You need to wash your wig. You don't have wig shampoo. The beauty supply store is closed. Here's what you can use instead — ranked from "actually pretty good" to "only if you're desperate and you understand the risk."
Rating: 9/10 — The best substitute
Why it works: Baby shampoo is formulated to be extremely mild — no sulfates, no harsh detergents, minimal fragrance. It cleans without stripping the synthetic fiber coating, which is exactly what wig shampoo is designed to do.
How to use: One small drop in a sink of cool water. Swish, don't rub. Rinse extra thoroughly — baby shampoo residue can make synthetic fiber feel slightly sticky if not fully rinsed.
Catch: It won't remove heavy product buildup as effectively as wig shampoo. If you've been using a lot of hairspray or edge control, you may need two washes.
Rating: 7/10 — Works, but must be diluted
Why it works: Castile soap (like Dr. Bronner's) is vegetable-oil-based rather than detergent-based. It cleans effectively without the harsh surfactants found in regular shampoo.
How to use: Must be heavily diluted. One drop of castile soap in a full sink of water — seriously, one drop. Undiluted castile soap will leave a film on synthetic fiber that's hard to rinse out. Swish the wig gently. Rinse until the water runs completely clear.
Catch: Castile soap is alkaline. Synthetic fiber prefers a neutral to slightly acidic pH. Over time, repeated castile soap washes may make the fiber feel slightly rough. Use it as an occasional substitute, not a permanent replacement.
Rating: 5/10 — Deodorizes but doesn't clean well
Why people suggest it: Vinegar is a natural deodorizer and can remove light product buildup. It's often recommended in DIY wig care forums as a "clarifying" treatment.
The reality: Vinegar doesn't remove oils, sweat, or heavy product buildup. It deodorizes — which is useful if your wig smells — but it doesn't clean in the way shampoo does. Use a vinegar rinse (1 part vinegar to 3 parts water) as a refreshing step between washes, not as a replacement for washing.
Catch: The vinegar smell can linger in synthetic fibers even after thorough rinsing. Air drying outdoors helps dissipate the smell. And do not use vinegar on human hair wigs — it can strip color and dry out the hair.
Rating: 1/10 — Don't
Why not: Regular shampoo contains sulfates and harsh detergents designed to strip oils from living human hair. On synthetic fiber, these chemicals break down the protective coating that gives the wig its shine and manageability. After one wash with regular shampoo, the wig may feel rough, look dull, and tangle more easily. Dish soap and laundry detergent are even harsher — dish soap strips everything, and laundry detergent leaves a residue that's nearly impossible to rinse out of synthetic fiber.
The one exception: If your wig is genuinely filthy — like, "wore it to an outdoor music festival in the dust" filthy — and you have no other option, one drop of mild dish soap in a sink of water, followed by an extremely thorough rinse and a deep conditioning treatment with synthetic-safe conditioner, is better than leaving it dirty. But this should be a once-ever emergency measure, not a routine.
Baby shampoo is $4. A bottle of synthetic wig shampoo is $8. The four-dollar difference is not worth the risk of using the wrong product and degrading a wig you paid $50–150 for. If you're in a genuine emergency — wig needs washing tonight, stores are closed, you own baby shampoo — use it. Then buy wig shampoo tomorrow. If you're using a substitute regularly to save money, you're not saving money. You're just transferring the cost to your wig's lifespan, which will end up being more expensive than the shampoo would have been.
We stock synthetic wig shampoo for $8–12. It lasts 3–4 months with regular use. That's about 7 cents per wash. Your wig is worth more than that.
