Keeping Your Human Hair System Clean Without Ruining It

Washing a hair system is nothing like washing your own hair. There's no scalp feeding it oils, and once the hair dries out or frizzes, it can't repair itself. Shampoo it like you shampoo your head and you'll have a tangled, straw-like mess within a couple of months.

The good news: doing it properly takes about fifteen minutes. You need the right products and a bit of patience, and that's about it.

How often should you wash it

Every one to two weeks suits most guys, depending on how much you wear it and how much you sweat.

Daily workouts or a hot, humid climate push you toward the weekly end of that range. Wear it a couple of times a week and you can go longer.

In between washes, a few small habits carry you a long way. Wipe the front hairline with a dry cloth after the gym. Work a little leave-in conditioner through the lengths when it starts to feel dry. That's usually enough to get you to the next wash without drama.

What you'll need

Get everything together before you start:

• A sulfate-free, alcohol-free shampoo made for hair systems

• A decent conditioner

• A wide-tooth comb

• A soft towel

• A basin or sink

• Cool or lukewarm water

Regular drugstore shampoo is too harsh. So is hot water, which dries out the hair and softens the adhesive if the system is still bonded on.

Taking it off

If it's on your head, remove it first. Run adhesive remover along the edges, give it a minute, then lift gently.

If it doesn't lift, don't muscle it. Add more remover and wait longer. Pulling on a system that's still stuck will stretch the base and take hair with it.

Comb it before it gets wet

This is the step people skip, and it's the one that causes the most grief.

Use a wide-tooth comb. Start at the ends and work up toward the base, holding the hair at the roots with your other hand so you're not tugging on the knots.

Wet hair tangles far worse than dry hair. Clear out what's there now, or you'll be dealing with real matting later.

Washing

Fill a clean basin with cool or lukewarm water. Not hot. Heat strips moisture out of the hair and isn't kind to the base material either.

Add a small amount of shampoo to the water and swish it around. Pouring shampoo straight onto the hair dumps a pile of lather in one spot that you'll be rinsing out forever.

Dip the system in and let the water move through it. That's the whole technique. No scrubbing, no rubbing it between your palms, no twisting. If there's buildup near the base, loosen it with your fingertips and go easy around the edges.

Rinsing

Empty the basin, refill with clean cool water, swish again. Repeat until the water runs clear.

Get all of it out. Leftover shampoo is what turns system hair dull and stiff after a few washes, and plenty of guys blame the hair when it's actually residue.

Conditioning

Human hair needs moisture put back in, and this is where that happens.

Small amount of conditioner, mid-lengths to ends, off the base. Keep it off the base, because it leaves residue there and loosens your bond.

Let it sit a few minutes, then rinse with cool water.

Drying

Lay the system on a soft towel and pat it. Don't rub, since rubbing tangles the hair and can work strands loose from the base. Don't wring or twist it either. Just pat until most of the water is out.

Then put it on a stand or a mannequin head and let it air dry all the way through.

A hairdryer on high heat dries the hair out and can warp the base. If you're short on time, use the cool setting and keep it at a distance. Leave the system alone while it's wet. Combing wet hair stretches it and pulls at the knots, so wait until it's mostly dry before you style.

Styling

Wide-tooth comb or a soft brush, gently. A little leave-in conditioner or hair oil keeps it manageable between washes.

Things that will wreck it

• Hot water

• Regular shampoo

• Rubbing and twisting

• Brushing it wet

• Blow drying on high heat

• Anything alcohol-based, which dries the hair out and breaks the base down over time

Habits worth picking up

Wash in the evening and let it dry overnight, so it's ready to wear in the morning.

Keep it on a stand when it's off your head. Folded into a drawer, it creases and tangles.

If you can manage it, run two systems in rotation. Each one gets recovery time, and together they last longer than a single one would.

What we do at LYRICAL HAIR

Our systems use Remy human hair, which holds up to repeated washing far better than processed hair. Every order ships with care instructions covering which products to use and how often.

If you're unsure about something specific, like which products suit your base type or whether you're washing often enough, get in touch and we'll tell you straight.

Worth the fifteen minutes

Comb it before it gets wet. Cool water. System-safe shampoo. Rinse it properly. Condition. Pat dry, air dry, style when dry.

None of that is difficult. It's just a different routine from the one you use on your own head, and this hair doesn't forgive shortcuts the way a living scalp does.