How to Care for Curly Wigs

Step #1 – Section the Hair

The first step of curly wig maintenance is to separate sections of the hair. If your curly wig has tight, small ringlets, like the Curl Appeal wig from the Gabor collection, then separate the hair into smaller sections. If your curly wig has larger, looser curls, like he Hudson wig from Rene of Paris, you can separate the hair into larger sections.

Step #2 – Spray a Detangling Mist

Next, you should very lightly spray each section with a detangling mist. If you’re working with a synthetic curly wig, you should ensure to use wig care products designed for synthetic hair. If you’re working with a human hair wig, you should only use products designed for human hair care.

Step #3 – Gently Brush the Hair

To remove tangles, gently brush the curls. Make sure that you always use a wide-toothed comb when brushing curly wigs. Regular combs and hairbrushes will ruin the curls and can leave your wig looking frizzy or result in shedding.

Step #4 – Restore the Curls

After you have removed any tangles or knots from your wig, you need to restore the curls back to their original style. Depending on the type of curls your wig has, or that you want your wig to have, separate the hair into sections – smaller sections for tighter curls, larger sections for looser curls or waves.

Use your finger to twist each curl gently, and allow it to fall back into its original curl pattern. If you notice that your curls are not bouncing back properly, try twisting your curls in the opposite direction.

If you have a human hair wig, you can try using a curling iron to restore your curls, but be careful to use a low heat. You can also use heatless methods to curl your wig.

Step #5 – Store Your Wig Carefully

The final step in how to care for curly wigs is ensuring that you store your detangled wig carefully. Gently cover the wig with a hair net to keep the curls in place and too prevent further tangling. Then, lay your wig flat into the bag or box in which it arrived or place your wig into a plastic, sealed box to stop it from getting dusty.

When it comes to wig care practices to avoid, remember this: do not throw your wig onto the floor, a counter or a chest of drawers as this can easily lead to your curls becoming tangled and knotted.

Step #1 –

Identify Your Wig Type

Step #2

Fill Your Basin

Step #3

Shampoo Your Wig

Once the entire hairpiece is wet, you need to apply wig shampoo. Gently and evenly apply the shampoo all over the hair. Don’t be too forceful when applying shampoo, as scrunching the hair can ruin your curls.

If you want more guidance on which wig care products you need, check out our previous blog post.

Step #4

Rinse off Shampoo

Next, carefully rinse all of the shampoo off of your wig. For effective curly wig care,  rinse the hair from root to tip, with the water flowing in the same direction as the wig’s hair, as this can help reduce tangling.

Step #5

Dry Your Wig

Remove your wig from the water, and carefully lay it flat out on towels. Use another towel or cloth to pat the wig down gently to help it dry. It is essential that you pat your wig dry instead of rubbing it dry; your wig may lose its curls if you rub it dry.

We also recommend not to air dry your wig on a wig stand or mannequin head as the weight of the wet hair can stretch out your wig and damage your curls.