Should I Buy A Synthetic Or Human Hair Wig?

When it comes to buying a wig there are many questions that you’ll ask. But above all there is one question that needs answering before you make any decision, and that’s whether the wig that you’re buying should consist of human hair, or synthetic hair.

Of course you’ll get the input of expert such as Josephs Wigs. But before you even consider consulting the professionals, there are things that you can learn about the materials used in the construction of wigs that will help you on your journey. So if it’s something that you are considering then read on for more helpful tips and advice on the issue of synthetic versus human hair wigs.

Overwhelming

Too many choices can often be overwhelming and nowadays with wigs there are plenty of choices to make. Colour, style, length and brands are just some of the choices you’ll be faced with.

But the fundamental choice is between the materials used in the creation of the wig; whether they’re from harvested human hair and or man-made fibres utilizing specially created synthetic technology.

First Impressions

Many will no doubt come to an immediate conclusion. They will assume that because something is natural i.e. made of human hair, that it will have to be of superior quality to the synthetic alternative. There is almost a presumed assumption when it comes to first impressions that if I want to replace my own human hair, then only human hair will do.

Of course human hair wigs are constructed using naturally harvested human hair and so they do tend to act like your own hair. Perhaps though they only feel more “natural” because they are in fact a natural material – an unmerited belief perhaps? When it comes to quality, a key factor in choosing the right wig, just because something is natural doesn’t make the end product any superior. The craftsmanship and quality of the wig depends on more than just the material alone. In fact the true differences are not in immediate appearance and many would not be able to choose one from another, even if they needed to. The differences are a little more subtle.

Human Hair Wigs

Human hair wigs do tend to have a little more versatility, because, like human hair, they are easier to style than pre-prepared synthetic wigs. They are easier to adapt and change because they have no implanted “memory” to their shape and form.

Because human hair is so versatile and differs so greatly between people, then the end product will also be more versatile and differ in texture and depth etc. They will always look more natural simply because they are natural, and with a good degree of care and maintenance they can truly last.

But then, just as with your own head of hair, they need proper care through washing, conditioning and re-styling. The harvested materials make them typically more expensive, and they can fade, be fragile, weigh more and require intensive styling. They are also more easily affected by the weather and prone to colour variation. If you’ve ever had a “bad-hair-day” you’ll understand.

Synthetic Wigs

Being created not harvested makes them cheaper and perhaps more importantly, easier to care for. They have an implanted style memory, but this also works against them. Whilst they hold their form more easily, it’s probably the case that the form and style etc. cannot be changed from as they came. They are low maintenance and the colour can be matched, but then they can appear unnatural in colour or shine because of this.

The colour, once chosen, is set and unlike human hair, synthetic wigs the only change you’ll get from trying to re-style them will probably be damage. Whilst there are some heat sensitive synthetic wigs that can help with styling alterations, these are short term solutions and their lifespans are not great. It is probably best to always keep a synthetic wig as it was bought and not try to alter it.

More Questions

The problem with answering a question is often that it promotes further questions and explanations. Having made the differences between human hair wigs and synthetic wigs a little more understandable and straightforward, it in turn has raised more issues.

One of the questions that you’ll need to answer is the extent of your budget. You should of course always buy the best and most suitable wig that you can afford, but that of course depends on the budget that you have. Another question is the type of style and appearance that you want. Forget for a minute the choice between synthetic and human hair, do you want a full head or a partial wig? Is your hair loss likely to be permanent or short term, because the longevity of the wig then comes into question. The amount of maintenance you’ll feel comfortable with and the frequency and regularity that you’ll wear the wig are also important issues.

Finally you’ll need to consider the most important issue of all before you choose between a synthetic or human hair wig, and that is you as a person. Do you change your hair style often, are you somebody who doesn’t mind or doesn’t lack the energy required to alter the wig’s style or fully maintain the wig? Are you someone who wants to choose practicality over appearance or vice versa?

People are of course all different and the right wig for you, won’t be the right wig for someone else. But right now the only person that matters is you, and armed with all the information on synthetic versus human hair wigs, together with a little expert input, you can make the best choice possible, for you.