If your wig has spent time in storage or hasn't been brushed for years, it's no surprise that the formerly silky-smooth locks have knotted up. Tangles develop in both human hair and synthetic hair wigs, and once they've set in, it's a chore to get rid of them. Even if your wig is severely tangled, though, you may not need to toss it just yet. With a brush and a bit of fabric softener, you can banish knots and restore your wig to its original beauty.

Combine one part liquid fabric softener with four parts water in a spray bottle. Shake well.

Place the wig on a wig stand. Spray a 1- to 1.5-inch section of tangled hair with the fabric-softener mixture.

Hold the hair section in your hand. With the other hand, work a wide-tooth comb through the tangles from the bottom up.

Spray another section of hair with the solution and comb gently to remove tangles. Continue working your way up the wig until all knots are gone.

Wrap the hair sections around rollers and allow them to dry. When dry, remove the rollers.

Spray the entire wig with the fabric-softener solution. Brush the hair with a wig brush and style as usual.

Mix four parts water with one part liquid fabric softener in a spray bottle.

Fill a sink or tub with cool water. Add one capful of liquid fabric softener.

Put the wig in the water and submerge it completely. Allow it to soak for 5 minutes.

Separate large knotted clumps of hair with your fingers, starting at the bottom of the wig and moving up to the top. Leave the wig in the water for another 5 minutes once you've removed as many clumps as you can.

Drain the water and refill the tub or sink with clean, cold water. Rinse the wig well.

Drape the wig over a wig stand and allow it to dry completely. Alternatively, pin the wig to a hanging clothes dryer with clothespins. If you do this, don't pin the front of the crown to the dryer line. Doing so may permanently alter the wig's forehead shape.

Spray the wig generously with the fabric-softener solution.

Run a wig brush through the hair to work out remaining tangles. Start brushing from the bottom and go up.