Hair Affairs IV

By Norah Blucher

So once you have found that perfect hairdo to match your stunning personality, you are good to go, right?  Well maybe, but wig care is something you still need to think about to look your best and get the most life out of her and I would certainly hope you are not settling for an off-the-shelf look everyday. Oh no, not if we are going to stay friends here! 

When I was young, I remember being fascinated with hair clips and things like that. I was always fiddling with them and creating crazy styles. Cyndi Lauper was the end-all and be-all in my opinion, if that gives you any idea what I’m talking about. : ) I have since outgrown that, at least while anyone is watching, but after getting my first wig, it was not long before I started accessorizing it. 

She was rather cute, but did have a horrid looking faux skin part on top that I covered up with a headband. And even though I have much better wigs now that look great on their own, I was never one to color between the lines either. I still often like to change things up and accessorize or restyle a bit, be it for looks or practicality. Also, just as you would care for your skin or nails, your hair, even if it is synthetic, will require a bit of maintenance.

Care, Feeding and Other Fun Stuff

Wigs are certainly not cheap and are likely one of the most expensive accessories you own, so you have to take care of what you have so you can get a few in your lineup if you want. Hair accessories and styling can liven up the look of what you have as well. 

Like makeup, no one routine or set of rules works for everyone, but here are some general tips I have learned over the years which have helped me out.

A few things every wig wearer should own are a wig drying stand, a Styrofoam head for storing or styling your wig and a clamp base to clamp the head on a counter or table. If you are a size large or a larger size average, be sure to get the larger “male” foam head. Trust me, it will just work better. Also get a wide-tooth wig comb. Regular combs and brushes are likely to damage the wig fibers with regular use.

I wash my synthetic wigs in a small basin with Woolite. After rinsing, I use a basin with some perfume and dye-free fabric softener as a conditioner. I just wet the hair in it, not the cap, as it could loosen the knots attaching the hair. Then I place it on a drying stand overnight without rinsing and comb it out in the morning. I make no guarantees, but it works great for me, keeps the hair from tangling and also cuts down on the glossy shine that synthetic hair can have. 

Never comb a wet wig and always work from the ends of the hair up. A detangling spray works well in between washes to help things out as well. A holding spray made for wigs can also help hold things in place when you need it. (Stana Notes: For synthetic wigs, use a spray made for wigs as hair spray for natural hair can damage a synthetic wig.) 

I strongly encourage wig caps as well. These are inexpensive little stocking caps made out of a nylon pantyhose-like material. They keep your bio hair neatly tucked in if you have it, keep your wig from chafing your head if you don’t and also provides a base color under your hair part if your wig has one. Most importantly, they keep your wig a little cleaner longer. It is much easier to wash the little cap frequently than the whole wig.

Does your wig fit a bit too snug for your liking? Give it a soak or a wash and place a towel over the foam head and put the wig on the head to dry overnight. It won’t work miracles, but stretches it just a bit.

Hair accessories are a lot of fun to use to achieve different looks with the same wig. Just use extra care so you don’t damage your wig. I love headbands, but use cloth-covered ones with no teeth so I don’t damage the cap. Synthetic hair is also more delicate and does not have the texture that real hair does, so clips can tend to slip, but you can find ones now that have a grippy rubber coating that do a wonderful job.

If your bio hair matches your wig color,or the root color and is not super short or non-existent, you can use the end of a rat tail comb to gently pull some of your bio hair around the edges of your wig to look more natural. This won’t work for everyone, but helps blend things if you can do it.

I add wig clips to almost all of my wigs. One small one on each side tab and one or two larger ones in the back. I like the ones that snap lock and buy them by the bag and sew them in. This firmly secures my wig to my bio hair and keeps it in place as I go about my day or do backflips... as soon as I learn to do a backflip.

If you wear a lace front and/or mono top/mono part wig, take a small brush and apply some powder foundation onto your hair part and the front of the lace to hide the knots and blend the lace into your forehead. A good wig should look natural on its own, but this helps to add a little extra touch of realism.

Use caution if wearing a synthetic wig while cooking, even a heat resistant one. Having your head too close to an open oven or a grill flare-up can quickly cause a bad hair day! Owning more than one wig is never a bad idea for whatever calamity may befall you.

That’s the Topper!

So there you have it. I have so enjoyed sharing my favorite topic with you, and hopefully I have bestowed upon you some new knowledge to go out and get the hair you always wanted, and be the Siren you were born to be! 

Much thanks goes to J.J. Atwell, of “Stuff” fame here on the blog, for her encouragement and assistance with everything. My appreciation goes out to Stana as well, for allowing me some space in her blog and for always encouraging all of us to be our best selves. Questions and comments are always welcome below or e-mail me at nblucher at-sign proton dot me, so don’t be shy.

Wearing leena for Mac Duggal

Rachel celebrating her 75th birthday at Milwaukee’s Pfister Hotel