Taking a few basic hair-care steps goes a long way. Wash day takes twenty minutes, and it's the difference between a unit that lasts months and one that lasts years.
What you'll need
- Sulfate-free shampoo and a light conditioner
- A wide-tooth comb and a folding wig stand
- Cool water — never hot, which loosens knots and frizzes fibres
The 20-minute routine
1. Detangle dry. From ends to roots, gently, before water touches it. Wet tangles tighten.
2. Soak, don't scrub. Fill a basin with cool water and a coin of shampoo. Submerge for five minutes, then swish — never rub or wring.
3. Condition mid-lengths to ends only. Keep conditioner off lace and knots or shedding increases. Rinse in the same direction the hair falls.
4. Air-dry on a stand. Blot with a microfibre towel, set on a stand away from sun and radiators. Human hair can take a cool blow-dry with heat protectant; synthetics should always air-dry.
How often?
Every 8–10 wears for everyday units, or when product buildup dulls the shine. Over-washing dries human hair; under-washing mats synthetics at the nape.
Three mistakes that ruin wigs
- Sleeping in it — friction mats the nape beyond rescue. Store on a stand or in the silk bag instead.
- Regular hairspray — alcohols dry fibres out. Use wig-safe formulas only.
- Hot tools on synthetics — classic synthetics melt above 160°C. Only use heat on human hair or pieces labelled heat-friendly, always with protectant.
Reviving a tired unit
A fabric-softener soak (1 cap in cool water, 30 minutes) rescues most frizzy synthetics; a deep-conditioning mask and a trim of the ends revives human hair. If the cap is stretched or the lace torn, book a studio refurbishment instead of replacing.