Shedding Hair System

Clients and hair professionals alike have seen an increase in hair system shedding. There are a few daily wear reasons you see more hair falling out of your hairpieces and toppers. Beyond daily haircare maintenance In this article, we will share a few tips on hair system maintenance to help prevent shedding and bring insight as to why thinning is occurring. Here are some reasons why a hair system may be losing its fullness over time.

We must first understand that shedding is common. The hair stitched into a wig or hair system may shed when first worn. How you care for your hair system will dictate how long it will last with continuous wear. If there is noticeable shedding in the weeks following installation, it is possibly a haircare routine issue. Changing your maintenance routine may provide a simple fix to the shedding blues.

Oil, water, light, heat, rough handling, and manufacturing are six factors that can increase hairpiece thinning. Clients must follow a strict but easy care regimen to keep hairpieces full. Let’s dive into each of the six variables that can damage a hair system.

Oil

An overproduction of oil can lead to shedding. When the base of the hairpiece becomes oily, it allows the ventilated strands to loosen and slide out of the base. Oils and greasy buildup can occur naturally from the scalp or hair products. Conditioners that leave behind greasy residues should be avoided. Using the wrong conditioner can create more problems than you would expect. Consult a hair professional when choosing a conditioner that’s best for the individual. A quality conditioner should nourish the scalp and should not overload the scalp with long-lasting oils or additives. When recommending a conditioning product, remember each scalp’s natural oil production varies. The client’s choice of conditioner should cater to the individual’s needs of his or her scalp.

Water

Avoid combing through a hair system when it is wet. Depending on the type of base and the ventilation technique, a hairpiece may be more susceptible to damage. Skin base systems tend to swell when wet and open the pores where hair strands are located. If hairs are combed through when wet, they can easily slide out of place. Always use a wide-toothed comb or brush when managing tangled strands. Try a Wet Brush™  through the hair before washing to avoid pulling on the wet ventilated hair. Remember, the most gentle approach to detangling is to work through the ends of the hair first and then work your way up closer to the scalp.

Light

Ultraviolet radiation(UV) exposure can damage the strength, moisture, and color of hair. Repeated overexposure to UV rays can dry out and change the overall hue of a hairpiece. Try limiting time spent in direct sunlight and wear a sunhat when necessary.

Heat

Heat can zap the moisture from hair, leaving it prone to splitting and frizz.  When a hair system becomes dry and brittle, the ventilated strands can split and break off entirely. Avoid overdrying and use heat protection products when styling. Be sure to set your blowdryer on a warm or cool setting.

Rough Handling

Keep your hair system full of hair with gentle maintenance. A Wet  Brush™ can allow tangles to loosen with minimal stress to the scalp or hairpiece base. Avoid rough handling that can rip the hair from the base, such as tight towel drying, fine-toothed combing, pulling on ventilated hair from the roots, etc. Regardless of the ventilation technique, styling like wearing braids, hats, and other hair accessories will put stress on the base where these delicate hairs are ventilated. It is vital to avoid tight styling and do not brush through a hairpiece right after showering.

More natural-looking hairpieces are created through delicate ventilation techniques. V-looped, for example, sacrifices a little durability to achieve a seamless appearance. With a v-looped system, the strands seem to grow directly from the scalp flawlessly. V-looped is the ventilation of a hair strand in and out of a base in a delicate v-shape. This method of ventilation makes v-looped systems susceptible to shedding when mishandled or if improperly sealed. There isn’t a tied knot to combat physical stressors like pulling, so strands may become loose more easily.  This is why V-Looped systems are recommend to be replaced far more often than that of a knotted system.  The trade off is a virtually undetectable hair piece, that looks and feels like your own natural hair growing from your scalp.

Manufacturing

It is also possible that the manufacturing quality is to blame. Depending on the source of the hair or the way the strands were processed, a hair system may be prone to damage. Poor ventilating, could also allow the hair strands to slide out of the base more than usual. Remember, the pandemic has changed the distribution of hair products. We could be seeing more shedding than in previous years due to manufacturing and ventilation alone.

The best way to keep a hair system full of hair is through gentle care. Follow the care instructions recommended by a professional to prevent hair systems shedding. There are quality tools and products on the market that can benefit clients and decrease shedding-related issues. Using the right products will save time and money in the long run. Don’t allow clients to fall victim to shedding from any of the previously mentioned variables. Consult a hair professional at the first sign of hair system shedding, and remember these tips.

Contributing Editor
MaKayla Bartels
The Hair Society
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