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Human Hair Wigs vs Synthetic Fiber

Human Hair vs Synthetic

You're probably wondering which hair is right for you. Well, possibly both. Human hair and synthetic hair each have their advantages and limitations making them both the right choice at different times, depending on your budget, timeframe and needs. Ideally, you would choose both as each one has their benefits.

Human Hair Wigs

There are generally four basic types of human hair used in wigs: Chinese, Indonesian, Indian and European/Caucasian. The majority of wigs are made from Asian hair. Chinese hair is thicker, resulting in extremely straight hair which is more resistant to curl and can be harder to style. Indonesian hair is found in greater supply, is less costly and often used in ethnic style wigs. Indian hair is thinner, similar to that of European hair but with a bit more texture. European hair is the most sought after due to its fine texture, but is more expensive due to its increasingly limited supply.

The origin of the hair is not the only factor because the processing technique is directly related to the strength and quality of the end product. The chemicals needed to sanitise and strip away the original colour and produce different curl patterns and colours are very strong and can affect the integrity of the hair depending on the method used. Higher quality chemicals and a particularly artful approach to processing results in a higher quality product and a higher price.

Remy human hair is considered a premium option. Hair follicles are kept in the same direction when collecting and crafting a wig or hairpiece resulting in tangling being greatly reduced, hair looks and feels silkier. Beware of imposters with suspiciously low-priced products - you will not receive what you think you paid for.

Human hair offers the most natural look and feel and is remarkably soft with a shine and movement that is not easily duplicated in synthetic hair. It is also extremely versatile. Human hair can be cut and styled to suit your personal tastes. Even though it is more expensive, with proper care it is more durable and can last more than a year.

It is very important to use wig hair care products specially formulated for highly processed human hair. Wig and hairpiece hair must be hydrated and conditioned daily, as it does not benefit from scalp oils like natural growing hair.

If quality is the only factor, human hair is by far the superior choice. Other than price, the main drawback to human is the required maintenance, just as it is with natural hair it requires effort. Many prefer the daily styling as there is more control over the personalised appearance as well as a sense of normality with the daily styling ritual. Human hair does not come out of the box ready to wear. You may want to have it customised by a professional hair stylist to get the exact look you want. It takes extra effort… but is well worth it!

Synthetic Hair Wigs

Synthetic hair has come a long way in recent years, due to technological advances. At times it can be difficult to tell the difference. The thickness and texture can feel almost like human hair. Unless you had human hair to compare it to, the higher quality synthetic hair wig you would never guess it was not natural human hair.

The most appealing aspect to synthetic hair is it can often be worn right out of the box with little to no styling. The fiber used has a memory for wave, curl and volume, letting the hair bounce back into place with minimal effort and the curl pattern is permanently set. It can even hold up in bad weather and guarantees no drooping or frizzing.

However, what synthetic hair offers in ease, lacks in versatility. It cannot be styled to look many different ways like human hair. Only special heat defiant synthetic hair is heat style-able to change the curl pattern. Keep in mind, even the heat defiant fiber can be difficult to style as synthetic fiber is more resistant to change. Synthetic hair is also less durable than human hair. With proper care you can expect a synthetic hair wig to last about 4-6 months and heat defiant synthetic hair 2-3 months with daily wear. It is extremely important to use the correct wig care products in order to get the optimal life span from a wig.

The limited versatility of synthetic hair becomes less of a consideration when you factor in affordability. You may choose to have a wide variety of styles on hand ready to wear.