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