How To Put On A Lace Front Wig
Putting on a lace front wig takes minutes, but wig care and cleaning decides whether it still looks right three months later. This guide gives you a wash schedule based on how often you wear your wig, the right way to wash and dry synthetic fibre, and storage that stops the crown collapsing.
Key Takeaways
- Wig care and cleaning works best as a schedule: count wears, not days.
- Wash synthetic wigs in cool water with wig shampoo, and never rub or wring them.
- Condition the lengths only. Keep conditioner off the cap and lace.
- Dry on a stand, level and fully, before you brush or store the wig.
- For long-term storage, support the crown with tissue and cover the wig with a hairnet.
- A hairnet and a heat-free curl set are the cheapest wig care and cleaning tools you'll own.
Wig Care and Cleaning Schedule: How Often to Wash a Wig
Most care advice says "wash when needed", which is no help at all. The better approach to wig care and cleaning is to count wears, because a wig worn daily needs washing far sooner than one worn at weekends.
| How you wear it | Wash it |
|---|---|
| Every day, few or no products | Every 14 to 18 wears (about every 2 to 3 weeks) |
| Every day, with styling products | Every 8 to 10 wears |
| Very active, hot or humid days | About once a week |
| A few times a month | Every 14 to 18 wears, and always before storing |
Signs your wig needs a wash sooner
Between scheduled washes, watch for these signs that wig care and cleaning can't wait:
- The fibre feels stiff, sticky or crunchy.
- You can see oil or makeup along the hairline.
- It has lost its fresh smell.
- Tangles return straight after you've combed them out.
Stretch the time between washes
Wear a wig cap underneath to keep scalp oils out of the wig, and don't sleep in it. Both extend the gap between washes, and fewer washes mean less wear on the fibre, which is the quiet goal of all wig care and cleaning.
How to Wash a Synthetic Wig, Step by Step
This is the core of wig care and cleaning. The method takes about 20 minutes plus drying time, and it's the same for straight, wavy and heat-resistant synthetic fibre.
- Detangle first. Comb from the ends up with a wide-tooth comb while the wig is dry. Knots tighten in water.
- Fill a basin with cool water. Add a small capful of wig shampoo and mix it in, rather than pouring shampoo onto the hair.
- Submerge and soak. Turn the wig inside out, push it under, and leave it for a few minutes. Swish gently; don't rub or scrub.
- Rinse in clean cool water. Refill the basin and swish until no suds remain.
- Condition the lengths. Work a little wig conditioner through the mid-lengths and ends, keeping it off the cap and lace.
- Blot, don't wring. Press the wig inside a soft towel to remove water. Never twist or squeeze it.
- Air dry on a stand. Set it level on a stand and leave it until it's completely dry, usually overnight.
Why cool water and wig shampoo matter
Synthetic fibre is shaped with heat at the factory, and hot water can relax that set. Wig shampoo is made for synthetic fibre, so it cleans without leaving it dull or dry the way harsh everyday shampoos can. Both choices protect the style you paid for. Water temperature is the one wig care and cleaning rule you can't bend.
Using wig conditioner the right way
Wig conditioner restores slip, cuts static and makes detangling easier. Keep it to the mid-lengths and ends. On the cap or lace, conditioner can loosen the knots that hold each hair in place, which shows up later as shedding.
Curly and wavy wigs
Curly styles need a gentler take on wig care and cleaning. Skip the comb once the wig is wet. Separate curls with your fingers only, and leave them alone while they dry. To refresh waves on a straight synthetic wig after washing, a heat-free set with the No Heat Hair Curling Rod Set ($25.00) adds soft waves without any risk to the fibre.
The Correct Drying Position
Drying is where most wig care and cleaning routines go wrong. A wig dried in a heap or on a hook dries unevenly and sets in the wrong shape.
- Use a stand, set level: left and right sides at the same height, so the style dries symmetrical.
- Choose airflow: an open-frame stand lets air reach inside the cap, so the base dries as fast as the hair.
- Keep it cool: away from radiators, heaters and direct sunlight. Never use a hairdryer on standard synthetic fibre.
- Wait for fully dry: usually overnight. Brushing or storing a damp wig stretches the fibre and can lead to mildew.
Get the drying right and the rest of your wig care and cleaning routine gets easier. Once dry, detangle from the ends up. Our guide to wig styling tools that are safe on synthetic fibre covers which brushes and stands to use.
How to Store a Wig So the Crown Doesn't Collapse
Storage is the part of wig care and cleaning that almost nobody covers. Yet a crushed crown or a flattened parting can make a clean wig look worn.
Everyday storage between wears
Keep the wig on a stand. It holds the cap round, lets the fibre breathe after a day's wear, and saves you restyling next morning. Never throw it in a drawer or fold it into a ball. Everyday wig care and cleaning should end with the wig back on its stand.
Long-term storage for weeks or months
- Wash and dry it completely. Oils and damp left in the fibre are what damage it in storage.
- Detangle it. Stored tangles set in and become mats.
- Support the crown. Place a small pad of tissue inside the crown so it keeps its dome.
- Cover it with a hairnet. A net holds the style in place, so it comes out ready to wear.
- Box it loosely. Use the original box or a breathable bag, one wig per container, away from heat and sunlight.
The Two-Ended Stretchable Mesh Hair Net (from $20.67) suits step 4, and it doubles as a flat base for your own hair when you wear the wig.
What not to store it in
Avoid sealed plastic bags and overpacked boxes. Plastic traps moisture and static, and compression presses permanent creases into synthetic fibre. Curly wigs need the most room, so give them a larger box or keep them on a stand.
Wig Care and Cleaning Mistakes That Shorten a Wig's Life
Each of these is cheap to avoid, and together they account for most of the avoidable damage in wig care and cleaning.
| Mistake | What it does | Do this instead |
|---|---|---|
| Hot water | Relaxes the factory style | Wash in cool water |
| Rubbing or wringing | Tangles and stretches fibre | Swish, then blot in a towel |
| Conditioner on the cap | Loosens knots and causes shedding | Condition lengths and ends only |
| Brushing while wet | Stretches fibre into frizz | Wait until fully dry |
| Drying on a radiator | Dries and damages synthetic fibre | Air dry on a stand, away from heat |
| Storing in sealed plastic | Traps moisture, causes creases | Breathable box or bag |
Frequently Asked Questions
How often should you wash a wig?
Count wears rather than days. A good baseline is every 14 to 18 wears, or every 8 to 10 if you use styling products. Wash about weekly if you sweat heavily or live somewhere hot and humid, and always wash before long-term storage.
Can you use regular shampoo on a synthetic wig?
It's better not to. Wig shampoo is made for synthetic fibre, which has no natural oils to strip and reacts differently to harsh detergents. Regular shampoo can leave the fibre dull, dry or frizzy over time, so use a gentle wig shampoo instead.
Do you need wig conditioner?
Yes, in small amounts. Wig conditioner restores slip, reduces static and makes detangling easier. Apply it only to the mid-lengths and ends, never the cap or lace, because conditioner on the cap can loosen the knots that hold the hair in.
How do you dry a wig after washing it?
Blot it in a soft towel, then set it level on a wig stand and let it air dry completely, usually overnight. Don't use a hairdryer on standard synthetic, and don't brush it until it's fully dry, because wet synthetic fibre stretches.
How do you store a wig so it keeps its shape?
For daily storage, keep it on a stand. For long-term storage, wash and dry it fully, place tissue in the crown, cover it with a hairnet, and keep it in a breathable box or bag away from heat, sunlight and sealed plastic.