Curly Human Hair Wigs: How to Choose Your Curl and Keep It Defined

The best curly wigs match the curl to your lifestyle as much as to your look. Looser patterns such as body wave need little upkeep; tighter curls give more volume but ask for a daily refresh. To keep any curly human hair wig defined, mist it with water, add a light leave-in, scrunch or finger-coil, and never brush it dry.

Key takeaways

• Choose your curl by three things: volume, shrinkage and how much time you will give it each morning.
• Water is your main styling product. Most curl refreshes start with a light mist, not more cream.
• Brushing dry curls turns definition into frizz. Detangle only when damp and conditioned.
• Protect curls at night with satin, and keep heavy products to a minimum to avoid build-up.

Why curly wigs are having a moment

Curls are where many wig wearers go next once they are confident with straight hair. They read as fuller, softer and more natural on many faces, and they hide a lot: a curly unit is forgiving if your parting is not perfect or the wind picks up. At The Penthouse, our curly units, especially Zini and Posh, have been drawing growing interest from shoppers on Google recently.

Curl pattern map: from soft wave to tight curl

Think of curl patterns as a scale. As you move down the table, volume goes up, and so does the care each pattern asks for.

If you are deciding between the looser end of the scale, our comparison of body wave, loose wave and water wave wigs goes deeper into those three patterns.

What is a kinky curly wig?

“Kinky curly” describes hair made to resemble natural Afro-textured curls, with a slightly coarser, fuller feel than silky curl patterns. It blends closely with natural hair, which is why many women choose it when they want their wig to look like their own hair on a good day.

Mimi, from our Premium Curl collection, is double drawn human hair that has been chemically processed to resemble kinky curly hair that has been blown out. That gives you the soft, stretched volume of blow-dried natural hair, rather than a defined ringlet.

How to choose the right curly wig

Start with your mornings

If you have five minutes, body wave or loose wave will look good with almost no effort. If you enjoy a short routine of water, leave-in and scrunching, bouncy or tight curls will reward you with real volume.

Think about length and shrinkage

Tighter curls shrink. A tight curl unit will usually sit noticeably shorter than its stated length, while a body wave sits close to it. If you want curls to reach a particular point, such as your collarbone or bust, allow for that.

Consider your face and frame

As a general guide, fuller curls can balance a strong jaw or a longer face, while longer, looser waves can lengthen a rounder face. Volume at the sides draws the eye outward; volume at the crown adds height. Petite frames can be overwhelmed by very long, very full curls, so a mid-length unit is often the more flattering choice. Your stylist can cut in layers to place volume where it flatters you most.

How to keep a curly wig defined, day to day

1. Mist, don’t soak. Lightly spray the hair with water to wake up the curl pattern.
2. Add a little leave-in. Work a small amount of leave-in conditioner through the lengths, section by section.
3. Shape the curls. Scrunch upwards with your palms, or wrap any frizzy sections around a finger to re-form the curl.
4. Hands off while it dries. Touching damp curls breaks them up. Let them set.
5. Lift the roots last. Once dry, a wide-tooth pick at the root adds height without disturbing the curls below.

Do you need a curl activator for wigs?

Sometimes. A curl activator is a cream or gel designed to help curls clump together and hold their shape, often by attracting moisture to the hair. On a wig, it can help a curl pattern that has gone loose or frizzy look defined again.

Use it sparingly, on damp hair, and only on the lengths. Wigs do not shed product the way a growing head of hair does, so heavy layers of activator, gel or oil build up quickly, leaving curls stiff, sticky or dull. If you find yourself adding more product each day, it is usually a sign the wig needs a wash and deep condition instead.

Night-time and wash-day care for curls

• At night: gather the curls loosely on top of your head and cover them with a satin bonnet, or take a glueless unit off and rest it on a stand.
• Detangling: only when the hair is damp and full of conditioner, with your fingers or a wide-tooth comb, from the ends up.
• Wash day: use a gentle, sulphate-free shampoo, condition well, and let curls air dry undisturbed so they set in their natural pattern.
• Heat: keep it low and occasional. Repeated high heat can loosen a curl pattern over time.

Our curly human hair wigs

• Zini 26″, R12,500: tight curly double drawn human hair on an HD lace frontal, and one of our fullest units. With PayFlex, 4 × R3,125.
• Mimi 26″, R13,500: loose curly, double drawn human hair processed to resemble blown-out kinky curls, on 13×4 HD lace. With PayFlex, 4 × R3,375.
• Posh 26″, R12,500: long body wave human hair on an HD lace frontal. The easiest entry into texture. With PayFlex, 4 × R3,125.
• Nini 24″, R17,400: big, springy curls in single donor Vietnamese raw hair, fully glueless with a 13×6 M-part transparent lace. With PayFlex, 4 × R4,350.

See every texture in our premium curl collection.

Find your curl

The right curly wig is the one that fits your routine as well as your reflection. Choose your pattern honestly, keep water and a light leave-in close, and let your curls dry without interference. If you would like a stylist to help you pick between Zini, Mimi, Posh and Nini, send a photo of the look you love on WhatsApp, or book a styling appointment on Fresha to have your curls refreshed by our team.

Frequently asked questions

How do I refresh a curly wig without washing it?

Lightly mist the hair with water, work a small amount of leave-in conditioner through the lengths, then scrunch upwards or finger-coil any frizzy sections. Leave the curls to dry without touching them, then lift the roots with a wide-tooth pick. Adding more heavy product every day usually leads to build-up.

Can I brush a curly human hair wig?

Avoid brushing curly hair when it is dry, because it breaks curls apart into frizz and can cause tangles. Detangle only when the hair is damp and coated in conditioner, using your fingers or a wide-tooth comb and working from the ends up towards the roots.

What is the difference between kinky curly and tight curly wigs?

Kinky curly hair is made to resemble natural Afro-textured curls, often with a fuller, slightly coarser feel. Tight curly describes small, tightly coiled curls that can be silkier. Our Mimi is processed to look like blown-out kinky curly hair, while Zini is a tight curly, very full unit.

Should I use curl activator on my wig?

You can, but sparingly. A curl activator helps curls clump and hold their shape, which can revive a pattern that has gone frizzy. Apply a small amount to damp lengths only. Wigs build up product quickly, so if you keep needing more, wash and deep condition instead.

Do curly wigs look shorter than their length?

Usually, yes. Curls shrink, so a tight curly unit tends to sit noticeably shorter than its stated length when worn, while body wave sits close to it. If you want curls to reach a certain point, such as your collarbone, consider choosing a longer length.

Written by The Penthouse Beauty Studio team at The Marc, 129 Rivonia Rd, Sandown, Sandton. Prices are in rand, include VAT and were correct at the time of publishing.