Synthetic wigs are hairpieces made from synthetic fibers such as plastic. Synthetic wigs should be cleaned after they have been worn about 10 times. They differ from their human hair counterparts in that they cannot be exposed to heat so you should always clean them using cold water. While there are conditioners specially designed for synthetic wigs, you can also use regular conditioner to soften and de-tangle the hair.

Place the wig on the stand. It's best to use an open-style wig stand for washing as opposed to a Styrofoam stand. The stand will allow water to pass through the base and won't stretch the wig out of shape.

Comb and tangles out of the wig. Begin at the tips of the hair and gently work your way up to the roots.

Turn on the faucet so that a gentle, low-pressure stream is flowing. Place the wig under the running water and soak the hair. Keep the wig upright.

Apply a quarter-sized amount of shampoo to your palm and rub to emulsify. Spread the shampoo from tip to root without rubbing or scrubbing the hair.

Rinse the shampoo thoroughly from the wig.

Squeeze a dime-sized amount of conditioner into your palm. Apply to the tips of the hair, working your way up to the base.

Rake your fingers through the hair to distribute the conditioner and de-tangle the hair. Leave on for three minutes.

Rinse the conditioner from the wig, being careful to keep the wig upright. Finger-comb through the hair to remove any residue.

Remove the wig from the stand and place onto a towel. Roll the wig up into the towel to absorb moisture. Avoid rubbing the hair.

Place the wig back onto the wig stand and allow to dry thoroughly. Do not use a hair dryer, as this can damage the wig.