Ten Tips To Prevent Your Wig From Smelling

Now imagine you wear a wig confidently, and suddenly you realize that it has an unpleasant smell. Or you may not even notice the smell until someone points it out to you! What could be more off-putting than the constant smell of smoke or similar chemicals? To help you prevent wigs from smelling, we prepare some tips to get rid of that bad smell once and for all.

Before we decide to take some actions to keep a wig fresh, we need to learn why wigs have a bad smell first.

Why Do Wigs Smell?

First of all, in the production process of wigs, some wig manufacturers sometimes choose to use some chemicals during the production of Remy and synthetic wig to achieve a certain color or texture so that your wigs may have a different smell. And the storage methods and package materials the retailers used also have an influence on the smell of your wig more or less.

Besides, the reason why your human hair wigs smell badly could be because you’re wearing your wig while it’s wet. A musty odor can form under the wig base or wig cap of your wig if it is wet or damp.

Furthermore, just like our clothes, wigs tend to retain smells and elements from the outside environment quite easily. When it comes to wig smells, we must take into consideration of humidity and sweat. But, they aren’t the only culprits. Tobacco, smoke, dust, and even some things like incense and air fresheners all tend to stick to our hair and even blend together. It could be the reason your wigs have a weird or bad smell, too.

Except for the above reasons, leaving your wigs unwashed for long periods will result in product build-up, thus definitely leaving your wig with an unpleasant smell.

How To Keep A Wig Smelling Great

Wash Your Wig Regularly

Although wigs do not need to be washed frequently like your natural hair, it is essential for you to wash your wigs regularly. After all, washing a wig thoroughly may be the best way to remove any offensive or unnatural smells from a wig.

First of all, you need to fill a basin or bath with lukewarm water and then fill the basin with a touch of gentle shampoo, conditioner, or fabric conditioner. Place your wig into the basin and leave it for around 10-15 minutes. Finally, run cold water over the wig to fully rinse it.

In the process of washing a wig, you must notice some points:

1. Don’t use hot water to wash your wigs whether they are human hair wigs or synthetic wigs since it may cause some damage to your wigs.

2. In order to keep the wig healthy, you had better choose sulfate-free shampoo and condition that are specially designed for wigs. Of course, the baby shampoo is an excellent option for you.

3. If it is possible, please use a shampoo and conditioner that are from the same brand and range, which will ensure that your wig has one smell and avoid a clash of odor.

4. Keep in mind that how often you wash your wig depends on how often you use it. If you are interested in how to wash a human hair wig properly, read How To Wash A Human Hair Wig? for more knowledge.

Do A Deep Conditioning Treatment Once Every Two Weeks

We all know deep conditioners can keep your hair soft and prevent breakage and tangle. In fact, deep conditioners can also avoid the smell caused by product buildup and a clash in scents to some extent and add delightful smells to your hair. We recommend that you use a deep conditioner about once every two weeks.

Before using the deep conditioner, it would be better to warm up your conditioner for an extra deep clean. You can fill a closed container with the conditioner and place it into a sink full of hot water for about a minute and apply it to your wig.

In addition, when you decide to use a conditioner to keep a lace front wig moisturized, it is best to use natural oils or a pre-mix of natural oils that don’t contain harmful chemicals, such as olive oil, coconut hair oil, argan oil, and so on. At the same time, you had better not DIY mix oils by yourself unless you are sure that the scents are complimentary.

Don’t Store Your Wig When It Is Wet

Similar to our clothes, if your wig is not completely dry before storing it, it will result in a damp, musty smell accumulating around both the human hair fiber and the internal wig cap. Therefore, you must ensure your wig is completely dry, and then fold and place it into a shoe box or packet. Or you also place your wig on a wig stand to keep the wig in good shape and allow enough airflow to avoid the wig catching a musky smell.

If you plan to store your wig for long periods of time, please try to wash and condition it before storage to avoid the possibility of worsening odors that are already there. More importantly, it will become difficult to remove the smell in the end.

Once you have finished the wig washing process and the weather is a sunny day, hang your wig on a clothesline or temporary shelf to let your wig freely air dry outdoors, which can help you create a gorgeous and fresh wig with the most natural aromas.

Make Sure Your Natural Hair Is Totally Dry Before Applying The Wig

For a similar reason to store your wig when it is dry, it is important to make sure your natural hair is totally dry before applying the wig, too. That is because a mass of wet or even damp natural hair gathered under a wig cap can produce that musty odor and even will attach itself to the base of your wig.

Cover Your Hair In a Smelling Environment

If you work in a kitchen or are going to be at a smoke-filled party, nothing is better to cover your hair. For example, in a kitchen, you can wear a hairnet, kerchief, or a hat. While for a party, in consideration of the dress code permits, opt for a hat or a cute bandana to complete your look.

If you can’t cover your hair, put it up in a bun, which can limit the amount of hair that is exposed to the smelling environment.

Wash Your Pillowcase At a Fixed Period

Many people think their pillowcases look very clean at first glance. But there are actually all sorts of tiny but nefarious things going on, for example, oils, dirt, sweat, and so on. In order to avoid damage and get rid of the bad smell from your wig, we sincerely suggest you wash your pillowcase for a fixed period.

Furthermore, your hair accessories also should be washed regularly, for instance, headbands, head wraps, hair scarves, especially when they are being worn to the gym!

Keep Your Hairbrush Clean

Another item to keep clean is your hair brush or comb. Think about it: You use your brush to untangle knots and keep your hair looking its best every day. And in this process, some of those oils (and dirt and pollution) are bound to build up on your brush over time.

In order to take out the smell from your wig, you must remove hair from between the bristles and clean it from time to time. Just some soap and water will do the trick.

Try Dry Shampoo

Except for absorbing the extra oils, the dry shampoo is designed to soak up the smell of a wig. Why not consider spraying some scented dry shampoo on your hair and use a wide-toothed comb to brush your hair thoroughly to help release a bad smell from the hair?

Apply Lemon Juice To Your Hair

Not only can lemons make your wig smell fresh, but also reduce dandruff and excess oil from your hair. You just need to wash your wig first, squeeze lemon juice and massage it into your hair and scalp to create great results. And it is great for highlight wigs as the lemon juice tends to lighten your hair and bring out highlights.

Use Baking Soda on Your Wig

Baking Soda is an ideal choice for neutralizing nasty odors and has the added benefit of softening synthetic hair. Either add a teaspoon of the soda to your wig or fully dilute a few teaspoons in a basin and leave the wig to soak for 10-30 minutes. Finally, don’t forget to rinse it with cold water and complete a full wash of your wig to ensure any chalky residue is removed.