How to Curl Synthetic Wig Hair

There is no doubt that we all want to get those luscious bouncy curls on some days to complete our flawless look. Curls are not only a perfect way to add body into a boring hairstyle but they also bring an element of charm and elegance to an otherwise basic look. However, when trying to curl synthetic wig hair, the situation can become complicated.

Curling synthetic wig hair requires extra care and attention because wig hair is not always heat-resistant. Some synthetic hair wigs cannot withstand the heat of harsh hair styling tools. The hair strands are made of plastic so they end up melting when exposed to such high temperatures. This means you can’t turn on your curling iron and begin curling wig hair like you would curl your natural hair. This is when you must use other methods that don’t involve high levels of heat to create the same beautiful curls on synthetic wig hair.

How Do You Curl Synthetic Wig Hair?

It’s easy to curl synthetic wig hair at home on your own. The method that you should use for curling depends on the type of synthetic wig hair you have.

If you buy a wig that is labeled as heat-resistant then you can curl it as you would usually curl your natural hair. This means all you have to do is use a curling iron or straightener to curl the synthetic wig hair. This is harmless to do because heat resistant synthetic wigs are specially made to withstand heat.

On the other hand, if your synthetic wig hair is not heat-resistant, then you must resort to other techniques to curl your hair. You can use mild heat to create curls with the help of a hairdryer and hairpins.

You can also use Flexi rods and dip the synthetic hair wig with the Flexi rods in warm water so that the curls stay for longer periods of time. We will explain these methods in detail later on in the article.

The main thing you need to remember before attempting to curl synthetic wig hair is to never expose the wig to high heat. This is doubly important if you are not sure if it is heat resistant.

Synthetic wig hair is very sensitive to heat so the wig will easily melt when you use heated styling tools on it. This will result in your wig getting damaged with melted strands of hair.

What Temperature Can You Curl Synthetic Hair On?

As a safety precaution, we would recommend you to use lower levels of heat even on heat resistant synthetic wig hair. This suggestion relies on the same concept as using lower heat levels while using hair tools on your natural hair. It is simply a safety measure to avoid unnecessary damage.

As a general rule of thumb, the temperature you use should be high enough to create curls on the wig but be low enough to avoid any permanent damage.
Typically this range is between 180 to 250 degrees Fahrenheit. This is a safe range of temperatures at which you could curl heat resistant synthetic wig hair.

How to Curl a Synthetic Wig with a Curling Iron

To curl a synthetic wig with a curling iron always begin by checking the label on the wig’s packaging for instructions. This will help you determine if the synthetic wig is heat resistant or not. The label can also sometimes specify the specific range of temperature you can safely use on the synthetic wig.

If you have lost the packaging with instructions but know your synthetic wig is heat resistant, then start by curling a very tiny part of the wig. This will help you test the curling iron on a small part of the wig hair and ensure that the hair strands don’t melt.

Once you have tested the curling iron on your synthetic wig, you can safely proceed with curling it by placing the wig on a head mannequin. After this, you should switch on your curling iron and set it on the lowest heat setting.

Next, spray the wig hair with water before you start using the curling iron on it. Making the synthetic wig hair wet will help you keep the curls intact for a longer period of time. Spray enough water to make the wig wet but not too much that the water starts dripping all over the place.

The next thing to do is to start dividing the hair strands on the wig into different sections. If you are aiming to create loose curls then you should divide your hair into fewer large sections.

If you want to create tighter curls that last for longer then you must divide the wig hair into many smaller sections. You can use hair clips to keep the sections separated while curling.
Now, you can finally begin using the curling iron on the synthetic wig to create the beautiful curls you wanted. Wrap your preheated curling iron around each section of the hair. Hold the curling iron in place for about a minute and then release the section of the hair from it.

After that, continue curling the rest of the sections exactly like this.

You can also keep the hair sections pinned in the shape of their curls. This will help you get tighter curls that last all day long.

How to curl a synthetic wig with a flat iron

For curling your synthetic wig hair with a flat iron, the first few steps to follow are the same as a curling iron. You can start by securing your synthetic wig on a head mannequin with hair clips. After this spray the synthetic wig hair with water and divide the hair into separate sections as explained above.

Once you’ve sectioned the wet hair, you can begin curling the heat resistant synthetic wig hair with a flat iron. To create curls with a flat iron, you have to twist the flat iron inwards with the wig hair strands. The technique is the same as curling your natural hair with a flat iron.

A small suggestion we have for you is to use the flat iron on the lowest heat setting option on your straightener. This is a safety precaution to avoid melting or damaging your synthetic wig hair.

How to curl a synthetic wig with steam

If your synthetic wig is labeled to be non-heat resistant, then don’t worry. We know the right hacks you need to learn for curling your synthetic wig hair without damaging it with harmful hot hair styling tools.

Steaming your wig hair is a smart method for curling synthetic wig hair that is non-heat resistant. Since you can’t use a curling rod or flat iron on it, you can use steam instead. This is because steam is milder on the synthetic wig hair and won’t damage or melt it.

To curl your hair with steam, you should apply heat-resistant spray on it to avoid the chance of damaging the synthetic wig. After this, you must divide the wig hair into sections as you would do for curling it with a curling rod.

Once you’ve sectioned the wig hair, you should start putting rollers into each section of the synthetic wig hair. This will help create the curls in the synthetic wig hair. Remember to secure all the rollers in the wig hair with pins to keep them in place while steaming.

Once you’re done putting rollers in all the sections, you can then start steaming the wig hair. The steam will help shape the curls with rollers and also help keep these curls for a longer time. To steam synthetic wig hair, you can actually buy a wig steamer.

Yes, you read it right. A wig steamer is a new product in the market which helps you steam your synthetic wig.

After steaming the synthetic wig hair sections with rollers in them, allow the wig hair to air dry. Let the wig cool off for about half an hour. Once the wig feels completely dry, you can remove the rollers and your synthetic wig hair will be curled.

How to curl synthetic hair with Flexi rods

You can curl synthetic wig hair with Flexi rods exactly the same way as you would with rollers. The method is explained in detail above. You start by dividing the hair into separate sections and then roll up the sections of wig hair into the Flexi rods. After this, you should cap the end of the Flexi rods to ensure the wig hair stays fixed around them.

Once you have rolled all your wig hair into Flexi rods, you must let it stay like that for some time to get shaped into curls. You can steam the synthetic wig hair or blow-dry it to help keep the curls for a longer time.

Do rollers work on synthetic hair?

Rollers do work for curling synthetic wig hair but they need more time and effort. You have to keep the rollers fixed in the hair for about an hour. You will also need the help of steam or hot air from a hairdryer to create proper long-lasting curls on the wig hair.

How to curl synthetic hair with hot water

You can use hot water to help curl the synthetic wig hair after you have put the sections of the wig hair into perm rods or rollers. All you have to do is submerge each perm rod one at a time with the wig hair rolled around it into a mug with hot water. Be careful while handling the hot water and avoid using bare hands to hold the mug.

Start by filling the mug ¾ with hot water. After this, you have to dip each perm rod or roller separately inside this mug. Let each perm rod stay dipped in the hot water for about 20-30 seconds for the best results. After this lift it out the perm rod and dip the next one.

Continue dipping all the perm rods and replace the water with hot water when it cools. Once you are finished dipping all the perm rods in hot water let the synthetic wig hair air dry for a while. You can remove the perm rods once the hair feels dry.

How to curl synthetic hair without heat

If you don’t want to use heat on your synthetic wig hair at all, then you can only put perm rods or rollers on to wet wig hair to curl it. You will have to let the perm rods or rollers stay put in the synthetic wig hair for a longer time to create the curls.

Since this curling method does not involve any heat, it will not be as effective as the other methods explained above. Using steam, hot water, or heated hairstyling tools; like a hairdryer, flat iron or curling rod, are the best options for curling synthetic wig hair.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does wearing a wig damage your hair?

Wearing a wig does not damage your natural hair if you take proper care of it. Remember to wash your natural hair to maintain its health even if you do wear a wig. Also, try to invest in wigs that have nylon netting attached to them at the bottom as this will allow your natural hair to breathe.

How much does a good wig cost?

The cost of a good synthetic wig is usually from $200 to $500. If the synthetic wig is heat resistant then it will usually be more expensive. Real human hair wigs generally have higher prices than synthetic wigs.

How often should you wash a wig?

Most experts suggest you wash your wig roughly about every four to six weeks. How often you wash your wig also depends on how frequent you wear the wig. You should definitely wash your wig after wearing it about 25 to 30 times.

Conclusion

We hope you use the tips given in this article the next time you try to curl your synthetic wig hair. As you now know, the methods for curling your synthetic wig hair are quite effortless and manageable to do on your own. So don’t hesitate to try out these helpful tricks to get the beautiful bouncy curls you’ve always wanted.