Wigs are pretty convenient. They give you an instantly fresh new look when you feel like it, help keep your actual hair protected and are just fun to wear. Though sometimes when we use them we run the risk of causing some damage. This can be seen by the thinning hairlines of some people who glue down their wigs. The glue that we use when we secure our hair is not always the best. This article is a closer look at wig glue poisoning.
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Can wig glue poison me?
Short answer: Yes you can be positioned by wig glue but this depends on your reaction to the soluble latex which is found in bonding glue.
Allergic reactions: This glue isn’t exactly all-natural. Because some glues contain a soluble latex antigen in the formulation you can get a reaction if you are allergic to latex. If this is really bad it will go further than just giving you a rash. The product can give you dermatitis and this can escalate to having an anaphylactic shock.
Anaphylactic reaction: After applying the glue you might suddenly realize that you have trouble breathing or swallowing. This is an indication of an anaphylactic reaction. This is a very dangerous situation to be in. If not treated you could die
This can happen if the glue seeps into your bloodstream and does damage to your internal organs. If you use the product regularly then your body can soon become sensitive to it. If the glue then reaches your bloodstream this sensitivity will make the situation worse than it would have been if you didn’t have a sensitivity.
Doctors recommend that you only keep the product on your scalp for 2 days. Some people will keep this on for weeks on end. When it’s in for longer than recommended amount of time it starts to become dangerous.
The chances of a negative reaction increase the more you wear hair that needs glue to install. The glue is not supposed to be used for a long period of time. It is also not supposed to be applied to the scalp.
Other negative effects of the glue:
There is a possibility of getting allergies as a result of your skin reacting badly to the glue. You might find that you have red, patchy areas of skin at the site of the glue or around it. You can also develop hives, dry skin and itchiness on the skin if you are allergic to the glue.
Permanent scalp damage as a result of glue is always sad to see but it happens. This is one of the reasons you need to let your hair breathe. When the hair isn’t allowed to breathe, as a result of using hair glue, then the follicles of the hair eventually become very blocked and damaged. When this happens the hair becomes dried out and weak.
If you keep the hair in for too long there is nothing the hair can do but to keep on being damaged, it can’t heal itself. When it’s time to remove the hair the hair can rip as you pull trying to get the glue off. This can result in you getting bald spots.
Safety when using hair glue:
After you’ve removed the hair you need to make sure that glue is cleaned off properly. If not the pores on your scalp will still be blocked preventing the hair from breathing.
Because this glue has high fumes you will need to wear a mouth and nose mask when handling the glue especially the harsher ones.
You can find hair glues that don’t contain this latex. Using these will be for your own good even if it takes time to find it.
After removing the glue you need to make sure you clean out your pores very well, this article will look deeper into scalp cleansing. You can use a scalp scrub like this one to exfoliate your scalp.
Be vigilant:
You need to always keep an eye on the glue so that it does not cause some adverse effects on your skin.
If you can, check beforehand that the product is fragrance-free and is hypoallergenic. You need to read the ingredients to make sure that you are not allergic to anything on the list
Check that the skin around your hairline looks normal at all times. If you find that you have swelling, redness, irritation or bums then this is a sign that your scalp and the glue are not playing nice. You need to remove the glue immediately before it causes a worse reaction.
If the cornrows itch under the glue then you might want to read this article on why. It will explain why cornrows itch and what to do about it.
Always be vigilant as to what’s happening with your body especially if you are adding foreign products on your skin or into your body.
How do you get hair glue out of your hair?
After you’ve removed your weave or wig some of the glue holding your style together will probably be left behind. This glue needs to be removed if you want to keep your scalp and hair healthy and avoid damage. Sadly sometimes trying to wipe it off doesn’t work, luckily there are other methods you can try:
Oil:
Oils are known to break up makeup and other hard to remove substances, glue is one of them. You can use almond oil, olive oil or baby oil to break the glue apart.
Apply a good amount of oil onto the glue making sure that the glue is properly saturated with the oil. Let the oil sit for 15 minutes to loosen the glue. Comb through the soft glue and oil, use a fine-toothed comb.
After the glue is removed shampoo your hair and use a conditioner afterwards. This conditioner will add hydration and moisture back into your hair
Dish soap:
This may sound a bit weird but trust me it works, apply the dish soap on the glue and use your fingers to scrub the product on the area. Let the soap sit on the glue for about an hour. When the hour is complete rinse the glue and the dish soap out of your hair
Conditioner:
Grab your favourite conditioner and saturate your hair where the glue is. Use a shower cap or plastic bag to cover your hair then wrap it in a towel for 20 minutes.
After the 20 minutes is up remove the towel and plastic and rinse the conditioner and glue out of your hair, comb through your hair after rinsing to get those extra remaining pieces of glue out of your hair.
How long does a glue in weave last?
You can expect your glue in weave to last from 10 days to two weeks, after this the glue starts to look not so great. Some people keep them in for longer but after a while, the weave will start to look a bit old and worn out, keeping it in for the recommended amount of time is recommended.
Can hair glue be used for eyelashes?
No, wig glue cannot be used for eyelashes. I know, this is a very tempting thing to do but please don’t do it. I know many women are using hair glue to attach their eyelashes but this is not what the glue is made for and it can harm you is used incorrectly.
The glue we use on our hair contains ammonia hydroxide and latex. If you’re allergic to latex you can get an allergic reaction around your eye or even in your eye if the glue gets into your eye (which is common) this glue will also cause burning, and redness in and around your eye.
The hair glue very is strong and when you remove your false eyelashes they will take your natural eyelashes with them. It can even remove your retina.
What is the best glue for eyelashes?
The best glue for eyelashes is the Duo Eyelash Adhesive, Dark Tone. The ingredients used in this eyelash glue won’t cause irritation on your skin or your eyes.
The glue is dark in colour so you can use it with your black or brown lashes without having it stand out. It sets quickly, is strong and safe to use. You know it’s a great product because it’s used by the professionals and has been around for years.
Can you use super glue on hair extensions?
No, you cannot use super glue on hair extensions, you may be tempted to use the super glue to keep the style in place for longer and to keep it strong but this will be a disaster.
When the super glue dries it turns white, it also turns hard which is not what’s you want. If you get the glue on your scalp this will cause irritation, redness and burning, even acetone won’t be able to get the glue off and you’ll have to cut off your hair
Which is better sew in or glue in weave?
It depends on your needs. Glue in weaves are great to use if you want a quick more affordable way to get hair extension in. The glue is affordable and you can usually glue the hair in yourself.
The downfall of glue in extension is that you can wind up damaging your hair if you apply the glue in a rush. You can also wind up causing your actual hair to rip out if you don’t remove the glue properly.
For this process to go well it is very important that you use a glue that has been designed for glue in weaves. They can be kept in for 10-14 days.
Sew-in weaves can be kept in for longer, about eight weeks. They are more versatile and you can style your hair in a variety of different ways. These weaves tend to look more real than the glue alternatives.
The downside of this type of weave is that they can be quite expensive to install and you will need to go to a stylist to get it installed. A plus is that you can shampoo and condition your hair without having to worry about causing the glue to unbound.
Can you wash your hair with tracks glued in?
Yes, you can wash your hair with the tracks in, as long as you’re using a glue that is not water-soluble. If you keep your glue in weave for longer than the recommended amount of time then you should wash your hair to make sure your scalp stays clean and free from dirt, mould and irritation. You just have to remember to wash gently to avoid your weave from frizzing or separating from our head.
Is it bad to wear a wig every day?
Although it’s a good idea to be protective styling your hair, wearing a wig every day is not a good idea. If you’re wearing a wig and your hair is braided underneath you need to uninstall those braids after 8 weeks to let your hair breathe.
In addition, you need to take a break to wash your wig to make sure it stays looking fresh, washing your wig while it’s on your head is quite difficult.
Wearing a wig for short periods of time as a protective style is actually a great idea, it’s versatile, non-committal and you can remove it at the end of the day when you’re done with it.
Its one of the most natural hair extension looks you can wear as long as you apply it properly. It keeps your real healthy safe and free from over manipulation.
What is a glueless wig?
A glueless wig is one of the most convent and easy to use wigs out there. Just as the name suggests, this type of wig doesn’t need wig glue to be applied. The wig has adjustable straps in the back and a ribbon in the front.
They are easy to apply and remove and you can wear a different wig every day if you want to. If you want an easy to maintain wig that’s convenient, allows you to maintain your hair underneath and protects your hairline this is the wig to go with.
I hope that you take this issue very seriously as this can be fatal to your health if not. If you enjoyed this article please share it so we are all aware of what glue can do.
