Everything you need to know about caring for your Radiant piece.

Your first week

• 01

  Don't wash it yet

  Your piece arrives ready to wear. There's no need to wash it before your first wear, and washing too early just uses up its life. Most people won't wash for the first few weeks.

• 02

  Detangle before and after every wear

  Ends first, then work upward. This one habit prevents almost every problem people have with human hair pieces.

• 03

  Less product, less often

  Wig hair has no scalp oil feeding it, so it can't rebalance itself the way your own hair does. Everything you put on it stays on it. Lightweight and minimal always wins.

• 04

  It's meant to feel odd at first

  The fit, the weight, seeing yourself. That settles within a week or two. Give yourself permission to practise.

Brands to avoid

• Pantene Heavy silicones that build up on the hair with nothing to break them down, leaving your piece dull, coated and unable to take moisture in.
• Head & Shoulders An anti-dandruff formula built to strip. It will lift the colour out of your piece.
• Herbal Essences Same problem as Pantene — heavy silicone buildup on hair that can't shed it.
• OGX Heavy oils and silicones. Weighs the hair down and dulls it over time.
• Olaplex A bond-building treatment designed for hair that's still growing on a head. On a wig or topper it can cause breakage and shedding.

Never use

• Oils, including Moroccanoil Oils are wonderful on your own hair. On a piece they oxidise, which changes the colour over time, and they damage the integrity of the hair.
• Protein-based products Protein works on bio hair because your scalp keeps feeding it. On a wig it sits there, goes brittle and causes breakage.
• Bond repair products Unnecessary on a piece, and they cause knotting and tangling.
• Hair growth or rebuilding products These dry the hair out, which leads to knotting and shedding. There is also no hair growing here for them to act on.
• Sunscreen contact Sunscreen can alter the colour of your piece — blondes especially, which can turn. Always let sunscreen absorb fully into your skin before you put your hair on.
• Purple shampoo, used regularly On a blonde piece it grabs fast and goes ashy or violet. If you use it at all, dilute it heavily and treat it as an occasional toner, not a wash.
• Clarifying, volumising or 2-in-1 shampoos All too stripping for hair that can't replenish itself.

How often

• Daily wear

  Every 2–4 weeks

• A few times a week

  Every 6–8 weeks

• Occasional wear

  When it stops feeling fresh, or before a big event

What wrecks a piece fastest

• Backcombing near the lace or a topper base It pulls hair straight out of the knots.
• Heavy oils at the root or base They loosen the knots and weigh the hair down. Oils belong on the ends only, and sparingly.
• Sleeping in it Friction against a pillow is what causes matting at the nape.
• Heat near the knots, lace or cap Lace melts. That damage is permanent.
• Brushing it soaking wet Wet hair stretches and snaps. Wait until it's damp.

• Daily

  Place it on a wig stand so the cap keeps its shape. Keep it away from humidity, direct heat and sunny windows. Give it a quick detangle before it goes down for the night — five seconds now saves you ten minutes tomorrow.

• Long-term

  Store it fully dry and freshly detangled. Use a satin bag or the original packaging. Lay long hair flat rather than folding it in half. Check on it every couple of months if it's away for a long stretch.

• Travel

  Pack it in a satin bag. Protect the parting and fringe area with tissue or a hair net. Carry it on — don't check it.