Question
Does anyone know the best way to condition wigs?
My favorite synthetic wig has started to get “frizzy” at the ends and looks like a case of split ends.
I have tried washing and an anti-tangle conditioner.
This helps but after brushing or combing, it slowly comes back.
It needs something to make the hairs less attracted to each other, a bit of grease would do the job! but messes up your clothes.
Has anybody solved the problem?
Reply
Revlon (who make pretty expensive wigs) do a shampoo and conditioner specifically intended for artificial wig hair, not human hair.
I have to say ‘guessing’ because I’ve hardly ever worn wigs myself.
I don’t like them, they are too hot!.
So really I cannot give you a personal opinion.
Also, I have to say, that probably the most important factor in wig care is, keeping the wig on a wig stand of some kind when not in use.
At least then the only tangles it gets are from wearing, not storing.
Many hairdressers will happily do a wig re-style, but it’s not cheaper than a standard women’s hairstyling.
This means, do it twice, and you’re most of the way to buying a new wig anyway instead!
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When a wig gets to that condition it is time for a new one.
I use to use shampoo and conditioner for wigs from Afro Caribbean Shops.
I also used to spray it every time I put it on the stand with an oil sheen hairspray.
This was also purchased from an Afro Caribbean shop.
It also helps if you have two wigs.
I used one for photoshoots and going out in.
I used the other for playing at home and going to parties.
On average I buy 2 to 3 wigs a year.
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Before binning it, try washing it, shampooing or washing up liquid, then rinsing it in a fabric conditioner.
This was recommended to me by Sue Stevens of Contrast Wigs and it works for me.
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Leave out the washing-up liquid! Far too aggressive.
Always use baby shampoo! And always get it completely dry before brushing it out!
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I always use a leave-in conditioner spray and let it dry while it’s hanging up in the shower room.
It appears to work best when you have just had a shower, as the steam helps…
It also makes the hair look glossy and textured rather than dry, matt, and frizzy.
You could always just trim the snappy ends as they tend to stretch with brushing and become uneven and frizzled looking,
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wig who has started to get “frizzy”, split ends, and so on,
I use to train haircutters and make new styles, and such.
Readymade wigs can always be more fit, but it is hard to do it, so it’s good practice on old wigs.
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I went to see my make up artist friend Gordon Fawsett a few weeks ago.
This was for advice on make-up for the Manchester Pride Parade.
Gordon took one look at my wig a said “Darling that wig is a mess”
He sat me down and used a hair drier to do what is a wig equivalent of a blow dry.
The trick is to heat the synthetic fibers up just enough to straighten out the frizz, but not enough to damage the fibres.
Having got my hair staright he then used heated curlers to put in a bit of bounce.
The trick here is to make sure that the ends of the fibres wrap around the curler.
Dont leave the curlers in long enough to damage the fibres.