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Kisshu-Neko — Tutorial: How to wash a wig

Published: 2012-02-06 00:59:05 +0000 UTC; Views: 14910; Favourites: 203; Downloads: 114
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Description EDIT: Try not to brush a wig when its wet. I've learned this just after writing this tutorial. Since I'm too lazy to redo the whole thing (and because I never knew that you weren't supposed to brush a wet wig), there is how you would proceed:
- Wash the wig just like you would in this tutorial.
- put it on a wig stand and let it dry completely. DON'T BRUSH IT YET!
- When it is completely dry, follow the steps in the tutorial to detangle your wig.

Apparently, brushing a wig when it is wet can cause damages to the fibers, even if they are synthetic. Maybe I'll redo the whole thing if I see that brushing it when it is dry makes a difference when you wash a wig.

***************

Okay, it has been more than a year since I've written a cosplay tutorial. Since I've had positive feedback for it, I figured out: why not make some more?

I've decided to try writing one tutorial per cosplay I make (at least). Or at least a WIP. I think it is great to help other cosplayers by sharing techniques

The reason why I've written a tutorial about washing wigs is because I often pass them to my friends, so they travel around quite a lot. The problem is that the more people wear it, the more "greasier" it looks. It looses it's shine and great texture. Plus, when I ask my friends to wash them, they often do not really know how to do it, so I figured that this could help them out.

I've not tried to wash a curly wig yet - I believe that you could still use baking soda and soft soap, but I really don't know how to brush the curls after that (I'm too scared to mess up to try something yet)m especially if they are on clips.

Anyway, if you have any question, feel free to ask me and I'll answer at the best of my capabilities!

Also please credit me if you want to post this tutorial somewhere.
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Comments: 34

Sailor-Aria [2016-06-11 23:58:03 +0000 UTC]

Would this work for a curly long wig?

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joey3311nuu [2014-08-31 01:03:33 +0000 UTC]

Does this method wash off acrylic paint? (From acrylic dyeing)

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Liung-Arkeanda [2013-08-23 01:15:11 +0000 UTC]

Question: Why should you not braid too loosely? I got my 120cm wig, and I am always careful to only braid it super loosely so that just stays together.

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GoldieKatt In reply to Liung-Arkeanda [2014-07-14 16:08:46 +0000 UTC]

if it's too loose it will tangle.

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Mangalover53 [2013-04-28 01:07:17 +0000 UTC]

How about if you don't have a wig net because you got the wig from someone else and you don't have the space to leave it on a headstand either? (doesn't even own real headstand, just uses bratz heads I find in thrift stores after those are washed and hair on them is cut short.)

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Grayies-cosplay [2012-06-18 19:10:10 +0000 UTC]

would Johonson baby shampoo ?

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Kisshu-Neko In reply to Grayies-cosplay [2012-06-19 02:56:00 +0000 UTC]

I think it could work since it is a very soft shampoo, but make sure not to use too much of it because it is meant for human hair at first.

It should be tested first, but I assume that since Dove can work, Jonson could work as well.

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Grayies-cosplay In reply to Kisshu-Neko [2012-06-19 06:00:53 +0000 UTC]

okay thanx!

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Kisshu-Neko In reply to Grayies-cosplay [2012-06-20 00:52:38 +0000 UTC]

You are welcome!

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Grayies-cosplay In reply to Kisshu-Neko [2012-06-20 01:29:44 +0000 UTC]

:3

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vetwin [2012-05-08 03:55:34 +0000 UTC]

hey can u do one like this but for curly wigs?? or curly clip ins?

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Kisshu-Neko In reply to vetwin [2012-05-08 23:29:19 +0000 UTC]

I would love to, but I unfortunately never tried to wash a curly wig before. I plan on trying it out soon tough!

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vetwin In reply to Kisshu-Neko [2012-05-09 01:38:36 +0000 UTC]

im like sooo scared to wash my wig

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Kisshu-Neko In reply to vetwin [2012-05-09 22:55:00 +0000 UTC]

I am too, honestly. But I'll need to wash it anyway...

I think there are some other very good tutorials on deviantart. They don't use the same method as I do, but they do explain how to re-curl a wig

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vetwin In reply to Kisshu-Neko [2012-05-10 03:39:09 +0000 UTC]

all i really no is do not use shampoo cus its make for human hair. and do not use hot water cus it will ruin the curls and to lay it our on a towel letting it dry and make curls it self. there a really good youtube vid about it somewhere

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xXRealityFadesXx [2012-05-03 22:39:33 +0000 UTC]

Thank you! Your wig-washing tutorial REALLY helped with my Misa Amane and Hinata Hyuga wigs!

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Kisshu-Neko In reply to xXRealityFadesXx [2012-05-05 21:02:50 +0000 UTC]

You are welcome! Just don't forget to brush the wig when it is entirely dry or it could damage it.

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Mudkipz4evar [2012-04-23 12:24:09 +0000 UTC]

can I use any kind of soap that is used for laundry?

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Kisshu-Neko In reply to Mudkipz4evar [2012-04-25 02:51:13 +0000 UTC]

I'm not sure about that, as there could be chemicals (or something that you're not aware of) in the soap and it could ruin your wig. I would say that it is safe to use soft soap tough, like DOVE or pink diswasher soap (sorry, I don't know how it is called but it is a pink, bubblegum-colored soap that doesn't smell).

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Mudkipz4evar In reply to Kisshu-Neko [2012-04-25 04:58:23 +0000 UTC]

okay, I will see what I can do :3

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SneakyMuffins [2012-02-28 01:39:54 +0000 UTC]

This is so helpful! Thank you! C:

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Kisshu-Neko In reply to SneakyMuffins [2012-02-28 02:17:27 +0000 UTC]

You are welcome! But don't forget not to brush a wet wig if you can avoid it tough. I've learned that after writing the tutorial ^^''

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AmaiNeiko [2012-02-26 09:44:01 +0000 UTC]

So is the wig you used in the tutorial heat resistant or not? =x i have a long straight wig for cosplaying Hyuga Hinata and the tag has the blow dryer and flat iron X'ed out so i know mines not heat resistant >.<; i had seen something that said the way to wash heat resistant wigs is different from non-heat resistant wigs but dunno how true that is. So just wondering what type yours is. =x

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Kisshu-Neko In reply to AmaiNeiko [2012-02-26 15:07:33 +0000 UTC]

The long wig I used is heat-resistant, but I'm not sure about the short one.

This tutorial shows the method I would use for both type of wigs, because it uses cold water and that your wigs dries naturally. I think that as long as you use cold water an no hairdryers or heat, you'll be fine.

I didn't know that there were supposed to be different washing methods depending on the "heat-resistant" factor tough

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SoulEatsSouls [2012-02-18 21:02:00 +0000 UTC]

Great tutorial but I have a question. I have a Konata (from Lucky Star) wig and it has this little piece of hair that sticks up. Will washing it effect it in any way or should I tie it up while washing it and then gel it again?

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Kisshu-Neko In reply to SoulEatsSouls [2012-02-18 21:46:59 +0000 UTC]

I never washed a wig that had gel in it before, so just to be sure I would suggest you to wash your wig without letting this piece of hair go in the water. Or, if you have wig wefts (that you aren't using of course), take a bit of it, put some gel on it and try to wash it to see if it does anything bad.

Sorry if it is not clear, english is not my primary language ^^"

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SoulEatsSouls In reply to Kisshu-Neko [2012-02-18 21:55:48 +0000 UTC]

Thank you so much

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Kisshu-Neko In reply to SoulEatsSouls [2012-02-18 22:09:42 +0000 UTC]

You are welcome

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twilightlinklover [2012-02-06 03:17:56 +0000 UTC]

Super simple a suivre, j'adore Et c'Est bien d'avoir pris une perruque longue... Sérieux, j'ai presque juste des cosplay avec des cheveux longs XD
Mais j'ai une question: les perruques coiffées... Est-ce que ça se lave? XD

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Kisshu-Neko In reply to twilightlinklover [2012-02-06 03:28:06 +0000 UTC]

Merci! Je fais toujours de mon mieux pour donner des explications simples avec des matériaux trouvables ou pas trop chers ^^

Les perruques coiffée... ça dépend. La perruque longue lavée dans ce tutoriel était celle que j'ai portée avec mon costume de Zelda, et j'avais utilisée énormément de hairspray pour que ça marche. Ça s'est très bien lavé, elle est maintenant toute douce et c'est comme si le hairspray n'avais jamais existé xD

Quel genre de coiffure ont tes perruques? Je peux toujours essayer de te trouver une idée

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twilightlinklover In reply to Kisshu-Neko [2012-02-06 03:32:29 +0000 UTC]

En fait je ne l'ai pas encore, mais ça va être les cheveux de Genis Sage. C'est des spikes dans le toupet, donc je vais devoir utiliser de la colle.

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Kisshu-Neko In reply to twilightlinklover [2012-02-06 03:38:48 +0000 UTC]

Hum... si tu lave la perruque, la colle va probablement partir. Ou alors ça va se défaire et juste coller encore plus, je n'ai jamais utilisée de colle sur une perruque.

Peut-être que tu pourrais essayer de tout tremper sauf le toupet? Genre le faire dépasser du niveau de l'eau?

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twilightlinklover In reply to Kisshu-Neko [2012-02-06 03:59:58 +0000 UTC]

Ouin, ça doit se faire de pas tremper le toupet. J'essaierai ça quand j'aurai coiffé la perruque!
Merci encore pour le tuto

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Kisshu-Neko In reply to twilightlinklover [2012-02-06 16:46:07 +0000 UTC]

De rien, je suis contente qu'il te soit utile

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