Women wear wigs for a variety of reasons. Some prefer to hide the fact that they are wearing one, while others do not mind sharing this information. Wigs are available in an endless array of styles and colors to suit anyone, from very natural-looking wigs to outrageously artificial fantasy and party wigs!
A wig is an investment that many women keep for some time, and there are many decisions to be made when narrowing down the options to a final purchase. Sometimes the choice between synthetic and human hair is confusing for women. Each type of wig has pros and cons that must be evaluated before buying.
To help with your decision, an Allusions consultant might ask you some questions. What is the primary factor in buying a wig? A new look? To save time getting ready? Variety? To conceal hair loss?
Pros of Human Hair Wigs
There is much to be desired about a human hair wig. These wigs are considered the cream of the crop, especially in the case of hand-tied wigs and may be very difficult to tell from natural hair.
Natural Look
Wigs made from human hair look the most natural. The hair has a natural sheen and texture to it. Moreover, natural hair has more color dimension than synthetic hair, which dyes to a flat overall color.
Natural Feel
Only a human hair wig feels like natural hair. This may be important to the wearer as well as to the wearer’s significant other. A woman may prefer the feel of human hair when she is putting on the wig and styling it, or she may be concerned that other people will feel the hair and know that it is not real. Human hair is finer and softer than synthetic hair and therefore undetectable to the touch.
Styling
Human hair can be styled with heat appliances. That means a human hair wig can be blow-dried, curled, flat-ironed, and crimped without immediate damage to the hair fibers. Wigs can also be color-treated by a professional colorist, which we do here at Allusions.
Heat Resistance
Women who wear synthetic wigs must be very careful not to get too close to an open flame or heat source for fear that their wigs will melt or permanently frizz. Human hair is very strong and can tolerate heat well.
Cons of Human Hair Wig
Expense. Because human hair must be purchased from suppliers, the price is much higher than that of synthetic fibers, which can be manufactured on demand. However, most women find that the expense of a human hair wig is worth the benefits if their No. 1 priority is having a wig with a natural look and feel.
Care
Like regular hair, human hair wigs require daily styling, as opposed to a synthetic wig, which comes preset. Some women find this fun, while others may be too busy or drained or physically unable to spend this much time on their wig.
Pros of Synthetic Wigs
Permanent Styling
Women who do not want to be bothered with styling a wig on a daily basis may prefer a synthetic wig. For some women, escaping the daily hair care routine is the reason they want to wear a wig in the first place, so a human hair wig would defeat the purpose. Some more expensive synthetic wigs are made with state-of-the-art fibers that are indistinguishable from human hair. At Allusions we do carry the finest synthetic wigs with very natural coloring and highlighting techniques.
Unnatural Look
Depending on the quality of a synthetic wig, the fibers may be very obviously artificial, as with doll hair. Synthetic wig hair tends to be coarser and may have an unnatural sheen to it. This is more common with very inexpensive costume wigs. In addition to the texture of the individual fibers, the construction of a synthetic wig may be such that entirely too much hair is used, giving an artificially voluminous look, but this can be fixed somewhat by having the wig cut and thinned by a stylist.
Permanent Styling
Some women find the permanent set of a synthetic wig to be a bonus, while others are turned off by this aspect. If a woman is into her looks, likes variety, and becomes bored with the same hairstyle day after day, or fears that people will suspect she is wearing a wig, a synthetic wig may not be the right option.
With a synthetic wig, what you see is what you get. While the length may be shortened somewhat with cutting, no heat tools can be used to style a synthetic wig.
Wigs are a great option for women for a variety of reasons: They can disguise hair loss, let a woman change her look instantly, or simply make everyday life easier by eliminating hair styling time. There is an option available to please everyone in terms of color, length, texture, and style combinations.
By considering your primary reason for wanting a wig and your concerns with wearing one, Allusions can assess your situation and help you determine which type of wig will best suit your needs. Please call us to schedule your complimentary wig consultation!
Here is an example of a fun “party” wig that we created at Allusions.
