Lace wigs are worn by many people, from drag queens to theater actors to cosplayers to cancer patients. However, putting it on can be quite a chore, as it requires glue or wig tape to adhere to a person’s hairline. The glue used is not a regular kind of glue, but a gentle special glue on the skin and hair. This glue would not pull out your hair when you remove the wig but will provide a solid and natural hold between your wig and your natural hair.
Some people opt for wigs that do not require glue, but these kinds of wigs do not resemble natural hair. These wigs also do not lay neatly on a person’s scalp and have a high tendency of falling off or looking skewed. Thus, wig glue was born. However, if putting on a wig sounds tedious, it is just as tiresome to remove it. After removing the wig, you also have to clean the glue so that it will not harden on the lace cap. Allowing wig glue to set on your lace wig would render it unusable in the future.
Here are a few methods on how to clean glue off lace wig and how to keep your lace wigs clean when you are not using them.
Methods of Removing Glue From Lace Wigs
1. Alcohol and mirror method
Items: 99.9% alcohol, cotton pads, mirror
Step 1. Dab some alcohol on a cotton pad and saturate the area where the glue is concentrated on.
Step 2. Press the lace part hard on a mirror and drag the wig down. The glue residue will be removed.
Step 3. Dab some more alcohol on another cotton pad and remove the excess glue until no traces are left.
2. Oil and water mixture
Items: salt, warm water, tea tree or olive oil, a spray bottle
Step 1. Create a mixture of salt and essential oil in warm water. Put the solution in a spray bottle and shake it well.
Step 2. Spray the solution onto the edges of the lace and leave for five to ten minutes.
Step 3. The glue will slide off of the lace wig and you can easily remove the remaining residue.
Step 4. Gently wash off the lace part with warm water.
3. Vaseline
Items: Vaseline, wet towel
Step 1. Dab a generous amount of Vaseline onto the lace cap.
Step 2. Leave it for a few minutes, then use a wet towel to wipe off the Vaseline.
Step 3. Repeat as necessary until all the glue is removed.
4. Acetone
Items: Acetone, a small bowl, a wet towel
Step 1. Put some acetone in a small bowl.
Step 2. Dip the part of the wig that has glue in the bowl. Do not put the entire wig in the bowl, as the acetone may damage the wig’s hair.
Step 3. Leave it in for a few minutes until all the glue is removed. Repeat as necessary.
Step 4. Wipe off the remaining glue with a wet towel.
5. Adhesive remover
Items: special adhesive remover for wig glue, Q-Tips, towel, dishwashing liquid, small plastic tub, water
Step 1. Soak the wig in warm water placed it in a small plastic tub.
Step 2. Put a few drops of mild dishwashing liquid.
Step 3. Leave the wig in the mixture for about 24 hours.
Step 4. Remove the wig from the solution and place it in the sink.
Step 5. Remove the adhesive by scraping it using your fingernail.
Step 6. Spray some adhesive remover on the remaining glue and leave for about five to ten minutes.
Step 7. Rinse the wig and make sure that there are no soap suds remaining.
Step 8. Hang up the wig to dry in a cool place with minimal dust.
How To Care for Your Lace Wigs
Here are some ways to care for your lace wigs when you are not using them.
- Place your wigs on a mannequin to prevent the hair from bending a certain way.
- Wash your wig using a mild shampoo and sulfate-free conditioner, but do not wash your wig every day.
- Do not use heat to style your wig. Heat irons and curling rods may damage the hair on your wig permanently. Instead, use styling tools that do not generate heat.
- Do not use styling cream or oil on your wig. These may wear your wig down and might prove to be challenging to wash later on when left on for too long.
- Brush your wig using a comb that has large and soft bristles. A paddle brush is ideal for keeping the strands of the wig untangled.
- Research methods on how to clean glue off lace wig so that the glue will not harden on the cap of your wig.
- Cut and style your wig according to your preference, but it is best not to color it using harsh chemicals. Buying a colored wig is your best option.
Conclusion
Lace wigs may be hard to put on and take off, but they are not hard to maintain. The best part about preserving lace wigs well is that you would not need to buy them often. If you take care of your wigs, they may last a long time. Keep in mind that there are certain chemicals that you should not use on your wig, especially if it is synthetic. If you have a wig made from natural human hair, use products that you would use on your natural hair to keep your wig looking shiny and healthy.
It is also good to learn how to clean glue off lace wig so that no glue residue build-up may harden, rendering your wig unusable. Regardless of the type of wig you have, whether made out of human hair or synthetic material, it is best to keep them clean, well maintained, and free of any chemicals such as hair spray, oils, and glue.
