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