Can Damaged Wigs be Restored?

The best thing you can do when you invest in a new human hair wig is to follow a hair care routine to preserve the hair and increase the lifespan of your new unit. We all know that keeping up with a hair care routine can be hard sometimes considering that we all live a very busy lifestyle, so that is why we decided to create this blog post so you know what to do when you start to feel that your wig is no longer looking the same as when you first installed it.

In this article, we look at whether damaged wigs can be restored or not.

What causes wigs to become damaged?

Many factors can damage the wig, but the main ones are: excessive exposure to heat, lack of essential oils, aggressive customizations and mistakes when washing or brushing.

When we talk about “heat” we shouldn’t only think about the effects of flat irons or blow dryers, but also the influence of excessive exposure to the sun, specially during summer times when we tend to spend much more time in outside areas.

What are the signs that a wig is damaged?

You will notice when your wig is starting to get damaged. The hair will present an excess of frizz and split ends, causing it to tangle more which will increase the time you spend brushing it. You will also notice that the hair will look a bit dry and dull.

Whenever you feel your wig is starting to show signs of damage, you should act as quickly as possible to restore its health and avoid further damaging the hair to a point where it is really difficult to bring your human hair wig back to its former glory.

What to do if your human hair wig is damaged?

We have highlighted below a step-by-step guide that you can follow every time you feel your human hair wig is in need of a rejuvenation:

1- The first step is to gently detangle the hair using a wide-tooth comb. Divide the hair in small sections, hold one section at a time and begin combing from the tips of the hair gently working your way up to the roots. Never brush damp hair since this might lead to damage. It is important that you are patient and don’t try to rush through the combing part, otherwise you might end-up causing a lot of breakage and shedding to your human hair wig.

2- The second step is to wash it properly, following some professional guidelines. Warm water should be used in this process. After making the hair wet, carefully massage it from the top to the bottom while using a light, extremely moisturizing, sulfate-free shampoo. Avoid rubbing or twisting the hair.

Apply conditioner or a hair mask after rinsing the shampoo out with running water. We suggest moisturizing conditioners made with components like argan oil, coconut oil, and shea butter. Make sure the conditioner is applied to all of the hair, and let it sit for at least a few minutes.

At the end, rinse the hair in cold water to seal in moisture. Squeeze out any remaining water with your fingers before patting the hair dry with a towel.

3- Step 3 is to trim the ends - Let the hair air-dry completely and only then gently comb it again following the process highlighted on step 1. Place the wig on a mannequin head and inspect it carefully. If the ends are too frizzy, looking too dry and with many split ends, we recommend that you trim it a little bit. The idea here is just to get rid of the parts that are too damaged and not to change the style of your wig. If you are a bit worried about trimming yourself, you can always ask for a professional stylist to help you with that. Don’t forget to spray a fair amount of water on the wig before trimming it.

 4- Step 4: Apply the hair mascara - With the hair still wet, you can now apply a hair mascara throughout the hair, put in on a plastic bag and leave it for 15 to 20 minutes. This step is very important part of the treatment to restore the hair moisture.

5- Step 5 is to apply leave-in conditioner - After rinsing the mascara off the hair, you can now apply a leave-in conditioner or a tiny amount of a natural oil, especially on the ends of the hair.

6- Step 6: Style - If you are going to style your wig, don’t forget to apply a heat-protective spray and to set the temperature of your flat-iron or blow dryer on medium-heat before starting the process.

 After following all the steps, you will notice a big difference on the wig, but if you are not completely happy with it, you should maybe consider taking it a professional stylist and get some tips on in-salon treatments that could be done in additional to the ones you have already done at your house.

It is very important to understand that all wigs will loose strands of hair over time due to normal shedding and that is expected to happen. Eventually, you will have to be ready to let go and get yourself a new wig. Embrace this opportunity to find a new amazing style that will lift up your mood and make you feel even more beautiful and glamorous then when you were wearing your old wig. If you need any tips on how to find the perfect style for you, check our blog and our Instagram page. We have plenty of ideas to inspire you.