Wig Studio 1 News
Does Wig Wearing Damage Bio Hair?
(Wig shown above: Anemone Half Wig by WigPro )
These are the considered opinions mostly agreed upon and what my own dermatologist told me.
1. Will constant wig wearing inhibit or permanently damage your bio hair?
Wearing a wig will not inhibit hair growth. The cells that allow hair to grow will still be able to function underneath your skin while wearing a wig. If you are worried about damaging hair that is growing back out underneath your wig, wearing a wig cap can help to protect the hair that is growing in.
2. Will the continued use of adhesives cause my bio hair to break or cause permanent loss? Maybe.
Some people use heavy duty adhesives when applying lace front wigs, and it is not uncommon for hair loss to occur with the repeated use around the hairline. The combination of irritating adhesives and tension on the hairline can cause damage, with receding hairlines occurring as an undesirable—but not uncommon outcome.
3. What can we do to help prevent damage to our bio hair and scalp?
- Massage your scalp. Having a wig sit too tightly on your head can cause the blood flow to your scalp to be reduced.
- Take your wig off before bed. Most doctors and wig experts recommend that you do not sleep in your wig – it can cause tension on your hair and cause breakages, tangling, clumping and other undesirable outcomes.
- Shampoo your hair--regularly. The key to healthy hair (and scalp) is keeping it clean. You don’t want your wig sitting on a dirty, oily scalp. Bad for your wig and your scalp and bio hair.
- Don’t forget your bio hair (see above). It might be that you choose to wear a wig all day, every day. However, we can’t assume that we don’t need to trim our own hair or care for it as well as before the wig wearing days.
- Avoid putting damp hair under a wig. Having damp natural hair under a wig is not only extremely uncomfortable, but can also promote the growth of nasty bacteria.
- Be careful when braiding your bio hair. Braiding can be an easy way to keep your natural hair out of the way under a wig. But be mindful of your technique. (Constant tension/pulling can damage fibers).
- Your bio hair can continue to lose moisture just like before. So, moisturize and condition your bio hair if you notice your hair feeling dry after wearing your wig. To combat bio hair or scalp dryness, try using hair oils, which can penetrate well, or other treatments you might prefer to restore its moisture and good health.
- Give your hair and scalp a break. If you have natural hair under a wig for a long period of time, it can be good to give your natural hair and your scalp a break for a few days from time to time.
In summary:
- Wearing wigs brings its own challenges. While it is tempting to put our bio hair “on hold” and forget it longer than we would have before, that is a mistake.
- Anything we repeatedly do that causes friction will have a result: Including a poor fitting wig, too tight of a wig, bands, and twisting and braiding (if done poorly).
- The constant friction combined with adhesives can take a toll on the hairline. Try different ways of securing your wig so the hairline is not constantly irritated by the adhesive and tension.
In conclusion,
Take care of your bio hair, scalp, and wig…and you will continue to look fabulous!
Until next time,
Vickie Lynn
How to Pick the Best Wig for You
To get the most out of your wigs, it is important to know how to choose them, and how to care for them. Here are a few tips from wig-wearing experts like some of you:
- Find a wig color that matches your skin tone. Treat the wig color just as you would picking a color to enhance your bio hair and general look. If you were a blonde before and you know that blonde is a good color for you, it might help to stay in the blonde “family” when buying your first wig. You can branch out as you go and learn more about what wig colors are available.
- Don’t spend a lot of time worrying about your wig slipping or falling off when there are so many securing options: Tape, clips, glue, caps, grips, and so on. Find what works for you.
- Make the wig YOURS. I can’t stress this enough do not think you will be able to pull the wig from the box, put it on your head, and love it unconditionally. It rarely happens. Please watch the many helpful videos WigStudio1 supports and remember to take advantage of the great consultants they have standing by to help.
- Know your head size, and know that though wigs are mass made, you can find ways to achieve a good fit with a bit of work. You will find that some brands fit your head better than others. You will learn which cap construction types suit your head and your comfort level best.
- Don’t be afraid to personalize it. You can wear clips/barrettes and other things to change your look to fit your mood or outfit.
- Appreciate the good stuff about wig-wearing:
- You can change your look in minutes.
- There are no more bad hair days.
- There are no more minutes or hours in front of the mirror trying to hide your thinning bio hair.
- You can try a new style and color without a costly long-time commitment as with bio hair.
- Wigs can help you through recovery from an illness or be a daily friend.
- Save your bio hair from repeated heat, coloring, or bleaching.
- Freedom! Change your style, your color, and your look. Wigs are great!
Tips to help you get more wear out of your wigs:
A human hair wig doesn’t receive the oils and vitamins from the scalp like your natural hair would keep it rejuvenated after styling and daily life. So, remember to wash your human hair wig with extra attention and be sure to always follow the manufacturer’s instructions. This goes for heat appliances, blow-dryers, shampoo, conditioner, and the right comb and brush. Remember the individual strands of hair are attached to the cap. Overuse of heat, over-conditioning, etc., can loosen the knots.
A synthetic wigs, especially heat-resistant ones, can look as natural as a human hair wig when you care for them properly. Again, think about heat, correct care products, and wash only when needed.
Wig rotation is a great thing! Not only do you get to leave the house in perfect hair and different styles or colors if you wish, but their life will prolong if you rotate your wigs and wash them less.
And a reminder: Improperly putting your wig on or off can damage the lace front, over-stretch the cap, and might loosen your fibers. Treat your wig with care. Also, storage is crucial, especially when traveling and long-term storage. Make sure they are stored properly.
Wishing everyone a great holiday season!
Vickie Lynn
How Long Should Wigs Last?
This is a recurring question, and it is easy to see why. We put money, time, and hope into our wig purchases, and don’t take this process lightly. Unfortunately, the answer is not a bottom-line one, and there is not an exact length of time for any wig. So much depends on so many things, which I’ll review here.
Generally, human hair wigs last longer than synthetic wigs. As a rule, human hair wigs (with proper care) can last a year, or much more if one wears them on occasion. Synthetic wigs generally last up to six months with proper care. If synthetic wigs are heat-friendly, their lifespan may be shorter if you use heat on them regularly. Remember too that with a bit of talent or an agreeable hairdresser, an aging wig can be trimmed and re-styled in a lot of cases, and you can get extra months of wear out of it.
How long your wig will last, and by last, we are all thinking “looking good” depends on what kind of wig, how often you wear it, how you care for it. There is no getting around the fact that just like bio hair, human hair wigs and synthetic fiber wigs must be cared for. Treat them as carefully as you do or would your bio hair.
For many, a human hair wig, with the proper care, can last more than a year when worn daily and up to three years when worn occasionally, so say many experts in the field. All wigs are not created equal, so a lot depends on the quality of the hair just as it does with the quality of fibers in a synthetic wig. Know your brand, do your research, get feedback from other wig wearers on the Wig Studio 1 Facebook site, their consultants, and the great ladies who do the reviews.
Synthetic wigs can comfortably last between four and six months when worn every day on average, with the shorter ones lasting on the higher end of that timeline (due to lack of constant friction of fibers on clothes). I have had shorter wigs last up to a year and look good, even the heat-friendly ones if I rotate them. In general, synthetic wigs tend to have a shorter lifespan than human hair wigs as they are prone to tangling which affects their day-to-day resilience, and of course, if you use heat and a lot of products, it means more washing.
Tips summary to help you get more wear out of your wigs:
A human hair wig doesn’t receive the oils and vitamins from the scalp like your natural hair would to keep it rejuvenated after styling and daily life. So, remember to wash your human hair wig with extra attention and be sure, to always follow the manufacturer’s instructions. This goes for heat appliances, blow-dryers, shampoo, conditioner, and the right comb and brush. Remember the individual strands of hair are attached to the cap. Overuse of heat, over conditioning, etc., can loosen the knots.
A synthetic wig, especially the heat-resistant ones, can look as natural as a human hair wig when you care for them properly. Again, think heat, correct care products, wash only when needed.
Wig rotation is a great thing! Not only do you get to leave the house in perfect hair (and different styles and/or colors if you wish) but if you rotate your wigs, you wash them less and that will prolong their life
At last, but certainly not least, wig care doesn’t end with just the obvious. Putting your wig on improperly or taking it off improperly can damage the lace front, over-stretch the cap, and might loosen your fibers. Treat them with care. Also, storage is important, especially when traveling and long-term storage. Make sure they are stored properly. Again, take advantage of the Wig studio 1 Facebook page for some great and imaginative tips on wig storage. There are some resourceful people on that site!
Until next time, me and my Muse in Shaded Cappuccino wishes you a good week,
Vickie Lynn
