Wigs are a staple for many women with natural hair, partly because they are a great protective style, but also because they allow you to play around with different hairstyles while your real curls remain untouched. However, there’s a right and wrong way to do it. If you want to maintain healthy curls and actually grow your hair while rocking wigs,  you need to maintain a proper routine with healthy habits to avoid damage.

In this article, we’ll be revealing our top tips and tricks for making your natural hair grow and flourish while rocking wigs.

Benefits Of Wigs For Natural Hair

• Convenience and Comfort: Styling your natural hair often requires a lot of effort and time. However, wearing a wig provides an easy and beautiful hairstyle without any of the hassle of manipulating your real hair.

• Protection From Damage: Wigs keep your natural hair completely covered, preventing exposure to harsh environmental aggressors that usually cause breakage. This makes them an amazing protective style that helps maintain the health of the hair.

• Aids Length Retention: By protecting your hair from damage and breakage, wigs help you retain length and notice more hair growth.

• Style Versatility: One of the best perks of wearing wigs is the limitless styling options. You can switch your look and play around with different lengths, colors, and styles without tampering with your natural curls.

How to Grow Your Natural Hair With Wigs

Prep Your Hair Before Your Install

Before installing any wig on your hair, it is very important to ensure your natural curls are properly nourished, as this will help prevent dryness and breakage. Cleanse your hair with a non-stripping shampoo and follow up with a conditioner or deep conditioner. After cleansing, follow up with a moisturiser once your hair is dry and put it in a protective style like cornrows or twists before proceeding with your install.

Choose The Right Wig

If you want to actually maintain and grow healthy hair, it is crucial to choose a wig that suits the current state and needs of your hair. For instance, before going for that lace front install, pay attention to the current state of your hair and your edges and decide if it is really the right choice for you. 

Lace frontals and closure wigs that require glues may not be the best choice for those with thinning or balding edges, as they can cause friction and result in breakage of your already weak hair strands, so those who fall into this group may benefit more from wearing U-part and V-part wigs or even sew-ins. Additionally, those who like easy access to their natural hair and want something easy to remove may be best suited to headband wigs.

Protect Your Hair Before Going To Bed

Whether you go to bed with your wig on or you take it off beforehand, it is extremely Important to protect your hair with a satin or silk bonnet before going to bed. The cotton fabric most beddings are made of causes friction when your natural hair rubs against it, and over time, this can result in a lot of breakage. Wearing a bonnet to bed will also help prevent this from happening and also keep your wig from looking rough and frizzy.

Pay Attention To Your Edges

The baby hairs on your edges often suffer the most breakage when you install or remove your wigs incorrectly. A lot of people make the mistake of pulling off their wigs without any care for their edges, and when you do this, you could be pulling off the delicate hair strands on your edges. To avoid this, be as gentle as possible when taking off your wigs. If it was installed with a glue or adhesive, you can apply a little bit of hair oil around your hairline to gently loosen the adhesion and then carefully tug on the wig until it slips off.

Use A Wig Cap

A wig cap is one of the most underrated tools for keeping your natural hair healthy when wearing wigs. Frequent wig installs and removal often cause a lot of friction on your strands and can result in breakage, especially around your edges. A wig cap helps prevent this by acting as a protective barrier to help reduce the friction, so it is very important to wear one underneath your wig.

Moisturise Your Hair Often

When your hair is covered up in a wig for an extended period, it loses moisture very easily, and over time, that lack of moisture can result in breakage if left unattended. This is why it is extremely important to moisturise your hair as often as you can. If you're wearing a glueless or lace frontal that can easily be removed, take it off at least once a week and spritz your hair with some moisturiser. However, if your wig is a sew-in, try to lift the hair and spray some leave-in spray at the roots. 

Keep Your Scalp Nourished

If your goal is to grow your natural hair while wearing wigs, then you need to pay attention to your scalp. Your hair literally grows out of your scalp, so keeping it nourished and healthy is very important for hair growth. Apply a nourishing scalp oil as often as you can and massage it into your scalp for about 5-10 minutes. 

Take Breaks Frequently

Giving your scalp room to breathe is extremely important for maintaining a healthy scalp environment and preventing the buildup of sweat and dirt on your hair. After wearing wigs for an extended period of time, take a break for a few weeks and rock your natural hair in a cute hairstyle. Shampoo your scalp to remove any buildup and let it soak up proper nourishment and moisture before you cover it up with a wig again.

Wigs are a great protective style that helps you retain length while on your natural hair growth journey. However, they are not an excuse to abandon your hair completely. If you want your hair to remain healthy and grow, be sure to follow the tips we’ve highlighted in this article. The most important thing for achieving a flawless look while wearing wigs is to make sure it looks natural, so if you want a curly wig that blends perfectly well with your natural curls, be sure to grab our 100% Human Hair Kinky Curly Wigs in your desired texture.