The biggest transformation in the wonderful world of hair has to go to wigs. Just 5 years ago wigs were only worn by the elderly and were worn for religious or medical reasons. Fast forward to 2016 and females everywhere are turning to wigs for their protective styles. Wigs are amazing, they are relatively easy to pull off, come in many different styles and textures and can last about a year. But like anything wigs have their downside so before you rush to buy your next unit, get familiar with the wigs hacks so you know what to expect when you wear a wig.

Five wig hacks no one talks about!

1. Price tag

Virgin human hair wigs are expensive and range from R4000 – R7000. Unlike weave bundles, which are usually machine made, full lace wigs are hand made.  This usually makes them labour intensive and very costly. Alternatively, you can get a lace front wig, which is less expensive, but the constant on and off can cause friction to you edges and cause damage.

2. Lack of ventilation

Wigs come in two main types, full lace wigs and lace front wigs (if you don’t know the difference, read up more on wigs 101), when you wear a full lace wig, it is usually sewn done onto you head, similar to a weave.  And even though this has great befits like security, your natural hair doesn’t get enough air to breath while you wear the wig.  This can cause problems like itching, odour, dry scalp and other such #wigproblems. To avoid this, after every wash, make sure both your wig hair and your natural hair are completely dry. You can also use a hairdryer, but make sure you use a diffuser attachment so that you can dry your natural hair. When wearing a full lace wig, make sure you only wear the wig for a limited time (2 months per install).

3. Nape problems

If you have ever worn a weave you will know that the hair behind your neck (nape) tangles easily. With wigs, this is exaggerated. When you wear a wig, the hair at your nape area will tangle more than your real hair does because your scalp produces natural oils that keep your hair from drying out and getting caught in itself. The hair at your nape area is in direct contact with these oils and therefore ends up tangling. There is also a lot of heat coming from one’s neck that can make the wig go a bit wild.

Although this is difficult to avoid, simple things like keeping a brush on you to brush out small tangles and prevent them from becoming bigger problems. Try staying away from certain fabrics like wool or anything that has a bulky collar. These things will cause your hair to ball up on the back of your neck. Also try choosing straight hair as a posed to other textures, because these problems are less likely to occur with straight wigs.

4. Tangling

Synthetic, natural, expensive, inexpensive — they all end up in knots. Tangling can be caused by a lot of different things and like weave bundles, if the cuticles are not all facing the same direction, the hair will tangle. Virgin human hair bundles are easier to keep the cuticles in one direction, because the hair is cut in a ponytail (from the donors head) and stays together. With wigs, once the hair is cut at the ponytail (from the donors head) it is then sent to factories to be turned into wigs.  The hair is separated and sew by machine or hand and therefore the cuticles are more likely to end up facing different directions. Furthermore, if the hair has been coloured or processed with chemicals or if it has been laid in wrong, yes you guessed it, it will likely tangle.

So, how do you fight the struggle against a tangling wig? First thing first, always use proper shampoo and conditioner when washing your wig. We recommend the Hair by Sisi hair care products which are specially designed for human hair extensions, you can also try very mild shampoos. Make sure the shampoo does not strip the hair, should be sulfate-free and have a low pH. Also make sure that when you wash your wig, place her on a mannequin head and shampoo it on the head so that it keeps its shape. Be gentle when you wash it, don’t scrub the hair like you do your natural hair, you have to use your fingers as the comb, rubbing your fingers through the hair as you go. Remember to keep the hair all facing downwards, in its natural direction in which the hair falls. Don’t turn it upside down.  Lastly, make sure to rinse it very well by dipping it into water and pulling it out. Remember to be gentle.

5. Stay away from processed or synthetic wigs

Processed and synthetic hair will always tangle faster than virgin hair. Unfortunately, this hair will tangle if not brushed frequently, but constant brushing can cause shedding and can damage the wig altogether.

Remember that experiences may differ from Beweaver to Beweaver, so don’t be afraid, go ahead and try a wig, it’s just alway good to know what you are getting into before you do. Remember to watch our YouTube video about wigs for more information on the different kinds of wigs we offer at Hair by Sisi.

Happy Weaving