How to Wash a Wig: A Step-by-Step Guide

Do you wear a wig every day? Or just put one on for styling sometimes? It doesn’t matter if it’s a human hair half wig, an HD lace glueless wig, or even a 613 wig—cleaning it right is super important. It’s the best way to make your wig last longer!

A lot of people wash wigs without thinking. They either ruin the lace, texture, or the wig gets tangled and frizzy after washing. This is even worse for wigs with delicate HD lace wigs, like a 613 wig. But here’s the good news: cleaning any wig is easy. You can master it in just a few simple steps—even if you’re a beginner.

Today, I’ve put together a super detailed wig cleaning guide. It works for all wigs—human hair half wigs, HD lace glueless wigs, 613 wigs, and any color you have. It’s simple and easy to follow. Just do what I say, and your wig will stay fluffy and smooth all the time.

Step 1: Prepare First—Don’t Skip Any Part

Don’t rush to get the wig wet before cleaning it. Prepare everything first. It will be much easier later.

First, gently comb it from the ends up to the roots. This loosens any tangles. If you don’t do this, the tangles will get worse when you wash it. The wig fibers might break—especially for a 613 wig, since its light color is obtained through bleaching.

Next, fill a clean basin with lukewarm water. The water should be 30-40°C. Water that’s too hot can damage the wig. Water that’s too cold won’t clean off oil and dirt well.

Finally, add a little bit of special wig shampoo. Stir it well until it makes foam. Then you’re ready to wash the wig.

Step 2: Soak and Clean Gently—No Rough Scrubbing

Put the pre-combed wig into the soapy water. Press it gently so the whole wig is under the water. Take extra care with HD lace glueless wigs—don’t press too hard on the lace part.

Soak it for 5 to 10 minutes. That’s enough. Don’t soak it too long. If you soak it too much, the hair fibers will get weak.

After soaking, use your fingers to gently massage the wig’s hair and roots. Focus on the parts that get oily or dusty easily. For wigs with bright colors, like a 613 wig, massage softly to keep the color from fading. For HD lace glueless wigs, avoid massaging the lace too hard.

Remember! Don’t scrub or rub the wig like you do your own hair. This is especially true for synthetic wigs. Scrubbing can make them frizzy and misshapen. It can even ruin the lace base and hair fiber.

Step 3: Rinse Well—No Shampoo Left Behind

After massaging the wig well, you can rinse it. Use running water. Rinse from the roots down to the ends gently. For HD lace glueless wigs, hold the lace part carefully while rinsing.

Make sure all the foam is gone, no shampoo residue left. Residue is bad for all wigs. It can make a 613 wig look dull and a human hair half wig feel greasy. Don’t flip the wig to rinse it, and don’t squeeze it hard. This can damage its shape and hair texture.

If there’s still foam, rinse it a few more times. Left-over shampoo will make the wig greasy and frizzy. It can also harm the texture. For wigs with any color, residue can make the color look faded over time.

Step 4: Care + Dry—Get Back the Fluffy Look

After rinsing well, don’t put the wig in direct sunlight or use a hair dryer. Gently press the wig to get rid of extra water. Never wring it hard.

Put a little bit of wig conditioner on the wig. Spread it evenly from the middle of the hair to the ends. Use less near the roots. This is great to keep human hair wigs soft and shiny. For lace wigs, don’t put conditioner on the lace.

Leave the conditioner on for 3 to 5 minutes. This lets it nourish the hair fibers well. Then rinse it gently with water.

Finally, put the wig on a clean towel to soak up surface water. Then put it on a wig stand and let it air-dry.

Don’t let it sit in the sun. Sunlight can fade the hair color of any colored wig.

Quick Tip

You don’t need to wash your wig too often. If you wear it every day, clean it once every 1 or 2 weeks. If you wear it rarely, just for special occasions, once a month is enough.

Follow these steps, and your wig will stay fluffy and smooth. It will also last longer. Even beginners can do it perfectly!