Ways to Protect Your Hair While Wearing a Wig

Wearing a wig not only allows you to change styles quickly, but to take a break from styling your natural locks. Also, wig wearing can also allow your real strands to recover if they're in a poor state which is why it is also known as a protective style. So hairpieces are an all-around great option for many women out there.

But while rocking a cool hairpiece, it is important to protect your hair extensions that's underneath and keep it healthy. That way, when you remove the wig, your locks will be in a perfect state, looking even better than before. If you're wondering how to protect your hair while wearing a wig, there are a couple of simple tips and tricks that you can try right now. This advice also works for weaves.

Prepare Your Strands


Before the hairpiece is attached, you first need to prepare your tresses by thoroughly cleaning them. Putting a wig on dirty hair is a big no-no and should be avoided. Use quality shampoo and scrub away all the dirt and product build-up from your hair and rinse thoroughly. Apply a leave-in conditioner and wait at least ten minutes before rinsing it off. A conditioner keeps your tresses healthy as well as nice and silky. After that, you may also wish to apply some other products you normally use. For example, if your tresses are dry, use natural oils like macadamia or coconut oil to get that moisture. If your strands are curly, use products that will keep the curls healthy and bouncy. After ioner keeps your tresses healthy as well as nice and silky.

Never Apply A Hairpiece on Wet Hair

This may be obvious, but it is worth mentioning ¨C a wig should never be applied on wet or damp hair. If you do that, you create a perfect breeding ground on your scalp for bacteria, fungi, and mold. So dry the strands thoroughly before putting on a wig.

Braid Your Hair

The most common way of putting a hairpiece or a weave is by braiding the hair first. It not only creates the perfect surface area and gets you strands out of the way, but it also keeps them safe and tangle-free. Doing simple cornrows is enough, just make sure to make them properly and not too tight so that your scalp hurts too much. Once you cornrow the hair, putting on a wig is a breeze.

Wear A Wig Cap

Another way to protect your hair while wearing a wig is by wearing a wig cap. It serves as a protective layer between the hairpiece and your natural hair and reduces friction and tangling. It can also soak up any sweat that might occur from high temperatures. Wig caps are pretty cheap, but they make wig wearing a lot more comfortable and safer, especially if you have a sensitive scalp.

Use Cushion Bands and Wig Grippers

Another wig accessory that's quite useful is a cushion band. It is recommended for women with sensitive scalps and anyone who is suffering from hair loss. The hairpiece will also feel a lot more comfy with a cushion band. Wig grippers are very similar and they also keep the hairpiece from coming off which is a plus.

Don't Wear A Wig for Too Long Without Taking It Off

When you first start wearing a hairpiece, it looks so good you want to wear it all the time, but that's not such a good idea. It is actually recommended that the hairpiece is taken off before going to bed and that's a very good idea if you want to take extra care of your natural strands, as well as prolong the lifespan of a wig. While you sleep, your natural tresses will get some relaxation time without wig which is necessary. It is also a good idea to take some breaks between wig wearing. You should take a couple of days or a week off every six to eight weeks. This allows your hair and scalp to breathe and it is a good time to trim your strands.

Massage the Scalp

Because of the slight tension a hairpiece creates on your scalp, it is recommended that you massage the scalp regularly to improve circulation and relieve any discomfort. Be gentle and careful not to create any tangles.

Trim Regularly

Natural tresses need to be trimmed regularly in order to be healthy. Split ends only get worse if not taken care of so remove the hairpiece every four to six weeks and go for a trim. This can also serve as a regular checkup at the salon and your hairdresser can see if your locks are in good shape.

Condition the Strands

When you take the hairpiece off, wash your natural locks and condition them. This ensures that they stay healthy underneath the wig. If you're wearing a wig as a protective style because your hair is damaged or in poor condition, take it off regularly and use different products to revive your hair. It is the perfect opportunity to try out new hair products and techniques to get rid of split ends, breakage, hair loss, dryness, or any other hair problem. On the outside, a hairpiece will provide you with a flawless look and give you time to take care of your damaged strands underneath. The products you use are up to you and should correspond to your hair type. If you're not sure how to revive your locks, ask hair vendors professional for help. He/she can provide you with a strategy and products you can use to get your mane in perfect condition.