Wig Care Tips from Mandeville London Professional Wig Makers

1. General Wig Care Tips for your wig

What are the most common mistakes when caring for a syntethic hair wig or natural hair wigs?

Wig care is crucial to maintaining the quality and longevity of your investment. One common mistake is not pinning your wig down to a block while washing, which can distort its shape and cause hair inversion. Sleeping in wigs, especially for long periods, can also cause hair to invert and leads to tangling. Heat styling without using protective products can damage the hair, while taking a wig to an independent stylist for colouring without our professional guidance may result in uneven results.

Proper care differs depending on wig type, especially between human hair and synthetic wigs. Human hair wigs need regular pinning and can use normal hair products, while synthetic wigs require specially formulated products for their fibre composition.

How do the care requirements differ between human hair wigs and synthetic wigs?

Many suppliers suggest washing synthetic hair wigs by leaving them to soak in a basin of water, using specially formulated wig shampoo and conditioners (sometimes even fabric softener) meant for fibres rather than hair. It’s common practice with synthetic hair not to pin the wigs to a block for washing purposes.

However, at Mandeville London we only work with the finest European real human hair available as it’s natural looking as well as being easy to care for and style. To care for a hand-tied human hair wig, you should pin it to your block each time it is washed to avoid damage and maintain the shape of your wig. You can use normal hair products on your human hair wig (just as you would on your natural hair) rather than those specially formulated for synthetic pieces, sticking to gentle formulas that offer hydration.

The basic daily maintenance routine Mandeville London recommends for wig wearers:

1. Remove any medical tape backing that might be left inside your wig after each wear, if you stick your piece rather than clip it.
2. Leave your wig on your block or wig stand overnight to maintain the shape of the wig cap.
3. Avoid getting any facial creams, SPF or tanning products around your natural hairline when wearing your wig, as this can cause product build up as well as colour changes to the hair (specifically problematic with light blonde human hair).
4. Lightly detangle with a wide tooth comb after each wear to avoid any large tangles over time and unnecessary hair loss.
5. Add a serum or natural oils to any dry ends to replenish moisture.
   

2. Washing and Conditioning a wig

How often should wigs be washed, and does this frequency differ depending on the wig type (e.g., full wig, half wig, hairpiece)?

We advise our clients to wash their wig, half wig or hairpiece every 8-10 days of daily wear. This obviously can depend on your lifestyle and you will be able to tell if your natural hair piece needs washing more frequently. For example, if you are a heavy smoker, are around cooking smells or use lots of hair products which can build up quickly, these lifestyle and environmental factors must be considered.

What is the proper technique for washing a wig to avoid damage and tangling?

1. Start by always pinning your wig to an appropriate head block (such as our exclusive rubber head block and stand) securely using our hair pins.
2. Once the hair is wet with warm water, you can optionally choose to remove any big tangles by spot treating these areas with conditioner, working the knots out gently from the ends upwards, before rinsing. This will leave the hair soft and easy to work with, just like your own hair.
3. When shampooing and conditioning your wig, make sure to use a downward motion with your hands and a wig brush when applying and working the product through the hair.
4. Make sure the products are thoroughly removed before patting the wig gently with a microfibre towel to remove excess water. Apply a serum to the ends after every wash to replenish moisture.
5. Watch our wig washing tutorial here for step by step instructions.

Are there any specific shampoos or conditioners you recommend for different types of wigs?

We recommend L’Anza Healing Moisture products to all our clients as they have been tested as safe to use on our wig manufacturing materials.

If you have a lot of product build up, it can be helpful to use a cleansing or chelating shampoo once in a while. Likewise if it’s lacking moisture, focus on products that restore hydration. If you’re experiencing brittle or damaged hair, use repairing products like bond-building treatments. Consider the problem you’re trying to treat and go from there and remember, we’re always on hand for advice about your Mandeville hair.

3. Drying and Styling products

What are the safest methods for drying wigs to maintain their quality and shape?

The safest way to dry your wig to maintain shape and quality is air drying your wig on your head block. To avoid excess water from sitting under the foundation or wig cap, give the wig a 1-2 minute blast with a hair dryer on a low heat setting to the top of your wig, leaving the rest to dry naturally. Leaving your wig resting or pinned to the rubber head block will keep the shape and the natural look of your foundation well moulded.

Can you use heat tools on wigs, and what precautions should you take to prevent damage?

Although you can style your human hair wigs with heated tools such as straighteners or curling tongs on occasion, we advise our clients to avoid hot styling as much as possible to maintain the quality of the natural European hair.

To prevent damage, use hot tools sparingly and make sure to use heat protecting products each time.

To style your newly washed hair without heat, try scrunching the lengths to add movement, or try your hand at heatless curling techniques such as rollers, or recently popularised heatless curl kits that allow you to wrap hair overnight for long lasting curls.

How do you recommend clients store their wigs when they are not in use to maintain their style and longevity?

When not in use, such as overnight, store your wig resting on your block. Make sure it’s positioned somewhere with good ventilation out of direct sunlight for enhanced colour longevity.

4. Detangling and Brushing

What is the best way to detangle a wig without causing shedding or damage?

Some natural shedding will occur, especially when you first wash your new wig, but should be minimal after this time.

The best way to detangle a wig is to start from the ends and gently work upwards to tease out any knots. If the hair is very matted and tangly, wet this section of hair and work some conditioner through the lengths to detangle before rinsing thoroughly. This will make combing the knots out much more effective with less tugging on the hair. 

How often should you detangle wigs to keep them in optimal condition?

Lightly detangle after each wear to prevent knots building up, as well as before washing, as this will make your wig easier to fully brush through during washing when the hair is wet.

5. Preventing Frizz and Static

What causes wigs to become frizzy or static, and how can you prevent this?

Hair static occurs to human hair when certain factors result in the strands having an electrical charge. This static electricity can be from friction, humidity and other weather conditions, as well as the hair being dehydrated and dry.

Frizz occurs more rapidly with synthetic hair wigs, where the synthetic fibres rub on other synthetic clothing materials often which reduces the lifespan of a synthetic hair wig compared to human hair wigs.

Are there any products or techniques you recommend for reducing frizz and static in wigs?

When trying to reduce frizz and static in your real hair wig, it’s imperative that you add moisture to the hair. This can start during the washing and conditioning process, whereby using products that promote hydration are beneficial. Using leave in conditioner, oils or serums will help lock in moisture especially around the lengths and mid-lengths of the hair avoiding the roots.

If you’re out and about and notice your human hair wig has become static, slightly dampen your hands in a sink and smooth your hands along your hair as a temporary solution and a quick fix.

6. Longevity and Wear

How can you extend the life of wigs with proper care?

Proper care can add years to the longevity of your wig, depending on each wearer. Things like always pinning your wig to a head block during washing and styling as well as storing is hugely beneficial to your wig. Avoiding detrimental activities like sleeping and swimming in your wig will negate unnecessary damage. Keeping hair healthy by replenishing moisture often and not over-using hot styling tools will extend the life of your locks.

What are the signs that a wig is beginning to wear out and may need replacement?

Pay attention to both the wig cap and the hair when looking for signs that your piece may need repairing or repurchasing. 

Firstly, check inside the wig cap construction. Has the hair started to invert from the hair side of the wig to the inside of the wig cap? Are there any obvious holes, splitting seams or areas of general wear and tear within the lace structure? 

Then check the human hair of your wig. If the hair feels brittle beyond repair towards the ends or is snapping away or is limp and lacklustre, it’s worth seeking a professional opinion. The repair work that is most common is adding hair back into the piece where volume has been lost to shedding over the years of wear. If there are any sparse areas, or bald patches that glare through to the foundation, having your wigmaker replenish these areas will have a great impact and can extend the life of your wig, topper or hairpiece.

How does regular wear affect the lifespan of a wig, and what can you do to mitigate this?

As with any garment that is being worn every single day, regular wear will affect the lifespan of your wig. Even whilst upholding your care and maintenance routine, general wear and tear will still occur. Rest assured Mandeville London wigs, toppers and hairpieces have been designed to withstand daily use for those with medical hair loss.

7. Product Recommendations

What are the essential products every wig wearer should have in their care kit?

1. An effective cleansing shampoo that doesn’t strip the hair
2. A conditioner that hydrates
3. A serum to moisturise the mid-lengths and ends of your hair after every wash
4. A heat protecting product for occasional hot styling

Are there any specific brands or types of products (e.g., leave-in conditioners, serums) that you find particularly effective for wig care?

L’Anza Healing Moisture shampoo and conditioner and L’Anza Healing Strength Neem Serum

8. Protecting the Wig from Environmental Factors

How can you protect wigs from sun damage or exposure to harsh weather conditions?

Wear a hat or silk scarf to protect your wig hair from bleaching when the sun exposure is at its strongest. Use a SPF spray that is suitable for hair, or seek shade.

To ensure proper care, when storing your wig, make sure your block is positioned out of direct sunlight to avoid unnecessary colour fading.

9. Professional Maintenance

How often should you bring a wig in for professional cleaning and styling?

There’s no set frequency as to when you should bring your wig in for any professional service. View it as a supplementary option for whenever your wig is in need of some extra TLC - we’re happy to provide cleaning, deep condition, colour refreshing and styling services whenever you’d like.

Our styling options are especially beneficial for any special occasions you have, where you’d like to try a style that would be best executed by a pro stylist.

This process is very simple and stress free. Get in touch with the team to find out more about how we can help you with your Mandeville hair via our in-post service.

What benefits do professional wig maintenance services provide that clients may not achieve at home?

As experienced wigmakers and consultant stylists, we have vast product knowledge and access to professional products you might not have at home. We can also diagnose how to best treat your hair to create the effects you’d like.

10. General Wig Education

What essential wig care tips do you always share with first-time wig wearers?

1. Always pin your wig to the block when washing and styling
2. Never sleep or swim in your wig
3. When washing and styling, always apply product in a downward motion as opposed to massaging to avoid tangling
4. Air dry when possible and limit use of hot styling tools

Do you offer any tutorials or workshops to help learn proper human hair wig care techniques?

During your final fitting you will be taught how to easily care for your new wig using our range of accessories.

You will also be guided towards our online tutorials that explain essential maintenance step by step.

If you’re struggling to get a hang of any aspect of maintaining your wig, we welcome you to call us for personal assistance. 

On occasion we are able to arrange one on one sessions for extra guided support with your consultant at our studio to help you get to grips with your wig care or styling routing.