WIG AFTERCARE

AFTERCARE – FREEDOM HAIR WIG

Your wig will experience daily wear and tear, just as anything that you wear regularly will. However, there are steps that you can take to minimise this. Sleeping in your wig can break the hair as it rubs against the pillow so we advise that, when you can, you remove your wig before you go to sleep. Rubbing your head against a car headrest or playing with the same piece of hair in your fingers can also break the hair. Try and avoid any repetitive action that puts unnecessary stress on the hair.

Wash your scalp and the inside of your silicone cap daily

It is essential to wash both your own scalp and the silicone cap lining every day. This maintains the grip of the silicone cap and helps avoid unpleasant odours.

Wipe them with a small amount of anti-bacterial liquid soap or shampoo, then rinse it off. Just wiping with water alone won't remove perspiration oil. This natural oil can cause the silicone cap to become slippery and odour to develop.

Should odour develop inside the cap, mix two tablespoons of baking soda in a cup of warm water. Apply this to the inside of the cap and leave for three to five minutes (a saturated cloth will keep the solution against the cap lining). Then rinse off.

Wash your hair once a week

Like growing hair, your wig should be shampooed at least once a week. This can be done under the shower while wearing your wig, or by hand. Because most shampoos are formulated to remove oils from the scalp (which would dry out a wig) we recommend shampoos and conditioners formulated for dry, coloured or permed hair.

1. Before you wet the hair, gently brush out any tangles. Use a wide-toothed comb or vent brush, starting at the tips and gradually working up the hair length to the crown.
2. Using tepid or lukewarm water - never hot - hold the wig under the water and allow it to run gently over and through the hair in the direction the hair flows (a hand shower is perfect for this).
3. Once saturated, apply a capful of shampoo. Spread the shampoo down the hair length with your fingers and gently squeeze to work the lather through the hair. Do not rub or scrub the hair. Rinse thoroughly under running water.
4. Squeeze the hair – but not the cap - in a towel to remove excess water and apply conditioner (if the hair is saturated with water, it can't absorb the conditioner).
5. Spread the conditioner down the hair length with your fingers and gently squeeze through the hair. Use a wide-toothed comb to gently work the conditioner through, leaving it on for two to five minutes, but no longer.
6. Rinse thoroughly under running water and towel dry. Pat or squeeze the hair with the towel to blot up the water but be sure you don't rub the hair or the cap with the towel as this can break the hair.
7. Put your hair back on and style as normal.

Swimming

If you swim in the pool or the sea, always wash and condition your wig afterwards, on the same day.

Hair products

We encourage you to buy quality products from a salon or salon supply store. It may take a while to find the shampoo and conditioner that makes your hair feel right for you. That's the same for everyone with growing hair, so keep trying.

Use leave-in spray conditioners sparingly to avoid heavy, dull hair.

Never leave conditioners or other products on your wig overnight, or for long periods. This can damage the silicone's bond to the hair roots, resulting in severe hair loss.

Hair products with UV screen protection are good as they help reduce colour fading caused by exposure to the sun. Should your hair fade, water based colour rinses and semi-permanent colours can restore it. Please tell your stylist to use semi-permanent hair colours as the peroxides in permanent products damage the hair.

Styling tips

Check your wide-toothed comb and vent brush are smooth, with no sharp edges.

As part of your morning routine, we recommend using a water spray bottle to slightly dampen the hair before styling. This will soften and reactivate any styling products used before, avoiding combing stress on the hair and giving your hair a fresh look for the day.

If you must use a hairdryer, use only warm settings – never hot.

Choosing your hair style

Choose an easy-care style that you can wash and manage on your own. A style with hair on the forehead works well as it keeps the front edge of the wig covered.

Please note that if the hair is cut too short, or trimmed with an incorrect technique, people with alopecia can be left looking very bald at the neck.

Remember, this is the hairstyle you'll be living with for the next two to three years. There's no need to rush the process.

AFTERCARE – OTHER HUMAN HAIR WIGS

Day to day instructions on looking after your human hair wig

For the best results we recommend washing your wig once a week:

• Place your wig in a bowl containing luke warm water. Apply shampoo evenly and gently agitate the hair to a lather. One shampoo is usually enough
• Rinse using tepid water until all traces of shampoo are removed. Never rinse under high pressure water spray or tap
• Hand squeeze away excess water and apply conditioner suitable for bleached and tinted hair. Work the conditioner evenly into the hair and carefully comb through.
• Rinse using a spray of tepid water
• Blot the excess water using a towel and position the wig onto a suitable sized poly block to dry. Take great care at this stage to avoid running the teeth of a comb or brush through the knotted roots or foundation as the knots will have absorbed water, expanded and become looser (the knots will be secure again when the hair is dry).
  

Monofilament Tops and Partings

• Always comb or brush hair in these sections with the greatest of care, especially if the hair is tangled
• Longer hair should always be brushed from the ends first. When smoothed out the brush can be taken fully through the hair.
  

Care Notes

All human hair wigs supplied by Periwig can be set using conventional curlers and hood dryers. Heated rollers will offer a quick but temporary curl. You can also use hair straighteners. However, we do recommend that you use hair products to protect the hair when you apply heat.

Should your wig need re-colouring we recommend that you always seek professional advice.

The heat from flames and cookers can frizz real hair and should always be avoided.

Sleeping in your wig and persistent rubbing, for example from the back of a car seat, will damage the hair, causing breakage and split ends.

AFTERCARE - FIBRE HAIR WIG

Day to day instructions on looking after your fibre hair wig

For the best results we recommend:

1. If worn daily, wash your wig every 10-14 days. Otherwise once per month is fine
2. Before and after wearing, spray the fibre hair lightly with a leave-in oil-based conditioner such as Soft ‘n’ Sheen, then gently remove any knots and tangles with your fingers.
3. Scrunched permed models MUST NEVER BE BRUSHED. Instead arrange the hair using your fingers or a wide-tooth Afro Comb. Straight or wavy styles may be brushed through with a wig brush.

Washing Instructions

Because fibre hair is non-porous it does not need to be washed as frequently as our own hair. To freshen your wig or hairpiece, follow the steps below:

• Prior to washing remove all knots and tangles, paying particular attention to the nape section. For permed and extra dry models, first spray the hair sparingly with a lubricant and gently work it through
• Fill a bowl with cold or tepid water and a little shampoo and very gently agitate your wig or hairpiece back and forth in the water
• Gently rise in cold or tepid water. A capful of fabric softener can be added to the water to help condition the fibre
• Place on a towel and gently blot to remove excess water
• Place on a block to dry naturally
• When completely dry, spray with an oil based, leave-in conditioner and style.

Important Notes

• Never use tongs or a hand held dryer on fibre hair
• Never wash in hot water (this will straighten the fibre hair)
• It is quite normal to lose some fibre when following the after care/washing guide
• Please note that continual wearing of a fibre wig will result in frizzing at the base, especially with collar length or longer styles. Application of an oil based, leave-in conditioner will help to alleviate this
• Avoid the heat from flames or, for example, the oven or iron. This can make the hair shrivel or melt.