If you’re new to wig wearing or are just about to take the plunge and buy your first ever wig, you may be asking the question, “does wearing a wig stop hair growth?” It’s one of the most commonly asked questions for prospecting wig wearers, and we completely understand why. For many people, their hair is a key part of their identity and a way to express themselves. If you’ve recently experienced or are currently experiencing hair loss, thinning or shedding, we appreciate just how important this question will be to you.
In this post, we aim to share everything you need to know about encouraging natural hair growth under your wig to give you peace of mind and so you can step out in your wig with confidence!
Does wearing a wig prevent hair growth?
No, wearing a wig does not stop hair growth. However, if the hair underneath your wig isn’t properly protected or looked after, damage to your hair can be caused, affecting growth. Fear not though; we have a dedicated blog post describing nine easy steps you can take to ensure your natural hair is protected while wig wearing.
Do wigs help your hair grow?
Wearing a wig can be a really big part of an effective and protective haircare routine, encouraging natural hair growth. Many people opt to wear wigs for this particular reason, as they avoid adding damage to the hair that can be cause from styling, exposure to the elements and everyday handling.
How to promote healthy hair growth under a wig
01.
Wash your natural hair regularly
Making sure your natural hair under your wig stays clean is important. It can get warm under your wig, causing your scalp to sweat more frequently. Regular washing will ensure that the hair under your wig isn’t affected by the added heat.
Also, washing your hair with sulphate and paraben free shampoo can help prevent harmful chemicals from getting into your scalp, which can negatively affect hair growth.
It’s a fine balance when it comes to knowing what your natural hair needs underneath your wig to encourage hair growth. If your hair is dry, make sure you moisturise your hair or use a hair mask as part of your washing routine to lock in moisture.
However, if you have naturally oily hair, we don’t want to create any more dampness under the wig by adding more moisture. If this is the case for you, try a moisturising hair conditioner, and if you think more moisture is needed, you can use a light moisturising spray, scaling up and down when needed over time.
Finally, before you put on your wig, you need to make sure your natural hair is completely dry to avoid the growth of unwanted bacteria that can discourage growth.
02.
Keep you wig clean
To ensure that your scalp and head is as clean as possible, it’s important to keep your wig clean to avoid sweat build up and also to help increase your wig’s life span – a win-win scenario! There are different methods for washing a human hair wig and washing a synthetic wig, each needing wig care products that are compatible with the wig type. Be sure to check out our guides on how to wash both types to avoid damaging your wig.
03.
Reduce contact between your hair and wig
Increasing the gap between your hair and wig is an important part of encouraging healthy hair growth under your wig through reducing bacteria and residue build up. There are a few ways this can be achieved:
C. Having wig wearing breaks and using alternative headwear options such as scarves and turbans, if you don’t want to expose your head or natural hair, is a great way to let your head breathe from time to time.
So, when it comes to answering the question, “does wearing a wig prevent hair growth?” remember that cleanliness and protective measures are key to promoting healthy natural hair growth and ensuring no damage to your natural hair occurs.
If you’re new to the fabulous world of wigs and have any other questions you’d like us to tackle about the wig wearing journey, please drop your queries in the comment box. Alternatively, you can check out our expert guide on wig wearing to find out some useful wig wearing tips and tricks!
My hair is dropping bad as I wear a wig everyday. what can be done to prevent my hair from dropping.
This was very helpful . I loss hair due to chemotherapy , the back has grown back has not so much, need wig with bangs, but
also looks like my own hair .
That was very informative and has made me feel more confident.
I lost my jair due to covid. I am using elixir oil on my hair every night so my hair builds up some oil as I wash it twice a week. I wear a wig about 2 hours a day some days….is what I am doing an ok way to address my situation wanting my hair to grow back even thicker…..?