Synthetic or human hair wigs: Is there a real difference in these two types of wig or do you just pay more for human hair wigs because they are made from human hair? Looking at two similar wigs on a person you may not see the difference or spot which is synthetic, but there again as synthetic fibre wigs are so good these days you are not supposed to. In selecting which fibre to go for you should always consider your circumstances and budget and decide which would be the most suitable type for you. Synthetic fibre wigs are made from very fine plastic strands and the composition of these is not at all similar to natural human hair fibres. These synthetic fibres are slightly shiny in appearance and are stiffer, which can make them less movable in a breeze. Synthetics don’t like heat and will frizz and melt if they come into contact with any form of artificial heat. They also require far less styling compared to human hair wigs, as the fibres fall back into their designed style after washing. As for longevity of use. On average synthetic fibre wigs last around five months before they start to look tired and past their best. The shorter wigs can last a little longer whilst the longer wigs may not last as long. This would depend upon the wearer’s lifestyle and how up to date and fresh they require their appearance to be. Human hair wigs do last longer and with the right care and maintenance many people make them last ten months to a year. These human hair wigs are a heavier fibre and therefore have a greater volume and a natural bounce in them. They will feel just like your natural hair and can be styled just as easily. Human hair wigs offer superior styling versatility and can also withstand heat application, giving you the opportunity to style them using straighteners and curling irons. After washing human hair wigs will require far more styling to get them back into a wearable style, just like someone’s own hair would after they’ve showered. The results however can be stunning and every day after styling you can go out of the house looking as though you’ve come from the salon. So back to prices again. Synthetic fibre wigs (depending upon style and make) of a medium length with a monofilament cap would start around £150 for one of the lesser well known brands rising to £200 or more for the better brands, whereas human hair wigs are usually twice their synthetic equivalents. Are human hair wigs worth paying the extra for and the extra time taken to style them? Yes, definitely!
Different types of wig: There are many different types of wig on the market today and sold at an array of varying prices. We all know that human hair wigs are by far the most expensive, as you would expect, after all they are made from human hair, which is not as easy to come by as manufactured synthetic fibres. All wigs look stunning on the right person as this Noriko style ‘Farrah’ does on this model, once it’s been cut and styles to suit the wearer. The important factor here is that the wig should not only look good on the outside but feel good on the inside and this refers to the cap onto which the hair fibres are attached. There are many different types of wig cap and all are quite different and therefore command a different price structure. These range from the basic wefted caps, through to monofilament top wigs with wefted back and sides, to the monofilament wigs with a handmade mesh net back and sides and their variants. There are also other features found on the wig caps that many wig manufacturers have pioneered and these all go to make their wigs different from those of other competing manufacturers in marketing their wigs. A good example here is the Revlon wig range, as they have developed the memory cap system. It’s important for every wig wearer to ensure that their choice of wig not only gives them the style and overall image that they require but to find a style that is both comfortable for long term daily use and has a cap that is more suited to their needs over another. Over the next few articles we will look more closely at the different types of wig caps used by certain well known brands and see how they differ from one another and how they can benefit wig wearers of today.
Wigs with standard wefted caps: Virtually all wigs consist of two main parts. The first is the front piece and then the main part of the wig, which covers the back and sides. Depending upon the style of cap you have, will depend upon how those parts are comprised. With a standard cap construction as shown in the photograph (Henry Margu cap) you will see the two parts. With the back part you can see the wefts sewn into the cap in long curved lines from ear to ear, layered from the bottom of the cap to a position further up where the wefts meet the front piece. With the standard wig caps the front piece is cloth based with the hair fibres sewn into it and the whole cap is fitted with a woven band that gives the wig its shape, making a secure fit whilst the wig is being worn. There are also weft supports that run from the front of the cap to the band at the rear, which give the wig it’s shape. Prices can vary for wigs with standard caps but generally the price range is around £75 - £125 with the better and more well known brands commanding a more premium price. Many people opt for this style of cap, especially if they will be a short term wig wearer, recovering from an illness while their own hair grows back. These wigs, especially the short to medium length styles can look very realistic and provide the wearer with a modern, trendy and flattering style. These wigs represent very good value for money and many long term wig wearers start off wearing a standard wefted cap before changing to a better quality monofilament cap wig, which offers greater realism and styling potential.
Monofilament wigs: We have already looked at wigs with standard caps and in this article we focus more on wigs with a monofilament top (skin top), which are the next step up from the standard wig cap. As you will see in the photograph (Rene of Paris Amore wig cap) the wefted area is fairly similar to a standard wig cap, although the actual design does vary from one brand to another. The main feature here is the monofilament front section, which is made from polyurethane. With these wigs the hair fibres are sewn into this polyurethane layer to give a more realistic look, especially at the front hair line and with this, if you were to look down onto the head the hair fibres, they would look as though they were growing out of the persons own head. This offers great realism for the wearer and can boost their confidence, especially if they are wearing a wig for the first time. Some brands like Rene of Paris use a double monofilament top, (two layers of polyurethane) where as some brands use a single polyurethane layer. This all depends upon the actual wig being produced and whether the fibres are synthetic or human hair. All monofilament wigs give greater styling potential, as these can be more easily cut to suit the wig wearer, offering left, right or centre partings, or a fringe to be cut into the front. Prices can vary for synthetic fibre, monofilament wigs with starting guide of around £150 for the Chic Hairaisers wigs rising to around £280 for the more expensive Revlon wigs. These wigs are by far the most popular style of wig and are very comfortable for the long term wig wearer. As for length of use, monofilament wigs don’t last any longer than their standard cap equivalents and on average five months would be the normal. However this would depend upon the lifestyle of the wearer and the overall style of the wig, with the shorter styles having the greater longevity of use.
Monofilament wigs with a mesh back: The next step up from a monofilament wig with a wefted back and sides is a wig with netted mesh back and sides. These wigs consists of a handmade mesh, making the wig lighter and feel softer for the wig wearer and as an added bonus the wig will sit better on the persons head. The Feather Collection by Dimples (as shown in the picture) is a very good example of this style of wig and the overall quality is probably the best on the market today for this type of wig. The Feather Collection wigs are handmade, have a double monofilament front layer combined with a superfine lace front, creating an almost undetectable front hairline. Many women today can feel self conscious when they first start wearing wigs, in that the front hair line might let others know that their hair isn’t real. The lace front will largely eliminate this by the superb way that these wigs have been created. Prices for this range of wigs start from £269.95 rising to £399.95 for the human hair wigs and ideal for the long term wig wearer. As we have already covered in a previous blog the human hair wigs give far greater styling possibilities to really personalise the wig to suit the wearer. All prices are correct at the time this article was written.
Raquel Welch memory cap wigs: Raquel Welch have developed a variation on the standard wig cap and have come up with the ‘Memory Cap.’ This innovative cap offers the ultimate in light comfort and secure fit. The Memory Cap replaces the wide stretch lace used in most of today’s wigs with a thinner, more resilient stretch material that actually molds to the shape of the head for a lighter, more secure fit. Memory Cap II: This construction includes a new improved stretch lace that’s lighter and cooler than ever! This finer, yet more resilient, takes the memory cap a step further offering the lightest, most comfortable and secure fit in the wig industry today. Some of the popular styles in the Raquel Welch range are: Enchant, Divine, Tres Chic, Always and Breeze. With prices starting from £119.95, these wigs are definitely worth looking at, as their quality is excellent and they are very affordable in today’s market. All prices are correct at the time this article was written.