Best Wig Brush: How to Choose the Right Brush for Synthetic & Human Hair Wigs

For a synthetic wig, use a loop brush (also called a wire wig brush) or a wide-tooth comb, always on dry fibre, always from the ends up. For a human hair wig, use a soft paddle brush or an anti-static human hair brush, and a wide-tooth comb when it’s damp. For a curly wig of either kind, put the brush down and use your fingers or a wide-tooth pick. Never use a nylon bristle brush, a boar bristle brush or a round brush on a wig.

It’s a fair question. A brush is a brush, surely? Not for a wig, and the reasons are worth understanding because they explain every other rule in this guide.

• Nylon bristles create friction and static. Synthetic wig fibre is a fine plastic filament. Dragging dense nylon bristles through it generates heat and static, which roughs up the surface of the fibre, dulls the shine and, over time, causes the frizz that makes a wig look like a wig.
• Bristles stretch and snap fibre. Your own hair is anchored in a follicle and stretches a little before it breaks. Wig fibre is knotted or sewn into a cap. Pull on it and you either snap it or pull it out of the cap altogether.
• Everyday brushes catch the cap. Wefts, monofilament tops and lace fronts are delicate. The rigid base of a normal brush snags on them, and a lace front hairline can tear.
• Boar bristle is for scalps. Boar bristle brushes are designed to spread scalp oil down the hair shaft. A wig has no scalp and no oil, so all you get is friction.

A wig brush solves all of this with widely spaced, smooth prongs that glide rather than grip, and a base that won’t catch the cap. That’s the whole idea.

If you own one synthetic wig and want one tool, buy a loop brush. It’s designed for exactly this fibre, it’s gentle enough to use every day, and it does double duty as a styling brush for smoothing a bob or shaping a fringe. Pair it with a wide-tooth comb for wash days and for any tangle the brush won’t take out easily.

A few things matter more for synthetic than for human hair. Only ever brush it dry, because wet fibre stretches and won’t spring back. Go slowly at the nape, where friction from collars and scarves causes most tangling. And if your wig is heat-friendly, the same brushes apply; heat-friendly fibre can take styling tools on a low setting but it isn’t any tougher against a bad brush. Our guide to wearing synthetic wigs in summer has more on keeping fibre in good condition through the warmer months.

Human hair wigs are more forgiving, but they’re also a bigger investment, so it’s worth getting this right. On dry hair, a soft paddle brush made for wigs or an anti-static human hair brush is ideal; both smooth the cuticle and add a little volume without stretching the hair. When the wig is damp after washing, switch to a wide-tooth comb and a leave-in conditioner, working from the ends up, because human hair stretches most when wet.

Static is the most common complaint with human hair wigs in winter and centrally heated rooms. An anti-static brush helps, and so does a light mist of wig conditioning spray before you brush. Our guide to taming flyaway wig hair covers the rest.

Curly and wavy wigs should be brushed as little as possible. Brushing pulls the curl out and leaves a halo of frizz that’s hard to reverse on synthetic fibre. Separate curls with your fingers, use a wide-tooth pick for stubborn sections, and refresh the shape with a light mist of water or wig spray rather than a brush. Our guide to caring for curly wigs goes into detail, including how to wash them without losing the curl.

Lace front wigs need care at the hairline. The lace is fine and the individual hairs at the front are hand-tied, so a brush dragged across the front edge can tear the lace or pull hairs out. Brush the lengths as normal, but at the hairline use a wide-tooth comb or your fingers, and never brush from the lace outwards. Hold the front edge against your head or the wig stand with your free hand while you work.

Monofilament tops are tougher than lace but still hand-tied. The same rule applies: support the cap with your hand and brush away from it, not into it.

Brushing a wig takes a little more care than brushing your own hair, but once it’s a habit it takes about two minutes. Here’s the method we teach in the shop.

1. Make sure the wig is completely dry. A synthetic wig is at its weakest when wet and will stretch permanently if you brush it. Human hair stretches too. If you’ve just washed it, let it dry fully on a stand first, or use a wide-tooth comb very gently with conditioner if you must.
2. Put it on a stand, or on your head. Either gives you something to hold the cap against. Brushing a wig in your lap pulls on the cap with every stroke.
3. Spray lightly if it’s tangled. A wig detangling or conditioning spray misted over the lengths makes the fibre glide and cuts down on static. Don’t soak it.
4. Start at the ends. Take a small section, hold it a few inches above the tangle so the pull doesn’t reach the cap, and brush the last inch or two until it’s clear. Then move up a little and repeat. Work your way to the root in stages.
5. Use short, gentle strokes. If the brush meets resistance, stop. Pull the knot apart with your fingers, then brush again. Forcing a brush through a knot is how fibre gets pulled out of the cap.
6. Support the cap at the hairline. Hold the front edge with your free hand for the last few strokes, and go around the lace or monofilament rather than through it.
7. Finish by smoothing. Once every section is clear, a few long, light strokes from root to tip settle the style. Shake the wig gently and it’s done.

If a wig is badly matted, especially at the nape, don’t try to brush it out in one go. Our step-by-step guide to untangling a synthetic wig shows how to rescue it, and how to restore a synthetic wig covers fibre that’s gone frizzy.