How to Care for African American Wigs

How to Care for African American Wigs
By Anne Clarke

Proper African American wig care is very important if you want your wig to look good for a long time. Of course, proper wig care depends on what type of wig you have – whether or not you have a synthetic wig, a human hair wig, a dreadlocks wig, etc.

General African American wig care:

1. Wash your wig after you have worn it around 8-12 times. In truth, though, you may be able to go longer without washing it, or you may have to wash it much sooner – this depends on the humidity and the air quality. And, for instance, if you go to a smoke-y bar, you may want to wash that smoke-smell out of your hair that night, even if you washed it just a few days ago! Be your own judge.


2. Use a towel to gently blot your wig dry – again, be gentle! Do not wring out your wig!


3. Now add a conditioning spray.


4. Allow your wig to dry. You can use a Styrofoam head, but it could stretch out the cap. You may, instead, prefer to set your wig on top of something like a vase or a towel-covered hairspray bottle.


5. Do not brush your wig unless it is fully dry.


6. Do not leave your wig out in direct sunlight to dry.


7. If you decide to cut your wig, make sure that you are wearing it for the best results.


8. When not wearing your wig, leave it on a wig stand so that it can keep its shape and not get tangled.


9. When traveling, carry your wig in a wig box – you don’t want it to be flattened.


10. To wash your wig:

• Use a wig brush to brush through your wig.


• Be sure to use a wig shampoo. It is important that you do not use regular shampoo, it can damage your wig.


• Fill up a sink with cold or lukewarm water and add the wig shampoo (generally about a tablespoon… read the shampoo bottle for precise directions).


• Place your wig in the water and gently swish it around – be gentle! Do this for about a minute.


• Rinse your wig in cold running water until thoroughly rinsed.

African American wig care for synthetic hair includes not using a hair dryer or any heat-source stylers like curling irons – these could actually melt and frizz your synthetic hairs. Use only your fingertips or a wig comb/brush to style the wig. Also make sure that you keep your wig away from excessive heat like opened oven doors, fireplaces, and barbecues.

Also, most synthetic wigs should not be worn in a swimming pool unless otherwise stated. It is also very important that you do not use brushes made for human hair – they can stretch out the synthetic hairs, damaging them or frizzing them or breaking them. And do not try to color or bleach your wig.

Wig care for human hair wigs is actually very similar to that of synthetic hair. The main difference is that you can treat a real hair wig more like you would treat your own hair.

You can use hot tools – blow dryers, curling irons, etc. – to style your human hair wig. Of course, if you have a skin-like plastic cap, you need to be aware that the plastic could melt when under high heat.

An important note about wig care for dreadlocks wigs is that both dreadlocks and spiral curl wigs should not be combed or brushed. Doing so could undo the dreads.

Anne Clarke writes numerous articles for websites on gardening, parenting, fashion, and home decor. Her background includes teaching, gardening, and fashion. For more of her articles on wigs, please visit africanamericanwigs.net, suppliers of high quality Wig Care and African American Wigs .

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Anne_Clarke
http://EzineArticles.com/?How-to-Care-for-African-American-Wigs&id=438121