Kanekalon is a synthetic hair product made by the Japanese company Kaneka. It's commonly used for hair extensions and weaves, as well as wigs and doll hair. When your Kanekalon hair pieces get dirty, there’s no need to visit the beauty salon to clean them. In fact, you can shampoo and condition a sewn-in Kanekalon hair weave or clean removable synthetic hairpieces easily. To cleanse these modacrylic fibers -- and keep them in good shape at home -- you'll need basic beauty products and a few simple washing and conditioning techniques.
Use a wide-toothed comb to detangle the dry Kanekalon hair. Gently rake the comb through the hair from the ends to the roots to separate strands.
Dampen the synthetic hair with lukewarm or cold water. Avoid using hot water, which can damage the hair fibers.
Squeeze a quarter-sized amount of baby shampoo or other mild shampoo into the palm of your hand. Using your fingertips, spread the shampoo through the hair from the roots to the tips. Let the soap remain on the hair for a maximum of 5 minutes to make sure that the soap permeates all the strands of the synthetic hair.
Rinse the Kanekalon hair with cold water several times to remove any soapy residue. Do not brush or comb the synthetic hair when it is wet.
Apply a quarter-sized amount of conditioner that is formulated for synthetic hair to your hand. Apply the conditioner to damp strands from the roots to the tips. Let the conditioner remain on the hair for a maximum of 5 minutes. Rinse the conditioner from the hair using cold water.
Pat the hair dry with a large towel to remove as much water as possible. Let the hair air-dry naturally. Do not use a blow dryer; the heat may damage the delicate Kanekalon strands permanently.