(**UPDATED, March 2012**)
If you’re here from a search engine of some kind, welcome. I’m going to show how to de-frizz a synthetic wig. And of course, I’m going to be long-winded while I do it, because these typing fingers just can’t be stopped!
As you know, if you happen to read my blog, I wear wigs because I have a disease that made me lose all my hair. When I first lost my hair in 2002 (all of it in a two-day period, yeah ask me if I was freaking out), my only immediate option for a hair prosthetic was an ill-fitting, unflattering wig that I bought at a local hairdresser’s. I bought it because I was desperate (I had to get back to work! and I wasn’t going to go to work bald!) and wore it because I didn’t know there was anything better out there. After some time I discovered a wonderful salon/wig store, and started wearing more flattering wigs. Then we moved back to PEI. There are no wig stores here. I wasn’t really sure what to do when it was time for me to buy some new hair, so I just purchased a human hair wig from eBay.
There is a huge difference between human hair wigs and synthetic wigs. Human hair wigs are great, but they are very difficult to maintain, in my experience. You basically have all the same problems as you’d have with your own hair, only ten times worse; the hair tangles so easily, you have to style it every day, and after a few weeks (or months, if you’re lucky), it’s a mass of split ends. Because this hair doesn’t grow and you don’t get it trimmed on a regular basis, and because it doesn’t have the natural protection of oils from your scalp, you have to be extremely careful with it and replace your wig fairly often. That being said, the wigs I purchased on eBay were fairly cheap, costing approx. $200 each, so that might have magnified the problems I had with them. (**UPDATE** 2012: There are many sites out there now that sell human hair wigs – and human hair differs greatly in quality. You are not going to get a great quality human hair wig for a super-low price. At the very minimum, you need to look for Remy hair if you want a wig that tangles less).
I am hoping to one day purchase a lace wig, which is made with extremely high-quality human hair and as you can see through photos on this site, looks very natural. However with a price tag of up to and above $1000, depending on the length and quality of the hair, and with no hairdressers where I live who are experienced in the application of these wigs, I’m not quite ready to take one on. (**UPDATE 2012** – I now own three synthetic lace front wigs. I have learned to apply them myself. I haven’t moved in to the human-hair lace wig yet, but there are websites out there that will either sell you a “stock” (pre-made) lace wig or custom make one for you. Many of these custom wigs are in the $200 – $300 range (depending on hair length) and will last several months of daily wear if cared for correctly)
In November of 2007, after 2 years of wearing only human-hair wigs, and after having gone back and forth on the subject (mostly inside my own head, I’ve gotta say), I ordered a new synthetic wig from wigs.com. I went with a brand that I’m familiar with. It took over a month for the wig to actually arrive at our place because it was on back-order, but when it got here, I was very happy with it.
Now, I like synthetic wigs. Dolly Parton and I are on the same wavelength: there’s nothing a bit of fake hair can’t fix, in our humble opinion. Synthetic wigs are fairly easy to care for- take your wig, put it on your head, and it’s ready. The style is “locked in”, so you don’t have to mess with it for very long each morning. Every two or three weeks (unless you’re particularly sweaty – I usually go a month to six weeks between washings and you are all grossed out now aren’t you?), you comb it out, wash it, let it dry, shake it, and it’s ready to go. They’re not super-versatile; for example unless you make sure to purchase a wig with a monofilament top you’re basically stuck with the same part in your hair FOREVER. But they’re good, and if you buy a high-quality one, the manufacturers say they will last for anywhere from three to six months of everyday wear. In fact, I have made a wig last over a year in the past. Of course, if you’re only wearing your wig every now and then (and you’re not storing it somewhere where it will get all dusty or tangled), it will last much longer.
There are a few issues with synthetic wigs: you can’t dye or perm them, because the hair fiber is made with what amounts to plastic or polyester. However, you can pretty much buy a wig in any colour (even with highlights!) and style you like. Also, because of what they’re made with, you have to be very careful around heat. Opening the oven, being too close to a candle or cigarette, even being in a too-warm room, can cause the wig fibers to melt or frizz, I’ve been told over and over and over again. One of the first things drummed into your head when you purchase a synthetic wig is that you must ABSOLUTELY NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES expose the hair to heat or it will melt. You must wash the wig in cold water, with specially formulated wig-care products (which can also cost quite a bit more than your regular store-brand shampoos and conditioners, but are better for your wig than regular store-brand shampoos/conditioners), and make sure to use a special comb or wig brush to remove tangles. (***UPDATE 2012*** Many wigs are now being made with “heat safe” synthetic fibre – check the tag – that are not only safe around ovens, but can also be styled using hot tools. Wig-washing doesn’t necessarily have to be done with specially-formulated wig shampoos; some people use Woolite and fabric softener and it works just as well. It depends on what you’re most comfortable with. I have used dishwashing detergent in a pinch – not ideal, but it worked. Also I don’t use freezing-cold water anymore… hand-warm water seems to work better for me).
Another problem (and this is the one we’re dealing with today) is that if you are wearing a wig that is collar length or longer, well, it rubs against your collar, which tangles the wig ends. I’ve found that wearing a wig during the winter, when, because I live in the Frozen North, heavy coats and scarves are a necessity, tends to speed up the process . After a week or so of this, the ends of my wig were starting to look like a matted mess. I couldn’t run my fingers through the hair anymore, and I was starting to wonder if my over-$300 investment was going to be fit for the trash after less than a month of wear.
Here’s what the ends looked like this morning, after I had combed it :
Rapunzelesque, it was not.
I searched all over the Internet for ways to de-frizz a synthetic wig. I also wrote to wigs.com, where I purchased the wig, asking them what I should do in this case. The Internet yielded the recommendation to dip my wig in boiling water, then stretch each strand of hair individually. Alternately, I could send the wig to a professional for re-conditioning.
Yeah.
No.
No way am I dunking my wig in boiling water, and no way am I sending it off somewhere because I’d be stuck with nothing on my head for who knows how long. Plus I’m cheap and wig reconditioning can cost a pretty penny — almost as much as buying the wig in the first place. I didn’t get any better results via my email to wigs.com– they told me I could take my wig to the hairdresser and have him trim the ends off (the problem is, they’d have had to trim off about four inches in order to get rid of all the frizz. Then I’d have short hair, which is not what I paid for), and OF COURSE, I should buy another wig from them, because wigs only last 2-3 months (no mention that I’d had this one less than one month).
So. I thought and I thought and I thought. Yes, dunking the wig in hot water would possibly wreck it… but what if I used heat in a more controlled manner? I decided that I would just take a chance and try using heat to straighten the frizzed wig fibers, sort of like ironing trousers, if you wore trousers on your head and wanted people to think that the trousers were part of your body.
Trousers-head! Imagine it! Your mind is now blown, isn’t it?
Ahem. Anyway.
I gathered up my supplies:
- a bunch of hair clips to keep the “done” hair separated from the “not done yet” hair.
- a spray bottle (fine mist) of water
- my leave-in conditioner
- my wig brush, which has very short, stiff, close-together bristles
- my curling iron (HORROR! I KNOW!) ( you can also use a flat-iron, but I don’t own one, so the curling iron it is)
I was very nervous about this. I mean, I might ruin my wig! EVERYONE KNOWS TO KEEP HEAT AWAY FROM YOUR SYNTHETIC WIG! On the other hand, it was looking pretty bad and I wouldn’t be wearing it much longer anyway if it kept deteriorating this way, so I might as well just bite the bullet and go ahead.
First things first. I took my curling iron and turned it to the lowest setting (I like my curling iron. It goes from heat level 1 to heat level 35. Level 1 is still pretty hot to the touch, I mean I wouldn’t want it in my mouth or anything– not that I generally fellate curling irons– but I would assume that it’s nowhere near level 35. I’ve never turned it up to level 35. If anyone has, let me know what THAT’S like for you).
Next, I took a small section of hair, from way underneath in the back so that if I did ruin it it wouldn’t be too noticeable, and brushed through it to remove any tangles. It didn’t look very good after that. See that frizz? DO YOU SEE IT? I didn’t want to be walking around all day with that on my head!
I sprayed the hair with a bit of water, and a spritz or two of leave-in conditioner, and combed that through.
And then I said the entire Rosary nineteen times, and picked up my curling iron.
I used the curling iron as sort of a flat-iron — the only difference being that I pulled the hair through rather quickly, and used the iron to restore the original curl/wave to the hair.
Then, while the hair was still warm, I used the brush to brush through and smooth out as much of the leftover frizz as I could. I held the hair close to where it was attached to the wig cap, which ensured that I was pulling on the hair pretty firmly.
And lo and behold, it worked pretty well!
Then I left the hair to cool and such all on its own.
My wig isn’t back to absolutely brand-spanking-new, but it’s SO MUCH better than it was when I started. I’m very happy with it and hopefully if anyone else out there is dealing with a wig that’s on its way out, they will find this post and at least be able to try something and see if this works. All in all it took me about an hour to do the entire wig. Make sure you do a little test swatch somewhere inconspicuous before going whole hog. Also, you’re not allowed to sue me if it doesn’t work. I’m not a wig technician or other fake-hair professional; I’m just a bald chick who doesn’t like wasting money.
And, of course, please comment or contact me if you find this useful at all 
December 2011: A friend has started a website with photos of real wigs on real people. If you get confused by the photos on the wig websites (I do too – you have to remember that those wigs are often cut and styled before being photographed), this is the place for you.
EDIT December 2008: I have had so many positive comments and emails about this post. I’m so happy that it’s working for you – anything to make that investment last just that much longer. I have had the following question pop up a few times:
“My wig is a curly wig – the bottom is all tangled, will this work for it?”
Again – I’m not a professional. This post was just about my experience. I’ve never owned a curly wig, so I don’t know for sure if this would work, but I wanted to know (when I had hair, it was naturally curly, so I’ve been thinking it might be fun to have a curly wig sometime).
I put this question to some Internet Friends and here is what was suggested: Go through the same process as above, only when the hair is still warm, put curlers in it. When it cools, it should retain that curl. Another suggestion was to use a steamer (like a clothing steamer) on the wig, followed by curlers. Or to put curlers in the hair and then use the steamer on it. Please note that I have never tried either of these, so I can’t be 100% sure how well it would work, but it sounds like a plausible theory.
If you are new to wigs, I would highly recommend joining a site such as wigsupport.com – you will find so much support and helpful information there!
March 2009: Since writing this article, I have also used this method on a Revlon wig and a cheap costume-store wig. It worked equally as well on both of them.
I recently got the following email:
I loved your blog on how to de-frizz a wig. I found it though an engine search
and you answered my question to a tee. Then I realised that my hair
straightener is actually american made and if I plug it in at home I’ll blow it
up. (I live in Australia but work on an American ship, hence the voltage issue.)
So, I’m just wondering if you think I could get the same sort of outcome by
using an iron on a low setting?
Thanks Muchly,
Jayne
I wrote back:
Hi Jayne! I’m absolutely not an expert on this, I just posted about what worked for me – but I think it could work with an iron. It might be a bit awkward, because the iron’s so much bigger than a curling iron or hair straightener. In fact the steam from the iron might make it even better. All I can say is give it a try on a test swatch, and let me know how it works for you!
The results:
Louise you are a dead set legend!! I have just spent the last 3-4 hours ironing my 2 wigs (most ironing I?ve done in years I might add) and now have 2 glossy, totally unfrizzy, sensational wigs! Yay. Unfortunately one is supposed to be a bit curly lol, but I don?t care, it looks amazing and I can always curl it a little when I get back to 110volts on the ship. 
)
So if anyone asks you about irons again, yes it can be done. I started at the minimum heat and just got a bit hotter until it seemed right. Ended up being the notch above the synthetic setting. I also turned off the steam. At that temp the water just ran out of the iron and dampened everything thing, which was not helpful at all.
Thanks again,
Jayne
Thanks to Jayne for her permission to post her emails!
If you’ve tried something that’s worked for you, I’d love to hear about it! Just hit that “contact me” button at the top of the page.
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Thanks! I will start wearing a wig very soon due to hair loss thanks to illness and meds. I have been very overwhlemed by the whole thing and ended up buying a wig on ebay. It is synthetic and I do hope that it won’t look too obvious. I am very happy to know that there are other people out there that are helpful and can provide insights into wig problems and can help us newbies.
Thanks again,
Alex – London
I tired your method….switching things a little bit. I used regular conditioner, wet the ends of the wig, where the hair was dry, then put the conditioner on the wet ends, combed it through once, and then curled it with my curling iron on the lowest setting. Worked amazingly well!!!
Thank you!!!
OMG! You need a cape as you are a true ‘Superheroine”. I’m on my 2nd synthetic wig, after ruining my first one with a hairdryer (yeah – dumb I know but I was about to miss a 6am flight across country to my Mother’s funeral, so I wasn’t exactly thinking right)Anyway, I chalked that $260 up to stupidity. I bought a 2nd one, same price, different style, and LOVED it but after about 2 – 3 weeks noticed the ends got nasty – frizzy and thick and coarse. Ewwww!!! I was just about ready to think I’m going to have to cut it (it’s already just neck length already) when I decided to just check out google and see what’s out there. I have never been so excited to find your advice. I just did it, worked like a charm and tonight when i go out I am actually going to feel confident again. I’ve had so many compliments on it when I first bought it but less so since the ends look raggedy. Now I will feel so good tonight. You are a genius. Love you!!! Mean it!!!!
Thanks for your comment I will try this tonight. I’m not ready to trash my wig. Will use my flat iron.
Hi Louise,
I hope wearing your wigs give you the same confidence as if you were styling your own hair. You’re a woman and you are beautiful no matter what. I was so giddy after reading your post and saying to myself had I known this question needed an answer I would have told someone a long time ago. I’m 26 so let me think. Around tenth grade I decided to get individual braids in syntheic hair. A pretty dusty blonde color. I like to be different so I decided to straighten the ends kind of like all the young girls are wearing the human hair braids now. Anyhow, the same process you stated worked. I combed the tangles out and brushed it until it looked almost like how a horses mane looks. I then took my curling wand using the lowest heat seating and went over the hair like it was a flat iron. I then curled the hair in ringlets. Let’s just say everyone was amazed that the hair didn’t burn or melt and that the curls actually held up and didn’t look frizzy. Suprisingly I also did a pony tail updo like this but I dipped the ends in the boiling hot water after combing all the kinks out. It looked just like a human hair pony tail. Trust me it works. Just take your time.
absolute genius…thanks sooo much
x
I just wanted to thank you. I am waiting for my new wig to arrive, 6-8 weeks, I live in Anaheim, CA so no matter where you live, you wait. After spending somewhere upwards of $750.00 for a human hair wig and dermafix I still needed to be able to wear my synthetic wig for 6-8 weeks while I wait for the new one and spending more $$ didn’t really appeal to me and your article here helped a bunch…now if there was someway to keep the hair from pulling out of the wig everytime it’s brushed wouldn’t that be awesome. Thanks again.
Thank you! You’re a lifesaver. I brought a 3/4 wig in november of last year, and it’s gotten quite frizzy. I’m not in a great financial situation right now, so it’ll be a while before I can afford to replace it. So… I’ve been walking around with a ragged looking head of hair. Hopefully your technique will work, and I’ll be able to get a little more use out of my faux mane x)
Great tip!! i tried it and it worked perfectly! i had the same problem u had, i have had this wig for less than one month and the ends were getting frizzy and now the ends were def. softer and it looked unfrizzed.
Thank you so much, you are a wig saver! The difference in my wig is amazing. My wig had looked so frizzed before and after reading this it still took my a few weeks to decide whether or not I would actually do this( Taking heat to a synthetic wig? Scary thought). I’m glad I did because my wig turned out amazing. This has helped my wig last longer and I can’t wait to show my friends this wonderful discovery.
Hi Louise.
4/28/08
Great presentation. Actually, I tried something similar (‘Cause I said anything would be better than the frizz.) and got pretty good results. The hair got smooth and didn’t burn. But I think I just used the curling iron alone, and I lost the loose curl or body of the style. (Yeah, fibers are akin to plastic, so synthetic hair has no body as does human hair.) But your suggestion seems the best yet. I may try it and if I lose the curve or style, I may try a stiff gel and tautly roll the hair on large curlers and let it air dry and see what happens. I was trying to find out if there was a secret finishing lotion or spray or something with which the manufacturer finishes the synthetic wig as the last step in the process of making it. My wig was ultra smooth and silky and the hair swings – when I first buy it. But in about a week, it loses its original sheen and swing. So I just wondered what the wig maker uses, and it is probably a trade secret.
Regards,
MN
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Thank You for posting this…you are quite the writer as well as a pro with taking care of a frizzed out wig. I am losing my hair due to MS, stress, medications, three teenagers and a father who lives with me…defrizzing my wigs may help to alleviate some of the stress…
Stef
This post is a life saver!! I only recently started having to wear wigs and so I am very green about them. I have a few Raquel Welch synthetic wigs and they looked great for a good month and then they started getting very frizzy and split looking (longish styles). I rotate two to keep them fresher and was shocked how bad they started to look. I am very careful when I detangle them and never use a brush, I use a wide tooth wig comb gently to pick out the tangles. I used your method with a low heat straightener and it worked like a charm. The hairs now look silky smooth! I did it when the wig had been washed and was just barely damp still. It had spray on conditioner already and so I didn’t have to do anything else. It looks amazing, like new!
best help i have ever read and gonna try it i also am tired of spending money on fake hair that doesnt last a month…i have 5-6 wigs that all look like crap and there is nothing i found that soaks into plastic (barbiedoll hair) its plastic for petes sake. but sure am going to try what you suggest hope it works for me too.Thankyou for this website.
you are the #1 result from search engine. i’ve been looking all over the place to find wayts to restore my wig. thank you soooooooooo much. will go home and try it out immediately.
Louise,
Can I just say it was a pleasure to read your blog. It was incredibly witty, amusing and you have a likeable charm about you! I used to be very very blonde 2 years ago. My hair was candy floss, needless to say I needed to go brunette. So I did. My hair was also cut, just above my shoulders, so very short and terribly damaged still.
I was tired of extensions (at £72 a piece – jessica simpson, I’d spent over a grand on synethic extensions). So I got an idea from a friend when she had a wig and teamed it with her hair. So I bought a synthetic wig from eBay – £25.
I blowed dryed the front of my hair (about 2 inches back) and played around my parting so it looked like the wig was part of my hair. And my god! I lose count on how many people admire and comment on my hair. I buy every style from curly to wavy to straight. And long! Gotta be long!
Anyway, the only snag is that they last for about 3 weeks. So I am spending £20-£30 every 3 weeks, sometimes even 2, for a brand new glossy wig.
I have not yet tried the heat on damaged the wig, yet. I just had to write to you and sympathise with your problem!
I’m only 21 and wearing wigs (!) I am terribly sorry to hear that you have suffered from hair loss from an illness. I feel a bit stupid wearing wigs and a bit silly contacting you when I haven’t had hair loss. But nonetheless, I am thrilled I stumbled across your blog and read the similar problems you have experience with synthetic wigs.
If you’d like the buyer I buy from on eBay, please don’t hesitate to ask. They are significantly cheaper than the ones you have purchased.
Jennifer
Jennifer, Read your reply on site about “How to care for tangled hair in wigs”.. I m new at this too, and would like to know the buyer from Ebay where you purchased your wigs cheap. I have to wig because my hair is thinning out on sides and top and my age is 64. I still look younger but dont want my hair thin..if you could help, I’d appreciate it… harriett p.s. This is for Jennifer who posted on March 12, 2012
I had an old wig that was REALLY bad – as in I had tossed it loose at the bottom of my closet – the flat iron on low with water did the trick! It’s not brand new appearing but its completely wearable! Yay!
This was SO helpful! I’ve been looking into how to defrizz my wig and nothing helped until I tried this! Thank you!
I can’t thank you enough for your information. I have a wig I’ve had for about 20 years and only wore occasionally. I stopped wearing it a few years ago because I couldn’t seem to get that frizziness out of it. I used your method, which took me about 5 hours of my life, but when I wore the wig yesterday I got so many compliments and everyone thought it was my real hair. Again, thank you.
Wow! 20 years! Amazing
i bought a handmade wig @ 400dollars. The cap is fish-net, so its v comfortable. But the hair is very rough and full of tangles,so i went to a parlour 2make it silky and 2straight. And 2my surprise the hair stylist told me tat the wig made of natural and artificial hair, its mixed. So it will look lyk tat only. Bt the hairwig company is sayin tat al are natural. How wil i knw whether some hair in tat wig are made from nylon? Please help me, the hair from the back is luking so rough and are clumped together.
If they told you that it’s human hair and it’s a blend, then they owe you your money back because they lied to you. As for how to tell – I’m not really sure. Human hair will burn while synthetic will “melt” when placed in front of an open flame but I’m sure you don’t want to try that with a $400 wig. You could also check the tags and packaging of the wig – anything that says “kanekalon” is synthetic. Beyond that, I don’t know what to tell you. I’m sorry you were duped this way.
Just wondering what kind of leave in conditioner you used (one specially for synthetic hair or a regular one)? Thanks!
The one I used in this article was one made for synthetic wigs – but I have done this again since using leave-ins for human hair, and even just plain water. With some of the “futura” (heat-safe) synthetic fibres you can even do it “dry” but make sure that you have your straightener (or whatever heat implement you’re using) at the proper low-heat setting.
Tip: HOW TO PUT CURL & BODY BACK INTO WIG: I bought a long red haired wig for $17 at a Halloween store just for fun and it looked real! (Resembled Ariel from Little Mermaid) I was disappointed when it started to loose its body and get frizzy. I hadn’t read anything online at this point, I just decided to try something. I sprayed pieces individually with leave in conditioner (I used a brand I already had for human hair..I’m inexperienced and cheap) and then I rolled it into unheated curlers and then just let it dry, and it worked great. I am going to try to iron it next to get out the frizz at bottom and then repeat this method for curl. Hopefully it doesn’t counteract the ironing.
Due to a bad bleach job, I had to cut all my hair off, and have been wearing synthetic wigs for a few months now. I’ve gotten used to wigs and am actually enjoying them for the most part b/c my hair is naturally curly and required so much work, and the wigs are easier. I do agree the wigs get frizzy so quick and theyre hard to get back silky, and I am going to try this trick, I hope it works on mine like it has on yalls!
I had tried human hair wigs and found them to be really high maintainence and too expensive, and ultimately in the end, a big pile of split ends. So screw it, I’ll take my synthetic wigs.. love all the different colors, styles, and easy care!
awesome post woman!! who would have known so many people have the problem of frizzy wigs? lol. i am looking for a way to make my synthetic wigs last longer (2-3 months would be nice) and i think i found it! thank you.
Hello everyone,
I just stumbled on this page because I love to wear wigs (for fun) or when I have just chopped all my hair off. I particularly like the Lioness Wigs, I’ve purchased several and hated them just a few days after I put them on. One, I think I have been getting the wrong color (always a blond) two, they are so big, unnaturally large, wide on my head, I want to make them look natural, like naturally curly hair, if anyone has any suggestions I would love to hear it. I love your ideas about styling but I am not sure with the Lioness what I can do.
Thanks for listening, and for this site.
Lynn
Thanks for the advice, am gonna try this today and i really hope it works. I’ve just bought my synthetic lace wig and it’s all frizzy in one week, i’ve spent 10 hrs online searching for an answer, and i hope i’ve got it…
I hope this helps!
brilliant I just used my curling brush and quickly pulled the hair over the top …. bit like your curling tong …. thanx for help hunny xx
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
This advice is better than anything I’ve found on the net. It saved my precious wig and made it look much better =)
Hi,
I actually use a curling iron set on ‘high’. I wear blonde long hair by Noriko, their gradient version. I also wear a long hair Racqeel Welch heat friendly, lace.
I still prefer the Noriko gadient because I can be in a wind storm (I use toupee clips or strong glue) and no one can tell I wear a wig full time since 2006.
I began buying them in Woodland Hills, CA and hated that they became so frizzy within a month. Their term was ‘the fibers expand’. Are you kidding me, they frizz plus expand. And it didn’t matter if I washed them and conditioned them plus used wig de-frizz spray, within 30 days the wig look terrible!
They offered a service of $35.00 per wig for them to de-frizz it for you. Well, now I know what they were doing. Just like you, heat to shrink the synthetic fibers. Found this out from a wig retailer in southern FL who was nice enough to share that info with me.
Yes, you can use hot rollers to add curl and bounce back into your wig after de-frizzing it with a hair straightener or curling iron, by the way.
It’s great that you have shared what works on de-frizzing synthetic wigs. Wish I had found your site years ago before spending an average of $200. per month constantly buying a new wig that looked nice again.
I can sympathize with you in regards to hair loss. When I had gastric bypass (medical reasons), the doctor told me up front that I was going to lose my hair. I never thought I would and the shock almost sent over the edge. Anyway long story short my daughter taught me very quickly about lace wigs and I just love them. I usually end up buying two a month. The cost is about what I would normally spend at the beauty shop, so no real surprise in that area. In my opinion, human hair last about the same amount of time as synthetic. Just take your time, have fun, and visit shops that allow you to try them on.
PS: People! I discovered an amazing all around product that I used on my human hair wigs, and now my synthetic wigs that has stopped the frizziness, and to say, tangling! CHI Thermal Guard. I sprayed it lightly on my synthetic wig, let it dry, then did what Louise suggested, and then put a very (and I mean very) small dab of Farouk BioSilk on it after it was finished. I cannot tell you how much the tangling was stopped, the end frizziness was stopped as well. It’s been three days, and my hair is poker straight, no tangles, and the ends are straight with not an ounce of frizz on them.
What an awesome idea. Thanks, this is very useful to me since i decide to buy a synthetic wig and try looking for how to care it.
Thank you so much for your wonderful ideas! My daughter sells
synthetic wigs, and comes across this problem all the time.
Her wigs are inexpensive if you ever want to give them a try
http://www.etsy.ginabarto.com
Thanks for the comment! I have checked out your daughter’s wigs and they’re very pretty – does she make them herself?
Hi Louise,
So glad I found this post! I have the same exact problem, having just spent $400 on two Jon Renau “Haute” wigs, only to have them frizz up completely after only two weeks. And forget the supposed “HD” thing – the moment I used a curling iron on them the hair was left flat and straight, the claim that you can style them any way you want is a lie. I’ll continue to buy the Jen Aniston-style I love from them though, if only for the great smart-lace top.
Anyway, I’m about to try your method, but I gotta ask – I have never heard of a “leave-in” conditioner. Is is just another term for regular human-hair conditioner that you’d use in the shower, like Suave, or is it somthing else entirely? Do you have a brand-name you could give me?
Thanks so much!
Hi Diva,
“leave in” conditioner is just a conditioner that you spray onto your hair (or fake hair, as it were), and leave there. Depending on where you live, it should be pretty easy to find in any drugstore or grocery store, in the hair care section. I used Beautimark brand, because that’s what I had at home (I had bought it from wigs.com when I purchased the wig) when writing this article… but I have since used everything from just plain water to Suave brand to… Johnson & Johnson’s No More Tangles brand. Almost any shampoo company makes spray bottles of leave-in. Pantene, Aussie, Herbal Essences, L’Oreal – I’m sure I sound like a commercial here!
Just as a “heads up”, when using leave in conditioners or oils, keep them away from the “scalp” or cap area. This is where the strands are knotted to the lace and the conditioners and oils can loosen the knot and therefore cause you to lose additional hair. This tip was shared with me and has helped me manage the tangels without my efforts causing unneeded hair strand loss.
Another tip…when cleaning or shampooing your system, just use at the scalp area and gently massage. When you rinse the shampoo, it will clean the hair further down without (as much) drying or causing tangles to your system.
JW
Thank you, JW! Very good advice. A question for your tip about shampooing synthetic wigs – in all my years I have always been taught to fill a basin with water/shampoo and dunk it in (no scrubbing/rubbing), then to rinse, do the same thing only with clean water. It’s always worked well for me (although I can see how with an extra-long wig that might not be convenient) – am I Doing It Wrong?
Worked amazingly!!!! I used the instyler so it brushed as it flat ironed !
I just read your blog and I’m so excited to try this. I have a trash bag full of hair that I bought and wore until it got frizzy, but I didn’t want to throw it away because I had spent so much money over the years. I’m going to sit down right now and start on a few. I noticed someone used an iron to do theirs I think I will try that just to speed it along and work in bigger sections. Although on my curly pieces I will definitely use the curling iron. Thank You so much!!
Really enjoyed your blog….wonderful advice and more importantly encouragement, for those of us that wear wigs daily, really frizzed up my wig opening the oven so it’s the front of the wig that looks so sad, has anyone tried these tips after doing such a dopey thing….I am very interested.
I have a friend who did the same thing, Patricia. She used steam (she held it over a kettle of boiling water but you’d probably have more control if you had a steamer and could “aim” the steam at the area you wanted to fix) and then brushed through the frizzed fibres. I’m sure that the way I’ve outlined here would probably work, as well, unless the fibres are completely melted (but that doesn’t sound like what you’re describing). Good luck, and thank you for he compliment!
Hiya,
I am just about to do this now but does anyone know how long this lasts for and can you do it more than once?
Hi Samantha,
Once your wig starts frizzing the fibres are kind of breaking down. I find that a good de-frizzing lasts about two weeks or so before you have to do it again – and as I mentioned, I have kept a wig that started frizzing at less than a month “alive” for over a year using this method. You can do the de-frizzing many times but there comes a point when you will need to replace the wig.
Thank you
Well I only need it to hold up for a few weeks at most so if that works it’s a god send lol
Thanks so much for the advice x
Thank you so much, this was so helpful!! I’ve been wearing wigs since I started chemo and lost all my hair.. after a few weeks of everyday use of synthetic wigs they do tend to fizz ALOT so thank you so much for this help, I am not saving SO SO much as I’m not buy a new one every couple of months!!
You are the best!! I found your recommended process to defrizz my wig, but the whole curling iron bit scared the bejesus outta me!!! So, I drove an hour to a reputable wig expert near Chicago to try and save my $300, 4 month old Raquel Welch wig. She wanted $250 to resize and “recondition” my wig. Are you kidding me??? I figured I could just buy a new one for that much, so what did I have to lose?? Caution thrown to the wind, I went to work with my spray bottle and flat iron – The results are FANTASTIC! Yes, it is time consuming, and YES it is absolutely worth it!!! Thanks soooooo much for sharing your technique!!!
wow!!! 200-400 for a synthetic wig???.. I am a proud owner of 12 wigs (I guess you could say I’m a collector.) I have never payed more than 90 for a wig. And some of my wigs are as much as 8 years old and i still wear them today. As long as you take good care of your wig your wig can last 4ever. I use hair sheen on my wigs it keeps it tangle free and shiny like brand new remy. also a blow dryer and a brush on a straight wig is wonderfull. Also helps a wig that has become puffy at the scalp
You’re right, of course, but when you live in a place that has no wig stores, you take what you can get. Please keep in mind that this article was written in 2007, and at the time the only reliable website I could find charged that much. Plus shipping ($30+ because I live in Canada) and yes, it came to that.
It’s nearly 6 years later now and I have found a few better options, so on average now my wigs cost between $60 – $100 (plus shipping). The “big name” brands (Rene of Paris, Raquel Welch, etc) still charge up to 3 and 4 hundred.
Hello, I ve just the same problem… a very expensive wig ( 500 EUR) was just looking good for just4 weeks
(…
?? They all were made in Asia… and the fibre is patented..
I also guess, that the brands will charge up to 400 %… would you be so kind to give me an advice, where I can order 100 $ wigs, same style- no brand
I ´, living in Germany, and I´ll be happy to get a personal message or a reply… thanks
Hi Sabine,
I have been ordering my wigs from namebrandwigs.com lately, they all come to about $100 – $150. I’m not sure what shipping would cost to Germany, but it must be much less than 500EUR!!!
Hi,
… I´ll look at the website… thanks
I´ve ordered in the States including shipping and customs it is half of EUR 500
You can get a very realistic synth for a great price at a site called Joshua24. I had recently been wearing very expensive remy hh wigs and just went back to my husband’s favorite standby “Charming” by Revlon (used to be Alan Eaton Natural) and I laugh at least 2x a day about how many compliments I get on my “new hair cut”–when I tell people its a wig they don’t believe until I show them.
Hi Loren – Joshua24 is also NameBrandWigs.com and Wigs.md, for anyone who’s playing along. They have pretty good prices (better than many sites I’ve been to) and will price match if you find a wig on another site for less.
Hey, just wanted to to throw this out there, yes I am a guy, yes I wear wigs. Usually for drag. Anywho, just wanted to throw out there that if you part your hair into sections by tracks, (I usually use tracks of 5 or so) and roll them into the sponge rollers, that you can place it in your sink once finished, pore boiling water over it, and it locks in BEAUTIFUL tight curls, and removes frizz all together. May be a LITTLE more time consuming than this method, but I have taken life-less straight wigs and turned them into masterpieces. Im not kidding, the body you get from this method is FLAWLESS,
Also, you can put your wig on a head, then on a two-litter bottle filled with water as a stand. Cheap alternative than buying a stand!
But yeah anyways, you can put it on the stand and pour boiling water on it and it will turn even the curliest wig straight. 100% proven and effective. Just thought I would share some of my info and knowledge!
-Robbert.
Thanks, Robbert! I actually tried this a few weeks ago when I had to wear “Titanic-era” clothing (and hair!) for a school activity. It worked almost TOO well! I thought I had to use the smallest possible roller, rolled the hair super-tightly… and ended up with poodle curls. Like Mrs. Roper only tighter. I re-did it with larger curlers though and it turned out beautifully.
Hi, Just wanted to drop a note and say THANKS HON! This absolutely works. Was out of the country and after two long flights I was fizzing badly. Tried this out last night and voila! Your technique works like a charm
Wow! Thanks soo much! I’ve thrown out sooo many wigs because i thought it couldn’t be helped but i tried this method and my wig is back to new. Thnks again!!!
I’m gonna have to try this, this looks like a really good idea. I kinda thought about the same thing, but I was always afraid the heat would ruin it even more. And I’m a poor girl, so I have no money. I gotta be a cheapy, haha!
Anyway, thank you so much for this post, and I’ll let you know if it works for me! (Btw, since this was posted back in 07, does this same treatment still work good for your wigs, or do you have a different way of doing them now?)
Louise, thank you sooooooooo much! I saw this website about a month or two ago when I was researching how to take care of a synthetic wig. I was just about to get one, and wanted to make sure I was doing everything right. I had been buying sew-ins, but it just costed so much money to replace them all the time. So I thought, “How about I just buy a wig, sew it in, and redo the braids every few months for about a year?” I was hoping that my synthetic wig wouldn’t frizz and I wouldn’t have to come here. BUT, it did. I was taking good care of it, but it was just slightly frizzy because one day I was wearing it, and walked into my extrememly hot garage. And I also live in Arizona so it’s always hot here. Yesterday night, I decided that I wanted to put foam rollers in my hair to see if I could get some of the waves back. I had bought these because I didn’t want to use heat at all once my hair started growing and I could wear it naturally. I washed my hair first, and left the rollers in overnight…. I woke up this morning and wanted to kill myself. The ends were so frizzy; almost every single one of them. And to make matters worse, it didn’t even curl they way I wanted to!
I was to the point where I wanted to buy another one since it was only about $50. I was at my computer about to do it, and about to place my order. But something made me not want to do it completely. So I came back to your website and gave your method a try. It worked wonderfully! I got all of the supplies, but ended up just spraying strands of hair with toooons of water, and then I flat ironed it on my lowest level; mine also goes to 1, but the highest is 40. It worked and my wig looks great again. I’m also about to be 16 in August, just in case you were thinking I was an adult. But I’m VERY serious about my hair, whether it’s fake or my real hair (but my real hair is not even shoulder length but it’s really improving since I’ve been wearing fake hair for years.) But I’m the kind of person that’ll freak out and say so many negative and bad things until I believe it’s true. And I was thinking that I needed a new wig and thinking it looked terrible and thinking there was nothing I could do. But thanks to you, I don’t have to worry anymore 
Thank you, Louise. I feel beautiful and confident again.
- Imani.
I want to try this, but my wig is meant to be wavy. If I use a straightener or curler then it won’t be wavy. If I wash my wig will it become less frizzy?
Samantha – you can always use curlers on your wig after de-frizzing it (see upthread for some hints and tips pertaining to this).
I personally haven’t found washing a wig to make it any less frizzy – but then, it wouldn’t hurt to try.
It Works!!! Even after I read the blog post & all the comments I was still a little bit scared about using hair straighteners on my synthetic wig. But I got brave and did a “test piece” and nothing bad happened. So I carried on…
My fringe had gotten frizzy with opening the oven door etc and was getting rather bad – I’d cut the “frizzed pieces” out as much as I could but of course couldn’t keep cutting so I took the plunge and put the hair straighteners to use and IT WORKED!! No more frizzy sticky out bits
The hair straighteners trick has saved me from having to buy a new wig for the moment — I wonder if that’s why the manufacturer’s tell you not to do it, because they know if you do you won’t be spending as much money as often with them…
my gosh thank you so flipping much youve saved my life and my pass time im a cosplayer (i wear costumes of fictional characters) and have an extremly tight wallet (only a 16 year old) so i cant buy a new wig every time a wig gets damaged or frizzy and well comic conventions arent a safe place for wigs and they get ruined by the third con i go to thanks so much for the help much love sent to you.
I opened the dishwasher and boooooiiinnnng–the dreaded frizzies. I have synthetic wigs I love wearing when I’m in a rush and they look great until they frizz up. I tossed a $200 one because I didn’t know how to fix it. I’m trying this very soon and will let you know the results.
Thank you so much for your time and energy to post this! <3
Google search — how to defrizz a wig.
I just wanted to say thank you so much. I had this wig for about a mnth and it is the only wig I had ht looked the way I wanted so it broke my heart when it frizzed up and I used the tricks you put in here and it worked and now it looks about as good as when I got it. Thank you so much
OMG
HOW many years have I been searching for this golden egg and here it comes into my life!?!?!?
Thank you!!
I am going to try this tomorrow. I go through a wig a month typically!!
God bless you Louise!!! I have been wearing wigs for 15+ years. I have a condition called Trichotillomania. It is the compulsion to pull your hair out. When I first started wearing wigs, I found a small wig shop in my neighborhood to buy from. The synthetic one that I always wore cost $150. It was a long style that went about 4 inches past my shoulders. I soon realized that between my pulling the wig hairs out and the dreaded “frizzies”that I was going through 2 wigs every week. The lady who owned the shop and I became close friends and she would sell me 1 for regular price and the next for half price. This went on for 10+ YEARS. I kid you not. Quite an expense. For the past 5 years I have gotten better control of my pulling and have had to buy 1 a week due to the frizzing issue. With money being tight, I have been forced to wear my wigs out in public looking terrible. It is very embarrassing and I rarely go anywhere. Thanks to finding your story, well, it brings tears of joy to my eyes. You have made a huge positive impact on me and my life. Thank you and God bless you!! ~Tammy
I also have had hair loss due to illness and meds. and while I am not completely hairless, my hair is thin enough that I am self conscious….So I wear volumizers and top pieces that integrate in to my hair….the wig place you mentioned, wigs.com, actually carries a great line of curling irons, that work on human AND synthetic hair…..they even have a synthetic setting….I used your method of wetting and conditioning the hair first, and voila! I have my answer…I have used the irons on my hairpieces for years, and rolled the hair gently around curlers until it cools for a wavy or curly effect….the wetting first is the trick, though, for keeping the ends smooth!!! I am thankful for you and your advice…and btw, you type like I do, and I really enjoyed your article!~
Hi there – very interesting. I have a small wig consulting shop and wear wigs myself. I love your ideas. I also found I could use the curling iron if I placed a child’s sock over it (all cotton please) so that it diminished the heat. That worked very well for me. I must say, though, that the brush you were/are using is wrong for wigs! Yikes–it will frizz them almost every time. You should only use large-tooth combs or specially designed synthetic wig brushes–which will help prevent the friz almost entirely. Of course, you probably now also know that there are many “heat defiant” and “heat friendly” wigs out there that can be styled. I also use a steamer in my stop with the brush and conditioner and that also smooth and retores wave and body. Just a thought . . . I’m pretty knew at all of this too, so I was delighted to learn more from you–thanks!
Hi Martha,
The wig brush was given to me by a wig store; it had “for synthetic wigs” printed on the handle. I don’t actually have that brush anymore (the original post was written in 2007 and my dogs chewed the brush in the first few weeks of their puppyhood) but I only ever used it for de-frizzing. I found that “my” frizzing didn’t come from brushing – it was entirely from my wig rubbing against my collar, which isn’t something I could avoid.
I mentioned the “heat-defiant” wig fibers in my update to this post. I’m not a HUGE fan of them, just because all the ones I’ve had seem to tangle and clump much more quickly than regular wig fiber, with regular wear. But they are great to wear when you’re going to be around heat like a campfire/barbecue or even opening the oven.
Great tip about putting the sock over the curling iron! I had never thought of that – what a fabulous tip! Than you!
You are such a lifesaver I am about to try this on my wig fingers crossed =]
Good luck!
Thank you so very much, the one im wearning right now has begun to look just like yours did, thank you for bring this to my attention because I too was frantic, only have been wearning it for about 3 weeks, and had forgotten that I can use heat on mine too. Many blessings to you!
Thank you so much for posting this! I’ve been making costumes/cosplaying for about a year and have a few wigs here and there. But the wig for my latest cosplay has gotten fuzzy on the ends. Thanks to this my wig won’t look horrible anymore! Well, hopefully at least.
I have three waist length synthetic wigs which cost £200 each. One of them has frizzed after three weeks…I shall be trying this although even with so many positive responses I am still a little apprehensive!
Hi Louise, Thankyou Thankyou so much for your amazing life saving, or rather wig saving advice.. I havent tried your method yet, but after all the positive reponses and some other very helpful tips, I am quite confidant and very excited to do so, first thing tomorrow… I have 3 synthetic wigs, 2 of which I paid only $90AU and then another which was my fave and cost me $165. Unfortunately within a month and not as many wears it frizzed up quite badly. And I have now worn the other 2, to death. I cannot afford to replace them and need them to last as long as possible. As I wear them due to a medical condition I am at a point of not even leaving the house much anymore as they are so tatted and horrible. You have given me hope of bringing my wigs back to life and also giving me back my life again.. So Thankyou..
Was also wondering if you could suggest anything else to wash my wigs with as an alternative to the synthetic shampoo, as they are quite expensive and I am no longer working due to my hair loss… Thankyou Larelle
Hi Larelle,
) and stretching every penny) there is a way to look your best.
You can wash your synthetic wig with woolite detergent and regular fabric softener. After all, you are washing (I would say) a fabric type “thing”. If you are like me, scared to try “something new”on your synthetic hair because what you have is the only thing that you have, otherwise you’ll be bald until you have enough money to buy another piece, I would suggest to try washing with woolite a little area of your wig (like in the back) to see if it works. If it doesn’t work, try something else. Just remember, even us (people with no money, due to having two toddlers with full time job that requires to look best for customers and no child support(me!!!
I have tried a small section using my iron and ironing board and oh yes, it works!
I’m thinking it will be quicker using my hair straighteners. The lowest temperature setting is 170C. Does anyone know if this will be to hot?
I can’t compare it to my iron as that has no actual temperature indication.
I am about to go in and try this right now with my wig godd lets hope i dont fry it lol
thanks for the tip 
I had been really really depressed about the fact that I’d need to start wearing a wig, but I managed to find a style that fits me well and that looks decent on me.
But it’s expensive, even though it’s synthetic, I’m just a graduate student and I can barely afford the money it takes to buy a new one every 4-6 months. And you can imagine how depressing it would be when it starts to frizz and look terrible after 1 month and in need of a replacement by 2 and a half months.
I had been contemplating trying something like this for a long time. I figured that if it was done carefully, the ‘permanent damage’ from heat exposure could be used, in a controlled manner, to help straighten it out. But I was too scared to try. Thank you for posting this site and your experience. And thanks to everyone who has replied. Seeing the original site and all the responses gave me to confidence to try this myself. It was a little nerve testing at the beginning, but you get over it when you see how well it works.
Thank you thank you!
-Lauren
OMG you are a lifesaver!!! Im calling my mom to see if i can borrow her curling iron!! since i wear wigs i dont own one..lol. now i will definately go out and invest in one! i just bought a short black wig that is slightly curly and i loved it the first two weeks..hwoever its summer and with car windows open it gets blown and tangled and so FRUSTRATING!!!! It was only 30 bucks but still 30 bucks is 30 bucks…im going to try this tonight and i will repost my results!!! im so hugging you in advance cause i KNOW its going to work!!
it worked!!! it is not back to new but i didnt expect it to be since were talking 3 months of wearing and washing and brushing and detangling. however. it is almost new. and to me that is priceless. im half tempted on next payday to get a new one and keep up with it more now that i know this trick. i will admit it was a smidge scary when i heard the sizzle on the curling iron but it was just the cold wet hair hitting the hot iron. now that shes been treated she being washed and then ill feel like a new girl!! I dont know how you figured out this trick or whatever but you are seriously the hero of my week!!! thanks a million! Colleen
Thank you !!!
I’m going to try this & see if it. An save my hair … I wish I’d read this a couple wigs ago but better late than never.
It worked!!!! I don’t spend very much for my wigs, I purchased my first 40 bucks synthetic ear to ear right below my shoulder blade lace wig about3 weeks ago and already it is tangeling and hard to comb. Even though I’ve been wearing it in a braid in hopes to keep it soft and free of tangles. The tag says “up to 350f curling iron safe” Considering your posts and the tag I took my time and used a flat iron then rollers to let it set. And after a few minor mistakes of letting the flat iron set too long, I learned to move quickly with the flat iron and putting a roller in while it was warm. The hair look great.. Thank you so very much for taking the time to put the information out there. The lace front is so much fun to wear although you must be very careful to wear a wig cap all the way to the edge of your hair then pull the lace past the your hairline otherwise it will cause you to loose your hairline. THANKS AGAIN…:)
Thanks so much this is a lifesaver!!! I do really a lot of cosplays and try to re-use my wigs to save some money and this helped to get the frizz out of one of my wigs!!! ??
Love this! This also works on anyone who has synthetic extensions too! Thanks so much for this information! I can’t believe it worked, or how HARD it was to find this info! I’m going to share it with as many people as I can!
I love you, i was at a loss i needed my wigs but when i saw a bird fly out i knew i had to fix this nest. thanks again
I was beginning to wonder what I was doing wrong until I read this….So thank you!! I’ve had my Raquel Welsh ‘Upstage’ lace-front wig for 10 days – they’re not cheap! – and the ‘frizzies’ have started already. The wig is fantastic – it’s given me my confidence back. I have Frontal Fibrosing Alopecia and have struggled to find the right style etc.
I can use a low heat on my hair, so look forward to giving this method a go. Thanks again!
Thank you so much for posting this! I ordered a wig from Korea and it’s the prettiest thing I have ever set my eyes upon but after some use it’s become mighty frizzy. As a 20 year-old college student, I just don’t have the money to throw away for wigs every month. Also, I do recommend Korean wigs, they wear it as a fashion and the wigs come out to be about 70$ after a freak load of shipping: http://gabalnara.com/Front/Product/?url=Product&product_no=SFSELFAA0001580&main_cate_no=ABABAC00&display_group=3
just to add my two penny worth….I have a little elasticated wiglet piece – not very expensive, but exactly my right hair colour, so priceless to me…I de frizzed it by filling a bowl with hot water from the kettle (so really hot) and hair conditioner, then gently swishing the hair piece around in it (using tongs). In the meantime I plugged my heated rollers in, then put the hairpiece on a bottle. Gently combed the wet hair piece through (without rinsing off the conditioner, then set it using the heated rollers…left it to dry overnight. Like brand spanking new. Took a long time but well worth the effort!
Cheers
Bless your heart, I love the curling iron commet I must admit that the regular iron comment that you got sounded a lot faster, I have ADAD they tell me they tell me to slow down and I tell them to speed up so in your honor I am going to try the curling iron first. I wear a wig because I had extensions put in my hair and 2 fell out the first day and I was in a hurry (and had a few glasses of wine) so I super glued them to my head and my sister in law in all her infinite wisdom cut them out to my scalp. So my wig is neccesary. Thanks I’ll let you know how it goes.
Soooo glad I found this article!!! Im off to iron my hair.
Thank you so much! I used a flat iron because my curling iron is awful. It worked so well!! Thank you so much for your advice, you really are a life saver!!
Thank you!!!! My clip on synthetic extentions were looking pretty sad! I know w/silk extensions you can oil them up & they come back to life pretty well but I had no idea what to do for these! Before I read your blog I was going to sadly cut them! : ( Which of course would defeat the purpose of “long” hair so thank you very much! Yay!
You are amazing!! Seriously, I had more or less given up on how to sort this problem out. I recently bought a beautiful, highlighted wig which I loved instantly and it suited me so well (unusual for me as I always feel the colors aren’t quite right or the style doesn’t work for me, but this one was just an instant thing, I loved it immediately). However, within a few days of wearing it, there was the frizz on the end. I brushed and combed (which just made it worse to be honest), I used a refresher spray which made the frizz shiny but not a lot else!).
Finally, I Googled and found your page. Hallelujah. I used an iron on a heat just below synthetic, I combed the wig with a wet comb and sprayed on the refresher spray and combed that in, then ironed (without any steam) and…. good Lord! … it’s truly amazing. Seriously, incredible. THANK YOU!!
I am now about to become a wig-ironing-obsessive as I’m already sorting out my old wigs which had been stuffed into boxes and left unused for ages, getting them ready to be ironed.
I can’t tell you how grateful I am to you. I now suspect that the synthetic wig manufacturer’s tell you not to use heat near them because they WANT you to keep on buying new wigs, rather than discovering you can iron them, or low-heat curling tong them, and make them good as new again!
PS Sorry, I’m a fellow long-winded kind of person but I just had to add, you write absolutely beautifully, I was laughing out loud reading it and actually enjoying it, rather than feeling I was being lectured at as you do with some wig tip articles.
You really should consider putting this into a book or booklet, with your photos, perhaps with other tips you’ve discovered as you’ve gone along – or use some of the other comments on here, I’m sure no one would mind.
You could publish it easily enough, using createspace (they offer free options which allow you to sell via Amazon for free and also paid options which allow for certain marketing things, but I always just use the free option) and it’s an amazing way of getting a little bit of extra money. You won’t make your fortune but at least your tips will be available in a little book format (they do a print on demand so you don’t get involved in that, someone orders it from Amazon and the createspace people just turn it into a proper book and send it to the person who bought it – they take a small percentage, but not loads).
I would buy it, definitely. PLEASE DO THIS. I would LOVE to have found such a book available when I first lost my hair (chemotherapy) and went through all the emotions and frustrations that I’m sure we’ve all been through at first)
Hi. I bought my daughter a pink wig from a thrift store for Halloween for $3. Needless to say it was in very bad condition all tangled and frizzy. I figured i can brush it out and make it wearable rather than spending a lot on a new wig.I washed it and was able to brush out the tangles but its still frizzy and puffy. I googled and found your blog. I am going to try your idea tonight. Thanks for the advice.
Thank You so much for your Blog on How to defrizz, and I do not think you were long winded. First let me say I am so sorry to hear about your hair falling out, that would truly be a nightmare especially in 2 days. Second, I want to Thank You so much for this Blog as it helped me with my wigs. I was ready to trash wig because of the ends being Frizzed. I guess I am lucky as my wigs (that I wear everyday) last me much longer than a few months. The one I am wearing right now, I have had for 8 months and now I am sure I will have it even longer thanks to you and your Blog. I really did think about using such a technique, but like you did not want to ruin my best wig (anymore than it was already ruined) and I was ready to trash it, but figured I would do a Google search and low and behold Your Blog came up.
Again Thank You and May GOD BLESS You!!!
Amy
Oh man – so much good info! Thank goodness people such as yourself take the time to write your experiences! Whew!
I too had bought a synthetic wig and within a week it was a frizzy, matted mess! I love your ideas about how to de-frizz a wig and will try it. However, I tried a different method and it worked without heat. It took a little longer, and I had to put in a bit more effort, but I had really great results and it was worth it in the end. After washing and conditioning the wig, I blotted it dry with a towel. The supplies I used were, a wig brush and regular comb, Pantene moisturizing conditioner, One ‘n Only Argan Oil, Suave light hairspray and medium sponge rollers. Working with the ends of the hair, I used a wig brush and carefully smoothed out the ends as much as possible and with each section of hair, I worked in a combination of a teensy bit of the conditioner, a teensy bit of the Argan oil, and combed it as smooth as possible, and lightly misted with the hair spray and combed through. I kept each section damp and very, very gently pulled small sections between my thumbnail and first finger to straighten it as much as I could. I then used a sponge roller and carefully and smoothly rolled the hair in the direction of the pre-set style. I left the rollers in for a week on the wig stand and when I took them out, the wig was back to the style it was when I bought it. If I had only figured out how to do that before I cut 3″ off the ends I’d still have the original length, but it still looks great! Thank you for your blog!
This method did not work for me. My synthetic wig is smooth and short and while some of the frizz is gone, most is still there. It also gave me a curlier wig. I used a straightening iron and it could be I’m not as adept with this tool. I always just used a round brush and hair dryer on my hair, never a curling iron or flat iron. I’m really disappointed as I hoped this would solve a pesky problem. But thanks anyway and I’m glad it helped others.
I’m sorry to hear that, Dee. Please feel free to email me if you have any questions or any suggestions as to how to make things work better. What brand/style of wig is it that you have?
Jon Renau – Nita lace front is the name.
I know that other people have used a steamer/round brush in order to de-frizz… that might work for you. A straightening iron could work, as well. Good luck!
Thank you so much *hug* u saved all of my cosplay wigs!!
Hi
I frizzed my wig with a curling iron.
My question
Do I mist damage strand with water and leave in conditioner together?
Do I let strand dry with cool blowdryer, then iron with lowest heat to smooth
Or put iron on directly on damp hair and smooth ?
Thank you in advice
Josie
There is no need to use a blow dryer. I personally put the curling iron directly on the damp hair.
THIS WORKED! As you say, not quite good as new.
I was going to use an iron, as my curling iron just seemed too hot even on lowest setting BUT then I noticed yours seemed to have the exact same temperature scale. Used the tongs. Worked so well. Took less than 45 minutes (long hair, not especially thick and poker-straight – kind of a Cher look…lace front but only a cheap-ish one) Very happy.
I wonder how often I will need to do it?
MANY THANKS FOR SHARING THIS! I don’t know so many people who wear wigs but I shall be sure to pass this on if I am ever speaking to anyone in a similar situation.
Used some heat protection cream type stuff beforehand, and 25% leave-in conditioner dissolved in 75% water to spritz afterwards, both meant for natural hair…possibly a little too heavy/greasy. We’ll see.
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Thanks for sharing this! Managed to breathe new life into my Jon Renau heat defiant wig (below shoulder length) by lightly spritzing with water, and ironing section by section. The fibers seem less frizzy and are moving individually instead of in a clump. Now to restore some curl to the lower section and I’m ready to see in the new year
Hi Louise, I was looking for a way to curl my Kanekalon & Toyokalon wig and was so happy to come across your site. I found some very interesting suggestions. I haven’t tried the re-curl technique yet, but I’m going to give it a whirl. I’ve spent the last 4 hrs now trying to curl my wig with my flat iron on high heat but not having much success. I’ve used the straight technique many times on one of my favorite flame resistant laced wigs that I purchased under $50 and it hasn’t let me down yet. When I’m in a rush and have no time to flat iron for a fresh look, I just lay it on my ironing board and press it out with my iron. It’s so simple & fast, 2-mins approx that’s all it takes, it comes out silky & straight just like I bought in its packaging. My mother gave me this ideal, since we both purchased the same wig. I tried it and it worked great. No frizzing or burning. The steam de-frizzes the ends and leaves my hair soft & silky. Now I’ve had this wig over a year and it still looks new. I was even able to curl it using a little mousse & spritz. It took awhile, but I was truly amazed at the results, because I had a lot of body & curls. I have a different wig that I’m wanting to wear tonight, but I’m not getting the same results. So I appreciate the advice on the re-curl. Wish me luck & Happy New Years.
Omg ty sooooo much, I have suffered from alopecia for 17 years now and have only worn a wig for the past 2 yrs but I was having the same frizz problem, sooo can’t wait to try this first thing in morning x
Dear “saint louise ” xx ,
Greetings from Saudi Arabia
I was searching through google for a how to and came here .. I really want to thank you for this fabulous method .
My mother has cancer and due to chemo and radiation she lost her already thinning hair. She always wore synthetic wigs and used to buy them for the US while travelling. Because of her hair loss she desperately needs them now more than ever. Her wigs are a bit old so most of them are frizzed and kinky looking. And ordering wigs online for her is a hassle as she likes to see the product before buying ” mama’s a bit old school lol “. i tried all you can think of , and i was positive there has to be a solution although all wig sites insists once a synthetic wig is damaged theres nothing you can do. I came across your blog and thought your method would really work .. And IT DID !!! I just wanted you to know the joy you brought by me helping my mother and you are to be thanked for it xx god bless you
I wan to thank you for you advice on frizzing. I have been wearing wigs for 5 months. I am not interested in spending tons of money because I will only wear wigs until my hair grows out after I had brain surgery. I have been thorough 4 wigs. The first one was short and I only wore briefly because I was used to very long natural hair. My second frizzed after wearing it only once (I have hot flashes) but I stuck with it too long because I am cheap! My third wig was better because the weather cooled and it was shoulder-length, but when I saw a picture of myself wearing the wig, I was NOT impressed! My fourth wig is long (where my natural hair was before it got shaved) and curly. Because it is long and it is winter, the whole underside of my wig got nasty in less then a month. I got some info from a lot of different places and found a reference to SMART HEAT curling irons and straigheners that were “safe” for synthetic hair. I hunted until I found one in my town and brought it. I used it on my 2nd wig, and it was really great. Now that I have found your advice, I will use my conditioner and curlers to de-frizz my long wig. THANK YOU for you post!
I am an avid wig wearer. Not due to my hair falling out, Hell I’ve got a head full I’m just too lazy to do it. But I usually buy extremely curly wigs. The bigger the hair the better. After the curls are matted I usually soak it in hot water and anti bacterial dish soap. Be sure not to crumple the hair too much. Air dry it and flat iron it. I use bees wax or the orange can of Murray’s pomade. It holds the style better and prevents re tangling. And voila!!! Curly to straight in about 2 hrs. But hush its free. Hope this helps someone.
thank you so so so much!!!
Thank you soooo much for this. I have had alopecia for 1.5 years and have always had shorter wigs where tangling was not a huge issue. I recently got a longer wig that looks just like my hair did before i lost it. I have never felt more fantastic since I have had this and then the damn frizzing started after about a week. I was so upset because as everyone else I just spent over $200 on my hair. I don’t want to have to go back to shorter styles because it just doesn’t feel the same for me. Oh and all of the websites out there really have no advice on how to maintain wigs longterm. Again, thanks for this post
Hi! I finished chemotherapy last 2 months and I’ve been using my wig since I started, and it’s really frizzy now. Your site was the first result in google (but really, after so many months on attempt to search I haven’t encountered this site. all is well anyway.
) so I gave it a go. I haven’t tried it yet but it looks effective! Thank you so much for sharing this 
Oh my goodness! Thank you SO much for sharing this! I wear wigs due to extreme hair loss from stress, medication, and overprocessing. I have five synthetic wigs. The one I had been wearing looked HORRIBLE. I used your technique on it and it is wearable again. I used a clothes iron on the silk setting though, because my flat iron only has one setting- 420 degrees. It worked SO well that I used it to straighten a wig I just bought today. I purchased it because it was on sale and the color and highlights were beautiful. However, it had these huge, bouncy beauty-queen curls- NOT something I want for everyday wear. It’s now PERFECT and not damaged at all! You’ve made my life so much easier and I can feel pretty in my wigs again- thanks!!!
I have been doing research about wig care for years and this is the first one to talk about putting heat to a synthetic wig! Frizz, Curls and Synthetic are my combined problem, and I was about to go at my short curly wig with my curling iron, this was my last search before I ventured into the unknown and possibly kill my favorite wig. Thank you for being brave enough to put heat to synthetic! Another ‘product’ trick I use is called “ShoSheen” it is a product we use with brittle horses manes and tails. In a pinch in high school I used it on my hair because I didn’t have time to wash it before going out. Silky and smooth until the end of the night! I use it on my longer wigs to brush them out. It clings well to the fiber and kind of fills in the breaks. It feels like it coats the stands in plastic which also has made it less likely to get knotted. Thank you for the heat experiment again!
Fabulous! Thank you, thank you, thank you! Just spent hour and a half de-frizzing my wig and it looks fab!
i cant believe i never thought of this. so simple, so genius. I was about to throw away my wig when I came across this blog. I tried it….and now I have a beautiful wig that I can actually run my fingers through. THANK YOU!
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I am a wigmaster,( yes, there is such a title), and I must say I am impressed with your ingenuity! Another, less scary way to tame a synthetic wig is with rollers and a clothing steamer. I have not read all of the comments, so I don’t know if anyone has mentioned this or not. If not, please contact me at my email address and I will be glad to teach you how to do it. Also, my secret weapon for reconditioning synthetic wigs is a product called Syn-Wig. I believe it is still available. It is a detangler, setting lotion and hairspray for synthetic wigs. The other secret it to use liquid fabric softener to condition the wig. It is fiber, after all. Hope this helps! Let me know if I can help you in any way!
I *wish* I was a wigmaster! Thank you for your comment. I’d love to “chat” with you about some things I’ve been wondering about
Hi Louise (and everybody else posting here)
Great job Louise. Love your advise on how to defrizz wigs, I wear very short wigs and they always frizz at the back, so far I have solved the problem by steaming them.
I am a transgender woman who lives in Ottawa. I suffer from male badness pattern and so I had to resort to wig wearing when I started living full-time as a woman about 5 years ago.
Here’s my problem: I got a Raquel Welch monofilament boy cut short wig years ago from a thrift store, it was new at the time but the tags had been removed, so I don’t know the name of the wig, I have been wearing it since 2008 and I am ABSOLUTELY in love with it, the wig needs to be replaced and I can’t find anything like it, I have spent A LOT of money buying wigs from people who promised they’d get me something exactly like it but that never happened and I am not going to buy any more wigs unless I am 1000% sure I am getting what I want. Does anybody know about a way to contact the manufacturers of Raquel Welch wigs maybe? So far I have only been able to contact RW distributors who have insisted that my wig is like one in their current collection or that it can be cut to make it look like it. My most recent purchase was an ‘Excite’ wig from Raquel Welch and it is not what I want. HELP! You can email me at [email protected] I’d appreciate any feedback. Thank you!
Luciana,
Welcome! I would suggest joining wigsupport.com – the ladies and gentlemen there know absolutely EVERYTHING about wigs, including RW ones. Or, hopefully someone out there reading this blog can come up with an answer for you.
Do you buy your wigs from a wig shop where you can try things on first, or are you ordering online?
Hi!
I’m going to share my story with you. I had a “mishap” at the hair dress just getting a cut so that my hair wasn’t half black half red anymore. The stylist misunderstood me when I said “Only take off the black and that’s all.” and I was expecting it to be a decent length because my red hair was nearly down to my shoulders. I ended up with hair 3″ long. And I was very mad. Being one who quite likes long flowing curly hair I bought a curly synthetic wig to cover up my mess until it grows. The wig looked FABULOUS! I loved it so much. I had the wig for a total of 2 days. The second day I went to the city and found out it was extremely windy there. Oh no! The wind RAVAGED my wig. It was horrible. Heartbroken, I took to the internet and found your blog. I straightened my one beautiful curls and voila! It’s smooth and manageable. But I didn’t stop there, with the low setting on my iron I proceeded to style the wig as though it was hair and it worked. So I now have a stunning curly wig again, thank you!
AMAZING! So glad that i found your web site! 4 weeks ago I bought one of Raquel Welsh’s monofilament, lace front, hand tied full head wig – Upstage is the name of it. I purchased it in a wig shop and paid $100.00 more than I should have, but it was my first one and I needed the gals knowledge! Anyway, after two weeks of wearing it, it got frizzy from shear friction. I am following the “rules” to caring for this “investment” verbatim! Nowhere was “what to do if…” so of course, like most, I got on Google and was directed to your web site. To rid my beauty of the frizzes, I followed your directions to a “t” and “she’s” as good as new!! Thank you ever so kindly for sharing your “trial and errors” with the rest of the wig wearing world and sharing the perfect way to get completely and totally rid of the frizzies!! Your technique is perfect and totally works!! Thanks again!!
Was that conditioner a wig conditioner or a regular conditioner?
As mentioned in the post, I used spray-on wig conditioner, because that’s what I have. I have since used regular spray-on conditioner, and sometimes just water. It all worked fine for me.
Thanks!
I am 23 and am already losing the hair on the top of my head where it’s extremely hard to hide. I have to wear a bun for work since I am in the military and get asked and told I am losing hair. It’s very depressing and has made me lose confidence in my self and appearance. I purchased several wigs and am now taking better care of them so they last longer. I have a boost in self confidence and am really having fun changing my hairstyle up whenever I want to. thank you (:
May, have you ever thought about wearing a “topper”? I’m sorry that there are people out there who are so rude as to point out what they perceive as your flaws to you.
Yes!!! You are brilliant!! This is just the advice I Needed. Thank you.