How To Wash a Cosplay Wig? How Often Should You Wash?

When people buy Cosplay wigs, they are often worried about many things, including whether or not they can wash their wigs, and how best to do that.

If you’re scared of going wrong with washing your cosplay wig, this post will help you wash it the right way to avoid ruining it.

Unlike fears many people have, washing a cosplay wig is quite simple. Let’s find out all you need to know about washing a cosplay wig.

Should I Wash My Cosplay Wig Before Styling It?

Many people wonder whether they should go straight into styling their cosplay wigs without washing, or if the wig needs to be washed.

You should wash your wig before styling because it makes your wig soft and easier to style. Also, you should wash your cosplay wig between styling to ensure that all the styling products from the previous style are out of the wig before you style it again.

If you have just styled the wig but you won’t be using it for a long time, you should also wash it before storing it away. If you don’t, styling products like hairsprays can deteriorate and cause white flecks after a while.

Leaving styling products in your cosplay wig for a long time can also cause your wig to become coarse, lose shine and quality.

However, don’t be scared about leaving styling products in your cosplay wig for a week or a few weeks, because it is safe to do so. It only becomes dangerous when you leave styling products in your wig for several months and don’t use it.

How Often Should You Wash a Cosplay Wig?

The best interval for washing your cosplay wig is every four to six weeks, which is enough time for the wig to get dirty even if you don’t use it every day.

However, if you use your cosplay wigs daily and expose them to sweat, dirt, or odors, then you can wash them more often than 4 weeks.

How To Wash a Cosplay Wig?

Now that we know when to wash your cosplay wig, let’s get into how to wash it.

There are several ways to wash your cosplay wig. Below listed are 4 effective methods to wash cosplay wigs.

With Shampoo
With Baking Soda
With Dish Soap
With Woolite

1. How To Wash Cosplay Wigs with Shampoo?

The most basic method of washing cosplay wigs is using wig shampoo. Alternatively, you can use baby shampoo or other gentle shampoos. You only need a good shampoo and conditioner for this procedure.

Required Items

Shampoo
Conditioner
Wig head
Towel (optional)
Hairdryer (optional)

Procedure [Step by Step]

Fill a bowl or bathroom sink with lukewarm water.

Pour a cap full of shampoo into the water and use distribute the shampoo properly by swishing around the water.

Place your wig in the sing after ensuring that there are no pins in it and you have brushed off the tangles (It is important to untangle your cosplay wig as much as possible before washing because the water could worsen tangles)

Move the wig from side to side gently and avoid kneading or scrubbing. Leave the wig in the water for about five minutes so that the shampoo does its cleansing before taking it out.

Drain the bowl or sink and refill with lukewarm water. Pour a cap full of wig conditioner or normal conditioner in the water and swish around the water. If the conditioner clumps up, break all the clumps and allow them to dissolve before placing your wig in the water.

Place your cosplay wig in the bowl or sink and move it side to side gently then leave it for five minutes.

Drain the bowl or sink again after removing the wig, and then refill the container with water. This time, don’t add any product to the water.

Slosh the wig in the water and leave it for about five minutes so that all the conditioner gets out of the wig. Remove any clumped conditioner at this point and ensure that your wig is clean before taking it out of the bowl or sink.

Place your cosplay wig on a wig head to air-dry or use a hand-dryer at medium heat if your wig is heat resistant. Some people will place the wig in a towel to soak up some of the water before hanging it on the wig head, but that step is optional.

Precautions

Avoid using hot water when washing your cosplay wig because it could make the fibers pliable. Lukewarm or room temperature water is best for your wig.

Clumped conditioner can get stuck in your cosplay wig if you don’t dissolve it properly, and the conditioner can break down over time and cause residue in your wig.

2. How To Wash Your Cosplay Wig with Baking Soda?

Baking soda is a great alternative product when washing your cosplay wig and you don’t want to use shampoo. Baking soda is also a great option if your wig was exposed to smoke and odors from several activities.

Required Items

Procedure [Step by Step]

Fill a bowl or sink with warm water and then measure in baking soda. Use ¾ cup baking soda for every 3 quarts of warm water for better accuracy.

Leave the baking soda to dissolve in the warm water before placing your wig in the water. You can leave the wig to soak for four hours or leave it overnight.

After soaking the wig, take it out of the baking soda mixture, put fresh water in the bowl or sink, and add one teaspoon of baking soda. Swish the wig in the water for one minute for the fibers to saturate.

Condition the wig by placing it in lukewarm water with a conditioner. Slosh the wig gently from side to side. Then, place the wig in plain cool water and swish the wig to get out the conditioner.

Place the wig on a clean towel to soak off the water, and then put the wig on a wig stand to let it dry. Use a hairdryer at a medium or low heat of your cosplay wig is heat resistant.

Precautions

Always ensure that the baking soda dissolves properly to avoid residues remaining in your cosplay wig.

Don’t wring your wig with a towel or your hands to avoid tangles and damaged fibers.

3. How to wash a cosplay wig with Dish Soap?

Just as a mild shampoo works well for cosplay wigs, you can also use mild dish soap to wash cosplay wigs, especially when your wig has gotten in contact with oil and makeup.

Required Items

Procedure [Step by Step]

Fill a sink or bowl with cold water and add a squirt of mild dish soap to the water.

Place your wig in the soapy water and squeeze the wig gently to get the soapy water in.

Slosh the wig gently and avoid force or rough handling that could cause tangles. (Always ensure that your wig is brushed before beginning the washing process to minimize tangles)

After sloshing for a while, remove the soapy water and refill the bowl or sink with clean cold water. Rinse the wig in cold water also by sloshing gently. Change the cold water as many times as necessary until the water is soap-free.

Hang your wig on a wig head to dry.

Precautions

Avoid scrubbing your cosplay wig or squeezing it to get the water out because it can damage the strands.

Always use small amounts of dish soap to avoid making the water too soapy and having too much soap in the wig.

4. How To Wash Your Cosplay Wig With Woolite?

Woolite is a mild laundry detergent that is safe for washing your cosplay wig instead of shampoo. Its cleansing powers and gentle effect on the wig fibers make it a great choice for many women looking to wash their cosplay wigs.

Required Items

Procedure [Step by Step]

Fill your bowl or sink with cold water and add a capful of Woolite to the water.

Place your combed wig in the water and swish it gently from side to side.

Remove the wig and empty the water, then refill with clean water and place the wig in the water to rinse it using swishing motions. Repeat this process for as long as it takes to get the detergent out of the wig.

Drain the water and hang your cosplay wig on a stand to dry.

Precautions

Avoid squeezing or scrubbing your wig while you wash. Always rinse off all soap residue from your wig before drying.

Final Words:

Now you know that washing your cosplay wig is not rocket science, and it also won’t damage your wig provided you do it right. We hope these tips help you to manage your cosplay wig properly and keep it clean when styling or using it.