Is your lace wig shedding a lot? No one likes to see loose hair in the comb or gliding across your bathroom floor after the hair is styled. Keep reading to learn more about why your wig will shed and how to stop your lace wig from shedding or minimize shedding.
Why Is My Wig Shedding So Much？
As we all know, shedding is completely normal for wigs, just like your natural hair. But it is deviant to shedding a lot more than usual or a lot more than expected. After all, shedding is actually permanent and the hair will never grow back. Therefore, it is extremely important for you to understand why your wig is shedding so much, thus learning how to reduce hair shedding. Here are some reasons why your wig is shedding a lot.
1. Brushing Wig When It Is Wet
There is no doubt that whether it’s from a shower or a swim, water will cause swelling on the base, thus weakening the attachment site (where the wig hair is attached to the wig base). In this case, it will make the gripping power of the hair looser and ultimately lead to shedding more than it should. Besides, your wig will be in its most vulnerable state when it is wet.
Thus, please avoid touching your human hair bundles immediately after it gets wet or combing through it right after washing it. Keep in mind that you must wait for it to be completely dry.
2. Over Brushing
In order to keep your wig from tangling, you should always regularly brush your wigs. However, excessive brushing can actually lead to more shedding. That is because wigs are fragile and with excessive brushing, brushing your wig too aggressively, or using the incorrect tools, you may end up ripping through the knots and causing breakage to the hair fibers, or pulling out strands of hair that otherwise would not have shed.
3. Not Attaching It Correctly
Although wiggins wig glues, combs, and clips can properly attach wigs to your head, they will actually cause damage to your natural hair, skin, and even the wig itself. Especially, wig glue not only can cause damage to hair or skin but also the lace of the wig when used excessively. And it even can loosen the hair attached to the lace and lead to shedding.
4. Using Wrong Products
Not only can excessive use of hair care products weigh down your wigs, but it can also cause them to shed. For example, products that are not wig-friendly are often too harsh and have high levels of alcohol in them that could dry out your wig hair too much, damage and break the hair and cause it to fall out. And if you use too much conditioner or hair oil and apply it to the roots of your wig, these oily products such as hair creams, hair oils, conditioner, and hair masks will saturate the base of the wig and can loosen the bonds resulting in excess shedding. So always use any products sparingly and with gentle care to prolong the life of your wigs.
5. Using Too Much Heat
Although the rising quality of human hair wigs has made it possible for hot styling tools to be used on them, heat can also cause hair shedding. For instance, if you wash your wig in boiling hot water or use heat tools such as hairdryers and hair straighteners on your wig, the heat from the hot water and the hair tools can damage the hair, damage and weaken the bonds and result in excess shedding. In addition, blow-drying your hair the wrong way, overdoing it, or not protecting your hair before applying heat can either overdry your hair or cause it to be brittle.
6. Sleeping With Your Wig On
When you sleep in your wig and often toss and turn in, it will produce friction between the wig and pillow that will damage the hair cuticle (protective outer layer of the hair fiber) and cause breakage and hair shedding. If the hair is long, you may ever tug at the hair and cause hair loss.
7.Trying Tight Hairstyles
If you may be used to tight ponytails, buns, or up-dos, these tight hairstyles require a lot of tugging and pulling at the hair. When the hair is pulled back too tightly, it may cause wig hair snapping and falling out.
8. Exposuring Your Wig Under The Sun
If your hair has prolonged exposure to the sun, the UV rays can damage your hair, such as discoloration, thinning, frizziness, or causing split ends or dry and brittle strands. UV (ultraviolet) light can also cause your hair to fall. What is more important, your lights at home will have the same effect. After all, fluorescent lights usually emit a small amount of UV light and could potentially cause discoloration or damage to your hair.
9. Poor Quality
If you find that none of the previous reasons apply to you, then it’s more than possible that your hair is shedding simply because of its quality. If the wig is of poor quality, it will shed more than one that’s of a higher quality. So if you’re planning on wearing your wig regularly, opt for one that’s of a higher quality so it can last as long as possible.
How Do I Stop My Wig From Shedding?
By reading the above reasons, we have already learned why your wig is shedding so much. Now there are a few simple tips and tricks that can effectively avoid wig shedding in the following.
1. Properly Brush Wig
Never brush wig when it is wet! Always brush your wig when it is completely dry and do so with extreme care and be sure not to pull on knots. For delicate lace front wigs, it is best for you to use a wide-toothed brush or a professional wig brush to help you gently and thoroughly detangle your wigs without causing further damage to them.
Furthermore, always aim to brush your synthetic wig before and after wear, starting from the ends and working your way up the hair. If your lace wig is particularly tangled, firstly use your finger to comb through your wig carefully, and then use your brush to detangle knots and extend the life of your human hair wigs.
2. Use Heat Tools As Less As Possible
Always make sure your wig can be heat-styled before attempting to use any heat tools on it. When using hot tools on your wigs, also make sure you use them at as low a temperature as possible. Otherwise, you will run the risk of causing your synthetic wig to shed or even melt the fibers altogether! Of course, if possible, it would be better to air dry or use the cold setting on your blow dryer. You can also invest in some heat-protection creams or sprays that are designed to protect your hair when you apply heat. Or, try to style your synthetic wigs without heat to keep them looking their best for as long as possible.
3. Avoid UV
If you’re out and about for much of the day, try and avoid exposure to the sun as much as possible. Or, you can choose to wear a hat with your wig. For these beginners who haven’t tried wigs before, read Can You Wear A Wig With A Hat? to learn more knowledge.
Also, it is an excellent option for you to invest in UV-reducing or UV-free light alternatives.
4. Opt For High-quality Wigs
Always read customer reviews before purchasing a wig. Whether it’s on the website, through Google, or even YouTube videos, always try to look for reviews on the brand of the wig or the wig itself to help you find a high-quality wig.
5. Don’t Wash Wig With Hot Water
Instead of washing your hair in hot water, wash your hair in lukewarm to cool water, which can avoid causing damage and shedding.
6. Apply A Knot Sealer On The Wig
As a spray product, knot sealer usually comes in a small spray bottle and is used to seal the knots and keep them tied firmly. You can Spray it on the lace or mesh of the wig when the wig is flipped inside out, which can seal the bonds and reinforce the attachment site. After drying, flip back the wig again and wear it. Notice that uses this product after every wash and let it dry properly before you wear your wig! Only doing this, you can minimize wig shedding and keep your wig looking full.
7. Pick Up Right Products For Your Wig
Avoid using shampoos, hair sprays, spritz, and other hair care products that have a high alcohol content because alcohol makes the hair dry and brittle, even causing the hairs to break and start thinning. When using the products you get from the drug store and off the supermarket shelves, you need to check whether these products have a harsh chemical composition or high alcohol content or not in order to avoid causing irreversible damage to the wig.
And you should always take note of the pH levels of any hair product you use and stick to hair care products with a balanced pH, such as botanical products. The appropriate pH range should be around 4 - 6. Acidic products such as shampoos and conditioners with the right balance will cause the hairs to lie down making them smooth and manageable. As for alkaline products with a pH above 7 makes the hairs raise and get tangled.
In the end, be sure not to use oily products at the roots of the HD lace wig as they can weaken the attachment site of the hair and cause shedding.
8. Don’t Scratch
Avoid scratching your scalp through the wig while you are wearing your wig. That is because it will trigger the shedding. When your scalp underneath the wig is itchy and you cannot seem to get relief feeling itchy, pat your scalp with your hands. But the discomfort is a sign of a dry scalp, so you should try and use moisturizing products on your natural hair and treat the scalp. Certainly, using anti-itch shampoo also helps reduce irritation.
9. Wrap Your Hair When Sleeping
If you plan to sleep in your wig, it is important to protect the hair from any friction and keep it from tangling. Either braid the hair before your sleep or use wrap your head and wig in a silk scarf or bonnet is a good choice for you.