Human hair wigs can be curled, straightened and blow-dried — but the hair no longer receives oils from a scalp, so heat damage is permanent. Work with a smaller margin than you would on your own hair.
Temperature limits that matter
Stay at or below 180°C / 356°F. Fine or lightened hair (highlights, ginger, blonde) should stay under 160°C. If your tool has no temperature display, assume it runs hot and use short passes.
The non-negotiables
Heat protectant, every time. Apply to dry hair section by section, not one spray over the top.
Completely dry hair only. Flat-ironing damp hair boils the water inside the strand and bubbles the cuticle.
One slow pass beats three fast ones. Let the tool glide; clamping and re-ironing the same section is where damage accumulates.
Curling technique for wigs
Curl away from the face, hold 5–8 seconds, and pin each curl to cool before releasing — cooling is what locks the shape. Brushed-out curls on a wig drop faster than on growing hair, so set them well.
Keep heat off the lace
Never rest a hot tool on the lace or knots. Heat weakens the ventilation and causes shedding around the hairline — the most expensive damage to fix.
Recovery tip: if the ends start feeling rough, a deep conditioning mask plus a small trim restores softness before damage spreads up the shaft.
