Sure, it looks great when you’re wearing it. But some time or another you’re going to have to remove and clean your lace front wig. Proper cleaning of the unit can preserve its look and lengthen its life, and we all want our lace fronts to look great for as long as possible, don’t we?
So here are some tips and techniques for removing and cleaning your lace front wig. Read them carefully, understanding the basic technique and gathering the needed supplies before starting. These tips have helped many a lace front have a long life, so the same thing would apply to your own wigs:
• To remove your lace front wig, take a cotton pad or sponge tip swab and dab 99% alcohol or Adhesive Release at the hairline. Slowly peel back the lace, dabbing underneath as it releases from your scalp. Don't force it. If it doesn't easily lift, then it's not ready. If you try to lift it before it's ready, this could cause severe breakage, and possible damage to the follicle.
It's also important to understand the most adhesives come with a solvent to remove them. Always purchase the solvent with the adhesive as it was designed to remove that adhesive specifically.
• Prior to a shampoo, remove the tape and residue from your unit’s lace. Using a sponge tip swab, apply Adhesive Release or 99% Isopropyl Alcohol anywhere the tape has been. Swab through the top of the lace onto the tape. Within a minute or two the tape should release, and then you can pull it off.
• Be especially careful at the hairline. Soak the front portion of the unit in a shallow container with adhesive release for about 15 minutes and the tape should easily come off.
• If you don’t use an alcohol-based adhesive release, flush the lace with alcohol after soaking. This will eliminate any oily residue from the release solution, because without a clean surface, the tape won’t stick when you reapply the unit.
• When shampooing, rinse the hair about an inch from the knot, spraying in the direction of the hair toward the ends. Use a rinse sprayer, such as you might have in your shower or kitchen sink. Use cold water and avoid wetting the foundation of the wig or the knots, which can make them unravel and let the hair fall out more quickly.
• Working in ½ inch sections about 3 inches wide, apply shampoo to the hair, starting about 1 inch above the knots. Work the shampoo to the ends of the hair until you’ve covered the entire unit. Remember, use a shampoo designed for color treated hair, and dilute it with water.
• Allow the shampoo to sit up to 60 seconds and rinse completely. When all of the shampoo is removed, blot excess water from the hair with a soft towel.
• Lightly wipe the base of the wig from the inside with a towel, then repeat with a sponge or cloth soaked in 99% alcohol. Alcohol will draw water from the knots, an important factor in the longevity of your hair unit.
• While it’s still wet, put the wig on your head. Make certain the hairline is the width of four fingers from your eyebrows, and that the temples are three fingers from the corners of your eyes. Carefully comb the hair, starting at the ends and working toward the knots. Comb and style as usual, it is easiest to part the hair while it is still wet.
• To maintain its shape, keep the hair system pinned to a canvas block when not in use. If the block is too small or too large it can cause the foundation to stretch, so make sure the block is the same size as the wig.
• Pin a ½” strip of cardboard on top of the hairline while the unit is wet, and allow it to dry overnight. This will make it easier to style the hair back away from your hair line.
So there you have a list of tips to help your lace front look sensational. And we all know, when your lace front looks amazing, you look amazing. Isn’t that what everyone wants?
