How To Lighten a Synthetic Wig? [Procedure and Precautions]

Do you own a new synthetic wig or one that you’ve used for a while, but you want to tweak its color? Perhaps you’re bored with the color your synthetic wig came with and you want to lighten it up to create a new look.

Or maybe you have an occasion that needs light color hair, and all you have is a synthetic wig in your closet.

You’re probably wondering whether it is possible to lighten your synthetic wig to redefine your style.

This post will tell you all you need to know about changing the colors of synthetic wigs and how to lighten your synthetic wig.

Popular Synthetic Wigs

Can You Change the Color of a Synthetic Wig?

This is probably the most-asked question by ladies who own synthetic hair and want to get creative with their wig color and styling.

It is important to mention that it’s not a popular practice to change the color of a synthetic wig, and there are several reasons for that.

First, synthetic fibers are not very receptive to colors, and they are not easy to penetrate like the fibers of natural hair. Also, the chemicals present in many dyes damage the fibers of synthetic hair.

Another reason many people don’t change the color of their synthetic wigs is that it isn’t often worth the stress. After all, there are a lot of affordable synthetic wigs produced in many colors, so many ladies would rather buy a new one.

However, to answer the question, Yes, you can change the color of a synthetic wig, but not with the same method you would use for human hair wigs.

You cannot use the regular hair dye for a synthetic wig. Also, light-colored synthetic wigs offer you the best possibility of color change, because it is easier to change a light-colored wig to dark-colored unlike the other way around.

However, if you want to change your synthetic wig color, it is best to use a cheap wig, preferably one you have used before, in case it gets ruined in the process.

How To Lighten a Synthetic Wig?

If you still want to lighten your synthetic wig, be informed that the methods you use for human hair wigs and natural hair won’t work. Because of their nature, synthetic wigs need a different lighting product and process.

Let us discover interesting ways to lighten your synthetic wig.

1. Lighten a Synthetic Wig using Powdered Bleach and Hydrogen Peroxide

One tried and true way to lighten the color of your synthetic wig is to create a mixture of bleach and hydrogen peroxide. The result is a beautiful synthetic wig that looks like a completely new wig.

Required Items:

Procedure:

Brush your synthetic wig properly and carefully remove all knots.
Put on your protective gloves.
Measure a few spoons of powdered bleach.
Pour in the crème developer and mix until it turns into a smooth paste (start with a little developer and then work on making it as light or thick as you want.
Place your wig on the nylon bag and apply the mixture using your gloved hands. Ensure that it is sufficient enough and work it into your wig as much as you can.
Place the wig in a foil, wrap it and let it sit for 10 to 15 minutes depending on how light you want it to be.
After the time elapses, rinse it out and use a fabric softener.
Allow the wig to air dry, and you have a lighter wig.

Precautions

Avoid leaving the bleach on your wig for too long because it could produce an unattractive color.

Don’t dry your wig with heat after this process because it can cause further damage after the chemical exposure.

2. Hydrogen Peroxide Solution Spray to Lighten a Synthetic Wig

You can lighten your synthetic wig with a hydrogen peroxide spray. This is a simple process for lightening your synthetic wig.

Required Items:

Procedure:

Protect your hand by wearing gloves, and then pour equal amounts of hydrogen peroxide solution and water.
Pour the mixture into a spray bottle.
Brush your wig to remove all tangles, and untangle with your fingers if necessary.
Hold your wig up or place it on a rag, and spray the solution on the wig. Ensure that it goes around all parts of the hair sufficiently.
Allow the mixture to sit on your hair for 30 minutes to 1 hour.
Rinse off the period solution with water and hang the wig to airdry.

Precautions

Timing is important, so avoid leaving the solution on the wig for too long

Always ensure to remove all knots from your wig because they can ruin the lighting process.

3. Hydrogen Peroxide and Baking Soda for wig lightening

The mixture of hydrogen peroxide and baking soda is a high-impact lightening mix because baking soda is known as a lightening agent, just as hydrogen peroxide. The combination will lighten your synthetic wig faster and penetrate deeper.

Required Items:

Procedure:

Wash the wig with a mild shampoo and allow it to dry properly.
Prepare the work area by spreading the rag or newspaper on the floor and placing the foil wrap as well. Your foil wrap should be large enough to contain your wig without it touching another surface.
Mix the baking soda and hydrogen peroxide in a bowl to create a paste with medium consistency.
Brush your wig properly and section the strands if necessary.
Hold the wig in place with your hand or clips and apply the mixture on the entire wig or the sections you plan to lighten.
Allow the paste to stay on the wig for 30 minutes to 1 hour, depending on how light you want the wig to be.
Wash off the paste with water and shampoo and allow it to air dry.

Precautions

Always use a shampoo formulated for synthetic wigs because it is best suited to the wig fibers. Regular shampoo may contain chemicals that can damage your synthetic wig and its fiber.

4. Lighten Synthetic Wigs using Permanent marker and alcohol solution

One less-known but effective way to lighten your synthetic wig and change its color is to create a color solution that’s the same as the lighter color you want your wig to have. Interestingly, you can do this with alcohol and permanent markers- a weird but effective combination.

Required Items:

Permanent markers (in the shade you want)
Sharp knife
Spray bottle
Rubbing alcohol
Rubber gloves

Procedure:

Use a sharp knife to cut the top away from your permanent marker so that the plastic covering goes off and the inside ink stick is left.
Take out the ink stick and cut the transparent plastic covering with a knife.
Put the ink stick in your spray bottle and pour rubbing alcohol into the bottle until it is nearly full (Allow about 3 inches space at the top of the bottle).
Cover the spray bottle and shake very well to allow the color blend.
Continue adding ink sticks to the spray bottle and shaking until you get the shade you want. A rule of thumb to remember is that adding more alcohol makes the color lighter while adding more ink sticks makes the color darker.
Once the color mixture is to your liking, hold the wig up or drop it on a surface and spray it until the mixture fully saturates your wig.
Leave the wig to dry completely for as long as it takes and then study the final color. If it is too light, you can spray more color mixture. If the color is satisfactory, wash the wig with cold water and allow it to air dry.

Precautions

Don’t wash with shampoo immediately because it can wash off the newly-added color. In subsequent times, always use a color-safe shampoo when you need to wash the wig.

Final Words:

Although it isn’t a common practice, lightening your synthetic wig is possible if you follow the steps and tips in this article closely. Be careful when handling hair bleach to avoid damaging your wig strands.

Remember that synthetic wig fibers don’t hold color well, so don’t be surprised if the permanent marker method doesn’t last long on your synthetic wig.

Once you have exposed your synthetic wig to lightening methods, you’ll need to take extra care and pay attention to maintenance to prevent your wig from damage and allow your wig to last longer.

If you notice that your synthetic wig is stronger after the lightening process, use a fabric softener to improve its feel and softness.