How Long Can You Wear a Wig? Can You Sleep with A Wig On?

Wigs have become a part of the lives of many ladies and have delivered beauty, glamour, and even comfort to people. Whether you’re looking to protect your natural hair, make up for hair loss, or simply look beautiful with another style, wigs are there for you.

However, with more people turning to wigs, one recurring question is how long you can keep a wig on

Several factors come to play when answering this question, including how the wig will be worn, natural hair growth, wig management, and the like.

Let’s go on to answer the questions that arise in relation to wearing wigs. We’ll also share guidelines on how to make the entire process wholesome for you.

Can You Permanently Wear a Wig? What Happens If You Wear It?

Wig and permanence, do they ever go hand in hand?

Sometimes, a wig is just so much a perfect fit for your head and has a beautiful style that you wish you could spend every sleeping and waking moment wearing it.

However, does this mean your wig can be permanent? Sadly, No!

The primary reason is that having a wig on your head permanently is that it can cause serious issues for your scalp and natural hair.

Permanent wigs can cause dandruff, irritate your skin, and dry it out because your scalp won’t be able to get enough moisture when you always have a wig on.

In worse cases, a permanent wig could even cause a yeast infection on your scalp due to an excessive moisture buildup caused by continuous sweating.

Hair-Loss is also a possible effect of permanent wigs. When sufficient oxygen doesn’t get into your scalp, you could damage your natural hair and even suffer balding.

You’ll also be unable to care for your hair and scalp when you have a wig permanently on. If you don’t get to wash your hair frequently, condition it, and air it, your natural hair will suffer stunted growth, thinning, breakage, and thinning.

There are so many possible reactions and side effects that come with attempting to wear a wig permanently. But no matter how you look at it, a permanent wig just seems like a bad and unhealthy idea.

Is It OK To Wear a Wig Every Day?

Since we’re certain that you cannot have a wig on permanently, what about wearing it every day? Surely, that should be okay, right?

Well, it is okay to wear a wig every day, provided you still take care of your natural hair and scalp as you should, probably every few days or on the weekends.

If the wig isn’t permanently glued to your scalp, you can rest assured that your hair will continue to grow. It will also get some air when you take the wig off at the end of the day.

One way to ensure that your natural hair and scalp don’t suffer if you choose to wear wigs every day is to set aside time to moisturize your hair and scalp and maintain a frequent and healthy hair wash and management routine.

Also, wearing a wig cap over your natural hair before putting on the wig, is another way to protect your natural hair and avoid friction between your wig and natural hair.

Opting for a breathable wig is also a great idea. Such comfortable wigs allow your scalp to breathe better, so you don’t get uncomfortable when you go around with your wig all day.

With all that has been said, remember that even if your hair doesn’t suffer damage from wearing a wig every day, the wig will suffer because it will tire out under the strain of daily use. You can therefore consider having several wigs that you will switch daily. 

Can You Sleep with A Wig On?

Can you sleep with a wig on?

What if I want to spend nights in my wig too, after probably having it on all day?

Or perhaps I attend a sleepover or visit someone and have to sleep over but I don’t want them to see my natural hair? Can I sleep with a wig on?

First, we cannot deny that a wig wearer might have slept off with their wig on at least once. But is it okay to do so, and often at that?

Yes, we know that it is just a bother to take off some wigs every night, especially those that need to be glued and braided and take hours to get fitted into place. But what do hair experts have to say about this?

While it is possible to sleep wearing a wig, hair experts don’t recommend i6 for several reasons, including the fact that the wig’s lifespan reduces because of the friction that happens between the wig and your bed or pillow when you sleep.

Such movements can cause your wig to become dry, tangled, and frizzy, especially if you don’t use a silk pillow casing, or bed sheets.

Even if you cover your wig with a scarf before sleeping or use a silk pillowcase to reduce the possibility of wig damage, you would need to detangle and moisturize your wig every morning to reduce dryness and avoid dangles, which would cause damage over time.

Beyond the damage your wig might suffer, sleeping with a wig and even a scarf or bonnet over it isn’t good for your scalp because it doesn’t get enough air.

Your scalp won’t be able to breathe properly at night, which is a recipe for unhealthy hair.

So, it is best to avoid sleeping with your wig if you don’t absolutely have to! However, if you do, covering your hair with a bonnet or scarf properly, taking time to moisturize and unknot your wig every morning after bed is compulsory to avoid dangerous tangles that can damage your wig.

Can You Shower with A Wig On?

We know that some wigs cannot be removed every day, especially when you deal with wigs that need to be glued to your hair. So, can you shower when you have a wig on? You couldn’t possibly be asked not to bathe until you take the wig off, right?

So, what’s the verdict?

You can shower with your wig on provided it is covered with a plastic or shower cap. However, it is not ideal to shower with an uncovered wig, even if it is made from human hair material.

The first thing that could happen when you shower with your wig on is that the water touching your wig directly will cause tangles and ease off the glue on your wig, causing it to slip off.

So, if you want to shower with a wig on, get a shower cap

It is very important to keep your hairline dry and away from water, and a shower cap will likely do the trick. If not, wrap the hair as much as you need to, to ensure that your hairline doesn’t get wet.

Even when you have a shower cap on, don’t leave your head directly under the shower for too long, because water can actually get into your hair through any available opening.

If you don’t have a shower cap, then you must work hard to ensure that your wig doesn’t get wet. The primary way to do that is to move your head away from the shower so that the water doesn’t come in contact with your wig or get it wet.

If you’re dealing with a long wig, you should tie it up to prevent it from getting wet.

After showering, always dry any part of the wig that got wet, and check your hairline to ensure that the glue was not tampered with.

Correct any issue resulting from the shower, glue your hairline again if you need to, and ensure that your wig is holding well before going out.

Final Words

Now that you have the answers to the questions that have plagued you, you’re in the position to make the best decisions concerning how to use your wig.

Remember that caring for your wig is important to ensure that it lasts long and remains beautiful for you. So, pay attention to expert advice and manage it properly!