How to Style a Synthetic Wig According to Our Stylist

So, you've bagged yourself a beautiful synthetic wig, but you're not fully sure how to style it properly so it looks natural. It’s honestly not as tricky as you might think – like all good things, it just takes a bit of practice and the help of an expert!

Our wigs do come pre-styled, which is why so many people are head (or hair) over heels for them. But if you’ve worn yours a good few times, or you have a different wig entirely, you might want to refresh their style or make some changes to make your wig uniquely yours.

We've sat down with our resident hair stylist to ask her all your most pressing questions about how to style a synthetic wig to look natural or without causing damage to it.

Read on to discover our stylist's tips and tricks to keep your wig looking its best.

The first thing our stylist recommends is gathering everything you need before you start.

Here are our essentials for styling a synthetic wig:

• Hair extension brush

• Hair extensions shampoo & conditioner

• Hair argan oil

• Wig stand or extensions hanger & clips

• Hair accessories, like hair bows or hair ties

Getting all the bits you need before you get stuck into styling your synthetic hair will just make the process easier. Rather than trying things spur of the moment or faffing around midway through styling, you'll have everything ready and on hand.

Another thing you should do before styling your synthetic wig is to prep it properly. If your wig is tangled or dirty, you're not going to get the best results no matter how much you style the hair.

If you've worn the wig a few times or styled it with product previously, your first step should be to wash the hair. 

To do this, our stylist recommends using our Hair Extensions Care Full Set to help keep your wig looking and feeling as natural as possible, especially if you’re wearing one of our synthetic wigs.

Use the shampoo and conditioner in the bundle to wash the synthetic hair, which will remove any dirt or product, and then hang it up using a hanger with clips to air-dry. Make sure you gently brush it out to remove any knots and tangles.

If there are tangles, remember to tease them out slowly, working from the ends of the hair upwards. Don't pull on the hair too hard, or you might pull it out of the wig cap. 

Applying a few drops of argan oil hair treatment afterwards will help to keep the hair shiny and smooth, making styling much easier.

Once you've prepped the hair, it's time to get down to styling.

All our wigs come gorgeously pre-styled, so even when you wash them, they’ll hold their style. 

With that being said, the more you wear any wig, the more quickly the style can potentially drop out – in which case, they’ll need a little bit of help to get back to their original look. And sometimes, you want to try out something different rather than leaving it styled as is!

For synthetic straight wigs, all you need to do is lay them flat or hang them when they're drying, then brush out any tangles to get them looking sleek and sexy again!

An argan oil will be a lifesaver for smoothing down any flyaways or static hair. Pump a few drops into your hand and warm it up between your palms. Then, gently smooth the oil over your hair, focusing on the ends and applying lightly to the top of the wig. Don’t apply too much to the top as it could weigh your wig down and make it look greasy.

There are so many different hairstyles you can do with straight wigs, too – they’re very easy to work with! Some of our current favourite styles include:

• Half-up half-down – A half-up half-down hairstyle always works really well with straight synthetic wigs, and they’re super trendy. You could do a slicked-back style or keep it messy with a loose ponytail and face-framing pieces.

• Braided crown – A braided crown is the ultimate hairstyle for keeping the hair out of your face while still looking chic. Simply braid a small section of hair on either side of your head, cross them over at the back and secure with bobby pins.

• Sleek high ponytail – A straight synthetic wig is perfect for achieving a sleek, high ponytail. Smooth out any bumps or tangles with your fingers, and use a hair tie to secure it in place.

• Whimsical fairy braids – Scattering mini braids throughout your hair is a fun and whimsical way to style a straight wig, and you can play around with hair bows and clips to make it even cuter.

For our curly-styled wigs, you’ll want to take a bit of extra care to help keep the curl pattern defined.

After washing and drying, you can use a wide-tooth comb to run through the curls and remove any snags in the wig. Our stylist’s favourite wig hack is to use our Signature Deluxe Hair Extension Brush to re-curl the hair, just like so…

Again, argan oil is a fab way to smooth down any frizz. If the wig needs a little more taming, a hair gel will work great, too.

Wavy and curly synthetic wigs are also really fun to style, and there are endless ways to wear them! Here’s some of our stylist’s go-to ways to style a wavy wig:

• A low pony – Even though a low pony is simple, it looks beautiful with waves. You could pull out some face-framing pieces and add in braids for a more boho edge, or keep it slicked and chic.

• A simple headband – A cute headband is a great way to add some personality and keep your hair out of your face. Yoga-style headbands are super on-trend right now, too.

• Half-up bun – Instead of a classic half-up half-down ponytail, switch it up with a bun! This will help to keep your hair looking voluminous and stylish. You could even add in some bobby pins or cute hair clips for a touch of glam.

Once you've restyled your wig, you're ready to go if you want, but there are some other things you can do to put your own stamp on the look.

Hair bows are having a big moment over on TikTok and Pinterest, and we think they’re the perfect way to sweeten up any hairstyle! 

You could clip a big bow onto your half-up pony for an elegant yet playful touch. Or, you could pop one on over a low ponytail or bun for a more subtle preppy look.

We’ve already touched on these, but headbands are a brilliant accessory for wigs, too. Whether you choose a simple black band or opt for something more bold and colourful, they’re the perfect addition to any wig.

Thicker yoga headbands will not only add to the style, but they’ll also help to cover up any lace or wig edges for a more natural look. Plus, they’re great for keeping your wig in place and soaking up any sweat on hot summer days.

We love a good scrunchie hairstyle! 

When you’re throwing your hair up into any sort of tied-back style, go for a scrunchie rather than a classic hair tie. Not only will they be gentler on your wig and won’t cause any pulling or tugging, but they also come in so many cute patterns and styles.

Synthetic wigs are a great alternative to extensions for when you want to give your look an instant transformation without the commitment of dye or cutting your hair. Here at RiRi Hair Extensions, we have a stunning range of high-quality synthetic full and half-head lace front wigs to help you achieve your hair goals in an instant.

Check out our synthetic lace front wigs today!

For more hair extension inspo and tutorials, check out our blog and our TikTok.