Human Hair Wig or Synthetic Wig—Which is Best?

   Wig Shown Above: Colbie Wig by Jon Renau | Remy Human Hair | In color 12FS12

   That question is not easy to answer. It’s like asking which is better, chocolate brownie or chocolate ice cream, or whatever flavors you like. But you get the point. After eight years of wig wearing and much research, I decided there was no such thing as “best” because each had its pros and cons—like most everything else.        

Synthetic Wigs – Pros and Cons

  Pros

• Synthetic wigs are for people like me who are into low maintenance and having a wide range of style and color options.
• The wig might feel lighter on our head than human hair, depending on style.
• They won’t fade as quickly as color-treated human hair.
• They are more affordable.
• The style stays in and there is very little styling involved.
• Some are often literally, wash-and-wear, and you can be out the door in minutes.

Cons

• Unless you get the heat defiant kind, most don’t tolerate heat, and it will damage the fibers.
• They can lack the movement and flow of human hair and that can make them look more artificial.
• They have a shine that is sometimes hard to get rid of, especially in the very light and the very dark shades.
• They can have a short lifespan depending on use and care.

Human Hair Wigs or some call them Natural Wigs—Pros and Cons

   First, let’s talk about the types of human hair wigs. Natural or human hair wigs are made form 100% human hair. They can range be Remy, virgin, and 100% human hair. Virgin hair is untreated, 100% human hair. It is very hard to find and very expensive. Remy may or may not be treated or dyed. Remy is a human hair ponytail whose cuticles point in the same direction. Remy hair can be treated also. 100% human hair is hair that has not had harsh chemical treatments that have stripped away the cuticles, and is therefore, the most natural looking type. It keeps the shine of biological hair and can be styled in any way you choose. This hair is often a blend of Chinese and Indian hair, or fine European hair.

 Pros

• A more natural looking wig.
• The feel and movement of natural hair.
• No annoying fake/chemical shine.
• It looks more natural in sunlight/outdoor light.
• Lasts longer than synthetic wigs.
• You can style it any way that you like.

Cons

• A natural wig can require far more upkeep than a synthetic.
• They require more washing and gentle handling when styling. Since it is real hair it will lose its style after washing, and may not hold the style you choose as well as you would like.
• There is a lack of versatility. Though you can cut and color the wig, it is sometimes hard to find an experienced stylist to make those changes.
• You can dye the wig, but the colors will fade sooner than synthetics.
• The cost. You can often get four or five synthetic wigs, even the higher end ones, for the cost of one human hair wig.

   So, in the end, it’s what works best for each of us. I have had both, and I’m pretty sure I won’t go back to a human hair wig. Too much work for me, an untalented stylist. The synthetics today are getting better all of the time. It is tempting to try a human hair wig, and some do, and they love it. They love the look of it, the feel of it, the way it moves, and they don’t mind the added time to do the care required.

Fortunately, there is something for each of us.

Until next time,          

Vickielynn – in a synthetic wig.