In Wigs? How to protect your own hair

I know you love your Wigs, I do too! There are days when I just look in the mirror, at those kinks and curls and realize right away I need to change up. Yes, in the days of “hair boredom” wigs offer the opportunity to switch it up. From those transitioning to those working their ways to discovering their natural hair, we find comfort in wearing wigs, many days.

Going for a vacation or “momcation”? Wigs make vacation days with or without kids worthwhile, you may say “Amen” if you know what I’m talking about.

Other days you simply don’t have the time to deal with your hair, past wash day or just don’t have time to style due to work, school, etc, wigs provide that convenience. So it’s great to have one or two handy – if you can afford it. And speaking of affordability, you don’t need to break the bank to get a “Brazilian wig”, check your pocket first please. There are many affordable ones available online and at beauty supply stores.

But remember the flexibility to temporarily transform should not be at the “neglect” of your hair – braided, twisted, tucked underneath that wig. The wig is only a protective style.

Another reason I personally prefer wigs over weaves is because I can literally remove the wig at the end of the work day and moisturize my natural hair at nighttime.

Planning the “wig” days

• You need to plan ahead of time how long the wig is going to last on your hair
• Decide on how you are going to keep your hair underneath the wig – braided, twisted, etc, since that also depends on the kind of wig you plan to wear
• Think about the stocking cap you plan to wear, that will impact the interaction between your hair and the wig while you have them together – think about breathable ones, non-cotton ones so you can enjoy your vacation – and not suffocate in hair “discomfort”.

Prepping you hair before the wig

1. Wash you hair – take time to completely cleanse your scalp. Experts say treat your scalp as you will treat your face or skin. Will you go a month without a bath or face wash? If the answer is “No” then you should not leave your hair unwashed for more than 2 weeks.
2. Deep condition before you braid your hair or twist it down. If you intend to keep the braids in for days, its best you spend some extra time to deep condition your strands. You should always braid your hair when its completely hydrated. This helps to prevent breakage when you secure your wig. Get a hydrating treatment (see previous post) which repairs and moisturizes your hair.

Do’s and Don’ts

• Do not sleep in your wig especially at night. A little snooze can cause friction and cause hair loss and breakage. Plan a night time routine and stick to it.
• Plan to sleep in a satin bonnet when you take your wigs off at night, to protect your hair.
• If you’re using a strong-hold gel or adhesive to secure your wig, or edge control, it’s necessary to clean your skin and hairline every night. I typically plan to wash my edges at least every other day or once a week because I use gel whenever I wear my wig. Failure to remove these pasty products can result in breakage and thinning edges. If you like gluing down lace, you should place it on your skin, not your hair (expects say) but I never use glue for my wigs.

How to moisturize your hair

• Plan to moisturize your hair at least every 2-3 days. The skin between your hair and braids needs to be moisturized frequently to prevent dryness and breakage
• Plan to cleanse your scalp every 2-3 weeks to remove oil build-up which can cause dandruff. I shampoo my scalp and deep condition my hair at least once a week when my hair is braided up under my wig.

What to use

• To moisturize
  • In a spray bottle mix your favorite hair oil (I use olive and avocado oil) with water. Add about a tablespoon of your leave-in conditioner, you may add more water and shake until you get the desired consistency. The mixture doesn’t have to be thick – need to be “sprayable”.
  • There are some products available at store too if you prefer
• For dry itchy scalp
  • My DIY soothing spray – combine tea tree oil, peppermint oil and olive &/or avocado oil in a spray bottle with water – mix well to soothe my scalp on my “head-slapping” days (you know what I mean).