How to Look After Your Virgin Wig

Welcome to your complete virgin wig care guide. Whether you’re new to wig wearing or you’re after some tips on looking after your new Beautifl Hair wig - we’ve got you covered. 

Finding the perfect wig and caring for it can be a daunting task. Read on to find out the different hair types, wig types, wig maintenance tips, and finally, how to style your wig. 

First things first, what are the different wig types on the market? 

Natural or Synthetic? Raw or virgin hair? Lace front or full lace? Wig terminology can be mind boggling and can steer you away from making that first step to being a wig wearing goddess.  Let’s get into what the various hair and wig types actually mean. 

Virgin hair 

Free from dyes, bleaches, perms and chemical washes, virgin hair is chemically unprocessed and can be collected from multiple donors. Virgin hair is steamed to achieve different textures such as kinky curls, kinky straight, deep waves, loose wave and kinky coily. Virgin hair can last up to 1 to 2 years if maintained well. Beautifl specialise in virgin hair extensions and wigs, lace fronts and closures.  

Raw hair 

Raw hair is 100% natural human hair that has come straight from the one donor. It’s unprocessed and not altered in any way by steam or chemical treatment. Due to the nature of raw hair, there is relatively little variety available, with the majority of donors coming from India, Cambodia, Vietnam or Burma. This means that hair textures are naturally limited to straight, wavy or curly and tend to have a coarser texture than virgin. A great advantage of coarse hair is that it maintains hold when styling, meaning your curls can stay put for days.

Now let’s delve into the various wig types. 

Synthetic Wigs 

This man-made, budget friendly wig has an array of benefits. Due to the fibres being synthetic (man-made such as plastics and polyesters), the wig style is able to retain its shape and colour no matter how many times you’re caught in the rain. However, as great as this style retention is, most synthetic wigs cannot be restyled using heated tools, and once you’ve chosen your colour, that’s the one you’ll be sticking with as they can’t be coloured.

Synthetic wigs have a shorter lifespan compared to natural wigs, but the versatile nature of styles and colour make up for it!  

Natural Wigs 

If you’re looking for an everyday wig, that can be styled like you would your own hair, human hair wigs are the way to go.  Human hair wigs usually come in two forms- virgin or raw hair. With a good resistance to heat, you can curl, straighten and wave your wig to your heart’s content. Human hair wigs are more resilient than synthetic wigs and with the right wig aftercare and maintenance, they can last a whole lot longer (more on that later). 

Natural human hair wigs hold a higher price point than synthetic styles and will need a full aftercare routine to ensure the quality is kept intact. However, the versatile nature of a natural wig provides you with the freedom to colour and style your wig hair to your own specification making them perfect for everyday use. 

Lace Front Wig  

Lace front (or frontal) wigs are typically made from human hair and include a piece of delicate lace that imitates the look of your natural scalp. This frontal is sewn into the wig’s crown along with tracks that are then sewn onto the back of the wig from ear to ear. This works to keep the wig in place and allows the user to part the hair in any way desired.  

If you’re looking for a wig that can be swept away from your face or styled in different ways, a lace frontal will provide you with the ability to move the parting and create a new look each day.  

Lace Closure  

A lace closure is a square piece of delicate lace, typically 4 x 4, 5 x 5 or 6 x 6 inches in size, and is used to create the natural parting of a (small section of) your hairline. These are placed in the front of the wig and act to create a seamless, natural look. Lace closures can come in a variety of different styles, including free part, middle part and three part, allowing you to personalise the parting you’re after. 

How To Master Wig Aftercare 

No one wants their wig to look like a wig. One of the best ways to keep your wig looking natural, is to take care of it.  

Here’s a few tips to help keep your wig looking GOOD. 

Store your wig correctly. 

As much as we don’t want to waste a good hair day, you should always take your wig off at night and store it correctly. Sleeping in your lace front wigs can tangle the hairs, creating unnecessary friction, reducing its lifespan and disorientating its style. Alternatively, if you’ve glued down the wig or its sewn in, wearing a silk head scarf or bonnet at night will protect the hair and keep it from tangling while you sleep.  

It is recommended to store your wig on a mannequin head, allowing it to keep its shape and structure for longer. If you’re serious about looking after your wig, use a wig cover to keep dust and spillages away. 

Keep your wig nice and clean. 

Unlike your own hair, wigs are not so keen on oils and harsh detergents so step away from these shampoos and conditioners. Instead, opt for sulphate-free options as they work as a gentle cleanser that won’t damage the hair.  

When it comes to washing, take time to comb out any tangles and knots and always wash in the direction the hair falls. Apply your shampoo and conditioner to the crown of the wig and work your way to the ends, making sure each step is rinsed thoroughly.  

Delicately squeeze out all the excess water and blot the hair between a towel to dry it further. Now leave the hair to dry naturally on your mannequin head, making sure it is out of direct sunlight and in a ventilated area. This could take up to 3 or 4 hours depending on the thickness of the hair. 

If you’re now asking yourself how often should I wash my wig, the answer can vary. First, it can depend on how often you’re wearing your wig. If you’re wearing the same unit daily, then you should aim to wash the hair twice monthly. Try to refrain from washing it more than this, as there IS such thing as over washing, which can increasingly reduce the wig’s lifespan. 

Synthetic wigs don’t need to be washed as often as natural wigs, but again this is dependent on your personal preference. But, once monthly will be perfect if the wig is used only occasionally.  

Use the right hair products. 

Treat your wig as you would your own hair. It needs nourishment and care, and all the right products. In today’s society there are a whole host of wig care and styling products available, so the world is really your oyster. These products are specifically designed not to weigh your wig hair down or create a greasy looking finish.  

Styling Your Wig 

There are so many options when it comes to styling your wig, whether it’s natural human hair which allows for heat styling, or synthetic hair where instead you can add head scarfs and accessories to freshen up your look, the possibilities are endless. 

Using Heat 

When styling natural wigs, heat is a great way to transform your look - but proceed with caution. Too much heat can damage the hair. Thermal styling tools like curling wands and straighteners, that have temperature control dials are great as you can decide how much heat you are actually using. Additionally, just like you would your own hair, always use a heat protector and only style your hair when it is completely dry. This will ensure the quality of the hair and the lifespan is kept to the best standard. 

Heatless Styling 

Your wig styling doesn’t have to be non-existent if you’re not going be using heat to style your locks. Braiding your hair just before the wig is completely dry and unravelling them a few hours later will leave you with beach ready waves. Or, utilise the braids in your hair style. Sweep them away from your face if you’ve got yourself a lace front wig, and play around with different hair accessories.  
 

Cutting Your Wig 

We recommend you leave this to the professionals, as you won’t be able to simply grow it out again if it goes wrong. It’s a great idea to have a variety of wigs, from long to short and wavy to straight. Choosing the style can take time and it’s a great idea to plan ahead and consider how often you’ll wear your new style. If it’s a style that you simply want to wear just once, try to look for alternatives like clipping it back or investing in a synthetic styled wig. 

The Dos and Don’ts Of Wig Maintenance 

• Do dry your wig naturally. 
• Do store your wig properly - keep your wigs on a mannequin head underneath a wig cover when they’re not in use 
• Do use specialised wig hairspray 
• Do try to avoid contact with water when wearing your wig 
• Don’t neglect your own hair - invest in a wig cap and treat your own hair with oils and hair masks when not in your wig 
• Don’t over wash your wigs  
• Don’t use heat on synthetic wigs 
• Do utilise head scarfs and braiding styles 

When it comes to wig maintenance, getting into a routine is best – much like your skincare regime. If you spend time looking after your hair, washing it properly and protecting it when it’s not in use, the lifespan of your wigs will increase.  

Parting words... 

Your wig is a representation of your individual style and personality. Beautifl has a selection of virgin wigs to make your inner queen shine through. Shop now!