: If using Deep Conditioner, let it remain in the hair for 5 minutes before rinsing.

Next, rinse the wig with Lukewarm Water ONLY from the crown to the ends.

STEP 5: Drying

Roll Wig up into a towel.

Gently squeeze water out of the Wig from the roots to the tips.

Wrap wig carefully into a towel and squeeze water from the roots to the ends.

If you have Spray Leave-In Conditioner, apply it now and let stand (it will be washed out the next time the wig is maintained). Depending on how often the wig is worn, you may or may not need to store it. Once the wig is dried, it is ready to wear and style.