1.De-Tangle

Before beginning to wash your human hair wig, gently de-tangle it using either your fingers or a wig brush or wide-toothed comb. This is an important step as it helps to get rid of any nasty knots or tangles before the washing process begins. You might be tempted to brush it through when you are shampooing or conditioning, but brushing while wet can cause damage to the fibers, so make sure you do this first!

2. Soak Your Wig

Start by placing your wig under lukewarm water. It’s easiest to do this under the tap of a sink, so you can keep all the necessary products next to you. While soaking your human hair wig, make sure that the water runs in the same direction as the wig hairs, as this will help your wig to remain tangle-free throughout the process.

3.Shampoo Your Human Hair Wig

Once your wig has been soaked, apply a fair amount of wig shampoo to the crown of the wig. Gently disperse the shampoo throughout the wig using your fingers, starting from the top of the wig and working the product down to the ends.

Remember, you only want to work the product in gently – avoid scrubbing or harshly rubbing the wig.

4.Rinse Away the Shampoo

Gently rinse the shampoo out of your human hair wig by running it under the tap, remembering to keep the water flowing in the same direction as the hair lies. The running water tends to remove most of the product, but you can make encourage the process by gently running your fingers through the wig whilst it is under the tap.

5.Condition Your Human Hair Wig

Next up, it’s time to condition! Using your wig conditioner, apply this to the crown of the wig and, like before, gently run the product through the wig so that the conditioner isn’t concentrated in one area.

6.Rinse Away the Conditioner

Just like you did with the shampoo, return your wig to under the tap and allow the water to rinse off any remaining conditioner.

As an added treat for your human hair wig, you could also follow the Jon Renau wig care plan and spray it with the Argan Smooth Treatment Mist – this will help to strengthen the hairs and reduce the wig’s drying time.

7.Dry Your Human Hair Wig

Drying your human hair wig has to be done with absolute care to prevent any unwanted damage. To get rid of any excess water, gently squeeze the wig with your hands. Start from the top of the wig and make your way down to the bottom.

Next, lie your wig down with a towel under it and on top of it (this can be two towels or one towel folded). Carefully press your hands over the top towel to encourage excess moisture to leave the wig and be absorbed by the towel. This should help to take away enough moisture that your wig is no longer dripping wet.

To allow it to dry fully, place your human hair wig onto a wig stand and keep it out of direct sunlight. This allows the wig to sit in its natural shape while it dries.

Check out our wig stand guide to find a wig stand that will work best for you and your wig; we find them to be extremely useful and effective in storing a wig whilst it dries.

Products for Washing a Human Hair Wig

Once you know how to wash a human hair wig, make sure you have the right wig care products that will make the process even more effective. It’s important that you only use products specifically developed for human hair wigs, as synthetic wigs have different care needs. You can learn how to care for a synthetic wig over on our blog.

 We have developed a collection of reputable and lovely wig care brands, all of which are suitable for washing your human hair wig. 

How Often Should I Wash My Human Hair Wig?

Generally, we would recommend washing your wig every six to eight wears. This allows you to maintain a clean, fresh wig and prolong the life of your wig without over-washing it, which can lead to a lifeless, dull wig, or even cause damage to the fibers.

If you prefer to wear a wig every day, one tip is to buy a couple of wigs – these might be several of the same style or all different styles if you like to mix it up. That way, you can swap between your wigs to avoid wearing one out too quickly (and you won’t be stuck when you’re waiting for your freshly-washed wig to dry!).

Daily Maintenance and Care for a Human Hair Wig

1.    Always use a wig brush or wide-toothed comb to detangle your wig as using a regular hairbrush can stretch or pull out fibers. Go slowly and take your time. Think about wig care as a form of self-care; if you look after your wig, it will help you look fabulous!

2.    Direct sunlight can cause the color to fade, so keep your wig out of the sun, both while it dries and when it is stored.

3.    Avoid sleeping in your wig – overnight friction can create tight knots or matting. If you’re not comfortable sleeping without your wig, try a soft turban instead.

4.    Choose a wig stand or mannequin head that is slightly smaller than the cap of your wig for storing and drying your wig to avoid stretching it out.

Keeping your wig clean is key for its longevity and to ensure it remains in top condition for as long as possible. Have a look at our other blogs on wearing wigs every day and fixing wigs with damage to ensure you keep your wig looking fabulous, or contact our friendly team for advice or guidance.