6 Tips To Achieving Realistic (And Long Lasting!) Synthetic Hair Looks

For a long time now, synthetic hair has had some negativity attached to it because out of all of the different types of hair extensions*, weaves, and wigs*, it looked the phoniest.

No matter if it’s fake or not, hair that looks ridiculously unrealistic is not necessarily a good look. Not only that, but synthetic hair typically doesn’t last long, and there weren’t many texture options for women who need inexpensive and decent quality hair options.

In recent years, the choices of synthetic hair have really improved! There are now a bunch of different hair textures, brands, tips, and methods that’ll give you a better experience this time around.

Below are 6 tips to achieving realistic and long lasting synthetic hair looks!

Invest In Hair w/ Heat Resistant Fibers 

The lack of versatility and inability to take heat was a major reason why synthetic hair was avoided for the most part. However, in recent years, heat resistant fibers and real/synthetic hair blends have become more popular and readily available in beauty supply stores as well as online.

This type of hair usually hold up to 420 degrees of heat which means you can curl, straighten, and blow dry on a low temperature and achieve your desired results! Now this is a huge step in the right direction because back in the day, not even a mouthful of hot breath could touch the hair or else it’ll turn into thin plastic strands.

You don’t need to be so careful nowadays, but don’t get it twisted, it is still synthetic hair and will melt if you are using heat too often or going over the recommended temperature.

Make/Purchase Wigs 

Synthetic hair comes in many different forms of extensions*, but wigs* and half wigs are the best option for long-term wear.

Sew ins are worn all day and night which means they will be slept in, sweated out, styled multiple times, and a list of other things. Simply put, synthetic hair cannot take all of that like real hair can.

Clip ins* may be a better option than sew ins because you can take them out. However, you must consider thinness of wefts, excessively tangling and shedding hair, and how well the extension texture will blend with your real hair since you’re unable to put products in it.

So then you are left with wigs. You’re able to make or buy synthetic wigs with heat resistant fibers which mean you can style and customize them however you’d like. You’d also be able to take them off before bed, showering, working out, and any other activities that may threaten the wig*’s longevity.

Look For Kinky* Textures 

Yes, kinky curly and afro-textured synthetic hair is a thing! They have textures similar to everything from flat ironed relaxed hair to 4c textured kinks and coils so you’ll be able to find any style that matches your personal taste.

The closer it is to your real hair type and texture, the more believable it is. Synthetic hair made to match kinky* hair types tend to have more texture and less shine to them. In other words, they won’t look like plastic.

If you can’t find any wigs* or wefts with curl patterns that you like, try crochet braids! Crochet hair will undoubtedly have the more natural textures and curl types you are looking for.

Tone Down The Shine

In the event that you do purchase hair with too much shine, you should know that you won’t have to just deal with it. There are actually a few steps you can take to tone down the unrealistic luster in your hair.

Grab a powder of any kind and shake it through the hair! Dry shampoo, baby powder, or translucent face powder will all work to dull the shine–just make sure you shake it out thoroughly to prevent a white film or coating from forming on the hair.

Another option is to soak your hair in 1/2 gallon of water and two cups of white or apple cider vinegar*. Let it soak for 10 minutes, rinse thoroughly with cold water, and allow it to completely air dry. This is my least favorite option because vinegar typically leaves the hair with a smell that is difficult to get rid of.

If all else fails, simply wear the hair to bed. I know this goes against every piece advice I just gave you, but wearing synthetic hair for a solid three days will ultimately take away all the shine you were worried about.

Two Words: Boiling. Water.

When it comes to synthetic hair, think of boiling water as a heated styling tool. Boiling hot water is the most important part of synthetic hair versatility because without it, you’d have a hard time curling your hair.

Try flexi rods*, rollers, perm rods*, and even braids outs on your synthetic wig or extensions*! Install them like you normally would, but instead of putting product in the hair and letting it set overnight, sit the prepared hair in a pot of boiling water and then let it air dry. The heat is what will help the curls form.

This method is absolutely fool proof and works like a charm on most synthetic hair. There are tons of YouTube tutorials available to show you the process, but if you still think it’s too sketchy–just purchase heated rollers.

Heated rollers won’t work as well because they tend to lose heat quickly, but they are perfect if you need curled ends or some volume.