Step By Sep: How To Curl A Wig
Curly hair can completely transform your look. Even the simplest wig gets so much life and movement from soft, bouncy curls. A lot of people assume curling a wig is complicated or risky, but it’s actually super straightforward once you get the hang of it. With just a little patience and the right tools, you can create curls that look natural, soft, and long-lasting. And trust me—I’ve made every mistake in the book before figuring out what works.
I still remember the first time I tried to curl a wig. I was 19, fresh out of high school, and had just bought my first glueless bob wig (I was obsessed with the sleek, easy look). I wanted to dress it up for a friend’s birthday party, so I grabbed my mom’s old curling iron—no plan, no prep—and went to town. I pulled too hard on the hair, burned the ends a little, and ended up with frizzy, lopsided curls that fell out by the time I got to the party. I was so embarrassed I kept my hair in a ponytail all night. That’s when I realized: curling a wig isn’t about rushing—it’s about taking it slow, and learning from the mess-ups.
Now, years later, curling wigs is just a normal part of how I style my pieces. I’ve experimented with synthetic wigs, glueless wigs styles, and even short bobs and long layers. And while every wig is a little different, the basic steps stay the same—with a few personal hacks I’ve picked up along the way.
Make Sure the Wig Is Clean and Dry
Start with a clean, dry wig. This is the step I skipped most often when I first started, and it always backfired. One time, I tried curling a wig that still had a little hairspray residue from the day before—my curls turned out crunchy, uneven, and they fell out within an hour. Another time, I was in a hurry and tried curling a slightly damp wig (I’d washed it that morning and didn’t let it dry fully). The curls looked okay at first, but by noon, they’d gone flat and frizzy.
Dry hair holds curls way better. Now, I always put my wig on a stand and let it air-dry overnight—no blow-drying, no rushing. It keeps the hair smooth, soft, and ready for styling. If I’m really in a pinch, I’ll use a low-heat setting on my blow dryer, but I always hold it a few inches away to avoid damaging the strands. Trust me, waiting for it to dry is worth it.
Brush Gently to Remove Tangles
Take a wide-tooth comb or a soft wig brush and gently detangle the hair. I used to use a regular hairbrush (big mistake!) and ended up pulling out strands of the wig. Now, I stick to a wig-specific brush—it’s softer, won’t snag, and keeps the hair from getting frizzy.
Start at the ends and work your way up to the roots—this avoids pulling or breaking the strands. I’ve rushed this step before, too: one morning, I was late for a coffee date, so I quickly brushed the wig from roots to ends. The result? Tangles that turned into knots, and curls that looked messy and uneven. Taking those extra two minutes to detangle slowly makes a huge difference. I even keep a small detangling spray in my bag now, just in case I notice any knots mid-day.
Use Heat Protection For Human Hair Wigs
If you’re working with human hair wigs, never skip heat protectant. This is a lesson I learned the hard way. A few years ago, I bought a beautiful human hair lace wig—invested a lot of money in it—and I was so excited to curl it. I forgot heat protectant, cranked up the curling iron, and ended up with dry, brittle ends that looked fried. I was devastated; I thought I’d ruined the wig forever.
Now, heat protectant is non-negotiable. Just a light spray all over the wig before you curl goes a long way in keeping the hair healthy and shiny. I prefer a lightweight, alcohol-free spray—anything too heavy makes the hair look greasy. I spray it evenly, then brush it through to make sure every strand is covered. It’s a small step, but it’s saved me from ruining so many wigs over the years.
Section the Hair for Neater Curls
You don’t have to be perfect, but dividing the hair into small sections makes curling so much easier. When I first started, I’d try to curl big chunks of hair at once—thinking it would save time. Instead, the curls were uneven: some parts were tight, some were loose, and it looked like I’d just rolled out of bed.
Now, I use hair clips to section the top layers up and start from the bottom. I make sections about an inch wide—small enough to get even curls, but not so small that it takes forever. I like to work from the back of the wig toward the front—it keeps me from getting confused or missing spots. One trick I learned: if I’m going for a more natural look, I make the sections slightly different sizes (not perfectly uniform)—it keeps the curls from looking too “done.”
Curl Gently With a Curling Iron
Take one small section of hair and wrap it around the curling iron—don’t overlap the hair, and don’t pull too tight. I used to wrap the hair too tight, which made the curls look stiff and unnatural. Now, I wrap it loosely, leaving a little space between the hair and the iron.
Hold it for 8–10 seconds, then let it loose. Try not to touch the curl right away—let it cool. Cooling helps the curl set so it lasts longer. I learned this when I’d touch the curls immediately, and they’d fall out within minutes. Now, I let each curl cool in my hand for a few seconds, then set it aside. For a soft, natural look, curl the hair away from your face—it’s especially flattering on layered styles. And if I want a more playful look, I’ll curl some sections toward my face and some away—mixing it up keeps it from looking too uniform.
Loosen Curls for a Natural Look
Once the whole wig is curled and fully cooled, use your fingers or a wide comb to gently separate the curls. This takes them from tight ringlets to soft, effortless waves. I used to skip this step and end up with curls that looked too “perfect”—like a doll’s hair. Now, I run my fingers through the curls, gently pulling them apart.
I sometimes flip the wig upside down and shake it lightly for extra volume and movement. It instantly makes the style look more relaxed and realistic. One time, I curled my wig too tight and was worried it would look unnatural—flipping it upside down and shaking it loose saved the whole look. I also like to spritz a little texturizing spray after loosening the curls—it adds hold without making the hair crunchy.
I still remember the first time I tried to curl a wig. I was 19, fresh out of high school, and had just bought my first glueless bob wig (I was obsessed with the sleek, easy look). I wanted to dress it up for a friend’s birthday party, so I grabbed my mom’s old curling iron—no plan, no prep—and went to town. I pulled too hard on the hair, burned the ends a little, and ended up with frizzy, lopsided curls that fell out by the time I got to the party. I was so embarrassed I kept my hair in a ponytail all night. That’s when I realized: curling a wig isn’t about rushing—it’s about taking it slow, and learning from the mess-ups.
Now, years later, curling wigs is just a normal part of how I style my pieces. I’ve experimented with synthetic wigs, glueless wigs styles, and even short bobs and long layers. And while every wig is a little different, the basic steps stay the same—with a few personal hacks I’ve picked up along the way.
Make Sure the Wig Is Clean and Dry
Start with a clean, dry wig. This is the step I skipped most often when I first started, and it always backfired. One time, I tried curling a wig that still had a little hairspray residue from the day before—my curls turned out crunchy, uneven, and they fell out within an hour. Another time, I was in a hurry and tried curling a slightly damp wig (I’d washed it that morning and didn’t let it dry fully). The curls looked okay at first, but by noon, they’d gone flat and frizzy.
Dry hair holds curls way better. Now, I always put my wig on a stand and let it air-dry overnight—no blow-drying, no rushing. It keeps the hair smooth, soft, and ready for styling. If I’m really in a pinch, I’ll use a low-heat setting on my blow dryer, but I always hold it a few inches away to avoid damaging the strands. Trust me, waiting for it to dry is worth it.
Brush Gently to Remove Tangles
Take a wide-tooth comb or a soft wig brush and gently detangle the hair. I used to use a regular hairbrush (big mistake!) and ended up pulling out strands of the wig. Now, I stick to a wig-specific brush—it’s softer, won’t snag, and keeps the hair from getting frizzy.
Start at the ends and work your way up to the roots—this avoids pulling or breaking the strands. I’ve rushed this step before, too: one morning, I was late for a coffee date, so I quickly brushed the wig from roots to ends. The result? Tangles that turned into knots, and curls that looked messy and uneven. Taking those extra two minutes to detangle slowly makes a huge difference. I even keep a small detangling spray in my bag now, just in case I notice any knots mid-day.
Use Heat Protection For Human Hair Wigs
If you’re working with human hair wigs, never skip heat protectant. This is a lesson I learned the hard way. A few years ago, I bought a beautiful human hair lace wig—invested a lot of money in it—and I was so excited to curl it. I forgot heat protectant, cranked up the curling iron, and ended up with dry, brittle ends that looked fried. I was devastated; I thought I’d ruined the wig forever.
Now, heat protectant is non-negotiable. Just a light spray all over the wig before you curl goes a long way in keeping the hair healthy and shiny. I prefer a lightweight, alcohol-free spray—anything too heavy makes the hair look greasy. I spray it evenly, then brush it through to make sure every strand is covered. It’s a small step, but it’s saved me from ruining so many wigs over the years.
Section the Hair for Neater Curls
You don’t have to be perfect, but dividing the hair into small sections makes curling so much easier. When I first started, I’d try to curl big chunks of hair at once—thinking it would save time. Instead, the curls were uneven: some parts were tight, some were loose, and it looked like I’d just rolled out of bed.
Now, I use hair clips to section the top layers up and start from the bottom. I make sections about an inch wide—small enough to get even curls, but not so small that it takes forever. I like to work from the back of the wig toward the front—it keeps me from getting confused or missing spots. One trick I learned: if I’m going for a more natural look, I make the sections slightly different sizes (not perfectly uniform)—it keeps the curls from looking too “done.”
Curl Gently With a Curling Iron
Take one small section of hair and wrap it around the curling iron—don’t overlap the hair, and don’t pull too tight. I used to wrap the hair too tight, which made the curls look stiff and unnatural. Now, I wrap it loosely, leaving a little space between the hair and the iron.
Hold it for 8–10 seconds, then let it loose. Try not to touch the curl right away—let it cool. Cooling helps the curl set so it lasts longer. I learned this when I’d touch the curls immediately, and they’d fall out within minutes. Now, I let each curl cool in my hand for a few seconds, then set it aside. For a soft, natural look, curl the hair away from your face—it’s especially flattering on layered styles. And if I want a more playful look, I’ll curl some sections toward my face and some away—mixing it up keeps it from looking too uniform.
Loosen Curls for a Natural Look
Once the whole wig is curled and fully cooled, use your fingers or a wide comb to gently separate the curls. This takes them from tight ringlets to soft, effortless waves. I used to skip this step and end up with curls that looked too “perfect”—like a doll’s hair. Now, I run my fingers through the curls, gently pulling them apart.
I sometimes flip the wig upside down and shake it lightly for extra volume and movement. It instantly makes the style look more relaxed and realistic. One time, I curled my wig too tight and was worried it would look unnatural—flipping it upside down and shaking it loose saved the whole look. I also like to spritz a little texturizing spray after loosening the curls—it adds hold without making the hair crunchy.
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