Tips on Caring for and Maintaining Wigs

How often should I wash a wig?
Generally speaking, a wig should be washed about every 6-8 wearings - but this is also a personal decision. You should consider washing the wig if the style begins to lose its luster, becomes more difficult to style or feels less fresh than when first wearing it. If you are particularly active, then clean the wig at least once a week to remove dirt and perspiration.

To clean the wig
Comb gently to remove tangles, then turn inside out.
Add a capful of specifically formulated wig shampoo to cold water, and soak wig for five minutes.
Swirl gently without rubbing the wig.
Rinse thoroughly in a basin of clean water.
Blot with a towel to remove excess water




While wig is still wet
Do not rub, wring, twist, brush or comb the wig.
Turn right side out again and place directly on wig drying stand. Avoid using a Styrofoam styling head while wig is wet to prevent stretching.
Spritz thoroughly with specifically formulated wig conditioner (do not rinse out).
Air dry at room temperature (and out of direct sunlight).
Never use heat on a synthetic wig in an attempt to dry the wig faster!

When dry
Simply shake the wig out to "wake" the style again. Then brush or comb wig into desired look.
Do not brush a curly synthetic wig - finger style or use a pick comb instead.

To keep the wig looking fresher longer
Only use professional hair products designed for wigs, like shampoo and conditioner which have been specifically formulated for this purpose.
Avoid using standard hair brushes, which can overstretch and damage the wig. Lightinthebox.com accessories have been designed specifically for use on wigs, and can be used to create added volume and body.
When brushing the wig, start at the ends and work gradually toward the root.
At the end of each day, spritz with spray-on conditioner to maintain luster and manageability, and remove tangles.
Store the wig on a Styrofoam styling head to maintain shape and styling when not in use.

Style Your Synthetic Wig

Synthetic wigs
Extremely easy to wear and care for, these styles tend to be lighter and even more natural looking. Most stylists recommend synthetic wigs because they require the least amount of care. Shorter synthetic wigs are considered "shake-n-go," meaning that all you do is shake them out and they look great. Longer styles may simply need to be combed or finger-styled. One thing that's important to remember is that you never use heat on a synthetic wig! Any heat source, such as a blow dryer, curling or straightening iron - even an open oven - will damage the fiber and ruin the wig.

Styling a synthetic wigWith synthetic wigs, the most you will have to do is shake out the wig to "wake up" the style and play with the bangs to get the look you want. The best styling tools for styling a synthetic wig are your hands - either to tousle the wig or smooth it down. Also use a comb or pick to achieve added fullness and slightly change the style. The beauty of shorter "shake-n-go" styles is that when you shake the wig again, the original style comes right back.
There are some hard and fast rules to follow when styling a synthetic wig:

• NEVER use heat on a synthetic wig. Any styling tool that uses heat (blow dryer, curling iron, hot rollers) will permanently damage wig fiber. You should also avoid other heat sources, such as ovens or cigarettes. Many women have destroyed their wigs by accident simply by bending over to pull a casserole out of the oven. It's best not to wear the wig while performing tasks that involve exposure to heat sources.
• NEVER comb the wig while it's wet. It's recommended that the wig dry on a wire drying rack first before styling. Combing or brushing while wet can also damage wig fiber.
• NEVER brush a curly style. If your wig is curly, particularly tighter curls, use your fingers or a comb to style. Brushing the curls can separate the curls, causing the style to frizz. There's also the potential that you could undo the styling and damage the fiber.

Stylist Tip:
Keep a spritzer bottle on hand. Spritz a little water on the wig and comb or use a pick for a fresh, natural look (being careful not to get the wig cap wet, as it may stretch). This works well on layered styles less than four inches long.

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