How to Care for Human Hair Wigs

Human hair wigs are extremely delicate, meaning the way you care for them makes or breaks your experience. The products you use dictate whether your wig stays shiny, hydrated, and lives a long life, or breaks and unravels. 

This guide will help you care for your wig properly, complete with high quality, nourishing products to keep the hair looking its best.

Human hair wigs need to be maintained each wear to remain in pristine condition. To keep each strand shiny, smooth, and frizz free, apply a lightweight oil mid shaft to end, and gently comb through with a wide toothed comb. This step is highly important, as wigs are prone to dryness and breakage, as the strands are no longer receiving nutrients from the scalp. Our recommendation? LHC’s dreamily scented, ultra lightweight, nutrient packed Hydrating Oil.

Pro tip: for the smoothest application, apply 1-2 pumps to your palm, and rub your palms together to warm the oil.

One huge benefit of human hair wigs is that they can be heat styled, but extra steps must be taken to preserve the hair’s integrity! Always apply a heat protectant spray prior to heat styling, and take care to keep the temperature low to moderate heat to mitigate damage and prolong the wig’s life.

Wigs require washing every 10-15 days, as natural oils from your scalp accumulate, and any products used to style it build up. Wash day is an important routine to get dialed in, as both individual strands of hair and its connection to the cap become more fragile while wet.

Before washing, it’s important to detangle the wig completely, taking extra care to be gentle to preserve the integrity of the hair and avoid breakage. Use a wide tooth comb or wig brush and gently work through any tangles, starting from the tips and slowly working up to the roots. To avoid pulling strands out, diffuse tension by applying gentle pressure mid shaft above each stroke of the comb or brush.

Before shampooing, completely saturate the wig with lukewarm water. It’s important to avoid hot water, which may cause shedding. Apply a high quality sulfate and paraben free shampoo and gently lather, stroking downward. This process is particularly delicate, so take care not to scrub or wring, as both motions cause additional friction and potential breakage. Once lathered, rinse the suds and lightly squeeze the excess water out to prepare for conditioning.

Selecting the best conditioning treatment for your wig is vital, as the right choice restores all the lost moisture, prevents breakage and frizz, and provides essential nutrients. We recommend opting for a deep conditioning treatment for wigs, as they don’t receive nutrients from the scalp. LHC’s Deep Conditioning Masque serves this purpose perfectly, complete with all the nutrients needed to restore softness and shine, a creamy texture that won’t weigh down hair, and a luxurious scent to indulge your senses.

When applying your conditioning treatment, start mid shaft and gently massage down to the tip, making sure to saturate the hair fully. It’s vital to not apply any within ½ inch of the cap, as this causes knots to slip and excessive shedding. Let the conditioning treatment rest for 5 minutes, then rinse with cool water to smooth the shaft of each strand and enhance shine. Lightly squeeze all excess water from the wig, and prepare to dry.

Gently press the water from the wig with a towel, taking extra care not to twist, pull, or wring, as this may break the strands in their fragile state. Set the wig on a mannequin stand or rack to allow it to air dry. If the wash was sufficiently gentle, there shouldn’t be tangles in the hair, but if there are, allow the wig to air dry most of the way, then apply a touch of hydrating oil and gently comb through.

If you’ve suffered significant hair loss due medical struggles or extenuating life circumstances, the Laced Hair Foundation exists to serve you. We provide high quality human hair wigs, toppers, and hair extensions to those who need them most, with the goal of restoring confidence to those who need it most. Learn more about our mission and nominate a loved one (or yourself) at lacedhairfoundation.org