These clip over your ponytail and don't tend to get very dirty. They go in and come out very easily. If they do get dirty, simply take a washcloth and wet it down, rub the hair piece down (from top to bottom) and then use a hair pick to gently untangle, and yes, the hair will go back to it's original setting. Just remember to use cold or lukewarm water, synthetic hairs don't tend to react well to extreme heat. Super easy to clean and manage! Hope this helps!