Your wig is an important investment and a crucial part of your self-image. Follow our simple advice and it will stay in good condition for months or even years to come.
Your wig will experience daily wear and tear, just as anything that you wear regularly will. However, there are steps that you can take to minimise this.
Sleeping in your wig can break the hair as it rubs against the pillow so I advise that, when you can, you remove your wig before you go to sleep. Rubbing your head against a car headrest or playing with the same piece of hair in your fingers can also break the hair. Try to avoid any repetitive action that puts unnecessary stress on the hair.
Wash your scalp and the inside of your silicone cap daily
It is essential to wash both your own scalp and the silicone cap lining every day. This maintains the grip of the silicone cap and helps avoid unpleasant odours.
Wipe them with a small amount of anti-bacterial liquid soap or shampoo then rinse it off. Just wiping with water alone won’t remove perspiration oil. This natural oil can cause the silicone cap to become slippery and odour to develop. Should odour develop inside the cap, mix two tablespoons of baking soda in a cup of warm water. Apply this to the inside of the cap and leave for three to five minutes (a saturated cloth will keep the solution against the cap lining). Then rinse off.
Like growing hair, you should shampoo your wig at least once a week. This can be done under the shower while wearing your wig, or by hand. Because most shampoos are formulated to remove oils from the scalp (which would dry out a wig), we recommend shampoos and conditioners formulated for dry, coloured or permed hair.
Before you wet the hair, gently brush out any tangles. Use a wide-toothed comb or vent brush, starting at the tips and gradually working up the hair length to the crown.
Using tepid or lukewarm water – never hot – hold your wig under the water, allowing it to run gently over and through the hair in the direction the hair flows (a hand shower is perfect for this).
Once saturated, apply a capful of shampoo. Spread the shampoo down the hair length with your fingers and gently squeeze to work the lather through the hair. Do not rub or scrub the hair. Rinse thoroughly under running water.
Squeeze the hair – but not the cap – in a towel to remove excess water and apply conditioner (if the hair is saturated with water, it can’t absorb the conditioner).
Spread the conditioner down the hair length with your fingers and gently squeeze through the hair. Use a wide-toothed comb and work the conditioner gently through, leaving it on for two to five minutes but no longer.
Rinse thoroughly under running water and towel dry. Pat or squeeze the hair with the towel to blot up the water but be sure you don’t rub the hair or the cap with the towel as this can break the hair.
Put your hair back on and style as normal.
Swimming – If you swim in the pool or the sea, always wash and condition your wig afterwards, on the same day.
Hair products – We encourage you to buy quality products from a salon or salon supply store. It may take a while to find the shampoo and conditioner that makes your hair feel right for you. It’s the same for those with growing hair, so keep trying.
Use leave-in, spray conditioners sparingly to avoid heavy, dull hair.
Never leave conditioners or other products on your wig overnight, or for long periods. This can damage the silicone’s bond to the hair roots, resulting in severe hair loss.
Hair products with UV screen protection are good as they help reduce colour fading caused by exposure to the sun. Should your hair fade, water based colour rinses and semi-permanent colours can restore it. Please tell your stylist to use semi-permanent hair colours as the peroxides in permanent products damage the hair.
Styling tips
Check your wide-toothed comb and vent brush are smooth, with no sharp edges.
As part of your morning routine, we recommend using a water spray bottle to dampen the hair slightly before styling. This will soften and reactivate any styling products used before, avoiding combing stress on the hair and giving your hair a fresh look for the day.
If you must use a hairdryer, use only warm settings – never hot.
Choosing your hair style
Choose an easy-care style that you can wash and manage on your own. A style with hair on the forehead works well as it keeps the front edge of the wig covered.
Please note that if the hair is cut too short, or trimmed with an incorrect technique, people with alopecia can be left looking very bald at the neck.
Remember, this is the hairstyle you’ll be living with for the next two or three years. There’s no need to rush the process.