The good news first: You got a gorgeous new wig that is totally worth its "$eriously?!" price tag because it's long, real hair that makes you look like Beyoncé—or a whole lot like yourself before chemotherapy. The one snafu is that it's constantly tangling. Show
Anyone who has worn a wig or weave will tell you that this struggle is real. Synthetic, natural, expensive, inexpensive—they all end up in knots. Luckily, hairstylist Kim Kimble, who works with celebs like Beyoncé and Shakira, has some expert ways to prevent this and to detangle. We chatted her up and got her top tips. Why do wigs (even really expensive ones) seem to tangle more often than your own hair? "Tangling can depend a lot on how well the wig is made and whether the cuticles are all going in the right direction or if it's been processed with some kind of chemical or color; if the hair has been laid in wrong or it's been treated, then it's more likely to tangle. But any wig will tangle more than your real hair because your scalp produces natural oils that keep hair from drying out and getting caught in itself, and of course wigs do not do that." What's my first line of defense against wig tangling? "The first thing you have to do is use the proper shampoo and conditioner—a very mild, not-stripping shampoo, and both products should be sulfate-free and have a low pH. I like to set [the wig] on a [wig] head and shampoo it on the head so that it keeps its shape. When you wash it, you can't scrub it like you'd scrub your hair. You have to run your fingers through it like a comb, rubbing your fingers through it as you go and kind of squeezing it. You want to rinse it very well by dipping it into water and pulling it out. You have to be gentle. How often you're shampooing depends on how often you're wearing your wig. If you're not exercising in it and not putting a ton of products in it that are building up and you're taking it off to go to sleep at night, you shouldn't be washing it more than once a week." How should I be brushing my wig to both prevent and tackle tangles? "The best time to comb it is when you're combing conditioner through the wet hair. Then you let it dry and brush it again. Use a wig brush that's made for extensions and wigs, those little plastic ones work great; a boar-bristle brush works well, too. If you're working out a tangle, you want to start at the ends of your hair first—you should be doing this with your real hair, too—if you start from the top and go down, you make the tangle bunch up more. If you have extensions in, you want to hold the base when you brush or comb." __Extension care seems a little more complicated since they're attached to your head, so you can mess up both your extensions and your real hair if you're not careful. I remember watching so many episodes of America's Next Top Model when a girl new to sew-in extensions would end up with terribly matted hair. Are there extra precautions to take with extensions? __"The main thing is using alcohol-free hair products. And the same kind of low-pH shampoo and conditioners we talked about earlier; sulfate-free products that won't strip the hair. My K2 Beauty Untangle Conditioner is made especially for gently detangling extensions. Leave-in conditioners are great, too." A friend was just lamenting that her wig always seems to get tangled at the nape of her neck—and that also seems to be a frequent complaint on Internet forums about wigs. Is it the heat of one's neck that's making the wig get all wild? Can that be prevented? "I've found that wearing certain fabrics—like wool or anything that's really fibrous—or anything that has a bulky collar tends to cause your hair to ball up on the back of your neck. It doesn't happen as often if you're wearing silkier fabrics, and it doesn't happen as often if you have a straighter-hair wig. But you will have to brush out this spot periodically during the day to prevent tiny tangles from becoming bigger problems. It is difficult to simply solve this issue, but I've found that attaching some tracks in the back of a hand-tied wig helps keep it from getting tangled at the nape because it makes a little heavier in that spot." Want to wig out some more? Then check out these stories: • Julianna Margulies's Wig on The Good Wife Costs HOW Much? • Saturday Night Live's Wig Secrets • Nicki Minaj's Hairstylist Terrence Davidson Talks Wigs Why Your Wig is ALWAYS Getting Tangled We spend a lot of time talking about all the things we love about wearing wigs. Wearing wigs reduces the amount of time we spend styling our hair and increases our enjoying lifetime. Wigs let us experiment with different looks as often as we want. And for those of us with thinning hair, wigs can help us feel confident again. The benefits of wearing wigs are limitless. But if we're honest, there are some negatives, too. And while some other wig companies might not want to bring it up, we think it’s finally time to air out our issues and address the #1 wig problem nobody wants to talk about... The #1 wig problem nobody wants to talk about is how often wigs get TANGLED. Human hair, synthetic, and heat-friendly synthetic wigs. Full wigs, toppers, extensions, and headwear. No wig style is immune from the style destroyer that is tangled wig hair. So in the name of straight, well-styled, untangled hair, let’s talk about why your wig is tangling and what you can do to stop it from happening. Why do wigs tangle more often than bio hair?The reason your wig gets tangled so often might not be why you think. Wigs don’t get tangled just because they’re wigs, like some people think. The three reasons your wig could be tangling:
Cheap machine-made basic wig caps are not constructed as carefully as their hand-tied and monofilament cousins. Sometimes the wig hairs of machine-made wig caps are sewn into the cap in opposite directions. When wig hairs are laid in opposite directions they “fight against each other” for space and tangle. This is a particularly bad problem because tangles at the root of the cap can be some of the hardest to untangle. Why? Because it’s so difficult to de-tangle the hair without ripping the wig cap. The same thing is true with less expensive extension sets. Anytime wig hairs aren’t carefully sewn into their base, all leading in the same direction, it creates friction. If you usually wear a wig with a standard wig cap, consider upgrading to a 100% hand-tied wig cap and see if you notice a difference in how often your wig tangles. You’re using human shampoo and conditioner Another reason your wig might be tangling is because you’re using regular shampoo on a wig, rather than wig shampoo. Our scalps produce natural oils that keep our hair moisturized. Those oils protect and moisturize our hair, so human hair shampoos and conditioners don’t need to be formulated with those oils. Wigs, on the other hand, don’t naturally moisturize themselves. That’s why you need to use wig specific cleansing products that provide your wig with moisture. If you don’t, regardless of wig hair type, your wig will dry out. And what happens to wig hair when it dries out? Spoiler: it tangles. You’re washing your wig too aggressively If you’re a wig wearing, gone are the days of scrubbing and scrunching your hair while you wash it. Wash your wig gently. Otherwise, you could rip the cap, rip out hairs, or pull hairs in opposite directions, causing - you guessed it - tangles. Need a recap on how to wash your wig? Read our Wig Washing Guide. How often should I wash my wig to keep it moisturized and soft?We recommend washing your wig every 6 to 8 washes, regardless of wig hair type, to make sure your wig stays soft and untangled. As your wig gets older and starts to break down, consider washing it even more often. The better moisturized your wig is, the less your wig will tangle. Should I use special wig care products to keep my wig from tangling?Sometimes, ultra-moisturizing wig shampoos and conditioners aren’t enough to dissuade tangles. The best way to make sure your wig stays moisturized - and untangled - is to use a leave-in conditioning spray. A conditioning spray will guarantee that your hair stays soft and shiny for MONTHS, rather than drying out after one or two wears. Especially if you wear extensions, which tend to get matted at the roots, it’s important to invest in a leave-in conditioner. How often should I brush my wig to avoid tangles?When you wear a wig, topper, or extensions, it’s not enough to brush your hair just once. Wigs have a way of getting tangled as they’re drying. Brush your wig twice: right after you wash and condition it and after it dries. Use a wig brush that won’t pull out your wig hairs or damage the cap. If you run into a tangle (trust us, you will) work out the bottom of the tangle near the ends of your hair first, slowly working your way up towards the roots. If you can, grip the wig hair above the tangle, so that you’re not pulling the cap. If you wear extensions, hold them at the root while you’re brushing, so you don’t pull your scalp (ouch!). Why does my wig always tangle at the back?Longtime wig wearers will know that wig hair tends to get tangled and matted at the back of the neck. While you can’t avoid wig tangling at the nape of your neck (heat and sweat make sure of that), you could be making it worse. High collars, wool turtlenecks, and heavy fabrics can all encourage matting and tangling. Wear silky, linen, or light cotton fabrics are less likely to reduce tangling. Should I air dry or blow-dry to stop wig tangles?Don’t hate the messenger: but we’re here to tell you that your favorite hairdryer is probably tangling your hair. When you blow-dry your wig hair, it can rearrange the pattern of the wig hairs, causing them to lay in different directions. And if you’ve read this far, you know wig hairs going in opposite directions is the #1 cause of tangles. Air drying won’t agitate the wig hairs and therefore won’t tangle your wig. Want to wig out some more? Then check out these posts:
Have a tip or trick for keeping your wig untangled that we didn’t mention? Let us know in the comments! Why does my wig keep getting tangled in the back?The three reasons your wig could be tangling: You're wearing the wrong type of wig cap. You're using human shampoo and conditioner. You're washing your wig too aggressively.
How do I keep my weave from tangling in the back?How to avoid your weave from tangling, matting and shedding?. Don't rub your hair together when drying.. Don't over moisturise your hair, product build up can cause tangles.. Don't even attempt to detangle hair when it's dry.. Co-wash at least or twice weekly and shampoo once a month.. How do you keep a wig from tangling in a nape?Many wigs are offered with wig combs in the nape area. They are added for security, however, much of the hair in the nape area gets caught in the combs. Modify your wig by removing the combs and using a wig gripper or adjustable wig hooks to keep your wig in place.
How do I keep my wig tangle free?Invest in a good detangling spray
Use a good detangling spray that's designed for wigs to keep your wig smooth and frizz and tangle-free. Spray it evenly across the sections of your wig and comb through. If you come across a knot that won't budge, don't tug at it, just spray a bit of extra spray on it and tease it out.
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How to keep wig from tangling in the back
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