Having a wig collection of sounds like a dream, especially if you’re a huge fan of long hair. You can rock a silky mane that goes down to your hips whenever you want without stressing out about how to grow your hair.
But truthfully, being a long wig aficionado isn’t all glitz and glam.
Any wig lover can tell you that one of the most frustrating things about owning synthetic wigs is how often they tangle up in knots.
Synthetic wigs and hairpieces are super sensitive to developing knots even when you’re making the smallest movements.
The result? Hair that looks untidy, matted, and ratty.
Worried about seeing that in your own beloved wigs?
In this post, we’ll look at how to keep synthetic hair from tangling.
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Why Do My Synthetic Wigs And Extensions Get So Many Tangles?
There are plenty of reasons why synthetic wigs or extensions might get tangled.
They can range from the quality of the hair fibers or carelessness on the part of the wearer.
Quality Of The Wig
Wigs that aren’t high in quality will obviously be more prone to tangles.
Expensive wigs made by prestigious brands don’t tangle as much.
A lower-quality wig might be made with synthetic fibers that are going in different directions or colored with mediocre hair dye – both of which can cause tangling.
Even if your synthetic wig is of good quality, at the end of the day, it’s still made with polymer or acrylic fibers.
These are more prone to knots than natural human hair.
Lack Of Moisturization
Natural human hair is attached to the scalp, which produces copious amounts of oil that can coat and moisturize your locks.
And as you may know, properly moisturized hair means fewer tangles.
On the contrary, synthetic fibers only drink up hydration when you condition/moisturize them.
Length
Longer wigs are also more likely to get tangled easily.
This is the nature of long hair in any form – those sporting natural tresses down to their waist will know that.
Lack Of Proper Care
But the most common reason for getting tangles in your synthetic wigs and extensions is that you might not be caring for them properly.
You might unintentionally be too rough when washing or brushing your synthetic wigs and extensions, creating more knots than necessary.
When you’re not careful and gentle with your synthetic hairpieces, they’ll eventually become frayed, frizzy, and riddled with stubborn knots and tangles.
How To Keep Synthetic Hair From Tangling
The following are some tips and tricks to help keep your synthetic hair from tangling:
Use cleansing products designed specifically for synthetic hair
It’s important that you use shampoo designed specifically for synthetic fibers.
Even though it’s an extra expense, make sure you buy one that is tailor-made for your wigs or extensions.
Wig shampoos will help restore shine and smoothness to the hair to fend off tangles later on.
Avoid regular shampoo
Never use your regular shampoo in the shower on your wigs.
Synthetic hair fibers don’t have pores and cuticles, so they won’t be able to drink up all the nourishing ingredients in your usual hair care products.
You’ll be wasting your favorite products on hair that won’t even reap their benefits!
Also, never use dishwashing soap or fabric conditioner unless it’s an emergency – these can be incredibly powerful and ruin your beloved wigs, causing more tangles.
Go for gentle shampoo
Shampoos for wigs need to be mild and gentle, so as not to ruin the synthetic fiber it’s made of.
As much as possible, they should be free of sulfates and have a low pH level.
One shampoo you might want to look into for your synthetic hair is the Jon Renau Fiber Love Shampoo.
This shampoo is sulfate-free and paraben-free, so it will never damage your wigs.
It’s a gentle shampoo that can thoroughly remove all the dirt and gunk in your hair, leaving it clean and shiny.
Don’t be aggressive
Another thing about washing synthetic hair – don’t scrub aggressively as you would with the hair on your head.
Don’t dig your fingers into your extensions and wigs to scrub the shampoo in, because that’s just going to cause more tangles.
Instead, submerge your wig in a basin of water and a few drops of wig shampoo, carefully move your wig around and then fish it out of the basin.
Rinse thoroughly in running water, and then let it dry on a wig stand.
Don’t squeeze the hair or rub it roughly with a towel.
Air-drying is key for no tangles.
Avoid washing your wigs and extensions too much
The more you wash your hair, the higher your chances of making the mistake of being too rough with it during the cleansing process.
And when you accidentally move it around too much, you might experience the headache of tangles once again.
You can get away with washing your wig only once every three or four weeks, especially if you don’t wear your wig every day.
However, if you use it on a daily basis and use heavy oils and creams to style it, you might want to soak it in your shampoo mixture weekly.
Washing your wigs too frequently doesn’t just put them at risk of tangling, but you’ll also be shortening their life span.
Spritz on a wig spray before styling
As mentioned earlier, one of the biggest reasons why synthetic wigs and extensions are tangle-prone is because they don’t get moisturized by your natural sebum.
So, it’s a must to spray on some leave-in conditioner.
It’ll help keep your synthetic hair smooth and free of knots.
One of my favorite leave-in sprays to use is the Awesome Synthetic Wig Leave-in Conditioning Spray [pH6].
Infused with nourishing coconut oil, it leaves your synthetic hair silky smooth, lustrous, and smelling fresh and delicious.
If your main concern is keeping the color of your wigs and hairpieces intact, you can also try the Demert Wig & Weave Lusterizer & Conditioner.
This conditioner softens synthetic hair without stripping it of its vibrant color.
The best way to condition your synthetic wigs is by holding them upright or placing them on a wig stand.
From there, spray on the leave-in conditioner from about six or so inches away.
Make sure every strand is coated lightly in the conditioner.
Then, you can start combing the hair to detangle.
Use a proper brush for daily detangling
After spraying your wig with conditioner, you’ll need to detangle with a comb or a brush.
But your regular brushes that are designed for human hair won’t work on synthetic fibers.
Instead, you’ll want to use a wide-tooth comb or a special detangling wig brush.
A classic detangling brush that many experts recommend on both synthetic and human hair is the cult-favorite Tangle Teezer.
It is a great way to loosen knots and tangles – yes, even the stubborn ones on synthetic strands.
After brushing out all the knots in your synthetic hair, you’ll find it smoother, shinier, and way more touchable!
To detangle your synthetic wig, let it sit upright on your wig stand.
Divide the hair into sections and start brushing from the bottom working your way going up with.
If you start at the top of the wig and brush downward while there are tangles in the hair, you’ll just make the knots even bigger.
This is especially the case for synthetic extensions that are attached to your head.
You should never put tension on their roots of extensions – even just a little bit of stress can pull them out.
Be very gentle in handling synthetic extensions.
Remember, they don’t grow back, so you don’t want to break or damage them.
Think of giving your wig a trim
Giving your wig a haircut might sound like a horror movie to you.
This is understandable – no one wants to risk ruining their favorite wig with a pair of scissors and a little too much courage.
But giving your long wig a trim might be a great idea for revitalizing your wig’s look and preventing tangles in the future.
A shorter length in your wig means fewer tangles.
It also means that your hair won’t poof or frizz up as much.
It’s up to you to decide if cutting your wig’s synthetic hair is worth it.
If you’re not sure if you’re ready to cut the lengths of your wig, you can do it a little at a time.
Try going an inch or so per week to gradually move from long hair to a shorter cut.
This is a fantastic option if you’re getting sick of long hair and want to try a shoulder-length cut or maybe a chic bob.
It’s also suitable for those who have too many wigs that are long, but don’t have enough wigs with shorter styles.
Never sleep with your wig on
This tip is easier said than done, but it’s a must that you try to comply with it as much as possible.
Before hitting the hay after a long day, make sure you take out your wig or clip-in extensions.
Instead of lying on them as you sleep, let them sit overnight on their stand.
If you wear your synthetic hair to sleep, you might wake up with way more tangles than you anticipate.
That’s because tossing and turning in bed might cause the synthetic fibers to snag on each other.
This creates plenty of knots without you knowing.
If you have extensions that are bonded or sewn into your hair, make sure to detangle your locks before going to bed.
Think of switching out your cotton pillowcases with silk or satin pillowcases.
These softer fabrics won’t create as much friction on your hair, preventing frizz and tangles from attacking.
Avoid wearing wool jackets and shirts
Wool might be one of your favorite fabrics to wear during the wintertime.
However, I can almost guarantee you that your synthetic hair will absolutely hate it.
Wool, and any other fibrous material, can easily snag and latch onto your synthetic hairs, creating lots of tangles and knots.
It’s worse when you wear one of those jackets with a thick wool lining in the collar area.
That only makes your wig fibers ball up near your nape as you move your head around.
When it’s cold, wear warm clothes that are not made of wool, such as silk and fleece.
If you have no choice but to wear wool sweaters or jackets, make sure to wear a silk scarf over it.
You’ll hit two birds with one stone – keeping yourself warm while ensuring tangle-free hair.
Store your wigs properly when not in use
Where you place your synthetic wigs when you’re not wearing them has a huge impact on their overall condition.
You can’t just lay them flat on the table when not in use.
To give them the proper tender loving care, you need to give them a nice bed to sleep on when they’re at rest.
One terrific find I came across for my wigs is these hang-up storage bags.
It’s a great way to hang up your wigs in the closet while protecting them from dust and other outside elements.
Each of these cute storage bags has an anti-slip hanger, a smooth zipper, and a small, clear window so you can see what wig is inside.
I highly recommend it if you have limited storage space at home but have a handful of wigs to keep smooth and tangle-free.
Conclusion
Tangles in synthetic wigs and hairpieces are a huge pain to fix, even if you act as soon as you notice them.
What you have to remember is that you can’t go about it the same way you would if you found those knots in your natural hair.
Synthetic hair is built differently, so there are special ways to keep them tangle-free.
You have to use only shampoos, conditioners, and combs that are suitable for synthetic strands.
Plus, you have to be on the lookout for certain fabrics and sleeping habits if you want to extend their lifespan.
These tips on how to keep synthetic hair from tangling are quite simple, nothing complicated.
As long as you do all these religiously, you’ll have a better chance of never crossing paths with those dreaded tangles again.
See Also: Can You Dye Synthetic Hair With Semi-Permanent Dye?