Whether it's a costume, accessory, or replacement for your natural hair, synthetic hair is at its best when it looks like the real thing. One of the most common obstacles to this is the telltale shininess that some wigs and hairpieces have, especially when new. You can, however, minimize this unnatural-looking sheen with ease -- and without taking your synthetic hair to the salon for a specialized treatment.

Wait a few months for the shine to fade. Much of the unwanted shininess that comes with a new hairpiece will be lost as the synthetic hair ages and the individual hairs are no longer quite so uniform in how they lay, fall and catch the light. If you have a wig or other piece of long-term synthetic hair, simply giving the piece six months of use will be the least risky way to let the shine fade on its own.

Shampoo and dry your hairpiece. Use a wig shampoo, not a regular, natural hair shampoo, and if you blow-dry, use a dryer with a "cool" setting to avoid melting the hair.

Wash your hairpiece in fabric softener. Hand wash with warm water and a weak solution of fabric softener; start with just a few tablespoons diluted in a basin of water and see if you like the results. If not, try washing again or washing with progressively stronger solutions until you do like the effect.

Spray a solution of apple cider vinegar and water on your hairpiece. As with the fabric softener, start with a weaker solution -- one part vinegar to two parts water --and spray conservatively at first, then strengthen the application.

Apply a small amount of powder to your hairpiece. If all else fails, a small amount of powder can greatly reduce the shine of your wig. To avoid over-applying -- and thus, causing the color to fade, particularly with darker wigs -- use translucent powder and apply first to your hands, then run your fingers and palms through and over the hair.