One of the most important ways to ensure that your u-part wig will last is washing it correctly. Many people quickly wash their wig just so they can keep wearing it, and this can cause irreversible damage. Although this process may seem like a lot of work, following these steps will help your u-part wig last for years.

Prep your wig in advance

Before you wash your wig, there are a few critical steps you can not skip. First, it is imperative that you fully comb out your wig with a wide tooth comb. Any snags in your wig can lead to loss hair in the future. After you comb out your wig, check for any hanging tracks. Over time the thread in certain places may break or sag causing tracks to come out of place. Before you wash your wig, sew back all the tracks that need to be fixed. Once your finish sewing, you're ready to start washing your wig.

Only wash your wig with conditioner

In general, shampoo can be very drying. Even the sulfate free formulas can strip the oils from your u-part wig. This can be especially damaging, because unlike real hair, your wig can't reproduce natural oils. Using shampoo on your wig will only destroy it. To properly cleanse your wig use regular conditioner or cleansing conditioner. Conditioner will not only cleanse your wig, but also leave it hydrated and soft. My favorite conditioner to wash wigs with is Suave Essentials Tropical Coconut conditioner. It only cost $3, the smell is amazing, and it will make even the driest wig come back to life.

Deep condition your wig

My favorite deep conditioners and leave-in conditioner.

I've had some of my wigs for over 5 years. The hair has last this long because I deep condition it. All human hair needs that extra moisture and protein in order to stay beautiful. To keep your wig in top notch shape, use Silicon Mix Hair Treatment ($19.99 for the large size) or Silicon Mix Bambu Nutritive Hair Treatment ($10). These deep conditioners will leave a protective coating on your hair that will guard it from heat and manipulation damage.

Partially dry your wig laying down

After you rinse all the product out of your wig, wring as much water out of the hair as possible. Since a wet wig is very heavy, lay it out to dry on a towel and let it dry 70 percent of the way. At this point you should apply leave-in conditioner to your u-part wig, to help keep moisture in the hair. My favorite leave-in conditioner for my wigs is Creme of Nature Argan Buttermilk Leave-In Hair Milk. It cost $9, but a little goes a long way.

Finish drying your wig by hang drying it

Using an adjustable pants hanger, clip in your wig and let it hang dry. Leave a towel underneath your wig so it can absorb any water that may drip down. Wait a few hours so your wig can dry 100 percent and you won't need to blow dry it. Then style your wig as desired.