How to Dye a Synthetic Wig

Co-authored by Nikia Londy

If you’re getting bored with your everyday hairstyle or you’re planning to dress up as a character with vibrant hair, you may be thinking about dyeing a synthetic wig. While it may seem confusing because you can’t dye a synthetic wig with regular hair dye, it’s completely doable. First, make your hair dye, and then apply it and rinse it out. You’ll be ready to style and rock your new look in no time.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Making the Dye

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Mix a 1:1 ratio of alcohol-based ink and water in a spray bottle. Purchase an alcohol-based ink from your local craft store that’s the color you want to dye your wig. Empty the contents of the ink bottle into a spray bottle.^{[1]
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Research source} Then, add in the same amount of water to the spray bottle, screw the top on, and shake it up to mix the contents.
- For an average wig, use 1 1-oz. (29.6-ml) bottle of ink. For a wig that’s especially long and/or thick, use 2 1-oz. (19.6-ml) bottles.
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Add more water to get a pastel color. A 1:1 ratio will most likely get you an opaque, vibrant color that’s very similar to the ink color you chose. If you’re wanting to go for a more translucent pastel shade, such as mint green, you can buy a more vibrant green, such as kelly green, and simply dilute it by combining the bottle of ink with about 8 cups (1,900 ml) of water.^{[2]
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Use Sharpie ink as an alternative. If you don’t want to buy an alcohol-based ink and you have a Sharpie marker with an ink color that you like, you can use it instead. Remove the cap and pull apart the Sharpie with a pair of pliers. Pull out the ink tube that’s inside and slice it open with an Exacto knife. Then, place the ink tube in your spray bottle, add in your preferred amount of water, and let it sit overnight.^{[3]
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Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Applying the Dye

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Get a light-colored synthetic wig. Choose any wig that you want, as long as it’s a light color, such as white, light blonde, silver, or a pastel shade. This way, you’ll be able to start off with a blank canvas, which should allow you to dye your wig the color you want.^{[4]
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- You cannot lighten the color of synthetic hair with bleach like you can with human hair.
2
Set up your work space. First, pick a location outside where you’ll dye the wig. The dyeing process may be really messy, so it’s best to choose an area that’s far away from any valuables. Place a table in your chosen location, and cover the table in newspaper or an old tablecloth that you don’t care about. Finally, put your wig on a wig stand and place it on the table.
- If you can’t dye the wig outside, opt for a garage or basement instead.
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Put on old clothes and latex gloves. Put on an old outfit that you don’t care about in case some of the dye gets on your clothing. Also, put on some latex gloves before you start handling the dye, as this should keep your hands clean and help to minimize the mess.^{[5]
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Spray a section of hair and run your hands through it. Start by dyeing the top layer of hair that’s visible when the wig is parted naturally. Take your spray bottle and spray your dye 3-5 times in 1 area to coat 1 section that’s 2–3 inches (5.1–7.6 cm) wide. Dig your fingers into the root area and wiggle them from side to side as you bring them down through the hair. Run your hands through the section 2-3 times to ensure that it gets completely coated.^{[6]
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Repeat this application process for each section of hair. After you’ve applied the dye to your first section, create another section next to it that’s 2–3 inches (5.1–7.6 cm) wide, spray the dye on it, and work it in with your hands. Continue working your way around the head and focus on spraying near the roots and the top half of the hair strands. After that, lift up the top sections as you work your way around the head again and dye the hair underneath in sections.^{[7]
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Comb through the wig with a wide-tooth comb. After you’ve sprayed every section of hair with dye and tried to spread it out as much as possible with your hands, the hair may still not look completely uniform. To finish evening out the dye application, use a wide-tooth comb to comb through the hair from roots to tips all the way around the head.^{[8]
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Put the wig and the dye in a plastic bag as an easy alternative. If you don’t have a lot of time and/or you don’t want to worry about getting dye everywhere, pour the ink and water into a plastic bag, such as a trash bag. Place your wig in the bag and tie it closed. If you’re going for a more vibrant color, shake the bag for a couple of minutes. If you’re going for a pastel color, simply keep the wig submerged in the dye for about 5 minutes.^{[9]
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- Consider double-bagging the dye to help minimize the chances of spilling.

Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Rinsing and Styling Your Wig

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Set the wig outside to dry. After you’re done dying your wig, set it outside somewhere in the sun and let it dry completely. This usually takes about an hour, but may take longer if your wig is especially long or thick.^{[10]
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- If you aren’t sure whether or not the wig is completely dry, run your hands through it. If any dye comes off onto your hands, then it needs to stay outside for a while longer.
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Rinse your wig out until the water is clear. Once your wig is dry to the touch, take it to a sink and turn on the water. Rinse your wig until the water in the sink is completely clear, and no longer has traces of the ink color.^{[11]
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Detangle your wig with a wide-tooth comb. Either put your wig on a wig stand or on your head. Spray the wig with a synthetic hair conditioner, which you can find at your local beauty supply store. Separate out a small section of the wig, and use a wide-tooth comb to comb through the section from the tips to the roots. Continue doing this until the whole wig is detangled.^{[12]
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- Don’t use a regular hair brush on your synthetic wig, or you may ruin the wig.
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Use the lowest possible heat setting on heat styling tools. Use the “cool” setting if you’re blowing your wig dry. If you aren’t blowing your wig dry but you want to use other heat styling tools, let the synthetic hair air dry completely and set your tool to the lowest heat setting possible. Set straighteners and curling irons to temperatures no higher than about 200–250 °F (93–121 °C).^{[13]
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Finished.

Expert Q&A

Question

How do you dye a human hair wig?

Nikia Londy
Hair Augmentation Specialist
Nikia Londy is a Hair Augmentation Specialist and the Founder and CEO of Intriguing Hair, a one-stop solution for women from all ethnicities wanting to purchase high-quality human hair extensions, hairpieces, and wigs. With over 16 years of experience, she specializes in artificial hair integrations, hair extensions, hair loss, hairpieces and wigs, and non-surgical hair replacement. Nikia holds a BA in Organizational Leadership from Charter Oak State College and received her Cosmetology Certification from Blaine Beauty School. She is also a member of the American Hair Loss Council.

Nikia Londy

Hair Augmentation Specialist

Expert Answer

Read the instructions on the dye and follow them carefully—you'll want to dilute the dye down if your wig is very curly, as curled hair can absorb the colorant more easily. Then, apply the dye evenly across the hair so you don't end up with darker patches. Make sure to leave enough product to cover the whole wig so you don't run out at the ends!
Question

What do you do with the alcohol? It doesn't state it in your instructions.

Community Answer

You mix it with the water and then you put the ink inside the water with the alcohol. Then it should work better.
Question

Can I dye a blonde wig to be platinum white?

Community Answer

No. You only can dye light wigs to a darker color. You cannot dye it to a lighter color.

wikiHow Video: How to Dye a Synthetic Wig

Warnings

Make sure the wig is free of grease or any other hair products, as this might hinder even coloring.

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Always work in a well-ventilated area so that you aren’t overexposed to the fumes in the alcohol-based ink.

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