| Proper African American wig care is very | | | | that you do not use regular shampoo, it can |
| important if you want your wig to look good for | | | | damage your wig. |
| a long time. Of course, proper wig care depends | | | | - Fill up a sink with cold or lukewarm water and |
| on what type of wig you have - whether or not | | | | add the wig shampoo (generally about a |
| you have a synthetic wig, a human hair wig, a | | | | tablespoon... read the shampoo bottle for precise |
| dreadlocks wig, etc. | | | | directions). |
| General African American wig care: | | | | - Place your wig in the water and gently swish it |
| | | | around - be gentle! Do this for about a minute. |
| 1. Wash your wig after you have worn it around | | | | - Rinse your wig in cold running water until |
| 8-12 times. In truth, though, you may be able to | | | | thoroughly rinsed. |
| go longer without washing it, or you may have to | | | | African American wig care for synthetic hair |
| wash it much sooner - this depends on the | | | | includes not using a hair dryer or any heat-source |
| humidity and the air quality. And, for instance, if | | | | stylers like curling irons - these could actually melt |
| you go to a smoke-y bar, you may want to | | | | and frizz your synthetic hairs. Use only your |
| wash that smoke-smell out of your hair that | | | | fingertips or a wig comb/brush to style the wig. |
| night, even if you washed it just a few days ago! | | | | Also make sure that you keep your wig away |
| Be your own judge. | | | | from excessive heat like opened oven doors, |
| 2. Use a towel to gently blot your wig dry - again, | | | | fireplaces, and barbecues. |
| be gentle! Do not wring out your wig! | | | | Also, most synthetic wigs should not be worn in a |
| 3. Now add a conditioning spray. | | | | swimming pool unless otherwise stated. It is also |
| 4. Allow your wig to dry. You can use a | | | | very important that you do not use brushes |
| Styrofoam head, but it could stretch out the cap. | | | | made for human hair - they can stretch out the |
| You may, instead, prefer to set your wig on top | | | | synthetic hairs, damaging them or frizzing them or |
| of something like a vase or a towel-covered | | | | breaking them. And do not try to color or bleach |
| hairspray bottle. | | | | your wig. |
| 5. Do not brush your wig unless it is fully dry. | | | | Wig care for human hair wigs is actually very |
| 6. Do not leave your wig out in direct sunlight to | | | | similar to that of synthetic hair. The main |
| dry. | | | | difference is that you can treat a real hair wig |
| 7. If you decide to cut your wig, make sure that | | | | more like you would treat your own hair. |
| you are wearing it for the best results. | | | | You can use hot tools - blow dryers, curling irons, |
| 8. When not wearing your wig, leave it on a wig | | | | etc. - to style your human hair wig. Of course, if |
| stand so that it can keep its shape and not get | | | | you have a skin-like plastic cap, you need to be |
| tangled. | | | | aware that the plastic could melt when under high |
| 9. When traveling, carry your wig in a wig box - | | | | heat. |
| you don't want it to be flattened. | | | | An important note about wig care for dreadlocks |
| 10. To wash your wig: | | | | wigs is that both dreadlocks and spiral curl wigs |
| - Use a wig brush to brush through your wig. | | | | should not be combed or brushed. Doing so could |
| - Be sure to use a wig shampoo. It is important | | | | undo the dreads. |