How to Wash a Luxury Synthetic Wig?

Our Luxury Synthetic hair is unlike any other synthetic hair you have ever seen! Its structure and characteristics match human hair almost exactly, so you can wash and care for it the same way you would your natural hair - how amazing is that! 

When to Wash

On average, we suggest washing your Luxury Synthetic hair every seven days or so. In general, when the hair starts feeling dry or tangling more than usual, it's time for a wash. Also check the sides and top of the wig — if it looks flat or feels heavy, the hair may be oily and ready for some love.

Sweat & Salt: Just like your natural hair, salt, sweat, and sunscreen can dry out Luxury Synthetic hair quickly. If this happens, you may need to wash sooner than you planned. As a general rule, synthetic fibers love water — so if you've been active, near salt water or air, or sweating a lot, you can tame the hair and eliminate frizz by simply misting it with water. We love continuous spray water bottles for this, since they lightly mist the hair.

Pro tip: If misting doesn't do the trick, try a conditioner wash — simply, wet the ends, apply conditioner, rinse with cold water (don't let conditioner sit like you would with human hair), and let it air dry. This helps restore the ends and prevent tangling.

What You'll Need

Lightweight products formulated for fine hair work best — they keep the hair moisturized without weighing it down. Our go-to brands:

• Marie Nila Softening
• Redken All Soft

You'll also need:

• Continuous spray water bottle
• Petite rubber mannequin head — aka "home base." Petite enough that it won't stretch out your wig, with a rubber base for securing your wig with pins and a hairline outline to help you "set" the wig's natural dome shape.
• Sewing pins — won't pull the hair when you brush your wig.
• Wig brush — the flexible design lets you brush gently without pulling on hair or knots, which can cause shedding. We like the standard Wet Brush.

Step-by-Step Guide

Luxury Synthetic wigs can be washed and styled just like your natural hair — the only real difference is using lightweight products that won't weigh the hair down or cause buildup.

Be gentle, like you're washing a baby. Excessive pulling can loosen knots and cause shedding.

Step 1 — Brush your wig
Brush the wig out with your wig brush before washing. Hair, even synthetic, is 75% more elastic when wet, so the less brushing you do during the wash itself, the better.

Step 2 — Flip your wig inside out
Water is heavy, and pressure from washing can cause the hair to invert — pushing through the cap early, which can feel itchy and prevent the hair from lying flat.

Step 3 — Apply shampoo
Wigs don't get dirty the way natural hair does, so very little shampoo is needed. Rinse the wig in lukewarm water, then massage about a quarter-size amount of shampoo into the hair and cap using gentle downward motions — this helps avoid knotting. Rinse thoroughly in lukewarm water.

• Pro tip: If your wig has silicone inside the cap, apply extra water and shampoo to the hair side of the cap, since water and shampoo can't reach it from the other side.

Step 4 — Apply conditioner
Holding the top of the wig, apply conditioner starting halfway down the hair. Let it sit for 2–3 minutes, then rinse with cold water.

• Pro tip: Keep conditioner away from the base/cap — it can cause the knots to swell and loosen, leading to shedding.

Step 5 — Wrap in a towel
Gently wrap the wig in a towel and massage in downward motions for about a minute.

• Pro tip: Don't leave your wig wrapped and forgotten in the towel — set a reminder! (Trust us, an unsuspecting load of laundry has ruined more than one wig.)

Step 6 — Place on mannequin
Place the wig on your rubber mannequin head and let it air-dry for 45–60 minutes. Since wet hair is 75% more elastic, brushing it too soon can loosen knots and cause shedding.

• Pro tip: Set a phone alarm so you don't forget about it mid-dry.

Step 7 — Set your wig
Secure the wig to the mannequin with sewing pins. Using your wig brush, gently brush from the ends up to the top. Then put the wig on to set your part, using a teasing brush to redirect knots in the direction you want the hair to go. Let it air-dry overnight.

• Pro tip: Take your time here — however the wig looks on the mannequin is how it'll look on your head. If there's a bump or the lace front is tucked under, that's how it will dry, and you'll need to rewash to fix it. If you're new to wigs, try placing it on your head once you're about 80% done brushing, just to set your part.

Step 8 — Morning prep
There isn't any! Just brush your wig and go. That's the beauty of Luxury Synthetic hair — all the benefits of human hair with none of the hassle.

Note: All SPARX Luxury Synthetic wigs are low-maintenance because they air-dry beautifully back to their previous style — no additional styling needed.