Why heat needs care on a wig
A human hair wig styles like your own hair, but it can't repair itself. Your scalp sends oil down your own hair every day; a wig never gets that. Heat damage on a wig is permanent, and it is the one thing a warranty can't cover, since it happens to the hair after the wig leaves the maker.
Set up first
- Put the wig on a stand or canvas head, pinned so it can't slide.
- Make sure the hair is completely dry before using a curling iron or flat iron.
- Spray a heat protectant through the section you're about to style.
Temperature
Start low and only go up if the style won't take. Most human hair holds a curl at a moderate setting. If you see steam, smell burning, or the hair feels rough afterward, the tool is too hot.
Curling
- Work in sections about the width of your iron.
- Hold each section for a few seconds, not longer.
- Let each curl cool in your palm or pinned up before you touch it. A curl sets as it cools.
- Brush out gently with your fingers or a wide-tooth comb once everything is cool.
Straightening and blow-drying
Pass a flat iron over each section once or twice, not many times. When blow-drying, point the air down the hair, from roots to ends, so the cuticle lies flat and the hair shines.
Keep heat off the cap
Keep irons a finger's width away from the cap and the front hairline. The lace and knots there are the most delicate part of the wig.