Wigs are a large investment, and if yours looks like a rat’s nest after a few years, you may be panicking. We buy wigs to get the hair of our dreams, not to rip it out while we’re trying to smooth the knots.
The way you wear and style your wig and even the products you choose can all have an impact on its appearance. Even worse, detangling the wrong way can cause breakage and damage to your wig. If your wig is prone to tangling, don’t worry. You’re not alone, and we’ll walk you through the entire detangling process from start to finish.
Preventing Wig Tangles
Regular wig maintenance, TLC, and prevention are going to be your best friends in the fight against tangles. Unfortunately, they won’t spare you completely, but we’ll arm you with the knowledge you need to handle any that arise.
If you’re feeling frustrated with how easily your wig tangles, you need to know why these snarls happen. Wig hair tends to tangle for a few reasons, including:
- Friction points like the knots and wefts at the roots
- Improper storage and hair care
- No natural oils to provide slip and moisture
- No regeneration or regrowth
- Static and other environmental factors
Being aware of these trigger factors can help you keep your locks silky smooth. These problems are mostly fixable! Understanding what your wig needs is a process, but we believe in you.
You can keep a wig from frizzing and tangling with proper care and storage, extra moisture and protection, and avoiding friction. Damaged hair is far more prone to tangles than healthy hair. Keep your wig at home if you’ll be in an especially dirty, sweaty, or wet situation. You can also wear a silk scarf over your wig to keep the strands shiny and safe from the elements.
- Always detangle your wig before washing or styling
- Never sleep, swim, or shower in your wig
- Don’t over wash your wig
- Don’t use heat styling tools on synthetic wigs
- Don’t use heat on human hair wigs without a heat protectant
- Use a detangling spray
Untangling Wigs Step by Step
It happens to the best of us. Despite all the effort we put into proper care and storage, our wigs become snarled and knotty. Detangling a wig without ruining the hair is a skill, but we’re confident you’ll pick it up quickly.
When to Detangle Your Wig
You should always detangle your wig before styling, washing, or wearing it. However, you should avoid over-brushing your wig. This can cause breakage and damage.
How to Detangle Your Wig
- Use the right tools—we recommend a wide tooth comb and leave-in conditioner or detangler in a spray bottle.
- Separate the hair into small sections. This will make detangling easy without creating new knots.
- Spray lightly with detangler or leave-in and allow it to sit for a few minutes.
- Use your fingers to gently comb the product through the wig and work it into the worst snarls (without pulling!).
- Using the wide tooth comb or a wig brush, detangle each section, starting at the ends.
Washing Your Wig After Detangling
- Wash your wig every 8-10 wears with nourishing shampoo and conditioner. Make adding extra moisture a priority!
- Shampoo and condition gently, taking care to avoid adding tangles.
- Consider using a hair mask every few washes to add even more hydration to the wig.
- Gently pat or squeeze the wig dry with a cotton or microfiber towel. Do not rub or wring the hair!
- Gently comb or finger comb a hair serum through the lengths of the wig.
- Allow the wig to air dry into shape on a wig stand or mannequin head.
- If you’re short on time, use a heat protectant before blow drying on the lowest heat setting.
Wig Care After Detangling
Proper wig care and wig storage are the key to keeping your wig looking its best. As a reminder, we never recommend sleeping or showering in your wig. Instead, carefully remove, detangle, and store. Gentleness is the secret to keeping your wig beautiful.
After washing, air dry 100% before storing in a cool, dry place out of natural light. You can store your wig on a wig stand or mannequin head or in a silk bag. Never store in a plastic bag—this can cause friction, which is a major cause of frizz and tangles.
Find everything you need to keep your wig detangled in the ultimate wig care bundle! This package includes a mannequin head and stand, shampoo, conditioner, hydrate and repair sprays, and a finishing spray.
What Not to Do When Detangling
- Don’t start from the roots or mid-lengths
- Don’t rub or wring the fibers
- Don’t wear your wig while detangling
- Don’t use regular hair products
Detangling Human Hair Wigs
Human hair wigs are top tier but still come with challenges. Human hair in wigs tends to tangle much more readily than hair on the head. This is because of friction, static, and improper care. Human hair wigs, especially those that are 100% Remy European hair, are an investment and deserve TLC.
Remember that damaged hair is more prone to tangles, and handling tangles poorly can damage your hair. Keep your wig in tip top shape by preventing tangles from the get-go.
The Lauren Ashtyn Collection creates beautiful, customizable Remy human hair wigs. With proper care, detangling, and maintenance, your Lauren Ashtyn wig will be indistinguishable from your natural hair. Keep looking flawless for years with one of our human hair lace front wigs.
