Difference Between Human Hair Wigs & Synthetic Wigs

Choosing Between a Real Hair Wig & Synthetic Wig

Choosing a wig can be exciting yet deceivingly overwhelming. With many wig colours and a broad range of styles to choose from, the hunt for your perfect wig can begin to feel like a challenge. The best way to narrow down your options is to first understand the differences between human hair wigs and synthetic wigs as this will be one of the most important decision you make when selecting a wig.

Both types of wig have their pros and cons: human hair wigs may be the more ‘natural’ looking option but higher in price, whereas synthetic wigs are more cost effective but lack the styling versatility you may be wanting. By learning the variances, the search for your wig will be a whole lot easier, enabling you to find the right match depending on budget, styling preferences, and other important factors.

Benefits of Human Hair Wigs

Human hair wigs are made from 100% Remy human hair and boast a range of benefits: they’re extremely natural looking (obviously!), offer flexible styling, are available in a broad range of natural colours and, of course, perfectly replicate a biological head of hair. With a bit of care and the correct wig maintenance products a human hair wig can last for over a year, whilst synthetic wigs tend to need replacing sooner.

How are Human Hair Wigs Made?

Hair used to make human hair wigs is generally sourced from Asia, India, Eastern Europe and South America. Manufacturers sort the hair by length, remove any damaged strands not up to standard and tie the hair in bundles sorted in length. The same length hair bundles are then grouped to form one greater bundle of hair, ready to be sewn into a wig or a hairpiece. This is what you would call ‘Virgin Hair’, hair at its most natural form with no dye or chemicals.

To create a uniform hair colour for solid coloured wigs, the hair is stripped of all pigmentation removing any hair dye or previous colour tones and died accordingly. The wig can be styled, at this stage, to suit the needs of the wig user whether they prefer a single tone to cover the wig or added highlights to make it more personalised.

Can Human Hair Wigs Be Dyed or Personalised?

Human hair wigs can be dyed, personalised and styled to whatever look you prefer. Additionally, heat can be used with no issue which adds greater versatility for styling depending on what you want your wig to look like. It’s also important to look after your human hair wig properly. For best results, read our top tips on how to care for you human hair wig.

Popular Human Hair Wigs

Our most popular wigs include the Bravo Human Hair Wig by Raquel Welch, an exquisite long hair natural looking wig packed full of comfort-rich features, or the Spectra Plus Human Hair wig from the Ellen Wille Pure Power Collection, a chic option that reflects natural growth using the finest grade materials.

If you’re interested in human hair wigs, you’re most certainly spoilt for choice. With wigs available from the likes of Ellen Wille Wigs, Raquel Welch Human Hair Wigs, Gem Human Hair Wigs, we can guarantee you’ll find what you’re looking for.

More Best-Selling Human Hair Wigs

Finding the Best Synthetic Wig for You

Synthetic wigs can be an equally popular choice, designed using leading wig technology that is so good it can often be mistaken as real human hair. A great benefit of synthetic wigs is their ability to hold their style for longer periods of time as well as requiring less maintenance than human hair. This tends to be popular amongst wig wearers who are constantly on the go or lack time to style their wig multiple times a week. If you’re looking for a wig suitable for all weather conditions, one that maintains its vibrant colouring and is easy to maintain, then a synthetic wig may be for you.

How are Synthetic Wigs Made?

Synthetic wigs are made using man-made polymers that are often paired with plastics such as acrylic, silk, acrylonitrile, silicone, PVC, vinyl and others (natural polymers and cellulose can also be used in some cases depending on the wig). The fibres are heated to a certain temperature and threaded into hairs that reflect the look of real human hairs. From there, the fibre hair strands are woven to create the wig or hairpiece in a certain style depending on the design of the wig.

Can Synthetic Wigs Be Dyed or Personalised?

Synthetic wigs have less versatility than human hair wigs, however with the right care and wig maintenance fibre wigs can be styled to whatever look you prefer. Synthetic wigs can be washed and shaped with fibre wig hair products and can be cut to suit the style you desire. You could even style your wig with headscarves and headwear to add a touch of colour and brightness around the face.

It’s important to note, heat can damage synthetic wigs so we would advise dodging the heat to avoid melting or burning the wig strands. However, due to the ever advancement of wig technology, some wigs can withstand higher temperatures with extra special attention.

Popular Synthetic Wigs

There’s never been a better time to purchase a synthetic wig. With fibre wigs from designer brands such as Gabor, Raquel Welch and Inspired Collection, you can guarantee the highest of technology and quality.

The Winner Large wig by Raquel Welch has a light pixie cut look, easy to style and comfortable to wear. Alternatively the Centre of Attention wig by Gabor is a shoulder length fibre wig option with gentle waves that creates striking volume and a natural look. If you’re looking for a long wig why not take a look at Gisela Mayer’s High Tech Comfort wig which features a lightweight cap construction to match an elegant natural looking hair style.

More Best-Selling Synthetic Wigs

What’s the Best Wig Option for You?

When it comes to choosing between the two, it may still feel as overwhelming as when you started and almost impossible to pick. Take into account all that’s been mentioned in this blog but also ask yourself the following questions to truly narrow it down:

What’s your budget?

If your budget is low, it would be best to focus on getting a fibre wig however if you’re not so concerned perhaps looking into the higher cost human hair wig alternatives.

What are your reasons for wearing a wig?

If you’re wearing a wig for medical reasons and perhaps you know your hair won’t grow back, it may be best looking at investing in a human hair wig as they can last for far longer with the correct care. If you’re wanting a wig for more short-term or infrequent use, for example, for fashion reasons or to simply change up your look every now and then, a synthetic wig would be a more cost-effective solution and will save you time on wig maintenance.

Would you prefer to style your wig on a regular basis?

If so, a human hair wig will offer you greater versatility and can be treated just the same as biological hair. Heated tools can be used on human hair to style and change up your look as required. Equally a human hair wig can be coloured and cut to create your natural look. Alternatively, you could also buy a range of different fibre wigs to have options readily available each day.

Leading Supplier of Luxury Human Hair Wigs and Synthetic Wigs in the UK

Joseph’s Wigs stock the best wigs on the market, offering style, versatility, comfort and quality. Whatever your need, we can supply the perfect wig for you. Browse our range of human hair wigs and synthetic wigs to find your perfect wig solution.

Book a Private Wig Consultation with a Wig Expert

If you would prefer to discuss your options and try some wigs to see which one feels and suits you best, then book a private wig consultation with us. We keep it totally confidential, it’s an opportunity for you to try on as many wigs as you desire and find the best fit.