How to Maintain a Toupee?
Baldness and alopecia are becoming increasingly common among men, especially amongst youngsters. And most people look for long-term hair restoration solutions that would help them feel good. A toupee (a hairpiece) is an excellent solution if you’re looking for a non-invasive hair restoration solution.
Most people who are considering opting for toupees have one constant worry – how to maintain it? Well, it’s not as difficult as they portray it to be! We’re listing out the best ways for toupee maintenance – not only would this help maintain your wig, but it would also enhance its longevity. Let’s run you through these tips:
Choose the Right Products
You need to pick toupee-specific shampoos for washing your hairpiece. Not all shampoos are compatible with hairpieces, so choose a shampoo that’s recommended along with it when you buy it. In case you haven’t received any recommendations, you need to pick a shampoo with moisturizing qualities. These shampoos need to be salon-quality and pH-neutral shampoos and conditions that would also clean and moisturize the wig.
Products with natural components such as coconut oil, avocado oil, or olive oil work well to keep the hairpiece soft and shiny. However, when it comes to toupees, alcohol-based products are a big no. Also, products with harsh chemicals aren’t really suitable for your wig – so you need to invest in high-quality chemical products only.
Brush Out Tangles
You have to brush your toupee well every day to get rid of any tangles. Like you would brush your own hair, start from the tips and then work your way upwards to the roots. Even when you shampoo it, make sure you have detangled it well. Brush all the tangles before you wet the periwig. For brushing purposes, you can use a wide, soft-edged comb. Make sure you gently detangle the hairpiece and not brush it roughly, as that would result in all the hair coming off.
Wash The Toupee
For best results, you need to wash your hairpiece once a week. First, fill the tub with cold or lukewarm water and then wet the hair. A quick dip would be enough; you don’t need to soak it in water. You can then add shampoo to the hair. Next, with your fingers, gently wash the wig from top to bottom. Rubbing would lead to knots, which in turn would lead to hair fall.
As you clean the top of the hairpiece, make sure to give the underside a thorough wash. As this part lies on your skin, it is constantly exposed to sweat. A quick wash with antibacterial soap would work as well. Finally, rinse the hairpiece thoroughly to ensure all the shampoo and soap are gone.
Is a second shampoo necessary for a wig? Well, that totally depends on the thickness of your hairpiece. If it’s dense and thick, you can always go for a second wash (just like for human hair) and repeat the entire washing process. Otherwise, you’re good to go with one wash itself.
Add In the Conditioner
Now is the time to add in the conditioner – which again needs to be a high-quality, toupee-specific product. Adding a conditioner would keep the wig shiny and in the best condition. You need to add conditioner to both sides of the hair, leaving aside the roots. For better application of the conditioner, you can comb the wig gently – this would spread the conditioner evenly on the hairpiece.
Keep the wig aside for a few minutes and let the conditioner do its magic. Then, rinse it clean and pat dry all the excessive water. Throughout the process, make sure you don’t twist the hair as it can tangle and break.
Air Dry The Toupee
Air drying does not include sun drying. Sun-drying would damage the toupee, so it’s best to let it dry on a stand or a mannequin head. Don’t brush the hairpiece while it’s wet. If you want it to dry quickly, you can use a hairdryer in the low or medium setting. Make sure the hairdryer is not too close to your hairpiece, as it would end up damaging your wig.
Ditch the Extreme Heating Tools
Styling the toupee with excessive heat would only end up damaging it. Therefore, it is crucial to keep it away from all such heating tools, hot temperatures, and even harsh sunlight as much as possible.
Even though your hairpiece is made from human hair, you need to be very careful before using straighteners, curlers, or hairdryers. Excess heat would lead to split ends – and you’ll be left with no option other than trim the wig – and that’s something you don’t want.
If you’re looking to get your hairpiece styled, visit a toupee hair salon and seek their assistance. The professionals will be in a better position to style your hair without damaging it.
Take Off the Toupee As You Sleep
Taking off the wig before you sleep would help maintain it better. If you don’t want to take off the toupee, you can sleep with a scarf covering your hair. Sleep on a satin pillowcase to prevent it from tangling.
Summing Up
If you opt for high-quality wigs, they’re expensive. So, taking care of the hairpiece is essential. Even otherwise, once you start using a toupee, it no longer remains a replacement – it is as good as your own hair. So, you need to take care of it just as you would with your own hair. With the proper care, your toupee will stay shiny and intact for a long time.