Human hair wigs
- Cut the lace: once you decide that you want to keep it, you'll probably have to cut the lace (read how here), unless it came pre-cut or previously loved.
- Change the part: if you want to change the part, get the hair wet in the area you want to change, re-part it, and wait for it to dry or lightly blow dry it if you're in a hurry.
- Combing: To comb your wig, use a wide tooth comb, a Goody Wet brush, or a comb made for human hair. Do not use a regular hairbrush, which could pull and damage the hair. Gently comb through it before you put it on and when you take it off, starting at the bottom and working your way up. Longer styles may also need to be combed throughout the day to avoid excessive tangling. All long styles will tangle, regardless of the hair quality.
- Oil: Human hair wigs need to have oil added to them (sparingly) every so often to maintain hydrated and prevent the hair from becoming dry and brittle. Get a salon-quality hair oil like Moroccanoil oil or Wigs By Tiffani's oil. I use oil every few days on wigs that I wear daily and once a wear on wigs that I wear less frequently. Using oil at the nape of long pieces can also help reduce tangling. Blonde wigs tend to get brittle and tangle more easily because they have often been highly processed.
- Washing: Wash your wig as infrequently as possible, about once every 2-4 weeks with daily wear. You'll know it's time to wash when your hair stops moving smoothly and naturally. To wash your wig, use salon-quality products that are sulfate-free and follow the steps here. You'll probably want to re-style your wig after you wash it, but the style should hold for a while - a week for curly wigs or longer for straight, smoothed wigs. Use dry shampoo spray if needed to “freshen” the inside of the cap between washings.
- Styling: as human hair wigs are made of "real" hair, you can heat-style them with a curling iron or straightener up to 350 degrees.
- Storage: When it's not on your head, store it on a wig stand.
- Modifications: Unless you're a professional or doing something simple like adding bangs, send your wig to a wig specialist for any modifications, such as coloring or bleaching knots.
- Proper fit: If it slides around it's probably too big - you can try adjusting the straps at the nape to make it tighter or try adding a wig grip. It may also be sliding around on your bio hair, and if this is the case try adding a wig cap over your bio hair. If it gives you a headache it's probably too small - try loosening the straps or stretching the cap after washing. Keep in mind that human hair wigs are less forgiving of mis-sizing, so if these fixes don't take care of the problem it you may be better off exchanging it for a smaller cap size or getting it re-sized by a wig specialist.
