How to Wash and Care for a Human Hair Wig

A human hair wig is an investment, and like the hair growing from your own head, it lasts longest when it is cared for properly. The good news: caring for a human hair wig is simpler than most people expect. Here is how to wash, condition, dry, store, and protect your piece so it stays soft, natural, and beautiful for years.

How Often to Wash a Human Hair Wig

Unlike the hair on your head, a wig does not produce natural oils, so it needs washing far less often. As a general rule, wash after every eight to fifteen wears, or when styling product builds up and the hair stops moving freely. Washing too often shortens its life; washing too rarely lets product dull the shine. Somewhere in between is right for most wearers.

How to Wash Your Wig, Step by Step

• Detangle first. Gently work through the hair with a wig brush before it gets wet, starting at the ends and moving up. Never brush a wig roughly or from the roots down.
• Use cool to lukewarm water. Hot water stresses the hair and the cap. Add a small amount of sulfate-free shampoo and let the hair soak briefly.
• Wash gently, in one direction. Do not scrub, twist, or wring. Let the water flow through the hair from root to tip.
• Condition the lengths, not the base. Apply conditioner from mid-length to ends, avoiding the knots at the cap so they stay secure. Rinse thoroughly.
• Blot, do not rub. Press the water out with a towel. Never twist.

Drying and Styling

Let your wig air dry on a stand whenever you can; it is the gentlest option and helps the style hold its shape. Because these are 100% human hair, you can use heat tools, but keep them on a moderate setting and always use a heat protectant. The same flexibility that lets you curl and straighten your wig is exactly why human hair lasts longer and looks more natural than synthetic. For more on that, see why human hair wigs are worth it.

Storing and Protecting Your Wig

How you store a wig between wears matters as much as how you wash it. To keep its shape and prevent tangling:

• Store it on a wig stand or mannequin head, not crumpled in a drawer.
• For travel, use a silk-lined travel bag so the hair does not rub and frizz.
• Keep it out of direct sunlight and away from heat sources when not in use.
• Brush gently with a proper wig brush before and after wear.

When to Let a Professional Handle It

Some things are worth leaving to a specialist, especially a deep clean, a restyle, or reviving a piece that has lost its shape. If you would rather not wash it yourself, or your wig needs more than routine care, our wash and style service at our Los Angeles salon deep cleans, conditions, and styles your wig back to its original beauty. And if a wig is damaged or simply tired, repair is often better than replacement; here is a better alternative to tossing your wig.