How to Take Care Of Wigs: Guide for Product & Tools

No matter what brought you to wigs—protective styling, hair loss, or just wanting to switch it up—there’s no denying they boost confidence and open up a world of hairstyles.

But here’s the thing: wigs don’t maintain themselves. Just like natural hair, they need the right care to keep looking fresh, feeling soft, and lasting as long as possible.

If you don’t learn how to take care of wigs, even the best-quality unit will start looking worn out fast.

In this guide breaks we’ll cover the products, ingredients, and tools that make a real difference, so your wig can keep doing its job: looking good and helping you feel even better.

About Washing: Choose the Right Shampoo

Wigs don’t need deep cleansing like your scalp does.

They don’t produce oil, but they do collect product, sweat, and whatever’s floating in the air. So washing is still a must—it just needs to be done right.

Skip the Sulfates

Sulfates like Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) and Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES) are powerful cleansers.

Too powerful. They strip away oils, which sounds good until you remember wigs don’t replace their moisture on their own.

One round with harsh sulfates can leave even the best human hair unit dry, tangled, and stiff. And synthetic wigs also will lose their texture and sheen faster than you can say “pre-plucked.”

Choose Gentle—but Effective—Cleansers

What you want are mild surfactants that lift dirt without wrecking the hair fiber. Look for shampoos with:

Cocamidopropyl Betaine – a coconut-derived cleanser that’s gentle but gets the job done
Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate – another low-irritation option that adds slip while it cleans
Cetyl or Stearyl Alcohol – technically fatty alcohols (not drying alcohols), these smooth and soften while helping with light cleansing

These ingredients won’t foam as much as sulfates, but that’s a good thing. Foam doesn’t equal clean. What you want is clean and conditioned, not dry and crispy.

Healthy Washing Habits

Use lukewarm water. Hot water can loosen knots and dry out fibers. Cold water won’t lift the buildup. Lukewarm keeps everything balanced.
Wash every 6 to 10 wears. Unless you’re loading up on product or sweating in it, you don’t need to wash it too often.
Always detangle before washing. Start at the ends, work your way up, and be gentle. Wet tangles are twice the trouble.

Condition with Purpose: Moisture + Protection

Once your wig is clean, it needs moisture.

Wigs don’t have a scalp to nourish them or natural oils to protect the strands. That means conditioner isn’t optional—it’s what keeps your wig soft, shiny, and manageable.

What to Look for in Conditioners

The right ingredients make all the difference. You want conditioning agents that hydrate, smooth, and protect without weighing the hair down.

Dimethicone / Amodimethicone –

These silicones coat the hair, making it shinier and easier to detangle. They also help control frizz and create a smooth finish.

Perfect for keeping the hair looking polished without buildup when used in rinse-out formulas.

Glycerin –

A powerful humectant that pulls moisture from the air into the hair fiber. Great for keeping wigs soft, especially in dry environments.

Silk Amino Acids –

Lightweight proteins that condition without stiffening the hair. They reinforce strands and improve texture, without leaving behind that crunchy, protein-heavy feel.

Polyquaternium-10 –

This synthetic polymer adds slip, tames flyaways, reduces static, and helps with detangling. Especially helpful on longer or textured wigs.

Together, these ingredients help your wig stay smooth, hydrated, and wearable—without getting greasy or gunky.

Skip These

Heavy proteins like keratin –

Yes, they can strengthen hair, but over time, they also cause stiffness and buildup if your wig doesn’t need intense repair. Use only if your unit feels brittle or damaged from heat styling.

Butters and thick oils –

Think shea butter, castor oil, or cocoa butter. These are great for natural hair, but for wigs (especially straight or wavy styles), they’re too heavy.

They can coat the fibers, attract dust, and make the hair feel waxy.

Tools Matter: Pick What Fits Your Wig Texture

Wigs come in all textures, just like natural hair. And just like with natural hair, using the wrong tool can turn a perfectly good unit into a tangled, frizzy mess.

Choosing the right brush, comb, or styling method depends on what kind of wig you’re working with. Here’s how to match your tools to your texture.

Straight & Wavy Wigs

Keep it smooth and snag-free. Use a wide-tooth comb for detangling. Always start at the ends and work upward in sections.

For finishing and smoothing, a boar bristle brush helps distribute product and tame flyaways without roughing up the cuticle.

Go ahead and flat iron or curl—just use a heat protectant first. Look for one with cyclomethicone or dimethicone, which form a protective barrier and reduce moisture loss during heat styling.

Curly & Kinky Wigs

qvr wigs curly edge deep wave 13x4 hd transparent lace front wig

Curly textures need extra care to stay defined, not frizzy.

Start with your fingers to gently separate knots. Then follow up with a wide-tooth comb, only if needed.

Never detangle dry. Always mist the hair first with water or a leave-in conditioner to add slip and prevent breakage.

And never use a brush on dry curls. That’s how you go from coils to chaos. Hydrate, then detangle.

Synthetic Wigs

Synthetic fibers act differently from human hair, and they need different tools. Use a looped bristle wig brush. The loops glide through the fibers without pulling, snapping, or fraying.

Skip the heat tools unless your synthetic wig is clearly labeled heat-resistant. Even then, stick to low settings.

Got tangles? Try a DIY detangler: mix fabric softener with water in a spray bottle. Lightly spritz and gently comb through—your synthetic unit will thank you.

Product Picks by Type (And What to Look for)

Once you’ve got the basics down—cleaning, conditioning, detangling—it’s time to fine-tune your wig routine with styling and finishing products.

But here’s the catch: most products are made for real scalps and living hair. Wigs need a lighter hand, smarter formulas, and fewer heavy ingredients that can build up fast.

Let’s break down what to use (and what to skip) based on product type:

Shampoo

Choose sulfate-free formulas with mild cleansing agents. Harsh detergents strip too much and wear down wig fibers, especially with regular washing.

Look for added glycerin (for hydration) or fatty alcohols like Cetyl or Stearyl Alcohol (for softness and slip).

If your wig feels extra dry, moisturizing or "co-wash" type shampoos can be a good in-between option.

Conditioner (Rinse-Out & Leave-In)

Aim for ingredients like Dimethicone, Silk Amino Acids, or Polyquaternium-10. These help with softness, shine, and detangling.

Leave-in conditioners are especially helpful for curly or kinky wigs, or if you style your unit often. They keep strands hydrated and more manageable between washes.

For fine or straight wigs, use leave-ins sparingly to avoid limp, coated strands.

Hair Oils

Oils are best for dry or high-porosity human hair wigs, particularly curly or kinky textures that crave moisture.

Good options:

Argan Oil – adds shine and softness
Coconut Oil – penetrates and protects (use lightly!)
Jojoba Oil – closest to natural scalp oil, great for light hydration

Avoid oils on synthetic wigs. They don’t absorb product like human hair, so oils just sit on the surface and attract buildup or dust.

Creams

Use creams for defined styles like twist-outs, braid-outs, or when wearing the wig out naturally textured.

Choose lightweight stylers that list silicones, glycerin, or light oils high on the label.

Skip anything heavy—shea butter, castor oil, wax-based formulas—unless you’re creating a structured, sculpted style. Otherwise, they’ll weigh the hair down and dull the look.