Protective styles like wigs can help your natural hair grow at a better rate as it keeps it tucked away from harsher weather conditions and is also useful when supporting your strands recovery from hair loss conditions like alopecia.
But while it would be easier to just leave your hair in cornrows or twists underneath a wig without anything else, it will not be helpful for your curls in the long term. So, here is our guide with some essential tips for caring for your natural hair while underneath a wig.
Wash and Condition Your Hair Regularly
Before putting a wig on, you need to ensure that your afro hair is free from product build-up like dirt and oil, leading to breakage. First, keep your natural hair clean by using a sulphate-free shampoo to remove build-up with removing its natural moisture. After cleansing your hair, you will also need to condition it, making it easier to detangle, less prone to frizz and inject more hydration into your strands.
If you want a more moisturised feeling to last for longer, have you tried our Leave-In Conditioner with Manuka Honey and Avocado Oil? Manuka honey can treat dry scalps and split ends, while avocado is an excellent source of biotin, which can naturally nourish your scalp. After washing and conditioning your hair, use a small amount of leave-in conditioner on each section of your hair from your roots to your ends and then detangle using a wide-tooth comb before doing the same to another section. This process needs to occur before you put your hair in protective styles like Marley twists, Bantu knots, side-swept cornrows or passion twists. Remember to unravel your style after a week so you can start this wash and condition routine again.
How often you wash your hair is up to you. But, it is important not to wash your afro hair too frequently. You can start by washing your hair once or twice a week, and then if your hair experiences excessive dryness, consider washing your hair at least once a week.
Opt For A Wig Cap Under Your Wig
Avoid putting your wig directly on your natural hair as this will snag and pull at it, which will result in breakage. Instead, use a satin-lined wig cap over dry hair. Then, rather than using clips, combs or glue, which can cause allergic reactions and lead to blocked hair follicles which then stunts growth. Instead, use a silicone wig grip to naturally keep your wig in place without pulling at your edges.
Continue Protecting Your Natural Hair At Night
In addition to moisturising and cleaning your wig at least once a week, you also need to store this protective style correctly at night. Before going to sleep, we recommend that you detangle your wig and keep it on a mannequin head or within a silk-lined pouch. You should also invest in a satin durag, scarf or bonnet for your natural hair as you sleep. If you are looking to refresh your natural hair and wig every day with an infusion of moisture, try our Everyday Curl Refresh With Coconut and Jamaican Black Castor Oils. When sprayed on your scalp, the Jamaican black castor oil can increase blood flow to it, which means that more natural, moisturising nutrients can caress your afro hair.
Let Your Natural Hair Breathe
If you leave your hair underneath your wig in twists or cornrows for too long, they are more prone to breakage and an itchy scalp due to product build-up. This is why it is essential to unravel your protective style after a week to wash and condition it properly. In addition, try not wearing your glueless wig at night or when relaxing at home to improve the longevity of the wig and give your natural hair a break. Finally, if you are using glue to apply your wig, we recommend that you don’t wear your wig for more than six weeks.
A wig allows you to be versatile with your hair meaning that your can adopt any short-term style or colour. So, at the same time, it is important to adopt a routine that encourages you to care for your natural afro hair underneath the wig. After all, wigs can come and go, but your natural hair should stay with you for life. So, what other tips do you find beneficial when keeping your afro curls healthy under your wig?