If you don’t have a wig brush, use a wide-tooth comb, which will detangle the hair more easily than a hair brush or a comb with closer-set teeth.
Keep the curls as neat as possible so you get a clean ringlet look when you unroll it. If the roller doesn’t stay in place, re-roll the hair tighter. Repeat with the rest of the sectioned off hair until it’s secured in curlers.
If you use too much heat, the curls will look messy with stray hairs sticking out. If your wig is made of synthetic hair, DO NOT apply heat to it. The heat will melt synthetic hair, ruining your wig.
Read the label of all wigs or synthetic hair to see if it can tolerate heat.
You can also soak your wig in a bowl of cold water and 1 tsp (4. 9 mL) of shampoo to detangle it. This alternative can also clean the synthetic fibers. Don’t stretch, pull, or rub the wig against itself, as this can tangle it further. Just swirl it around the bowl. When you empty the bowl, refill it with cold water and conditioner and repeat the swirling process.
Bigger sections will give you bigger, looser curls, and smaller sections of hair will make tighter ringlets.
As you create the pin curls, apply hairspray so the curl keeps its shape. Some curling irons require you to wrap the section of hair starting at the top or bottom of the hair, depending on whether you’re using a curling wand or a curling iron with tongs. [6] X Research source Wands come with a protective glove for your hand, because you have to hold the hair in place on it. Curling irons with tongs will hold hair in place once it’s secured in the metal grip of the iron.
To achieve a more natural effect, wrap the curls in different directions. [9] X Research source
Hold the hairspray at least 8 inches (20 cm) away from the wig to prevent product build up and a shellacked look.
Another way to detangle a wig is by soaking it in cold water with conditioner.
If you don’t have wooden dowel rods, use another heat-safe tool, such as a wooden spoon. You can also use perm rods to curl the wig, because they have rubber bands to stay secure in the hair. When using perm rods, you will need to wet the hair before submerging it in hot water. [14] X Research source
If you’re dunking the perm rods in hot water, don’t hold the perm rods in the water for more than 6 seconds. [15] X Research source
If your wig is made of synthetic materials, only use the lowest heat setting and be cautious, as you can damage the wig. For a natural hair wig, you can usually use a higher heat setting on your blow dryer without damaging the wig. You can also hang the wig on a wire with clothespins to let it dry. [16] X Research source
Read the wig’s label to make sure it can tolerate heat. Be especially careful if your wig is synthetic, as it can melt.
Use hairspray while the curl is pinned in place so it will hold its shape when you unpin it.
To maintain these curls, re-pin the wig at night while it’s on a mannequin’s head.
