While some may think that keeping your hair topper silky soft is a complicated process, it's actually very simple once you are aware of a few basic hairpiece tips. When you start taking your topper haircare into your own hands and remember to be patient with yourself when trying out new tips, your topper will become super soft.

In order to keep your hair topper soft and shiny, it is helpful to first learn how growing hair stays moisturized. Sebum is the main compound that influences the appearance of growing hair. Sebum is what causes your hair to feel oily, make your roots look greasy, and cause strands to feel heavy.

What is Sebum?

Sebum is an oily liquid secreted by the sebaceous glands which are attached to hair follicles in the scalp. After this oil spreads across your scalp, it then passes along the strands of your hair, hydrating them naturally. It is a continuous process that can be heavier for some more than others.

Though sebum is essential for hair growth and shiny, healthy-looking hair, human hair toppers have no way of generating it themselves. Even though your own scalp will continue to secrete sebum, it will not be able to sufficiently transfer onto your hairpiece.

Without the protection and moisture that sebum gives hair, hair toppers can become dry, brittle, and damaged if they are not cared for.

So how can you make sure that your hair topper remains moisturized and protected in the absence of sebum?

Here are our top tips:

1) Don't over-shampoo
If you completely remove all the oils from your hair topper, it won't be able to protect itself from damage caused by weather and pollution. Keep in mind that many shampoos are made with harsh chemicals that are not suitable for use on hairpieces, though you can find sulfate-free shampoos in our supply store.

2) Go for a swim, but keep your hair safe
The chlorine in pools is sure to dry out your hair topper and can even cause permanent damage to your topper if you spend the whole afternoon underwater. If you can, try to wear a hair cap during swimming. You could also apply a leave-in conditioner to your topper before taking a dip to reduce the amount of chlorinated water that will absorb into the hair strands. For more tips on swimming with a hair topper, check out our detailed guide.

3) Don't overuse your hairdryer
When used frequently, or on a high heat setting, hairdryers will dry out your hair topper. If you need to use a hairdryer, use it in a cool setting. Better yet, leave yourself enough time in the morning for your hair to dry naturally, or wash your topper in the evening and let it dry in loose braids overnight.

4) Use conditioner regularly
Since your hair topper cannot produce sebum on its own, a regular conditioning routine is essential. Each time you wash your hair topper, you should apply conditioner after shampooing and let it sit for a few minutes before rinsing thoroughly. That said, not all conditioners are made equally, similarly to shampoos, there are specially formulated conditioners designed to be used on hair toppers. For more on conditioning your hair topper check out our detailed guide.

5) Stay away from the rays
Taking proper care of your hair topper during the summer – just like you would take care of your skin – should be a key part of your hairpiece care routine. Just like your skin, your hair topper can become damaged by UV rays. Try to reduce sun exposure to your hair topper, or better yet, wear a summer hat or use a UV protective hair sealer to enjoy your time in the sun while protecting your hair topper.

6) Take care of your hair knots
Hair knots are the tiny dots that you can see when you look at your hair topper base closely. These dots are the knots that tie the strands of hair to the hair topper base. Taking proper care of these knots is essential to maintaining the volume of your hair topper since there is no way for hairs to grow back after they fall out. It is important to use a knot sealer regularly and follow basic hair knot maintenance steps.