Hi all. I modified a pair of straighteners by fixing a cut handkerchief around the hot plate which allows me to straighten my fibre wigs without damage. Same might work for heated rollers – worth a try.

Hi Barbie. I have tried this on a cheap synthetic Chinese wig – no way am I going to practice on an expensive wearable wig no matter how rough it is! It does work, but I am still learning. It is extremely important to protect the ends of the hair (use perm papers – or even the hard old fashioned loo paper if it is still around!) and not to pin the rollers with *anything* that would leave a mark on the hair – I have managed to find some long florist pins to use and some smooth rollers 🙂 After deep steaming you must let the wig get cold and be completely dry before removing the rollers. I have just bought a tub of silicone for hair and will try to make up a thin spray to use before steaming. Next holiday I will give it a go.

I recently watched a video of a wig enthusiast who was not shy in his steaming of wigs. He put one on wig head then placed a plastic bag on top. Then he held the steamer under the bag and repeatedly steamed the wig. He did this for 20 minutes! I think if a wig is really in a poor state there can be no harm in trying this method. It cannot make the wig worse. On the contrary. Steam is simply moist air. It can do no harm.

If you are worried that such a lot of steam might shrink the cap, you could afterwards gently stretch it by hand. If after all this steaming the hairpiece is still in a sorrowful state then it is time to buy a new one. Just as clothes made with synthetic materials cannot always be revived after much use then so too synthetic wigs and hairpieces. Even human hair can deteriate so much that it cannot be revived it has to be cut off and thrown away, how much more with man-made fibres. Most hairdressers would concede when human hair has become so dry and matted it is like straw it might be wiser to cut it off and start growing again. Lots of gorgeous hairpieces on SW for you to buy. Then steam them from time to time and maintain them this way. If the hairpiece is curly do not comb or brush when steaming!, but very gently with your finger move the curl if you wish. If you have a straight hairpiece and want to give it a bit of curl wrap the ends in a toilet roll round and round then pin, or roll repeatedly round smooth object, hold then steam. Keep it in place till it drys. Then loosen gently. Voila! Curls! Your steamer was not bought in vain!

You could try spraying the hairpiece with a wig conditioner then steam it again gently combing through with a wig comb as you steam it. No harm doing it a couple of times. Some people soak their hairpieces/wigs in a tiny bit of fabric conditioner and leave it to soak for 20 minutes. Then let it dry completely and then try steaming it. The hair of the hairpiece is a synthetic material. Like any fabric that has dried out it needs moisture. We iron our clothes with a steam iron because that puts some moisture back into the fabric making it softer. Hope this helps.

I wear a satin apron type headscarf Also called a Tichel. The fabric is thin and ultra silky soft. I wear it with my Blake wig which has no mono top. It stops the itching. I found wearing a wig cap insufficient for preventing my scalp from itching. But the silky scarf works. I also have wrapped a long silky scarf round and round my head, covering it completely, and that also stops the itching. The fact that the silky headscarf works means that I will be able to buy the new Hudson soon from SW which has no mono cap. Otherwise I find the double mono Amore wigs are perfect for me.

I recently had a few wretched weeks which meant I couldn’t bear wearing not even my Amore wig. Everything irritated me! So this silky Tichel is ideal for times like this. Today I am wearing my Amore wig comfortably. Hope you will be able to find a comfortable solution. As for heated scalp. I am 62 and still suffering hot flushes, so again the head is going to get hot when my temperature suddenly goes up. I suppose putting a mini fan all over your bare head must help at times like this. Also literally, getting a facecloth, putting it under ice cold water and dabbing it on the bare scalp can be helpful. My eyes often get very sore and itchy. Placing an icy washcloth over my eyes is sooooo soothing. Can only help with the scalp too.

Lila, Thanks so much for your video. I’ve been steaming a number of old wigs using my powerful steam iron. I hold the wig a good 12 inches away from the steam plate and just press ‘steam’ whilst the iron is in an upright position sitting on a table and the steam very gently spreads across the 12 inches lightly touching the hairs of the wig. With my bob wigs I have gently combed down a few times, then sprayed again. It leaves the hairs really soft, smoothed down and moisturized. I have a couple of curlyish type wigs and instead of combing through after steaming I very gently tousled the hair with my fingertips after the steam has lightly landed on the hairs. It did look and feel much softer. Quite a transformation. My late father used to sell net curtains. I think the steaming method works because it is about very gently adding moisture; restoring moisture into the fibre itself. Synthetic hair IS a fibre and needs to be treated as gently and as carefully as priceless net or lace. Same principle. Thanks again for this enlightening video.

Hi I’ve bought a hand held steamer to try sand revive a hairpiece that was lifeless and rather matted. I was really excited to try it out.
I followed your instructions but it doesn’t seem to have done anything to improve it.
Should I give it another go with the steamer and see if that does anything?

thanks for any advice

That’s brilliant – yes it does extend the life of wigs 🙂

Found video very interesting, have had a steamer for years never would have thought of using it in this way. My current style is Erika, first style was Shannon so took out an old Shannon wig and followed instructions, waiting for it to dry but seams good already.
Remembered how much I loved Shannon but changed for monofilm cap which I find has most realistic scalp effect if anyone wants to have a closer look, woven cap itched .
Any chance Shannon will be available in monofilm cap in future?.
Catherine

Still no idea of how to revatalise a wavy/curly wig ?

Only use this method if you want ram-rid straight hair. You could try re-styling afterwards, but even on the Cody, here, it takes the bounce out of it. You are essentially stripping everything out and you then need to put that back. I did this first and it (to my straight Cody wig) and it looked like I’d overdosed on hair straighteners, so did it again but styled with my fingers afterwardsand left it ‘curling’ under with a surface supporting the ends (sorry, hard to describe!!) as it dried, and it gave a little bit of bounce back to the ends.

Hi Kerry

You are directing the steam very lightly on the surface, in quick movements. You don’t hold it against the fibre as that would likely be damaging. It is very effective on straight fibre but I wouldn’t use it on curly hair.

I saw an american video re steaming of synthetic curly/wavy wigs. Once you have steamed and straightened the wig and it is completely dry, you can use heated rollers to set the curl/wave back into the wig memory so that when you next wash it, the curl/wave remains. Good luck everyone, this is such a fabulous idea to keep wigs going a bit longer!

What is the oil you use

Thank you Lila for your helpful video, I wear longer wigs and have this problem quite quickly. I’m definitely going to try this , I’ve tried everything else lol. Just a quick question, do you ever have the problem of the wig making your head itch and to hot? My loss is due to treatment for cancer and the post cancer meds I have to take for at least another year that causes my hair to be very thin and still come out.
Thanks again.

Peg

If you put your wig in curlers first , then steam it with curlers in ? Would that help a curly/wavy wig ?

Hi Linda

This wig is the Codi, Rene of Paris, and is available at simplywigs.co.uk. The colour is toasted brown. It looks a little different as I always cut a fringe into it.

thank you

I would imagine not suitable for wavy or curly wigs as it would remove the wave/curl. I don’t have speakers so not aware if this is mentioned. Ellie

I wear short wigs, which have a wave & body ,I get two per year but find they quickly they lose their volume, could I steam a short wig the same way but using rollers in it to give it the body back.

hello
fantastic where do you buy it , and the brand thanks