How to detangle a wig? The ultimate guide

Have you ever been confused about how to fix and prevent your wigs from tangling but don’t know where to start? Do you feel a harsh hair war breaking out every time you pick up the comb to detangle your hair’s knots?

Although wigs are a rescue hero on bad hair days and give you a flawless look, none of us can escape knotted hair strands. Wigs can be messy and degrade without proper care; fortunately, there are ways to detangle your wig without tearing away half of it. 

In this article on how to detangle a wig, Jen Hair will show you the ultimate guide to bringing your wig back to like-new condition. Keep scrolling for more information.

What causes wigs to tangle?

Before we dive into how to detangle a wig we’re going to explain why human hair wigs become dry and frizzy in the first place. These factors are:

• Poor maintenance: The most common cause of tangling is low proper care, as we both know wigs will need special care and treatment just like our natural hair.
• Aggressively wash: Using the unsuitable shampoo and conditioner, or even the wrong water temperature may cause tangled and damaged
• Over styling, overheated: It’s too obvious reasons, over anything in everything always ruins your things, especially when it’s your extensions.
• Harsh chemical process: Some hair extensions are not appropriate to bleach or have any kind of chemical process. Read the instructions on the label of the wig for better maintenance.

Before detangling a wig

First of all, to ensure you get tangle-free wigs, you need to prepare the following tools and make sure that all equipment is available: 

• Wig stand or mannequin head
• Wide-toothed plastic comb or wig brush
• Hair pins or hair clips
• Spray bottle
• Clean water
• Wig conditioner
• Microfiber towel

How to detangle a wig?

According to Rani Chetty, founder of Tymeless Necessity Hair: “Matting can be caused by a variety of factors, including hair structure, wig quality, brushing frequency, wind exposure, and wig care.” This means even the highest quality hair extensions can get tangled or worse! 

Stay patient and do not throw that tangled wig in the trash! Follow the step-by-step instructions below to gently and effectively revitalize your wig.

Step 1: Place your wig on a wig stand

To begin the process, a wig stand can be a lifesaver when it comes to keeping your wig in the best shape and condition when you’re not wearing it. A wig stand not only makes it easier to comb your wig through from root to end but is also very useful for detangling a wig. This is extremely helpful, especially when your wig is very long or thick.

Step 2: Separate the wig into sections

When you put your wig on your mannequin stand, it may not fit securely and may move around as you brush it. Use T-pins or hair clips to secure your wig and separate the hair into four large sections. This step helps the process run smoothly and prevents damage to your wig.

Step 4: Prepare your “detangling spray” mixture

Prepare yourself with a wig conditioner, fresh water, and a spray bottle. Fill your spray bottle about a quarter of the way with water. Then add conditioner to finish filling the bottle. Shake the mixture vigorously. That’s how you got your signature “detangling spray.”

Next, spray each section with your mixture and spritz each section until it is damp but not soaked. If the conditioner begins to separate from the water, give the bottle a shake. This extra tip ensures that your wig is free of split ends and dried tips.

Step 5: Break up the tangled ball with your hands

After wetting your hair with the water-conditioner, patiently remove the tangle step by step. While rescuing messy wigs, people often struggle to catch tangled balls in the wig. If you have the same situation, do not use the brush to remove the tangles; try to use your fingers instead.

To break up tangled balls, apply the conditioner all over the ball of hair. Then, try to break up the ball with your hands. Once you get it slightly looser, apply more mixture and brush. Working in small sections to avoid overwhelming yourself when detangling a wig, continue until the entire piece is done.

Step 6: Apply more water-conditioner and brush

While finishing breaking up the tangled ball, apply more water-conditioner and brush with your wide-toothed plastic comb. Take note that not all brushes and combs are suitable for wigs. According to hair experts, a wig brush or a wide-toothed comb is a gentle way to detangle a wig. The bristles help to loosen tangles without causing damage.

During the process of untangling the wig, the most important step is starting from the bottom and working your way up. Especially when it comes to synthetic hair, you can permanently ruin hairpieces when you work on knots and tangles from top to bottom. You can stretch the fibers, snap them, or pull hairs out.

Inevitably, some hairs will fall out; in order to avoid hair loss, make sure to comb your wig as gently as possible.

Step 7: Rinse your wig

Since your wig has soaked up a lot of conditioner mixers, it will get greasy and oily, so let’s wash it right away with cool water. If the dirt can’t be removed by water, clean it with a sulfate-free shampoo and conditioner specifically designed for wigs.

Be cautious that washing your wig while it still has tangles will make its condition worse, so be entirely sure that your extension is 100% tangle free before rinsing it with water.

Step 8: Allow your wig to air dry

While your wig is totally clean, you will have two options for drying it, which depend on your needs:

Blow-dry your wig: Blow-drying your wig is helpful, especially when you’re in a hurry. Although hair drying is not recommended for synthetic hair, you can blow dry your wig by using the “cool” setting. If you’re still in a rush, set it to “warm.” Don’t pull on the hair too firmly, or you can rip it out. Always remember to turn the blow dryer on to low heat. Be careful, because it is very easy to damage your wig this way.

Air dry your wig: For the most gentle drying method, allow your wig to air dry. Gently roll it in a tidy towel. Place the lace flat on a clean towel and gently pull it into shape to allow it to dry properly. Air drying your wig may take a day, so it is essential to maintain it in a cool, dry storage area.

Detangling your wig is a simple task that anyone can complete. Just remember to be gentle and take your time with the hair. You’ll have your wig looking fabulous in no time if you follow these simple steps!

FAQs

1. How to avoid tangles in wigs

As mentioned, there are many reasons that make wigs tangle (even with really expensive ones). In order to help you avoid tangles in wigs, these tips below may be useful:

• Untangle with the right brush/comb.
• Maintain your wig on a wig stand while not using them
• Never sleep with the wig worn on
• Limit your use of heating tools (especially with synthetic wigs)
• Only wash your wig with shampoo and conditioner designed for wigs

Avoiding tangles in wigs is the same thing as taking good proper care of them. Learning how to detangle a wig is just as important as caring for the hair underneath and making it last longer.

2. How can I make my wig soft and silky again?

According to hair experts, how you can make your wig soft and silky again depends on how well it is cared for. Simply follow our five tips on how to bring your wig back to life:

• Tip #1: Always use a heat protectant
• Tip #2: Keep your hair clean
• Tip #3: Storage in a cool place
• Tip #4: Moisturize your wig
• Tip #5: Deep condition your wig

To conclude, the more you take care of your wig, the longer it will last! A regular wig care routine will make it last longer with beautiful luster and quality.

Final thoughts

Now you know how to detangle a wig and make it look fabulous time and time again. In conclusion, detangling a wig isn’t as hard as we imagine, but without a direct way, it can cause damage and ruin your wig. Learning how to detangle a wig not only helps you save tons of money from buying a new one but also makes its lifespan last longer.

If you are looking for more information about wigs, follow the articles from Jen Hair for more useful information.

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