When women start wearing wigs regularly, one of the things I always want them to understand is that caring for the hair underneath is still part of the routine. If you’re using a wig as a protective style, what you do before you put that wig on—and how you care for your hair and scalp between washes—matters.
Your natural hair may be out of sight, but you still have to keep it in mind.
For me, maintaining healthy hair under a wig starts with creating a clean, moisturized foundation and then having a plan for maintaining that foundation while your hair is underneath the hairpiece. You don’t need an overly complicated routine. You do need to be intentional about cleansing, hydration, how the hair is secured, and what happens between washes.
Start With a Thorough Cleanse
One of the first things I focus on when preparing natural hair for a protective wig is cleansing it thoroughly. If the hair is in a normal-to-healthy state, I like to begin with a clarifier so we can remove buildup before putting the hair away.
This is especially important if you’re going to wear your natural hair in low- or no-tension braids underneath your wig. Those braids may need to remain in place for a period of time, and you may not be shampooing your hair as frequently as you normally would. Starting with hair and scalp that have been properly cleansed gives you a much better foundation for the weeks ahead.
I also pay attention to the cleanser being used. When I’m caring for natural hair that will be underneath a wig, I prefer a non-toxic cleanser as part of that preparation. The goal isn’t simply to get the hair ready for the wig; we’re thinking about how we’re going to preserve the health of that hair while it’s tucked away.
My Recommendation:
Milbon Moisture Replenishing Shampoo
Deep Conditioning Matters When Your Hair Will Be Under a Wig
After cleansing, hydration becomes very important.
Think about what changes once your natural hair is underneath a hairpiece. You’re not necessarily going to be getting the hair wet regularly or repeatedly shampooing and conditioning it. That means I want to make sure the hair is well moisturized before we put it into its protective style.
This is where I like to use a very hydrating conditioning system, including a deep conditioner. I want the hair to have the opportunity to receive that moisture before it’s braided and covered. A hydration treatment can also be helpful here because we’re trying to help the moisturizing agents from the conditioner settle into the hair and give us a strong starting point for maintaining that moisture underneath the wig.
If you’re planning to wear wigs as part of a long-term protective styling routine, this preparation shouldn’t be treated as an extra step. It’s part of the protective style itself.
My Recommendation:
Milbon Moisture Replenishing Treatment
Pay Attention to How Your Natural Hair Is Secured
Once the hair is clean and hydrated, the way it’s prepared underneath the wig matters too. I prefer low- or no-tension braiding because we’re trying to preserve the natural hair, not create additional stress while it’s tucked away.
It’s easy to think that because no one can see the braids, the foundation underneath doesn’t matter as much. I look at it differently. If we’re using wigs to help protect the natural hair, we don’t want the preparation underneath creating unnecessary tension that works against that goal.
The wig is what everyone else sees. I still care very much about what’s happening underneath it.
Caring for Your Scalp Between Washes
A protective style doesn’t mean ignoring your scalp until it’s time to take everything down. Your scalp still needs attention while you’re wearing your wig, particularly if your natural hair is going to remain braided for a period of time.
I like having a way to help keep the scalp balanced and cleansed between full washes rather than simply allowing everything to accumulate until the next shampoo. This is one of the reasons it’s helpful to think about scalp care before you begin wearing the wig. You want a routine that works with the way you’re actually going to wear your hair.
My Recommendation:
Milbon Scalp Hydrating Treatment
Your Hair May Need Moisture Between Washes, Too
Something else I encourage women to think about is what happens to the moisture in their natural hair between wash days. We can do a beautiful deep-conditioning and hydration treatment before braiding, but maintaining healthy hair under a wig also means paying attention to that hair while you’re wearing it.
A hydration spray can be useful between washes to help the natural hair retain moisture while it’s being preserved underneath the hairpiece. This gives you a way to provide moisture without completely taking down the protective style every time the hair needs attention.
How often you need to do that can depend on your hair and the way you’re wearing your wig, so this isn’t about following an arbitrary schedule. It’s about recognizing that tucked-away hair can still need care.
My Recommendation:
Milbon Moisture Weightless Replenishing Mist
Protective Styling Should Include the Hair You’re Protecting
When someone tells me she wants to use wigs as a protective style, I don’t think only about the wig. I’m also thinking about the condition of her natural hair, how we’re preparing it, what’s happening with her scalp, and whether the routine she’s choosing will allow her to continue caring for both.
That’s why a good protective wig routine begins before the wig ever goes on. We thoroughly cleanse the hair and scalp, remove buildup, restore moisture with conditioning and hydration, secure the natural hair without unnecessary tension, and then continue caring for the scalp and replenishing moisture between washes.
None of those steps needs to feel overwhelming. Once you understand why you’re doing them, they simply become part of wearing your wig.
Make Your Wig Part of a Healthy Hair Routine
If you’re wearing wigs because you’re experiencing hair loss, trying to protect your natural hair, or simply want the flexibility wigs can provide, I want you to think about the hair underneath as part of the decision from the beginning.
A wig can give your natural hair a break from daily styling, but maintaining healthy hair under a wig still requires consistent care. Start clean. Give your hair the hydration it needs. Avoid unnecessary tension. Keep caring for your scalp, and don’t forget about moisture simply because your natural hair isn’t visible every day.
Healthy hair care continues underneath the wig.
If you’d like professional guidance on choosing a protective wig and creating a routine that works for your hair and scalp, you can schedule a consultation with Quarita Futrell at her DC-area salon, or explore the Girl Next Door Hair collections to learn more about your options.
Want Everything You Need in One Place? If you’d rather have your hair-care essentials together, shop the Girl Next Door Hair Care Bundle for an easy way to keep the products you need for caring for your natural hair and scalp on hand.