Here’s a simple tip for both cosplayers and J-fashion wearers — how to detangle your curled wigs without ruining the curls! After a couple of wears, wigs can get pretty tangled, but as you may have realized, you can’t just take your brush and brush out your curly wig like you would a straight one. I mean, you could, but you’d end up with a poofy wavy wig instead of a curled one. That doesn’t mean you can’t brush it, but the key is to carefully and patiently work one curl at a time.
This wig got pretty messy after a windy day out. The left side has already been carefully combed out, while the right side still needs work. I started by pinning my wig on a stand so it’s well anchored and easy to work on. Even if you don’t have a wig stand, finding some way to hang it will make things easier. Separate out one lock of hair, and very carefully and gently comb it out until it is completely smooth. Since wig hair is plastic and the curls are heat set, you won’t ruin the curls if you are gentle with your wig. Once it is tangle-free, you need to re-form the curl. I do this by wrapping the lock of hair neatly around my finger and then gently releasing it down into a spiral. That’s it! No product needed. If the ends are particularly ratty, you could trim them a little to clean them up. I would trim just enough to make the ends even again.
When I am finished with a piece, I clip it out of the way so I can work on the next piece. Work your way from one side of the wig to the other. It can get pretty tedious if you have a long, full wig, but the results are worth it. Your wig may even look as good as new! If you aren’t so particular about keeping the curls exactly the same, you can brush larger sections and then run your fingers through to break the curls back up into smaller sections. Then you can even twirl sections around your finger as mentioned before.
Detangling your wigs regularly can prevent them from becoming tangled beyond all hope and will help extend their lifespans. ♥