Can I wear a wig on very damaged hair?

Hi everyone,

I came acrossed this website and really like it. So here is my first post. I have very dry and very processed hair. I am repairing it with some professional help and waiting. I am not doing any chemicals or heat styling right now. I was wondering if I could wear a wig in the mean time while my hair heals? Will it cause more breakage if I wear a wig all day and almost everyday? Thanks for any advice.

Well, wearing it daily all day might bring about more breakage and damage. I recommend leaving it alone and continue the process you're undergoing to repair it.

Technically, hair is dead. There may be treatments that will repair damage, but your options in that end are ultimately fairly limited.

Please tell more about your hair situation: your hair texture, density, color, and desired hairstyle would be great information.

Some advice regarding wigs: they require some upkeep, are a little expensive, and wearing one regularly will change your life routines. You might find extensions to be a better route in terms of convenience and maintenance. If you just want to wear a wig for a while and give the scalp a rest, that's great too.

Samantha

If you plan to wear it on a regular basis I would make sure it's a good quality, breathable wig.

Alot of the hair products on the market today have silicone or a form of it (anything ending in cone) and these temporarily make the hair look better but damage it in the long run. I've recently discovered this to be the cause of my hair's constant shedding, poor health, and damage. If you want to give your hair a break from such things then a wig would be a great option.

Just cut a little bit of your own hair, get it layered where you can keep more lenght as much as possible and the volume or thickness you get with layered hair will make your hair appear longer. Go to a good stylist and talk about it. You can wear a wig if you like, but ask somebody who knows or had tried it. Hair always grows back. Just stop with all the heat and products, keep it simple and in no time you will have a lot of lenght again = )

Originally Posted by smdanes /img/forum/go_quote.gif Technically, hair is dead. There may be treatments that will repair damage, but your options in that end are ultimately fairly limited.
Please tell more about your hair situation: your hair texture, density, color, and desired hairstyle would be great information.

Some advice regarding wigs: they require some upkeep, are a little expensive, and wearing one regularly will change your life routines. You might find extensions to be a better route in terms of convenience and maintenance. If you just want to wear a wig for a while and give the scalp a rest, that's great too.

Samantha

I agree with all of the above except the hair extensions. Putting in hair extensions on already damaged hair would only further the damage, IMO.

Thank for all of your guys advice. Ok my hair right now is very damaged and brittle and dry. I have alot of hair but it has thinned quite a bit. My stylist the one that I really trust that hasn't done this to my hair it was someone else said that I need not to use any heat on my hair at all and very little product. I am going in once a week for a deep conditioning and she gave me moisturizing shampoo, frizz balm, and a deep conditioning for home as well. My hair is really bad. My wig that I have is very breathable and I really love it. I wear a wig cap to prevent the wig from causing friction on my real hair. Very little maintenance on my wig cause it is really straight and I don't need to style it just put it on. Also a phyto specialist is coming to visit next week and he is going to analyis my hair for free and he will suggest what really needs to be done. I know that I have done this to my hair it was my decision to do the things I have done but I do regret it and I have learnt alot. Here goes some history of what has been done. Started July of this year. First I bleached it cause I wanted red hair and I have medium brown hair. Then the red didn't come out so I dyed it redder a week later. Then a week after that I didn't like it so I dyed it medium brown. Ok so then it was like this for 4 weeks then I saw some grey and I wanted to dye it darker so I dyed it black. BIG MISTAKE! I hated it so I went in and had them color lift it and dye it back to medium brown. So my hair was like this for about 2 months. Which my hair needed that. Then I was getting impatient and I really wanted long hair so I had braids with fake hair put in. I went to the wrong person cause she put them in so tight and so long that I ended up with breakage and sores all over so I took them out immediately. Then I just touched up the color every 4 weeks after that. Which was ok. Then yesterday I got a bodywave. I know what you are thinking cause I thought the same thing oh no. But the stylist that I don't go to anymore insisted upon it cause the style that I wanted needed the wave to acheive it with low maintenance cause my hair is straight as can be. So I did it and it damaged my hair so badly I was crying. So I called my old hair stylist crying and she said for me to come in to try to stop the process of damage. She said I should even wait to cut it cause it is so brittle she is afraid to pull it for it might break off. So I am trying my best and I am hoping for the best. So I am wearing a wig to give my hair a break from everything and hoping that it will grow. In about 3 weeks or so she said she will cut it to try to get it in better shape, layer it but try to keep the length. So I am just waiting. I am also taking hair vitiamins figuring that every little thing should help. Well if anyone has anymore advice please let me know any help is really good right now and I will keep everyone posted too. Thanks!

I understand your situation now. You may be a candidate for extensions (but certainly not another round of braids) after you get a couple of inches of new growth. You seem to have found a couple of hair experts to work with you. I hope your scalp isn't too irritated from all of the processing you've been through.

The big problem with wearing wigs every day is attaching them-- when you use glue, sewn-on clips or combs, tape or pins to hold your new hair on, it has a tendancy to either abraid your natural hair, or stick onto your real hair and pull hair off when you remove.

I wear wigs sometimes becuase I enjoy them, and usually use tape and glue to hold them in place (I have three lace wigs which require either glue or tape in the front, but wefted wigs really don't) and use professional makeup remover (Telesis Remover) which gets all the goo off at the end of the day without a lot of hair pulling. Telesis adhesives and removers are designed for film and state makeup artists, and are some of the most non-irritating products of their type.

I'd really suggest that you find a wig that either stays put on your head by itself, or use tape instead of pins if it's a little loose.

My wig that I got doesn't need anything to attach to my hair or head. I just put on a wig cap and adjust the fit of the wig by elastic hooks it tightens the wig does not clip to my hair. I got a pretty high quality wig and it stays on my head pretty good I can do almost just about everything except stand upside down hehe. It is even windy here and it stays on my head lol. Everyone I know saw it on me yesterday and thought my hair grew fast, they kept asking what I used to get my hair so long lol. So I guess it looks natural. It also doesn't sweat underneath or makes me itch. Thanks for everyones help and I hope someday I get my hair back. Don't know if it will ever be really long like my wig but I am still going to try.

Well I decided that I might not wear the wig as much cause i don't want it to do alot of more damage to my already spongy hair. My hair is really spongy I hope I can get it from being spongy. Why don't some hairstylists tell u that your hair is too damaged and I am not going to do that cause it will cause it too be way too damaged? I don't get it. Oh well I know now I probably shouldn't get highlights that are made with a bleach or go alot lighter than my natural hair color and to keep it simple. hehe Well headbands w/o combs are my best friends right now. Oh well!

I too am growing out my damaged hair under a wig. I wash and deep condition my hair 3-4 times a week. I apply a moisturizing leave-in and oil and tie my hair down. In the morning, I apply a little more oil to my hair and put on a wig cap. Then I put on the wig. Mine is very breatheable and I never put the combs on my hair. I only leave it on when I am in public. As soon as I get home, I take the wig off and put on a silk scarf.

B_Phlyy

Hi at least I am not alone. That is a good idea about the scarf at home. What type of wig cap do u use? Cause sometimes mine hurts me and I can't find a different one and I don't want to wear my wig w/o one. So how long have u been doing this just curious? I have been doing it for 2 days now and I wish I didn't get the bodywave perm I want my straight hair back.

B_phlyy:

Your hair journal is really great and it was an enjoyable read. How did you remember all those hair treatment you had from back when you were 10 years old?

My family is Northern European (Scottish and English), however I have really dense brown curly hair, that has always frustrated me (the fact that I usually sleep late, and don't want to spend more than 10 minutes a day working on it is also an issue). There aren't too many things I can do with my hair except get it colored, and go for a really good cut--and I've been pretty much in a rut with the same cut for about 11 years.

Every since I was very young, i have enjoyed wearing wigs. I'd wear them out more often, but the connotation of wearing a wig in white suburban middle-class culture is that you are ill, and I kind of feel like people are staring at me when I wear one. Wearing a lace wig is better--they look better, but they take a long time to put on, and take off becuase of the glue and the cleanup.

My hair hobby is dying, styling and cutting wigs. I guess I'm a frustrated hairdresser--It's much easier to work with hair on a wig block, and I order wigs from an internet wigmaker, so I can get whatever densities, lenghts, curl patterns I want, and then work from there.

I'm happy to see that you both get up your gumption, put on your hair and out with it you go.

Happy Saturday,

Samantha

Originally Posted by Tini /img/forum/go_quote.gif B_Phlyy Hi at least I am not alone. That is a good idea about the scarf at home. What type of wig cap do u use? Cause sometimes mine hurts me and I can't find a different one and I don't want to wear my wig w/o one. So how long have u been doing this just curious? I have been doing it for 2 days now and I wish I didn't get the bodywave perm I want my straight hair back.

The wig cap I wear came with the wig. The name of the brand of wig I have is called New Born Free, but I got it at my local beauty supply store, so I don't know if they sell it in all areas. Once, I misplaced my wig cap, and made a stocking cap instead. I used some old pantyhose, cut the legs off and sewed the whole together. It works just as well as the wig cap, and since it has elastic at the top, it should fit over your hair without hurting.
I've only been wearing the wig for about 2 weeks. I really only wear it when I absolutely have to, such as when I'm going to be in public for long amounts of time. If I'm just at home with my family, I wear the scarf, but if we go out to dinner or something, I'll wear the wig. Also, I try not to keep it on when it's not necessary. The wig is usually one of the last things I put on before I go out and the first thing I take off when I come in.

Originally Posted by smdanes /img/forum/go_quote.gif B_phlyy:
Your hair journal is really great and it was an enjoyable read. How did you remember all those hair treatment you had from back when you were 10 years old?

My family is Northern European (Scottish and English), however I have really dense brown curly hair, that has always frustrated me (the fact that I usually sleep late, and don't want to spend more than 10 minutes a day working on it is also an issue). There aren't too many things I can do with my hair except get it colored, and go for a really good cut--and I've been pretty much in a rut with the same cut for about 11 years.

Every since I was very young, i have enjoyed wearing wigs. I'd wear them out more often, but the connotation of wearing a wig in white suburban middle-class culture is that you are ill, and I kind of feel like people are staring at me when I wear one. Wearing a lace wig is better--they look better, but they take a long time to put on, and take off becuase of the glue and the cleanup.

My hair hobby is dying, styling and cutting wigs. I guess I'm a frustrated hairdresser--It's much easier to work with hair on a wig block, and I order wigs from an internet wigmaker, so I can get whatever densities, lenghts, curl patterns I want, and then work from there.

I'm happy to see that you both get up your gumption, put on your hair and out with it you go.

Happy Saturday,

Samantha

Glad you enjoyed my journal. I try to keep it updated and since I've always had a love/hate relationship, I tend to have a sarcastic sense of humor about some things.
The reason that I remember most of the stuff from when I was younger was becauseI was often a hairstyle trendsetter in my neighborhood. Can't say that much now, but it was like that when I was little. Also, stylists were often rough with my hair, and no one forgets the first time they had a bad experience at a salon.

I've never worn a wig every day, Yes you're right, I also reach a point in the day where it gets uncomfortable and have to take it off.

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Also, stylists were often rough with my hair, and no one forgets the first time they had a bad experience at a salon. I've had thee bad trips to the salon in the last ten years and I remember them vividly.

Thanks for all the advice. I finally went in and cut my hair. I got the guts to cut it right above my shoulders and layer it. My hair has really really relaxed from the bodywave perm Thank God! But it is still pretty dry and damaged but does look alot better condition. I am just starting over. No dye either for right now. My new hair stylist says if I want to color my hair in the future (far future hehe) that I can do a semi permanent glaze technique to match my natural color just to cover my greys. And I can add low lights for dimension. So when my hair is healthier I just might do that. My grey isn't too bad if I part it a certain way. But right now I am just wearing headbands and very little to no heat on my hair and very little product. It doesn't look too bad now so I am just trying to be patient. Buying very pretty headbands with no combs attached. Very comfortable actually and easy to style hehe. Well thanks again!

Have you ever thought of Condition Only washing? I have been doing this for 3 months now & it has been a god send for my hair. Good luck to you.

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Have you ever thought of Condition Only washing? I have been doing this for 3 months now & it has been a god send for my hair. Good luck to you. Hi I was wondering what is Condition Only Washing? Is it when you just use conditioner to clean your hair? Does it actually clean hair? There is no buildup from it? And can you use any conditioner? I do use a leave in conditioner also. I only wash my hair every 3 days now. So I style it the first day and then it stays that way for 3 days Without getting oily! Thanks for the info.

Originally Posted by Tini /img/forum/go_quote.gif Hi I was wondering what is Condition Only Washing? Is it when you just use conditioner to clean your hair? Does it actually clean hair? There is no buildup from it? And can you use any conditioner? I do use a leave in conditioner also. I only wash my hair every 3 days now. So I style it the first day and then it stays that way for 3 days Without getting oily! Thanks for the info.

Yes, CO washing is when you only use conditioner and water to wash. I do it almost daily and my hair and scalp get pretty clean. I never notice any buildup. I use V05 conditioners.

I tried this but my hair and scalp didn't feel clean afterwards and was still oily. Does it depend on which conditioner you use?

You really do want to stick to a cheapie conditioner. Skip any that has a bunch of silicones in & any that is a moisturizing one. I use Suave conditioners, Strawberry & a Aloe & Water Lily (they smell better than the expensive ones). I wet my head, slather with a THICK layer & then pop on a shower cap. I leave the cap on for 45min-1hr (I usually use this as a soak in the tub or manicure or read a book or something time). You have to rinse really, really well, then I do an ACV rinse as well to mildly clarify. The ACV rinse is 1 tablespoon to 8oz water.