Which Type of Hair Wig is Best?

There are normally three types of hair wigs

  • Human Hair:

    Human hair wigs offer the same styling versatility of real hair. This feature is both the pro and the con of a human hair wig. Because human hair wigs are made of real hair, they require much more maintenance, styling, and upkeep.

Without the natural oils from your scalp to condition the wig, they can get dry and brittle without proper maintenance. Just like your own hair, they will lose their style in the rain or humidity and must be restyled.

They are also much more expensive than synthetic wigs. Human hair wigs can last a year or more (if worn daily) with proper care.

 

  • Synthetic Hair:

    High quality synthetic wigs will be virtually indistinguishable in appearance from a human hair wig.

Synthetic wigs have the benefit of retaining their shape, so they require very little styling. Simply spritz the wig with a spray bottle of water and the hair will return to their original style. The negative to synthetic hair is that it cannot be exposed to heat sources as it will permanently damage the fibres.

This means that you cannot use a curling iron, flat iron, hair dryer or other heated styling tools on the wig. Synthetic wigs typically last from 4-6 months (if worn daily) with proper care. Keep in mind that most women do not wear their wig every day.

 

  • Heat Friendly Synthetic Hair:

    Synthetic wigs that can be styled with heated styling tools (maximum temperature of 350 degrees) are known as “Heat Resistant Wigs”. They allow you to change the look from curly to straight. For women who find it important to have this versatility but do not want a human hair wig, a heat friendly synthetic wig may be a good option.

One negative to heat friendly synthetic wigs is that the hair can be a little more difficult to style than human hair.  If (when wearing the wig) the hair is pressed against the back of a chair or pillow for a period, it can become matted around the nape area. Using your flat iron or curling iron on a very low setting can restore the shape if this happens.

Average life span is 3 months if worn daily. If you only wear your wig occasionally this will of course extend the life span.

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