How To: Revive Your Full Lace Wig

Posted June 1, 2012 by April Flores

Do you own a full lace wig that is matted, shedding, tangled, and poofy? Have you spent hundreds of dollars on full lace wigs only to have them end up looking like a rat’s nest? Do you need to revive a full lace wig for a special event because you don’t have the money to splurge on a new one? Have you abused your full lace wig and want to turn things around? If you have answered yes to any of these questions then your full lace wig help is here. Full lace wigs are versatile, convenient, and offer an alternative to hair extensions. Even though there are many perks that come with full lace wigs, maintenance is somewhat of a downfall. Full lace wigs last up to three years on average, however, with time, use, and abuse, your once glorious full lace wig is now anything but which leaves you wondering, what can I do to give my full lace wig life and beauty again? Well here is a list of options to revive your shedding, matted, tangled, frizzy full lace wigs with some much needed TLC.

Silicon Mix

Silicon mix is a deep conditioning hair product that contains a heavy dose of silicone. Many people are unaware that processed human hair contains a silicone coating to make the hair appear sleek, shiny and manageable. Over time, the silicone coating comes off through washing, and styling. While silicone is not a good option for your own hair, silicone on your full lace is ok. Silicon mix is available online and in some Dominican hair sections of your local beauty supply store. To use, simply shampoo your full lace wig with a clarifying shampoo and follow up with the silicon mix. Apply it to your full lace wig and place your full lace wig inside of a zip lock bag and let it sit for a period of no less than one hour. Be sure to seal the zip lock bag before letting it sit. You can also mix in your favorite conditioner with the silicon mix before applying it to your full lace wig. For deeper conditioning, apply a steamy towel over the zip lock bag while your full lace wig is inside. When using silicon mix, stay clear of the lace and only apply to the hair.

Bleach Bath

If you have a tangled, matted mess of a full lace wig then this method is for you. It may seems strange to put bleach and ammonia on hair but trust me, once you try it, it will be your go to method for detangling deeply matted hair.

Things you will need:

Ammonia

Clorox Brand Bleach

Clarifying Shampoo

Conditioner

Hot Tap Water

Large Basin

Wide Tooth Comb or Detangling Brush

Rubber Gloves

STEPS

Put on rubber gloves before starting the process.
If you have a stainless steel sink, you should use it for the bleach and ammonia portion of the process. Apply one gallon of hot tap water into a large basin or sink. The water should be extremely hot but not boiling.
Add ¼ cup of Clorox bleach into the gallon of water. For severely matted hair, double the amount of Clorox bleach to ½ cup per one gallon of hot tap water.
Submerge the full lace wig into the bleach solution and begin to detangle with a wide tooth comb or detangling brush for a period of no more than 3 minutes.
After 3 minutes has expired, remove the wig from the solution.
Using a clarifying shampoo mixed in a small basin of warm water, swish the full lace wig in the solution to remove the bleach and water residue. During this time, drain the water and bleach from the sink or basin. Continue to brush or comb through the hair to keep it from tangling during the process.
Refill your basin or sink with three cups of hot water.
Next, add ¼ cup of ammonia and add it to the three cups of hot water. For severely tangled or matted hair, double this amount to ½ of ammonia per three cups of hot water.
Submerge the hair into the ammonia and water solution using a dipping/dunking motion for a few times (no more than 1 to 2 minutes) while gently combing/brushing through the hair on the wig.
Follow up with the same water and clarifying shampoo mix to remove the ammonia from the hair.
Rinse the wig thoroughly with water.
Deep condition the hair with a moisturizing conditioner or silicon mix. You can also place the wig into a zip lock bag in the microwave for ten seconds. You can also place a hot steamed towel over the bag if you do not feel comfortable placing your wig into the microwave.
Let the hair air dry and enjoy tangle free hair.

WARNING: Using the bleach bath may weaken the knots. Seal the knots before and after using the bleach bath method. Also, try to perform this method with the wig on a wig head if possible.

Horse Products

It may sound strange, but horse products like cowboy magic and show sheen work wonderfully for your full lace wig. These products detangle the hair while adding sheen. For cowboy magic, after shampooing your full lace wig, part the hair into four sections. Take a quarter sized amount for each section and apply from root to tip. Comb through and let the wig air dry. Show sheen comes in a spray form but is applied the same way as cowboy magic. These products can be found either online or at any horse supply and feed store in your area. Be aware that these products are similar to silicon mix and may buildup on the hair. Always shampoo with a clarifying shampoo in between uses and do not over-saturate your wig with these products or you may end up with hair that is too shiny with too much slippage.

Apple Cider Vinegar

If you use apple cider vinegar on your hair with good results then your full lace wig can too benefit from it as well. It’s best to use organic apple cider vinegar. Dilute it with cool water using a one to one ratio: One part water and one part apple cider vinegar. Shampoo hair as usual and follow up with the apple cider vinegar and water mixture. You can either submerge the entire wig in the solution or apply it using a spray bottle. Follow up with a cool water rinse after allowing the solution to set for a few minutes. Then, use your conditioner as usual and rinse. This method combats tangles, matting, and swelling hair.

Ultimate Knot Sealer Combo for Severe Shedding

If your full lace wig is shedding terribly then here is the perfect solution for you.

You will need

Wig head

3M craft adhesive or any craft adhesive spray

Aussie Instant Freeze Hair Spray

Fan or fresh air

Plastic Cap

STEPS

Place your full lace wig inside out on a wig head. You can opt to attach the wig head with pins to keep it stable.
Take your plastic cap and tuck any hair inside of the cap. Make sure that the elastic on the plastic cap covers any areas that you do not want to penetrate with knot sealer.
Next, using light strokes, spray Aussie Instant Freeze onto the knots on the cap. Apply 3 light coats of the spray letting each coat dry completely in between.
Next, apply two light coats of 3m adhesive craft spray letting each layer dry completely before applying the next layer.
Place the full lace wig in front of a fan or window and allow it to dry until it is dry to the touch.

This fool proof method has worked for me each time I over bleached my full lace wigs. You can also use this after each wash to ensure that the knots remain secure on your full lace wig.

As you can see, there are many ways to revive an old, used and abused laced wig. So don’t throw out your old units. Get them back in tip top shape with the methods above.