There are many reasons for why we wear wigs. There are the cases of hair loss due to medical treatment, or sometimes we simply want a different hairstyle to what we’re used to. But regardless of the backstory, there is always one question that comes up: real human hair or synthetic? Let’s discuss the pros and cons of each to help you decide.
Synthetic wigs
Probably the most common kind of wig: they are often cheaper and are more easily cared for than their human hair counterpart.
If you want to avoid the hassle of hair care, synthetic wigs are definitely for you. Even after washing and in hot and humid conditions they will keep their style. Speaking of washing, it’s very easy, just dry and shake after a wash and it’s ready to use.
If you own multiple hair pieces you can easily switch styles and colours without having to visit the hairstylist. And it’s affordable to have several; prices range between £80 – £400 for a common brand like Ellen Wille wigs.
However, there are some drawbacks to synthetic wigs: the main issue people have is that they can have an unnatural shine to them. They are, for the most part, also sensitive to heat so you can’t curl or straighten them. And unless you have a really high quality wig, they do not last as long as human hair wigs. Expect a regularly used synthetic wig to last you about 6 months to a year.
Human Hair wigs
Having a human hair wig is like putting on your own hair – it looks and feels natural and are even as versatile as your real hair (just don’t expect it to grow back).
These wigs can be coloured and styled by your hairstylist just with your natural hair. They also give you more freedom to curl or straighten as you wish.
Matching your natural colour and texture can be done with the help of the manufacturer. As real hair, the variety of colour and texture is huge.
Wigs made from real hair also come with the same disadvantages as any other real hair, such as becoming frizzy in humid or hot weather, and they require loving hair care to stay vibrant and healthy. You will often have to pay more a high quality, fitted human hair wig – for example, the Obsession Human Hair wig from the Ellen Wille Pure Power Collection comes in at £1,280. But don’t let the price discourage you, this as close to the real thing as you can get.
Summary
Different kinds of wigs serve different needs. Synthetic if you want less hassle, lower price and lots of fun; human hair if you want it as natural as you can get.