How to Curl a Human Hair Wig with a Curling Iron

I love some juicy curls. Especially if I can get them to last at least a week. I am going to show and tell you how to curl your human hair wigs perfectly each time with a curling iron. Be sure to watch the video.

Supplies You Will Need

Styrofoam Head or Wig Block – Put the wig on, while your curl.
Comb and/or Paddle Brush Comb or bush out any tangles before you start curling and for styling.
3-5 Alligator Clips – Will be used to clip the hair up into sections. The fuller your wig, the more clips you will need.
1” Curling Iron – Use your favorite brands.
Heat Protectant (optional) – Protect your hair from heat damage. Apply to hair before curling.
Product for Hold (optional) – You can spray the entire wig before and/or after curling or each row before curling. Holding spray can help your curls last longer.
Duck Bill Clips (optional) – After you curl each piece of hair, you can either let it drop down then move on to the next or you can pin it up with a duck bill clip. Clipping the hair is not a bad idea if you are curling your wig for an event or plan to store her away for a few days.I personally, curl each section then move on to the next. 🙂

_{All of the supplies listed below can be purchased from your local beauty supply store. Links provided are Amazon Affiliate Links for most of these items.}

Few things to keep in mind before we get started…

If you have never worked with a curling iron, I suggest practicing before turning them on.
Temperature of curling iron should be not higher than 400 degrees. Use a heat protectant if you feel the need.
The bigger the barrel of the curling iron the looser the curls, the smaller the barrel the tighter the curls. I usually curl all with a 1” barrel. Once you curl your first section you will know if you want to go with smaller or bigger sections. Whichever you decide, be consistent throughout the wig.
The smaller the section, the tighter the curls. The bigger the section, the looser the curl.
The bigger curling iron, you’ll have loose waves. The smaller the curling iron, you’ll have tight curls.

Step by Step Guild to Curl Your Wig with a Curling Iron

Place your wig on your wig block/styrofoam head and pin down with straight pins. You can also curl your wig while wearing it, just be sure not to pull especially if it’s installed with glue or gel.

Comb out any tangles. Use your wide tooth comb or paddle brush to comb out all tangles. Start at the ends then work your way up to the crown of the wig.

Clip hair into 3 to 4 sections with Alligator Clips. You’ll need one clip of each side of the wig and at least one for the back. If your wig is full you may need more clips.

Pull down the first two to three rows of tracks at the very back and pin the rest of the hair back up. Start by working with two inches of hair at a time. Once you see your first curl, you can determine if you want to use smaller or bigger sections.

While holding the curling iron in your dominant hand, use the handle to open the clamp. Place curling iron at the base of the wig (or head) Slowly feed the hair in with your other hand by slightly opening and closing the clamp while twisting downward. Make sure the hair you feed into the curling iron is under the hair you started with. Curl all the way to the ends.

Use the handle to slightly open to feed in more hair. the curling iron do most of the work. All you need to do is slightly open the clamp and feed the hair in and close while your curl the hair.

Remember, alternate the direction of your curl while working with the back of the wig.

Now Let’s Curl the Sides

Starting with the right side, pull down your first two to three row. Keep in mind, the curls on each side of the wig should go towards the back, away from your face.

Place each section of hair to be curled in front the the curling iron and and curl toward the back of the wig. Do not alternate the direction of the curls. Do the same on the left side.

Comb Out Those Beautiful Curls

I like to comb out the curls with my fingers. If you do decide to use a comb, I recommend a wide tooth comb.

A few bonus tips…

Let the curling iron do most of the work. Slightly open the clamp and feed the hair in and close while your curl the hair.
The key is to be consistent with the amount of hair that is curled at a time throughout the wig.
If you place your wig on a wig stand or head at the end of the day, your curls will last longer. I usually re-curl my wigs about every 10 days.
Don’t worry if the curls don’t turn how you want the first time.The more your practice, the better you’ll will get.

I hope you found this helpful. Feel free to leave any questions you have below in the comments or contact me. Also, if you have some tips to share, please do so.

Until next time.