After Each Wear
After wearing a wig, shake it gently to remove tangles, smooth with a wide-tooth comb starting from the ends, and allow it to air out before storing. Never store a wig while it's still warm from wear or damp from any sweat — moisture and heat cause synthetic fibres to lose their style and can cause mildew on the wig cap. Allow at least an hour of airing before storage.
Washing
Wash wigs only when necessary — synthetic fibres handle washing less well than natural hair, and over-washing degrades the fibre faster. When washing is needed: submerge in cool water with a small amount of wig shampoo or gentle fabric detergent; agitate gently; rinse thoroughly in cool water; pat dry with a towel (no wringing — it creates permanent crimps); lay flat or hang on a wig stand to dry. Never use a blow dryer on a standard synthetic wig — heat damages the fibre permanently.
Storage
Store wigs on wig heads or in breathable bags (net bags or old pillowcases work well) away from direct light. Direct sunlight causes colour fading in synthetic wigs over time — more than you'd expect over a year of careless storage. Storing wigs in their styled state on a wig head maintains the style between wears; storing flat in a bag requires re-styling each time.
Refreshing Styles
For wigs with complex styles (spikes, specific shapes), the style may need refreshing between wears. Steam from a kettle held at distance can relax synthetic fibres enough to restyle; product (Got2B Glued, strong hold hairspray) re-activates with light heat from a cool hairdryer setting (low heat only on heat-safe wigs). Keep notes on what products and techniques you used when first styling the wig — recreating the process is much easier with records than from memory.