If you are looking to refresh an old synthetic wig or you are bored using your regular hairstyle, or in case you want to get dressed up as a character with vibrant hair, you are maybe thinking about dying your synthetic wig.
Synthetic wigs are cheaper, more affordable, and better than real human wigs. Another benefit is that you can often find this in your preferred colors. The best thing to do rather than dying your synthetic wig is to buy a new one. Although, if you are willing to take the risk, go ahead carefully.
However, if you are not careful, you can ruin your favorite synthetic wig. So, here is the right guide for how to dye a synthetic wig with fabric dye.
Why Can’t I Use Regular Hair Dye on a Synthetic Wig?
Synthetic wigs are made from processed fibers such as polyester, acrylic, and polyvinyl. These materials make it difficult to dye.
Unlike human hair, these synthetic hair materials don’t consist of the natural pigments that real hair does so regular hair dyes won’t work on synthetic wigs.
So, I sincerely recommend using fabric dyes mainly made for polyester and synthetic materials like synthetic wigs.
Why The Color Has to be Darker Than The Wig?
As synthetic wigs are made from polyester, and polyvinyl materials so the wigs can’t be bleached.
As synthetic wigs can’t be bleached, whatever dye you are using has to be a much darker color than the wig you are dying.
The simplest and easiest wig color for dying are white wigs, silver wigs, and pastel wigs.
The Method of How to Dye a Synthetic Wig with Fabric Dye Given Below:
Materials Needed:
- Fabric dye
- Large pot
- A stove
- Boiled Water
- Newspaper
- Disposable Gloves
- Wide-tooth comb
Procedure:
1. Protective Measures:
I would recommend you wear old clothes or an old apron and a pair of disposable gloves as any of the dye splits on your cloth or get dye all over your hand.
Having these precautions, if any of the paint gets on your hand, you can wash it off with soap. If the dye didn’t get off your hand, you could use baking soda and water mixture.
Otherwise, it will be stuck on your hand at least for two weeks. To avoid damage to your floor or an oilcloth, lay down a newspaper around your workspace.
2. Get a Large Pot:
You have to get a large enough pot to fit the synthetic wig you are dying. After that, you have to boil water. For every 1 cup of water, you need to add three teaspoons of fabric dye.
3. Mix The Paint:
Once the water has boiled, add the fabric dye, and reduce your stove’s heat.
4. Damp The Wig:
Damp your wig a little by using ordinary tap water. It will help to dye your synthetic wig easily.
5. Add The Wig:
After dumping your synthetic wig with water, add it to the fabric mixture. The longer you leave the wig in the mix, the darker your wig’s color will be. Once you get the desired color, get it out of the mix. So keep a close eye on soaking it. Getting your desired color can take a few minutes, so don’t walk away from your synthetic wig. Keep looking at it.
6. Remove Your Wig From The Pot:
Remove your synthetic wig from the fabric mixture once you achieved your desired color. Now rinse it in cold water until the water runs clear.
7. Place it to Dry:
Place the wig on a wig stand or a hook and dry it in natural air.
Now you can use your synthetic wig differently.
There are other alternatives to dying your synthetic wig rather than using fabric dye.
The Alternative Has Given Below: Dye Synthetic Wig by Using Alcohol-Based Ink and Water Mixture:
Materials Needed:
- Alcohol-based ink
- Spray
- Water
- Newspaper
- Disposable Gloves
- Wide-tooth comb
Procedure:
Step 1:
1. Prepare The Mixture:
Buy your desired color alcohol-based ink from your local store that you want to apply dying to your synthetic wig. Add the contents of the ink bottle to the spray bottle.
Next, pour the same amount of water as alcohol-based ink into the spray bottle. So the ratio should be 1:1. Now screw the lid tightly and shake the spray bottle to combine the elements correctly.
2. Sharpie Ink as an Alternative:
If you don’t want to buy an alcohol-based ink or if you don’t find the alcohol-based ink of your desired color and at the same time you have a sharpie mark with the same color you want to dye your synthetic wig, you can use it instead.
Remove the cap and pull out the ink tube inside and pour it into the spray bottle. Now add your preferred amount of water into the spray bottle according to the color you want. After that, tighten the lid and shake it to mix the elements. Let it sits overnight.
Step 2:
1. Get Your Wig:
Choose the hairpiece that you want to dye. It would be better to dye a light color wig, such as white, silver, or golden blonde shade. This way, you will start your dye more like a blank canvas.
So following this step will allow you to dye your wig whatever color you want. Remember that, unlike human hair, you can’t lighten the color of your synthetic wig with bleach.
2. Set Up Your Workspace:
Put on an old cloth, and a pair of disposable gloves, and lay down a piece of newspaper or a tablecloth around the area where you are going to dye. Place the wig in a wig stand.
3. Spray at Your Wig:
Start to spray the alcohol-based ink mix on the top layer of your hair that is more visible to you. Spray your dye 3-5 times in 1 area that’s 5.1-7.6 cm wide.
Put your hand into the wig, wiggle the synthetic wig hair from side to side, and then start spraying again. Repeat this process again and again until every inch of your synthetic wig is dyed entirely.
4. Comb The Synthetic Hair Wig with a Wide Comb:
After you have sprayed every part of the synthetic wig hair with the dye and tried to spread it by wiggling as much as possible with your fingers, still the synthetic wig hair may not look uniform.
Now use a wide-tooth comb and start combing from top to bottom and the way around the head uniformly.
5. Dry The Wig:
After dying your synthetic wig, put it on a hook and let it dry in the sun. Wait until the wig is completely dried. Usually, it will take an hour or so, but the longer or thicker the wig hair is, the more it will likely take time.
6. Rinse Your Wig:
Once you have noticed that your wig is dried, take it to the basin and turn on your tap. Rinse your wig with water until the water in your sink is obvious.
7. Detangle Your Wig:
Detangle your synthetic wig hair with a wide-tooth brush smoothly. Don’t be hasty in it.
Again put the artificial wig in a hook stand and let it dry on air. Then again, comb your hair. Now your new-looking desired color wig is good to use.
Tips:
- Before dying, make sure your wig is free from grease or any hair products because it can hamper your coloring.
- After drying your synthetic wig, if you can’t be sure whether it is fully dry or not, run your fingers through the wig. In case any of the slightest dye comes off into your hand, then the wig needs to place outside to dry for a little longer.
- After drying, it is better to spray some synthetic hair wig conditioner. It will help the wig to be smooth.
- Try to work in a well-ventilated area. If you don’t, you will most likely be over-exposed to the fumes that are in the alcohol-based ink.
- Always remember the more you dye your synthetic wig, the more it will shorten its lifespan.
Conclusion:
Dying a synthetic wig is somewhat of a tricky process and adds a lot of difficulties. Very often, it doesn’t go as planned.
Even though sometimes the result of dying your synthetic wig is rewarded and much more satisfying, even then, I would recommend you not to dye your synthetic wig.
However, if you want to dye even after knowing how to dye a synthetic wig with fabric dye, get advice from a beautician & seek her to help you.
