Anyone can wear a wig, but understanding how to style one takes specialist knowledge and plenty of practice. From using the proper techniques when washing and brushing your wig to choosing the right products to keep it in top condition, learning how to style a wig requires just as much attention as caring for your natural hair.
In this ultimate guide to wig styling, we share our tips on how to style human-hair and synthetic wigs, recommend our favourite wig accessories, and offer advice on wig maintenance so you can explore different looks without damaging your wig.
1. How to Style Synthetic and Human Hair Wigs
While there are many differences between synthetic and human hair wigs, many of the styling and wig-care techniques recommended by our wig experts apply to any type of wig or hairpiece. Human hair wigs may be more versatile than synthetic ones—their natural oils allow them to be styled in ways synthetic fibres cannot withstand—but this does not mean they should be treated with any less care.
Whether you have synthetic wigs for every season, an everyday human-hair blend, or you’ve recently bought your first Remy human-hair wig, following these wig-styling tips will make it easier to unlock the potential of your hairpiece while ensuring your wig lasts as long as possible.
Only Style Your Wig When Dry
Whether you’ve washed your wig or applied wet styling products, you should always wait for it to dry before using any styling tools. When a wig is damp, the weight of the water places extra strain on the fibres, causing them to stretch, lose their shape, or even damage the wig’s construction.
While your wig is still wet, we recommend placing it on a wig stand and allowing it to air-dry before brushing or styling. If you need to style your human-hair wig in a hurry, you can speed up the drying process with a hairdryer on a low or medium setting, but be sure to use an appropriate wig-styling spray to avoid damage.
Only Style Your Wig with Wig Combs and Brushes
Whether you are resetting the fibres after a wash or trying to style your wig in new ways, you need to use wig brushes and wig combs instead of tools designed for natural hair. This is because the bristles and prongs on wig brushes and combs are softer than those on regular retail products, to ensure that the fibres are not dragged when detangling your wig.
Depending on the texture of your wig and whether it is made from human hair or synthetic fibres, different tools and techniques are preferable in order to maintain or achieve new styles. While you are welcome to use wig combs or brushes when styling human hair wigs, you must not comb the mesh at the base of the wig, as this could cause damage to its construction. After removing any tangles with your fingers, gently brush or comb through the wig from the base to the ends to prevent breakages, while keeping the static at bay.
As for synthetic wigs, we recommend using styling tools sparingly to minimise the damage done to their fragile fibres. When brushing a straight wig, you should aim to create long, even strokes with your wig brush to ensure its fibres stay in place. Meanwhile, when styling wavy or curly wigs , you should avoid combs and brushes altogether as they could permanently disrupt the curls and leave you with a frizzy-looking hairpiece. All these wigs require is a gentle shake after they have been washed or dampened, then carefully separate the curls with your fingertips to maintain the curl.
For more advice about the best wig brushes to use on your wig, you can find plenty of information about the subject on our blog.
Tease your Wig for Added Volume
Wig combs are useful for adding volume to wigs, as they allow you to tease the strands at the roots without damaging the mesh at their base. Rather than brushing down towards the ends of the hair, gently lift your wig comb upwards to create a bit of height. Once you have achieved your preferred volume, you can set your wig with a specially designed wig spray such that it holds its shape throughout the day.
Wear Your Wig While Styling
While displaying your wig on a wig stand allows you to view it from every angle, learning how to style your wig while wearing it lets you see how the wig frames your face as you style. We recommend using this wig styling tip, should you decide to cut your wig, as it makes it easier to tailor your wig to your face shape.
2. Personalise Your Wig with Accessories
Customising your look with wig accessories is an effective way to increase the natural appearance of your wig, while adding a creative twist to your style. Some of our favourite wig accessories include:
Headbands
From soft cotton headbands in an array of gorgeous colours, to statement plastic headbands featuring flowers, bows and other playful decorations, this staple wig accessory can be easily slipped into place to tame flyaway hairs, hide your hairline, or add some personal flair. They’re comfortable enough for all-day wear and versatile enough for all occasions.
Head Scarves
While our collection of head scarves provides an alternative to everyday wig wearing, they can be worn in addition to your wig to achieve a variety of bohemian looks. From a simple bandana or twisted headband, to the Grace Kelly babushka or Rosie the Riveter topknot, head scarves can transform your look while providing practical protection against the elements.
Wig Clips
If you want to prevent your wig from shifting as you go about your day, wig clips can be easily sewn into place to provide you with security. While wig clips can be discreetly hidden under layers of hair for a natural look, much like headbands, these wig accessories are available in numerous colours and with all manner of cute adornments.
Hairpieces
Pairing your wig with an additional hairpiece, such as a ponytail, allows you to experiment with layering and achieve that messy-natural look. Combine a hairpiece with a shoulder-length wig for a half-up, half-down summer style, or try a messy updo with a ponytail and a longer length wig.
3. How to Wash Your Wig Before Styling
Next to using wig stands to store your wigs, routinely washing your wigs is the most effective way to maintain their condition and prolong their lifespan. However, washing your wig is not as simple as hopping in the shower and treating it as you would your natural hair. Without the proper products or technique, you could accidentally damage the fibres or structure of your wig, so we recommend getting your head around the following wig washing tips before giving it a try!
We have included more detailed steps on how to wash a human hair wig in this article on our blog, or you can learn how to wash a synthetic wig by following the steps outlined in this video.
4. Can You Style Wigs With Heat?
Unless your synthetic wig is made from heat-resistant fibres, we recommend completely avoiding using hair dryers, curling or straightening irons to style your synthetic wig. The heat produced by these appliances will frizz, melt or damage most synthetic fibres, lessening the condition of the wig and ultimately making it more difficult to style.
While you can use heated styling tools to try new styles with your human hair wig, you should always use heat-protecting wig spray beforehand to preserve to replenish its oils and minimise the heat damage.
5. Advice for Wig Maintenance
Even when employing the correct techniques, repeated styling can worsen the condition of your wig over time. This is why it is important to carry out regular maintenance on your wig so that it looks as good as new, for as long as possible.
From refreshing the oils and vitamins produced by natural hair, to repairing damaged hair fibres with intensive products, we have plenty of wig maintenance advice to share:
Use Products Designed for Your Style of Wig
Whether you are washing, styling or setting your wig for the day ahead, it is important to always use products designed for your style of wig to maintain its condition and avoid damaging its fibres. While you might think that you could use normal hair products on a human hair wig, as wigs lack the same oils and vitamins as natural hair, these products can stick in the strands of your wig, making it harder to style over time.
Use Wig Repair Sets on Damaged Wig Fibres
Every wig has its shelf life and despite your best efforts, the condition of your wig will worsen over time. To preserve your wig for as long as possible, we recommend purchasing wig care sets that maintain the softness and shine of your wigs and protect their quality against daily wear. These sets typically include wig masks and intensive repair products, which penetrate the fibres of your wig to ensure they remain smooth and glossy.
Style Your Wig Your Way With Simply Wigs
Before we wrap up our ultimate guide on how to style a wig, we wanted to leave you with the most important wig styling tip of all. Whatever wig style you choose, wearing it with confidence is the key to pulling off any look. Walk tall and own your wig style, and we can guarantee you will look and feel fabulous!
At Simply Wigs, we are constantly updating our collection of wigs and accessories such that our community can refresh their look and stay abreast of the latest styles. Delve into your extensive range today, or explore our wig services to arrange a consultation with one of our wig stylists.
CONTACT US
We would LOVE to hear from you. Our friendly Customer Services Team can be reached Monday to Thursday (9:30 am to 3:30 pm GMT, and Friday 9:30 am to 2:30 pm GMT).
THE AUTHOR
My name is Becca, and I am the proud manager of the Customer Services team. I am dedicated to ensuring that every customer finds their perfect style and feels confident in their new look.
Leave a comment