Do you cosplay on the weekend or wear a wig every day? Sooner or later it is normal for knots to form, but it is certainly not the case to throw it in the garbage! With the help of some cheap products (and a lot of patience), you can bring her back to life. Make all the preparations, comb the wig and wait for it to dry: these simple steps are enough and it will be as good as new.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Place the Wig on the Display and Prepare the Conditioner
Step 1. Prepare everything you need
The beauty of this method is that it requires cheap and easy-to-source materials. All you need is a comb, a spray bottle full of water and conditioner. A wig mannequin head may also be useful, but it is not essential. Prepare the following items:
- Wig comb or wide tooth comb;
- Fine-toothed comb (if the wig was equipped with bangs);
- Spray bottle, to be filled up to ¾ of water;
- Balm;
- Mannequin head for wig and tool to fix it (optional).
Step 2. Prepare the wig
Place it on the mannequin head and, if possible, attach it to a camera tripod or other tall object to facilitate the procedure. This is especially useful if the wig is long.
If you don't have a wig mannequin head (or easel), lay it out on a table or other surface
Step 3. Prepare the conditioner
Pour the water into the spray bottle until it is about three-quarters full, then finish filling it with conditioner. You should have about 3 parts water and 1 parts conditioner. Shake well.
- You can also use a leave-in conditioner or a specific product to detangle wigs. They should not be diluted with water.
- In case of synthetic wig, you can try using fabric softener. Just like with conditioner, calculate 3 parts water and 1 parts softener.
Part 2 of 3: Comb the Wig
Step 1. If it is in poor condition, moisten it
Fill a sink with warm water. Remove the wig from the mannequin head (if you are using it) and let it soak for 10-15 minutes. Squeeze it carefully and place it back on the holder.
In case it is particularly dirty, you can add a dollop of shampoo to the water. Before you start combing it, however, make sure you rinse it well
Step 2. Take the spray bottle
Spray the water and conditioner solution on the lengths of the wig. It should soak the last 8-13cm of the wig well.
If the conditioner starts to separate from the water, shake the bottle
Step 3. Start combing the lengths with a wig or wide tooth comb
Comb the final 8-13 cm. Hold the top of the strand firmly with one hand and comb it with the other. If the wig is particularly knotted, you may want to proceed by treating one strand at a time until the procedure is completed.
Step 4. Continue to spray the solution and comb through to the top of the wig
Comb through the lengths, soak another 8-13 cm of the wig and continue combing. Repeat the process until you have completely untangled it.
- The duration of the process depends on the length of the wig (it can take up to an hour).
- Be careful not to jerk the wig, otherwise you will make the situation worse. Instead, carefully untangle each knot.
Part 3 of 3: Styling the wig and letting it dry
Step 1. Comb the bangs and style the wig
If it has bangs, untangle it with a fine-toothed comb and arrange it however you like. Carefully create the style you want while it's wet.
Step 2. Make a final splash of water
If you've used a lot of conditioner, it's a good idea to sprinkle some water on the wig, especially if it's not synthetic. This helps to further dilute the conditioner and fight the grease.
Step 3. Let the wig dry on the stand for a few hours
Gently comb it every 30 minutes. It should dry in 2-3 hours.
- If you are in a hurry, you can set the hair dryer to the minimum. Be careful: the risk of damaging it is high.
- For best results, let it air dry.
