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What Is the Difference Between Synthetic and Human Hair Wigs?

The difference between synthetic and human hair wigs is in the fiber. A synthetic wig can be better at holding it's style even after washing. Human hair wigs are made out of real human hair so they look and feel real, but they also have to be re-styled after washing just like real hair. Keep reading to learn more about what makes synthetic and human hair wigs different!
Poster

The difference between synthetic and human hair wigs is in the fiber. A synthetic wig can be better at holding it's style even after washing. Human hair wigs are made out of real human hair so they look and feel real, but they also have to be re-styled after washing just like real hair. Keep reading to learn more about what makes synthetic and human hair wigs different!

Human Hair

Handcrafted / Synthetic Hair

How Long Do Human Hair Wigs Last?

Human hair wigs offer the most natural look and feel. And while they can be the more expensive pick, with the proper care, they are also more durable. Human hair wigs can last between 9 to 12 months. They are remarkably soft with a shine and movement that is not easily duplicated in synthetic hair. 

  • Chinese

  • Indonesian

  • Indian

  • European

Thicker Denier (unit of fineness)

Very Straight

Resistant to Curls (harder to style)

Less costly

Thinner Denier

Allows More Texture

Cost Varies

Thinner Denier

Allows More Texture

Most costly

Fine Denier

Limited Supply

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 has a thicker denier (unit of fineness) which results in the hair being extremely straight. It is a bit more resistant to curl and can therefore be harder to style. Indonesian hair is found in greater supply and is less costly -- it can often be found in ethnic style wigs. Indian hair has thinner denier close to that of European hair but with a bit more texture. European hair is the most sought after for its fine denier but due to its increasingly limited supply in the marketplace, it is more expensive.

Remy human hair is considered a premium option. Hair follicles are kept running in the same direction when collecting and crafting the wig or hairpiece. With cuticles all running in the same direction, tangling is greatly reduced and hair looks and feels silkier. Beware imposters with suspiciously low-priced product – on Wigs.com you’ll only find high-grade Remy hair.

With technological advances, synthetic hair has come a long way in recent years. In some cases it is difficult to tell the difference -- the density and texture are such that they feel almost like human hair. As a matter of fact, with some of the higher quality synthetic pieces, you would never know they were not natural human hair if you didn’t have the human hair right next to it to compare!

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

However, what synthetic hair offers in ease, it lacks in versatility. It cannot be styled to look many different ways like its human hair counterparts. Only special Heat Friendly synthetic hair is heat styleable to change the curl pattern. Keep in mind, even the heat friendly 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 synthetic hair wigs and hairpieces to last about 4-6 months – heat friendly synthetic hair 2- 3 months. It is important to follow our care recommendations in order to get the optimal life span from your hair!

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

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