Wig Care: From Stage to Home

Wigs are an important part of any theatre production: they save actors wear and tear on their hair, as well as allow an actor to truly inhabit a character.  Wigs, falls, and extensions are  very popular outside of the theater as well.  Whether they’re made of synthetic or human hair, how do you take care of them?

First, get some quality wig blocks.  There is nothing worse than a smashed, out-of-shape wig, and the benefit of a wig is that you don’t have to style it every time! Don’t lose that benefit.  Wig blocks allow you to store, style and shape wigs.  They come in a variety of sizes, short and long necked to conform to your specific head size.

You’ll also need a good wig brush– you can’t just use any kind of brush on wigs and extensions. The pincushion-style brushes work well for brushing out wigs, and natural bristle brushes work great on extensions.  Avoid using brushes that have plastic balls on the tips of the bristle– it could damage your wig or pull out extensions. You can also use a wide-toothed comb, which mimics fingers and doesn’t damage wigs.

Next, think about cleaning your wigs.  While at home you may simply use shampoo and conditioner– for human hair wigs, be sure to use sulfate-free shampoo and conditioner, which is great for chemically treated hair. To wash synthetic wigs, use specific wig shampoo. At the theater, you might want to consider something like Vapon Wig Cleaner, which is great for human hair wigs.  If the hair is dyed a vibrant color, you will want to try a bit in a hidden place to make sure it doesn’t remove the color.  Just place the wig into a porcelain or metal bowl, saturate with Vapon, and allow to dry on a wig block.  It doesn’t need a dryer — it will dry itself. For average use, you may only need to wash a human hair wig every 6-8 wearings and a synthetic wig every 10-15.  If you’re sweating, wearing a lot of makeup, or under stage lights, you may need to wash and restyle a wig far more often.  Use your best judgment as to when a wig needs to be washed and restyled. Be sure to brush out your wig before you wash it, to loosen any dirt and grime.  Human hair wigs and extensions may also be conditioned– a bit on the ends will help any roughness that may occur.

Be sure to always wear a wig cap underneath your wig.  It protects both your own hair and the wig from sweat, oils and grime.  It also ensures a smooth surface, so your wig avoids any lumps and bumps.  They come in several colors, one of which is sure to complement your own hair.  When putting on your wig, be sure to put it on from back to front, and never with your head upside down.  You’ll undo all of your styling!

How do you keep a wig on your head?  With the popularity of lacefront wigs– both on Broadway and with celebrities like Beyonce– lacefront wigs are all the rage.  The sheer mesh does blend quite nicely as a new hairline, but how do you keep it on? Vapon also makes some wig tape that allows your lacefront wig to flawlessly blend into your hairline.  To remove wig tape, use Telesis Super Solv, which will take the adhesive right off.

Want some inspiration for your wigs? Take a look at some of the wigs on Broadway right now, from Hedwig and the Angry Inch to Raisin in the Sun.

The products mentioned in this post as well as many other wig care products can be found at Manhattan Wardrobe Supply