Lesson 7: Build New Wig Routines

Our mission is to make your wig life a breeze — and that means more than just offering comfortable, realistic, secure products. Wig life can be tricky, overwhelming, and frustrating at times, and a lot of us end up managing it alone. We want to change that by giving you the knowledge and tools to actually enjoy this part of your life.

Some of my worst wig moments came down to poor planning on my part. The easiest fix? Build routines and rituals around your wig life. Below is my own weekly routine — use it as a starting point to build one that works for you.

A Sample Weekly Wig Routine

(I follow my AM and PM routines, below, every single day.)

• Friday PM: My "alopecia date night" — weekly wash, prep eyelashes, precut eyebrow transfers, and a little at-home facial.
• Saturday AM: Prep wigs for the week — this is when I curl or style if needed.
• Monday PM: Apply hair oil.
• Wednesday PM: Apply hair oil, or do a conditioner wash.
• Thursday PM: A casual look — often a French braid, high pony, or something fun.

Weekly Routine Breakdown

What you'll need: petite mannequin head, sulfate-free color-safe shampoo and conditioner, wig brush, teasing brush, hair oil, heat protector, water bottle, T-pins, hair dryer, flat iron, curling iron — and a little personal time.

Weekly Wash Day (Your "Alopecia Date Night")

Washing your wig end-to-end takes about 1.5–2 hours total, though you're only actively working for 30–45 minutes of that. Pick an evening that's naturally low-key for you and commit to it as your standing wash day. Without a consistent routine, wig life gets stressful fast, and your wigs won't look their best.

Wigs have a way of telling us when they need attention — the problem is we don't always want to listen. Life gets busy, we get lazy, we push things a little too far, and that's exactly when wig life starts to hurt. So make this day feel special: light a candle, call a friend, put on a face mask. This is your night to celebrate your wig — and yourself.

Find a Backup Stylist

Life happens — sick kids, your own sick days, chaotic work weeks, family visiting. Set yourself up for success by finding a stylist you trust who can occasionally step in. Bonus tip: many DryBar locations will wash and style wigs, so it's worth checking if there's one near you. I personally love dropping my wig off for a style, especially if there's a nail salon nearby — drop the wig off, go get your nails done. It's a genuinely nice system.

Plan for Post-Wash Styling Time

Check out our full wash tutorial here. The morning after washing, plan on about 20 minutes to style your wig for the week. I wash on Friday nights (when I'm usually tired and home anyway), which means I always have that extra 20 minutes free on Saturday morning. Depending on the look you're going for, your wig may need a little extra love the morning after a wash — but remember, this only has to happen once a week.

Using Heat Tools — A Few Reminders

Human hair wigs tend to run drier than healthy natural hair, and heat tools dry the hair out even further. A few things to keep in mind:

• Apply 1–2 drops of oil to the ends and distribute with a boar bristle brush.
• Always use a heat protector to help lock in moisture.
• If your wig is still damp, let it fully dry before applying any heat.
• After curling, let the curl cool and set for 5–10 minutes before wearing the wig.
• To help curls last the whole week, wrap the wig in a hairnet whenever you're not wearing it.

When curling or flat ironing, remember the three S's:

• Small — work in 1/2" sections
• Low — 280–300°F
• Slow — take your time so the curl actually holds, rather than having to redo it

Once curled, wrap the hair in a hairnet and let it cool completely so the curl sets properly.

PM Routine

What you'll need: petite mannequin head, wig brush, teasing brush, wig pins, rubbing alcohol, hair oil, conditioner, hair dryer

Always prep your wig in the evening — that way, when you wake up, you can simply put it on and go. Mornings are hectic enough without also dealing with a wig, so spending 5–10 minutes the night before sets you up for a much easier start to your day.

PM Prep Steps:

1. If needed, remove any wig tape and wipe the wig down with rubbing alcohol, then pre-apply fresh tape.
2. If needed, clean any silicone or PU tabs with rubbing alcohol, facial toner, or simply soap and water. Baby wipes work great for this too, if you want to keep it simple.
3. Brush the wig with a boar brush, wig brush, or flexible paddle brush, starting at the bottom and working your way up.
4. If the ends feel dry:

• • Human Hair: Apply 1–2 drops of oil to your palms, work it into the ends, then distribute through the hair with a boar brush.
  • Luxury Synthetic: Mist the ends with water. If it's especially dry, apply a small amount of lightweight conditioner, rinse it out, and let it air dry.
  • Heat-Friendly Synthetic: Mist with water and spray in a leave-in conditioner made specifically for synthetic fiber.

Always Return Your Wig to "Home Base"

The single best habit you can build for your wig life is this: whenever you're not wearing your wig, put it back on its mannequin head. This does two things — it maintains the natural dome shape (so your wig never looks "wiggy"), and it keeps your wig safe between wears. This one habit alone will extend your wig's lifespan and keep it looking great all week long.

• Pro tip: Make sure your mannequin head is slightly smaller than your own head's circumference. A mannequin that's too large will stretch out your wig — and nothing is worse than a loose-fitting wig.

How to Place Your Wig on the Mannequin Head

Step 1 — Position it correctly
Line up the front of the wig (lace front/hairline) with the hairline outline on the mannequin head. A simple rule of thumb: if your wig doesn't look right on the mannequin, it won't look right on you either.

Step 2 — Keep hair out of the cap
Make sure the lace front isn't tucked under or inside the cap. The easiest way to check is to run one finger along the inside perimeter of the wig, adjusting the lace front and clearing out any stray hair. This keeps the lace sitting flat and prevents itchiness from hair trapped inside.

Step 3 — Secure it, if needed
If the wig slides around on the mannequin, use T-pins in the PU tabs (typically near the ear tabs and nape). If your wig doesn't have PU tabs, be careful — pins can puncture the lace and cause fraying or tearing.

• Pro tip: Never place T-pins in the lace front itself. A small hole there can quickly become a big one, potentially causing shedding and changing the shape of the lace so it no longer sits flat and snug. In general, try to minimize handling the front and top of your wig — it's the most delicate part.

Prepping the Hairline

Wigs have a tendency to fall forward into your face — one of the more annoying parts of wig life, especially since the hairline is often what we feel most self-conscious about. A little evening prep goes a long way toward not worrying about it in the morning.

If your wig looks flat or the hair keeps falling into your face:
With the wig secured to the mannequin with T-pins, set your hair dryer to cool and lightly mist the hair with a lightweight hairspray. Using a teasing brush, gently redirect the hair away from the face for about 30 seconds.

Prepping bangs:
Bangs tend not to hold their shape well, so it's worth prepping them separately. With the wig secured on the mannequin, set your flat iron to 280–300°F, spray on a heat protector, then use a teasing brush to position the bangs before smoothing and redirecting with the flat iron.

AM Routine

What you'll need: wig brush, teasing brush, hair perfume

Since you only need to wash your wig once a week, I love spraying a little hair perfume on it each morning — it's a small thing, but starting the day knowing your wig looks and smells great makes a real difference.

Simply remove the T-pins, push the stays back into place, put your wig on, and you're ready to go.

Need More Support?

If you'd like additional guidance, you can book a private wig consultation with us — book here.