It’s hot! Tips for wearing a wig in the summer

Tips for wearing a wig in the summer? We've got answers!

Summer has arrived and with it, heat and humidity. What do you do if you’re an alternative hair wearer and what type of hair is cooler?

First off, human hair will be more comfortable in the heat, but like bio hair, it will often behave on its own in the humidity unless you use products on it (just like your own bio hair.)  But ALL hair systems use synthetic caps to attach the hair.  So at some point, there’s some synthetic against your head. 

The interior of a 3-year old Follea full wig. The lace front at the top and even the wefting on the bottom (which is different then than Follea wigs are now) show that you can see daylight through the hair fibers. Daylight=cooler wig wearing.

The interior of a 3-year old Follea full wig. The lace front at the top and even the wefting on the bottom (which is different then than Follea wigs are now) show that you can see daylight through the hair fibers. Daylight=cooler wig wearing.

A good rule of thumb is if you can SEE through the cap, it’s going to be cooler. So look through the wig cap and see if you can see daylight. Daylight = breeze. If not, save that big heavy wig for cooler days.  Your wig stylist can selectively “thin” wigs down to create less volume (and less heat) for you, so if you’ve loved that synthetic wig all winter, and are in the 4th+ month, consider having it thinned for summer. With care, most synthetic wigs have a 9-12 month shelf life, and at 4+months, having it trimmed to wear the rest of the summer may be a good option. If it’s brand new, wear it for evening wear or cooler summer days.

Short hair wigs will also be cooler in the summer, for obvious reasons that you don’t have heavier hair hanging down the back of your neck. Wigs with less volume, too, will be cooler, to let airflow in.  Consider the pixie, an angled bob, a fun wavy bob or even straight wig looks thinned down for cooler hair wearing in summer’s heat. 

Let’s face it, at the end of the day, you’re going to want to rip that wig right off your head! Plan ahead: wear a scarf or tie it to your bag, and bring a wig travel bag, so you can take your hair off in your car, tie on a headscarf and safely transport your wig home. 

Bring a small spray bottle with witch hazel, distilled water, and a drop of essential oils. The (tiny amount) of oils will be cool and refreshing to your scalp. A spritz inside your wig cap will help with the “stinkies” after a long day of wearing in the heat. You may have to wash your wig more than usual – consider washing just the cap and conditioning the rest of your synthetic wig to preserve the fibers.  I’ve even washed just the bangs of my human hair wig when they developed that greasy look. Just washing a few parts of the bangs preserves my wig’s color and strands. 

A wigGrip band (not cap) is ideal for summer, as it is soft and doesn’t cover your whole head. You can also use a silicone gripper band.  Many people swear by whole head bamboo wig caps for summer, too. 

Wear your long wigs braided or pulled up – try a loose updo to keep the hair off the back of your neck. 

Get a few hats. You can wear any hat with a headband to cover the sides and back of your head. This is a cool option for summer – so look for one-layer headbands in sports lycra (such as those worn for running or yoga).  And then, look for natural fibers like straw, or linen/cotton or even hats with mesh panels for cool coverage.  Bear in mind that summer bonfires are not kind to your synthetic wigs - stay back from the fire or consider swapping for a scarf or hat so you don't damage your hairpieces. 

And jump in the pool! Check out our swimming and summer wig wearing article here.

Summer is a time of glorious weather and with a bit of extra prep, you can enjoy your faux hair fun while managing the heat.