Step-by-Step Guide: How to Clean, Wear, and Style a PU Wig Naturally

With the Lunar New Year approaching, one traditional custom is “spring cleaning,” where families thoroughly clean their homes.

After tidying up the house, it’s only natural to take care of yourself as well. Many people dye, perm, or change their hairstyles, keeping themselves busy.

For those who wear wigs, it’s equally important to give both the wig and the scalp a thorough cleaning.

However, this process can be challenging for beginners. Removing, cleaning, and reapplying a wig is often tedious and complicated.

Here, we’ll share some tips on wearing and caring for wigs.

Nike, one of our clients, wears a PU-based wig. His hair loss is severe—he is in the later stages of baldness, with the entire top of his head completely bare, leaving only a ring of hair at the back of his head.

Let’s take a look at the entire process of Nike wearing his wig.

First, the wig is removed, and the scalp is cleaned with water and shampoo to ensure no adhesive residue remains.

Next, any short, growing hair in the bald areas is shaved off to ensure the scalp is smooth and clean. It’s also important to make sure the shaved area matches the size of the wig base so that the wig fits naturally and looks realistic.

Now it’s time to clean the wig.

Fill a container with warm water, as warm water can slightly soften the adhesive. The wig can be placed in the water to soak for a while.

To more effectively remove glue, you can add a little baking soda or shampoo to the warm water.

Using a cotton ball, gently wipe off the adhesive on the wig. While doing so, hold one end of the wig with your other hand and wipe downward.

Afterward, wrap a soft towel around your fingers to gently rub the wig. Press around the area being cleaned with your other hand for better results.

This method is specifically for PU-based wigs.

Once the surface adhesive is removed, you can proceed to wash the entire wig. It’s recommended to use mild shampoo and conditioner.

Apply shampoo as you would on natural hair, using your fingers and palms to gently rub and cleanse. Avoid using your nails to scratch the wig, as this can cause irreversible damage.

Rinse off all the foam, then apply a layer of conditioner to help detangle and smooth the hair. After two to three minutes, rinse the conditioner thoroughly.

Once washed, the wig needs to be dried. Avoid rubbing it back and forth with a towel. Instead, use an absorbent towel to roll the wig from top to bottom, gently pressing to remove excess water and speed up drying.

Remove the wig from the towel, place it on a wig stand, and spray with a detangling spray. This helps keep the hair smooth and prevents tangling.

Now, back to our client Nike.

First, spray a layer of alcohol on his scalp to ensure no residue remains.

Measure the hairline carefully—the position is about four fingers above the center of the eyebrows.

Place the wig on the scalp along the marked hairline as a trial—no glue is applied yet. This step ensures accurate placement.

Then, use a pen to mark small dots along the hairline of the wig to align perfectly with the scalp. Accuracy is crucial because there is only one chance to attach the wig with adhesive.

Spray a layer of scalp protector to ensure the scalp is safe and well-conditioned.

Before applying adhesive, it’s important to trim your hair. Hair clippings can fly and stick to the scalp if not trimmed beforehand.

Now, everything is ready.

Using a cotton swab, evenly apply Ghost Bond (wig adhesive) to Nike’s scalp. Then, use a low-speed, high-temperature blow dryer to dry the adhesive until it turns from milky white to transparent. This speeds up drying and helps the wig stay securely in place for longer.

Next, apply adhesive to the base of the wig using a cotton swab. Be careful not to get glue on your hands or the wig hair. Use a low-speed, high-temperature blow dryer again to make it transparent. Avoid high airflow to prevent glue from falling onto the floor.

Now, carefully attach the wig along the previously marked hairline, making sure it’s straight and accurately placed.

Once the wig is secured, the pencil marks can be removed using external alcohol.

Finally, blow-dry the hair and style it as desired.

And here’s the final result!

The hair color matches Nike’s natural color perfectly, and the hairline looks incredibly natural—completely seamless.