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How to shower with a hair system

Posted by Superhairpieces on Sep 12, 2022

One topic that is always discussed in the non-surgical hair replacement world is showering with a hair system on. Before you ask, yes, you can shower with a hair system on! However, there are precautions you should take as well as a particular routine depending on the type of hair system you are using. Luckily for you, we will explain everything you need to know in this blog. For a quicker and more visual summary, you can watch our Expert Talks episode on the topic below:

What types of hair replacement systems can I take a shower with?

In general, only toupee hair systems should be worn while taking a shower. Hair toppers are also acceptable, especially if they are smaller in size, blended with your natural hair and worn on a more semi-permanent basis.

Wigs, on the other hand, are not recommended to be worn in the shower. For that matter, wigs shouldn’t be slept with either. Whenever you’re done using your wig for the day, you should always take it off and store it properly to prolong its lifespan. This is one of the reasons wigs tend to have a longer lifespan than men’s toupees as they undergo less wear and tear.

READ: How long does a Superhairpieces hair system last?

Before you shower with your hair system

Before you do anything, it’s important that you do not take a shower, or even wet your hair for that matter, at least 24-48 hours after your installation. It’s recommended to keep that period of time following your installation so that your adhesive has time to cure and properly secure your hairpiece on your scalp.

Getting your system wet during that time could affect the bond and potentially lead to your hairpiece lifting. Of course, you don’t necessarily need to wait the full 48 hours or even 24 hours as that’s just the recommended timeframe. But at the very least, make sure your hair replacement system remains untouched for a couple of hours up to 12 hours.

Another thing to keep in mind is planning when you attach your hair system. If you have a special event such as a wedding, party or dinner, and you’re planning on wearing your toupee for that occasion, you should not attach your hair system the day before if you want to take a shower. After all, imagine if your hairpiece is lifting or worse, falls off during a special event just because you decided to wet it and affect the adhesive’s bond. Instead, plan your installation in advance so that the hairpiece has enough time to cure and you can take a carefree shower and look your very best.

How to shower with a hair system properly

While Superhairpieces only uses 100% human hair for its men’s hair systems, you can’t take a shower in the same way that you do with your natural hair. One reason for this is your hair system doesn’t have the benefit of oils produced by the scalp to replenish and hydrate it. That means you cannot shower with water that is too hot. Hot water not only strips your hair of its oils, but makes it dry, brittle and prone to shedding, especially with regular use. Hot water is not ideal for natural human hair either, but at least in that case, the oils and sebum produced by the scalp would replenish the hair follicles. But with a hairpiece, there are no natural oils since it’s connected to a base material.

Additionally, hot water can affect your adhesive’s hold and prevent it from staying on which is another reason to avoid it. Instead, use cold or lukewarm water when taking a shower. Your shower won’t be as enjoyable as before, but your hair system will thank you for it in the long run.

Just like with hot water, using the wrong shampoo can also affect your hairpiece. While shampoos clean the dirt and debris from our hair, it also strips the natural oils from the follicles. That’s why it’s important to select the appropriate one. If you can, always look to use wig shampoos and conditioners that are specifically made for hairpieces. Here are some shampoos we recommend that you can purchase on Superhairpieces:

If you prefer to use a different brand, at the very least, purchase shampoos that are formulated without any harmful ingredients such as sulfates and parabens. Remember, you can’t just use your regular shampoos and conditioners when you’re wearing a hairpiece.

Once you have the right shampoo, make sure to not to overdo it with the application. After all, you don't want to overagitate the hair. Using too much and forcefully massaging it onto your hair will not only make the hair drier and prone to shedding, but also form knots which can be hard to get rid of. Instead, gently rub a decent amount of shampoo on your hair before rinsing it off completely. You want to make sure there is no leftover shampoo or residue on your system as this can cause irritation down the line.

The next step is using a wig conditioner. Follow the same routine as you did with a shampoo and gently rub it before rinsing it off. You can also use a brush to gently comb the conditioner through the hair. However, it’s not fully recommended to brush or comb your hair when wet, especially if you’re wearing a thin skin hair system. Poly material tends to expand when it’s exposed to water and brushing it could lead to the hairpiece shedding. Alternatively, you can skip the regular conditioner and opt for a leave-in conditioner once you’re out of the shower which doesn’t require any further rinsing.

Finally, make sure to avoid taking too many showers. Regular maintenance and cleaning of your hair system is always good, but too much of anything is bad. And if you continue to take too many showers, the wear and tear of the system will increase and so too will the shedding of the hair. The end result is the lifespan of your hair system reducing quicker than expected.

Conclusion

To sum things up, it’s completely fine to shower with your hair system on; you don’t have to remove it and wash it in the sink. However, you just need to make sure you follow certain steps so as not to damage the hair or affect the longevity of your unit.

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Interested in learning more about getting started with hair systems? Browse through our website at www.superhairpieces.com (US & International) or superhairpieces.ca (CAN)

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