Some styles need ear holes cut in to sit flush and comfortable. It's a small adjustment, but an easy one to get wrong in a hurry, so we'd always recommend watching it done before you try it yourself.

Our Instagram page has a full tutorial and guidance on cutting in your ear holes — find it over at @dmusewigs.

How you store your wig between wears has a real effect on how long it lasts. To get the longest wear from yours, store it in a silk bag or on a silk hook hanger. If you're using a single hook, hook it from the inside of the cap at the crown area, rather than letting the weight pull on the hair.

You can sleep in your unit if you'd like to — but to avoid tangling and to keep it looking newer for longer, we'd recommend not sleeping in it where you can help it. If you do, a silk bonnet will protect the hair and lace from rubbing and wearing down overnight.

How often you wash comes down to how often you wear. If you wear your wig every day, it'll likely need washing every two to three weeks. If you wear it now and then, washing more than once between wears isn't essential — with the right care, your unit can comfortably last one to two years, and often longer.

One thing to keep in mind: HD lace, and any thinner lace type, is more delicate than other lace types. When washing, don't scrub or handle the hair and lace heavily, as that's what causes hair and lace to shed and deteriorate faster. Gentle is the rule throughout.

Here's the wash routine we recommend:

1. Shampoo with a wig-friendly shampoo. We recommend the L'Oreal Colour Vitamino shampoo every wash. Every 3rd wash, start with the Osmo Scalp Therapy shampoo (to get rid of product build up).
2. Rinse with cool water only — warm water encourages the colour to wash out.
3. Treat (optional) — lock and seal the shine with L'Oréal Professionnel Vitamino Color Concentrate Treatment. Apply only to mid-ends and rinse after 30 seconds.
4. Condition - we love using the Kadus Visible Repair Mask for deep moisture. Only apply to mid-ends and avoid root area (as this can cause shedding). Leave in 30 minutes. You can work the mask through the hair with a wide tooth comb or gentle brush (the wig is most vulnerable when wet so be cautious).
5. Rinse again with cool water.
6. Gently towel dry — pat, don't rub. Comb and detangle.
7. Air dry — let the hair dry naturally to prevent heat damage and reduce shedding.
8. Style.

Letting your wig dry naturally is the single kindest thing you can do for it — heat drying is one of the main causes of damage and shedding over time. Once it's dry, you can style as you like.

Your wig is human hair, so it takes heat styling well — but always use a heat protector first, every time, just as you would with your own hair. A little protection here is what keeps the hair silky and healthy wash after wash.