Coloring Wigs 101: How to Dye a Wig at Home

Wigs are an amazing beautification tool that allows people to transform their look without the commitment of changing their own hair. The world of wigs is large and you can find a style that matches your aesthetic or hair goals. There are options in various lengths, hair colors, hair patterns, and materials to meet your budget and desired results. Once you’ve picked your wig of choice you may find yourself wanting a change but not wanting to spend a lot of money on a new wig.

Whether you’re looking for a new look or just have an old wig you want to experiment on, coloring your wig is the perfect way to try a new look without the hassle. Keep reading if you’re ready to put on your metaphorical hairstylist hat and try this DIY wig hack at home. Ahead, discover everything you need to know about coloring wigs and how to wash and style your wigs.

Dyeing a wig is possible with the right hair dye, preparation, and wig material. Most wigs are made with two different materials — human hair and synthetic fibers. Human hair wigs can be easily dyed (and bleached) similar to the hair growing from your head since it’s made from the same material.

Synthetic wigs, however, cannot be dyed in the same manner as human hair since this wig type is made from plastics and processed fibers that hair dye can’t change. Ultimately, it’s not recommended to dye synthetic wigs (although not impossible), so for this story, we will be focusing on dyeing human hair wigs.

1. Pick the Right Wig
Before dyeing your wig, assess the state of the hair to see if it’s even possible to get the hue you have in mind. Keep your human hair wig in its most natural state — meaning it’s free of styling products, previous hair dye, and any other treatments you may have added. It’s best to start with a virgin human hair wig that hasn’t been processed with any hair dye, straightening treatment, or other chemical treatments.

2. Consider Your Desired Color
Once you’ve selected your piece, think about the color you want to dye your wig. Keep in mind that wigs with naturally dark hair color will take longer to process if your goal is a light hue, like platinum. Consider picking a color one to two shades lighter or darker than the current wig shade to minimize damage to your wig (yes you can damage a human hair wig) and for the best color results. That being said, if your goal is a platinum color, use Dark & Lovely Uplift Hair Bleach Kit, which lifts even the darkest pigment without leaving any brassy tones, thanks to the included violet toning conditioner.

3. Prepare Your Supplies
You’ll want to make sure you have everything you need before coloring your wig for the smoothest process and most pigmented color. Start by picking up the right number of at-home hair dyes so you can guarantee that you have enough product for every inch of wig hair that you’re looking to dye. Pick up at least three boxes of dye if you’re coloring wigs that fall to your mid-back, especially if the hair is thick or curly.

4. Wash Your Wig Hair
Regardless of the type of hair you’re dyeing (human hair vs wig human hair), always start the dyeing process with a clean, freshly washed mane. Human hair wigs may take longer to dry than your natural hair, so consider washing your wig a few days before the dye session. That way your wig has plenty of time to dry and you’re not wasting energy gently hovering a (low heat) blow dryer over the wig. Keep reading to learn how to wash a wig before you start the dye job.

1. Gently Detangle
Use a detangling brush to rid your wig of any tangles and knots that may be hiding in the hair. Brush the wig in a similar manner that you would the hair from your head. Start by brushing through the hair from the ends, working your way up to minimize ripping and tugging of the hair. It’s important to be gentle with this step as your wig can’t grow new strands, so once you lose those pieces there’s no going back.

 

2. Soak Hair in Soapy Water

The most effective way to wash your human hair wig is by completely submerging it in a pool of cold water with shampoo added and letting it sit for five to 10 minutes. Swirl your hands in the water to help dissolve the shampoo and gently sink your wig in the water while massaging the strands so every inch is saturated with the soapy water.

You can use your sink, a bucket, or even a very large bowl if you’re in a pinch. The type of shampoo you use is up to you, but choose a sulfate-free formula to avoid drying out your wig. Also, you’ll want to use cold water over warm water to protect your hair from losing volume and shine.

 

3. Repeat as Needed and Add Shampoo

Consider adding more shampoo directly to the wig and hairnet (the net lining of the wig), for a deeper clean as you go. If you notice the water you’re washing the hair in is getting murky and dirty give the wig another wash to guarantee any styling products and residue is removed. Rinse hair with cold water and gently wring out the water — as you go — to ensure all shampoo is washed out.

 

4. Add a Deep Conditioner or Conditioner

Always follow up your shampoo with a conditioner or deep conditioner to add nutrients and moisture back into your wig. Pick a conditioner that’s formulated with ingredients like hair proteins if your human hair wig is on the dry side.

Let the conditioner sit on the wig for five to ten minutes, or as noted on the specific product label, so your hair has enough time to soak in all the nutrients. At this time you can also brush the conditioner through your hair with a comb or paddle brush by brushing the product through your hair.

 

5. Rinse Hair and Let it Air Dry

Again, using cold water, rinse your hair free of any excess conditioner that may be coating your strands. Product buildup on your wig can make it difficult to style and dye your wig. After squeezing out as much water as possible, prop your wig on a mannequin head or in a secure place so it can drip-dry naturally.

 

6. Style As Regular

You can add hair oil or hair serum to heighten the shine of your wig, but avoid adding any product if you plan to dye the wig. The wig needs to be completely clean of any hair care products before adding dye, for the best results.

Overall, the process for coloring wigs will be similar to dyeing your own hair but with a few additional steps and precautions for a mess-free application that won’t ruin your wig. Below, learn how to easily change the color of your human hair wig with the fade-resistant and pigmented colors from Dark & Lovely.

Step 1. Start With Dry, Clean Sectioned Hair
Usually, when dyeing hair at home, you’ll want to start with unwashed hair. However, human hair wigs differ because it’s more important for the wig to be free of grime and chemical treatments beforehand for the best results.

The wig should be completely dry before coloring and sectioning the hair into various parts for easier application and better coverage. Create four parts on the wig and secure the sections with hair ties or clips. You can create more sections for thicker, and longer hair. 

 

Step 2. Combine the Box Dye Ingredients
Put on the included plastic gloves to protect your skin from dye or dehydrating hair bleach. If you’re using the Dark & Lovely Fade Resist Conditioning Color, you’re going to add the liquid conditioning color into the cream developer bottle and gently shake the mixture until the ingredients are blended. If your goal is to lighten your human hair wig for a bright color like red or pink, or you just want to live the blonde lifestyle, use Dark & Lovely Fade Resist Light Golden Blonde Rich Conditioning Color. Then combine the bleach powder into the cream developer bottle and shake the ingredients together.

 

Step 3. Apply the Hair Dye Mixture
Add hair dye to each section of your wig making sure to saturate each part. Cover the entire wig in the color mixture and massage the formulation into the hair to avoid patchiness or splotchy color. As you dye the wig, use hair clips to re-secure the parts to make the process easier and to keep hair dye from getting everywhere.

The beauty of using an at-home dye from Dark & Lovely is that it’s made with a no-drip formula so you don’t have to worry about liquidy hair dye staining your entire bathroom (or wherever you’re coloring wigs). Try not to rub the mixture too close to the wig cap to avoid staining the netting and creating a dark color division between your skin and the wig hair.

 

Step 4. Brush the Color Through

Using a hair brush that you don’t mind getting dye on, brush the hair dye mixture through your wig to further blend and distribute the mixture. Comb away from the hairnet to avoid getting dye on the lining.

 

Step 5. Set a Timer
Let the hair dye develop on the wig for 20 minutes so the mixture can do its hair-coloring magic. To keep track of time, set an alarm or timer to guarantee you’re not leaving the dye on for longer than needed.

 

Step 6. Rinse Out the Color
After the allotted time, rinse your wig under lukewarm water until all the dye is out of the wig. This may take a few minutes to rid hair of the saturated color, but you’ll know you’re done when the water runs clear.

 

Step 7. Add Moisture With a Conditioner
You don’t need to immediately use shampoo after rinsing out the color as the hair wash can cause the color to fade prematurely. Instead, reach right for your conditioner to add any lost moisture from the wig dyeing process. Apply a quarter-sized amount of the nourishing conditioner that’s included in every box of hair dye from Dark & Lovely to the wig and add more if the hair is feeling extra dehydrated.

 

Step 8. Rinse and Air Dry
Once you’ve conditioned your wig, rinse it thoroughly and squeeze out excess water that may be soaking up the hair. Put down the hair dryer and let your wig air dry to keep the color looking fresh and keep the hair feeling healthy. It may take anywhere from 12 hours to two days for your wig to dry. Just be patient and once it’s dry you’re ready to style and wear your newly dyed wig. 

Once you’ve dyed your wig, you’ll want to keep up with caring for your unit with the proper products and the right hair habits. Ahead, we’re sharing four tips to care for your dyed wig to extend its longevity.

 

1. Modify Your Shampooing Habits
Wigs don’t need to be washed as regularly as the hair from our heads. For the most part, you should aim to wash your wig every six to eight wears to eliminate any residue buildup from gels, hairsprays, or other styling products that may be sticking to the wig. When washing a dyed wig, you can stick to this washing schedule, but always use cold water and sulfate-free shampoo to protect the integrity of your color.

 

2. Keep Dyed Wigs Moisturized
Always use moisturizing hair care products on your wig to keep it shiny and soft. You can keep your dyed wigs moisturized by doing a deep conditioning treatment after you wash your wig or adding hydrating leave-in conditioners and sprays before styling hair.

 

3. Minimize Heat Styling
This is one of the cardinal tips for color-treated hair and it should be followed for dyed wigs as well. Using heat styling tools like flat irons, curling irons, and blow dryers can cause your color to prematurely fade. Reduce how often you use heat tools on your wig and always use a heat protectant to minimize damage that may cause hair to get brittle and break off.

 

4. Protect Your Wig During Travel and Storage
Find a dedicated spot for your wigs so they can be displayed (as they deserve to be) and protected from any harsh rubbing or knots that can occur when wrapped improperly. You can get a mannequin head to lay your wig on safely, this option is ideal for those who are constant wig wearers and want the hair to keep its shape and style. Another option is to wrap the wig in a silk or satin scarf (or bag) that will protect it from frizz and tangles, however, your style may not keep as well.

There are endless possibilities when it comes to styling a human hair wig. Below, check out a few ways to quickly style your wig, show off its newly dyed color, or hop on a new hair trend.

1. Trim the Wig to a New Length
Maybe you want to rock a bob or have been thinking about curtain bangs since you saw your favorite celeb wearing them. Whatever the inspiration, bring life to your wig with a little trim to shape the hair in your desired style. This goes without saying, but we’ll say it anyway; Once you cut your wig that's it, it won’t grow back. Be decisive when cutting your wig and start small to see if you like how it looks.

 

2. Try a Sleek Updo
On days when you need to wear a wig and can’t be bothered to style it in all its length, throw your hair in a ponytail, messy bun, or other updo for a chic look. This is easy to accomplish with human hair wigs since all you need is a hair tie and some form of holding product. After you install the wig on your head, simply pull the hair up into whatever style you like and secure it with a scrunchie or hair tie. Keep some bobby pins and hair clips on hand to tuck away any flyaways, or use a hair mousse to smoothen the unruly pieces.

 

3. Add Accessories
Complement your new hair color with a bright hair accessory that adds a fashionable style to your wig. Play around with the shapes and colors of barrettes you use as well as hair scarfs — especially if your front lace is looking a little rough. Hair accessories like claw clips make it easy to style hair in a quick updo or to just keep hair out of your face, while rubber bands, clips, and headbands allow you to personalize your wig. After all, it is your hair so you should wear it how you want.