Human hair wigs and toppers are an investment, so you want to make sure you're taking the best care of them. This is your ultimate guide to caring for your human hair wig (or topper).

Washing

Let's start with the basics- washing!

A good rule of thumb is to wash your piece every 4-6 weeks with daily wear. As the wig isn't building up oils from your scalp, you don't need to wash your wig nearly as often as you would your own hair. However, if you're quite active in your piece (i.e. playing sport, going to the gym, etc.) you may need to wash your piece more frequently. If you are washing your piece more frequently you may notice your piece doesn't last quite as long (as over-washing can loosen the knots and cause shedding over time). So don't go overboard with the washing!

How exactly should you wash your piece? Watch this video which goes through step by step.

When it comes to what products to use on your piece, there are a few rules. It's worth investing in high quality, salon-grade products (and as you'll only be washing your piece about 12x per year, these products will last you a very long time). Look for products which are sulphate-free and opt for hydrating products. As your wig doesn't get the natural oils of your scalp, pieces can dry out a bit over time and using a hydrating product will help prolong the life of your piece. Check out the list below for our top reccomendations.

Shampoo & Conditioner

• Davroe Moisture Senses
• Kérastase Nutritive
• O&M Hydrate and Conquer
• Pureology Hydrate
• Kevin Murphy Hydrate Me
• Evo The Therapist

Hair Treatments

• Evo the Great Hydrator
• Davroe MCT Treatment
• Kérastase Nutritive Mask

What Not to Use

• Hair oils, such as Moroccan Oil or Coconut Oil. These can cause the hair to 'oxidise' or change colour over time.
• Protein-based products (such as olaplex)
• Keratin-based products

If your wig has a lace-front, make sure to be extra careful when washing the lace. This is the most delicate part of your wig so you want to make sure you're washing it very gently.

Storing

Now that you're a wig washing pro, let's talk about storing your human hair wig. The ideal way to store your wig is on a plastic manequin head. There's a couple choices out there when it comes to manequin heads; fabric and styrofoam are two other popular options. We like plastic best as they last the longest. Storing your piece on a manequin head will help hold it's shape. Manequin heads are also handy for styling your piece.

However, if you don't have a manequin head or you don't plan on wearing your wig often you can also store your wig in a bag or box. Just make sure to keep it out of direct sunlight to avoid the colour lightening.

Styling

The great thing about human hair wigs is you have a lot of flexibility in the way you style them. If you'd like to use heat to style your piece (i.e. straightening or curling) we reccomend setting your tools to no hotter than 180 degrees celcius (or 350 degrees farenheit).

You can also use a heat protectant spray (we love this one from Davroe) to protect your piece from any heat damage.

That's a wrap on our ultimate guide to caring for your human hair wig. Did we miss something? Let us know in the comments.