If there is one thing that is to be known about hairstyle and fashion, it is that wigs play a major role in it all.
Available in a variety of different styles and colors, they have become a very important fashion accessory today. Given the wide selection that can be found on the shelves today, it is no wonder why they have become such a big hit among people from all walks of life.
When it comes to wigs, there is a great deal of fascination about them, particularly about how they are made. One of the things that that many questions is the nature of materials.
There are today several different wig materials that are used in their fabrication and design. But at the same time, it can become challenging to figure out the nature of the material used, at least for the common man. This is where things can become tricky, as it can be rather difficult at time to know about this detail.
As hard as this might seem to be to figure out the material’s nature, it isn’t as hard as it may seem.
Experts from africanamericanhairstyles.org suggest that there are several different ways in which one can differentiate between real hair wigs and those which are made out of synthetic materials.
The details of the same are given in the list mentioned below.
- Check the Package Labeling
This is by far one of the most effective ways in which the material’s nature can be figured out.
At the back of the packaging, one can usually find a great deal of information about the product. Among these are details like the name of the company, date of manufacture, contact details, price, production batch number, etc.
Amidst all of this, there will usually be a small section dedicated to the nature of the product itself, which includes among other details, length of the hair, the color of the hair, the material used, etc. By checking this part of the product’s packaging, one will be able to know the nature of the material used.
- Feel the Texture of the Hair
While technology has progressed immensely in the field of wigs, there is still much to be achieved in creating realistic human hair.
This can be observed by feeling the texture of the wig, as it is one of the surest ways to find out whether the hair is real or not. In the case of real hair, it will feel very much like hair, exhibiting traits like silkiness, shine, fineness, softness, etc. While these traits can also be found in synthetic hair, it is a lot less pronounced, in favor of a coarse feeling.
All that one has to do is to run one’s fingers through the hair strands simply, and that’s it. It will become very apparent as to whether the hair is real or not.
Do note that some of the more recent advances have enabled the creation of ‘realistic’ hair, which makes doing this rather tricky and relatively less accurate than before.
- See the Texture of the Hair
This is similar to the previous point only that instead of feeling the hair texture, you look at it.
By observing the texture of the hair at a close distance, it usually becomes apparent that the hair strands are either real or synthetic.
As already mentioned, hair strands that are real show signs of shine, silkiness, smoothness, etc, while, artificial ones tend to be slightly rough and coarse.
This may, however, be difficult with those that have been manufactured using the latest technology, given the many advances that have taken place over the years.
- Compare the Cost Factor
This is by far one of the best ways to know whether the wig you are buying is made up of synthetic or real hair.
If it were made out of synthetic hair, the wig would cost considerably less in comparison to those that are made from real hair. The reason for this is because of the availability of raw material.
In the case of synthetic wigs, the raw material is available in relative abundance, allowing for it be priced rather cheaply. This is however, not the case when it comes to human hair, as the demand for it outstrips the supply. In other words, human hair is scarce in comparison to the demand for it, resulting in wigs made out of it cost relatively more.
It should also be added here that there is a chance that the costs may be artificially increased, so as to make you believe that it is real human hair. In other words, the value of the wig may be artificially raised by the seller, to claim that it is real hair when in reality, it was made out of synthetic materials.
- Observe the Wig’s lifespan
If the wig lasts for a long time, it is very likely that it is made from real human hair. Given the chemical and structural nature of human hair, it tends to last a long time, when favorable conditions are available.
This is however not the case when it comes to synthetics, which tend to start deteriorating as soon as a few months after use.
In simple words, wigs that last a long time tend to be made from real human hair, while those that deteriorate fast are likely to be made from synthetic materials.
- Check the Ease of Styling
This is another excellent way to know if the wig has been made using real or synthetic hair.
Wigs that are made from real hair tends to be easier to style, whether it is in terms of applying hair dye, straitening, curling, applying steam, etc.
While all of this certainly applies in the case of artificial materials as well, the result is usually less appealing in comparison to what can be observed in wigs made from real hair.
Also to note here is that there is a possibility that too much of styling can damage synthetics, even on the first attempt. Should something like that happen to the wig, it becomes clear that the material used is synthetic hair, rather than the real thing.
- Apply the Burn Test
This is an excellent way to know the nature of the hair.
Cut a few strands of hair from the wig and expose it to a flame. If it catches fire immediately, curls up and emits the classic burning smell of hair, it is human hair indeed. But in case the fire causes the hair to melt, smells like rubber or starts to emit black smoke, the material is a synthetic one.
- Apply the Bleach Test
This is another great test that you can use to know the nature of the hair.
Cut a few strands of hair from the wig and dip it in bleach. If it were made out of real hair, it will change its color to a pale white. But if it were to be made from a synthetic material, it will very likely start to burn.
Do note that there are indeed many more differences that exist between the different types of wigs.
At the same time, however, the ones that have been mentioned above are some of the most important, and easiest to apply for everyone.
Feel free to check out and do your own research on the subject, as you might just be able to find out a technique that you feel is ideal for your unique needs.
If you want to know more about wigs, visit www.blackshowhair.com
