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A good unit is an investment, and the difference between one that lasts a few months and one that lasts a year usually comes down to how it is shampooed. The good news is that wig care is simple once you know the order of operations. The bad news is that most damage happens in the first sixty seconds, before the water is even running.

How often should you wash your wig?

Every 10 to 14 days is the sweet spot for most people. That range shifts depending on two things: how often you wear it, and how much product you are using. If you wear your unit daily and use mousse, spray, or edge control, you will land closer to 10 days. If you wear it a few times a week with minimal product, you can stretch toward 14.

Washing too often strips moisture and shortens the life of the hair. Waiting too long lets product build up at the base, which is what makes a unit look dull and sit oddly at the part. Let build-up be your guide rather than the calendar alone.

Step 1: Detangle before any water touches it

This is the rule that matters most. Never wet a tangled unit. Water makes hair heavier and more fragile, so a small knot before the water touches it becomes a matted section after it, and getting it out costs you hair you cannot replace.

Work with the unit dry. Start at the ends and work your way up toward the cap in small sections, holding the hair above where you are combing so you are not pulling on the knots at the base. Use a wide tooth comb or your fingers, and take your time. When the comb passes through cleanly from root to tip, you are ready for water.

Step 2: Shampoo gently

We recommend Matrix Food for Soft shampoo and conditioner. It cleans without stripping, which is exactly what you want for hair that is not receiving any natural oils from a scalp.

Fill a basin with cool to lukewarm water, never hot. Hot water loosens knots at the base and can lift the cuticle, which leads to frizz. Add your shampoo and submerge the unit, then stroke the hair downward in the direction it falls. Do not scrub, pile the hair on top of itself, or swirl it around, since all three create tangles. Focus the cleaning at the base where product and oil collect, and let the water do the work on the lengths.

Step 3: Condition and let it sit

Rinse the shampoo out completely with warm water, then apply the Matrix Food for Soft conditioner from the mid-lengths to the ends. Keep conditioner away from the lace and the knots at the base, as it loosens them and shortens the life of your unit.

Let it sit for a few minutes so the hair actually drinks it in. This is the step people rush, and it is the one that keeps the hair soft between washes. Rinse thoroughly until the hair no longer feels slippery.

Step 4: Dry it the slow way

Do not wring or twist. Press the water out gently with a towel, then lay the unit flat or place it on a wig stand and let it air dry completely. Air drying takes patience, but heat is the fastest way to age a unit.

If you must speed things up, use a cool setting and keep the dryer moving. Never sleep on a damp unit and never store one while it is still wet.

How to revive a wig that has gone limp or tangled

If your unit has lost its life, it is usually build-up rather than damage. Start with a careful dry detangle, then do a gentle wash as described above and give the conditioner extra time to sit. Most units come back.

For persistent tangling at the nape, which is the first place friction shows, focus your detangling there and consider how the unit sits against your clothing. Collars and coats are the usual culprits.

Between washes

Store your unit on a wig stand rather than folded in a drawer, so it keeps its shape and the hair is not pressed into creases. Detangle gently before you put it away, not just before you wear it. A minute of care at night saves you fifteen the next morning.

The short version

• Wash every 10 to 14 days, adjusted for wear and product use
• Always detangle fully while dry, starting at the ends
• Use warm water and a gentle shampoo like Matrix Food for Soft
• Condition the lengths, not the base or the lace
• Air dry on a stand and store it there too

Treated this way, a quality unit stays soft, full, and worth what you paid for it. If you have a question about caring for your specific unit, reach out. We would rather help you keep it beautiful than sell you another one too soon.