Ah, summer! The perfect time to travel to a lovely scenic location for holidays or at least enjoy some extra time enjoying sun and fun at home. While this time of year can be wonderful, those of us who wear wigs or toupees can end up wondering if the weather or active activities might create challenges.
Here’s the information you need to be prepared to face any hurdles that your summer holidays might throw your way!
Heat
Long winters can leave us thrilled to finally experience warmth once the summer sun and heat finally arrive. A sunny day can prompt us to rush out to spend a day sunning in the park. Our summer weekends might become filled with outdoor events like picnics or outdoor weddings.
But with the heat comes several things to consider, particularly if you are planning to wear a wig on some of the hottest days of the year. The hot weather can lead to more sweat, which can be rather uncomfortable if precautions aren’t set in place and may cause your wig to misalign. We recommend investing in a wig liner, as this is a great way to help keep your scalp more comfortable and cooler in hotter conditions. Another option is a wig cap. This very similar to a wig liner but made out of material that is slightly thinner. Either a wig cap or wig liner can absorb sweat and make sure that your wig fits securely, even if your scalp becomes sweaty. In addition, they help to prevent sweat and oils from your scalp reaching your wig. This keeps your wig cleaner.
For more tips and tricks, take a look at our top tips for staying cool in your wig this summer.
How to keep a wig on in the wind
Spending time out by the ocean or in a windy park can make wig wearers nervous. Fortunately, there are ways to prevent problems from developing. Once again, a wig liner or wig cap can be used for a secure fit for your wig. If you might be in more challenging wind conditions, consider using wig tape. This hypoallergenic tape will secure your wig or toupee to your scalp to keep it in place.
If you are hiking or doing other activities where the elements might make your toupee feel less secure, a hat could be the way to go. You can wear a hiking hat with a chin strap over your wig to hold both your wig and your hat in place while shielding your face from the sun.
Even if it won’t be windy enough to threaten the security of your wig, having your hair blow around can become annoying. You can eliminate that problem by pulling your hair back into a ponytail or fastening it with a clip at the nape of your neck. Human hair wigs or wigs made with advanced synthetic fibres are more able to be restyled into different looks like this. You can further secure your hair by tying a scarf over your hair and tying it into place. In moderate wind conditions you might want to simply use a scarf tied around your head and fastened at the back of your neck to hold your hair back from your face while providing added security to your wig. In stronger wind conditions, tie the scarf around your hair and in front of your chin for a more secure hold.
Sun and wigs: do they go together?
As much as we love the sun, we can quickly go from eagerly awaiting the rays, to feeling eager to get a little relief from it. If you’ll be out in the bright light, pair your wig with a visor to provide your eyes a little relief from the sun and glare. A hat with a full brim all the way around it will provide you with even better protection from the sun’s rays.
Can you get wigs wet?
For swimming you will probably want to switch from wearing your wig to wearing a swim cap. While swim caps are most commonly used to protect hair from the effects of salt water or pool chemicals, they work just as well at protecting your scalp while concealing the fact that you aren’t wearing your wig.
If you plan to be by or on the water, without actually going in, there are other options that will work great for you. Wrap a turban around your head or look for a turban that is pre-formed to remain in shape. Pick a turban that has been designed for women with hair loss since they are made to fully cover the head, more so than turbans that are only decorative. Turbans that are built to combine both fashion and function are also made to stay in place better while providing the right coverage.
Wigs for sports
Active sports can be more challenging for people who wear wigs or toupees. For more moderate activities and conditions, wig tape might be perfect for keeping everything in place while you enjoy your sport. More active sporting pursuits might be more appropriate for other solutions. For men, wearing a baseball cap is a great option. For women, select a hat or turban that is designed for women with hair loss. A hat with a brim will help protect your face from the sun. Another option is to combine your hat or turban with a hair fringe. Hair fringes are hair pieces that are specifically designed to fit comfortably under a hat or turban while revealing enough hair to make you look fabulous. They are cooler in hot weather than wearing a full wig but still give the illusion that there is a full head of hair under the hat or turban.
Occasion wigs
Most men’s hairstyles stay the same, regardless of the occasion. For women, the situation is considerably more complicated. You don’t want to spend a big portion of your holidays styling your hair, but you still want to look great for any occasion. If you have a human hair wig or other wig that is made to withstand heat styling tools, you can bring along styling equipment so you can curl or straighten your hair to fit the occasion.
Keen to know more about natural hair wigs? Take a look at our human hair wig FAQs for a roundup of everything you need to know about real hair wigs.
A faster option is to bring along a selection of wigs in different styles. Then you can quickly switch from one wig to another so that you always have the perfect look for any occasion. You can also bring hairpieces to add additional volume, an updo, or other features to your current hair or wig. This will allow you to update your look as the situation requires. Alternatively, simply bring along your favourite accessories. Wig accessories are a super easy and stylish way to transform your look in a matter of seconds. Jewelled jewellery to go in your hair and/or pull it into a different style can provide the bling you want for a romantic evening out on the town.
Travelling with wigs
Travel by train or airplane can be both exciting and tiring for everyone. If you’ll be taking a longer trip or if you have a tendency to be lulled to sleep while travelling, take steps before you leave to secure your wig or toupee ahead of time. Wig caps, wig liners, or wig tape can be used to keep everything secure so you have one less thing to worry about while you travel. But, if you’d prefer to secure your wig mid-journey, fear not, tape and liners take up very little room, so make a great carry-on item!
On airplanes the dry air can be a particular concern. Even if your wig fits securely, you might consider adding a wig liner or cap before your flight. The overly dry air can dry out your scalp and make it more prone to irritation. What might not bother your skin normally might suddenly become an issue in the poor air conditions during travel. Before and after your flight you’ll also want to take extra care to moisturise your scalp (and the rest of your skin) to keep it hydrated and comfortable throughout your holiday.
For long car trips you might want to take a different approach. Since you won’t be surrounded by a bunch of strangers for hours at a time, you consider opting for a turban or hat for the day. This can be a great combination of comfort and style to make it easier for you to focus on other things during your drive.
Storing Your Wig
The secret to keeping your wig perfect on holiday is knowing how to store it correctly. After all, stuffing your headpiece into the bottom of your bag isn’t doing it any favours. Take a look at our top tips for how to store your wig when travelling – even if you only take a small holdall!
How to clean a wig
Remember that with warmer weather usually comes more sweat. Additional sweat will result in more sweat and oils transferring from your skin to your wig. That means you will need to increase how often you wash your wigs or toupees. Be sure to use a specialised wig shampoo and conditioner to keep your wig fresh, whilst ensuring you are washing your wig correctly. We’ve put together a step-by-step guide to washing a synthetic wig and washing a human hair wig, to ensure it stays smooth, soft and maintains its high quality look.
After it’s washed, use leave in wig conditioner. Place the wig on a wig stand and adjust it so that hair falls into the correct style. This will help it stay in shape and ensure that it dries completely. How often wigs or toupees need to be washed depends on a number of factors. Some people sweat more or have oiler scalps. Exposure to ocean spray, smoke, pollution, or other contaminants will increase how frequently you need to clean your wigs and toupees.
Get Ready for Holiday Season with Joseph’s Wigs
Holiday season is just around the corner, and now is the time to find your perfect wig. Browse our extensive collection of ladies wigs from industry leading designers and find the perfect summer headpiece to suit your every preference. Alternatively, if you have another question, get in touch today and we will be more than happy to help.
