What is Synthetic Hair? What Does Synthetic Hair Mean? (2024)

Shop Simply Wigs

Make your appointment

The magazine blog from the Simply Wigs Community

By | January 27th, 2020 | Wig Reviews

WHAT DOES SYNTHETIC HAIR MEAN?

Synthetic hair is used in the production of wigs and hairpieces and is much less complex than people may think. To prove it we have created this mini-guide to all things regarding synthetic wigs. It includes what they’re made from, how long they can last, the benefits of synthetic hair and also some expert synthetic hair care tips!

It’s a commonly asked question which pops up when discussing what synthetic hair actually is. Well, using man-made fibres, fine threads are manufactured to create synthetic hair which is formed from polymers and designed to look and feel as similar to human hair as possible. These threads can then be made into a wig, weave or extensions to create an alternative to human hair products.

SO, WHAT IS SYNTHETIC HAIR MADE OF ?

What is Synthetic Hair? What Does Synthetic Hair Mean? (3)

Unlike human hair, there is no keratin in synthetic hair. The man-made polymers used to create synthetic hair are often paired with plastics. When asking, what is synthetic hair made from? You should be aware that there are various types of plastics that can be used to make synthetic hair, with an example of a few are here:

Acrylonitrile	Acrylic
Polyethylene-terephthalate	PVC
Silicone	Single-filament polyester
Silk	Vinyl

In addition, natural polymers and cellulose can also be used instead in some cases, so be sure to check what types your synthetic wig is made of before you buy it should you have a specific preference. For more information on the differences between human hair and synthetic hair, please see our previous blog post on the subject.

What is Synthetic Hair? What Does Synthetic Hair Mean? (4)

Benefits oF SYNTHETIC HAIR

Due to the components used to make synthetic hair, there are numerous benefits to choosing them over human hair products.

ONE

Synthetic hair tends to retain style for much longer than human hair, as the fibre that is used is much better at ensuring a thread maintains its style even after washing, with minimal effort required from the wig wearer.

TWO

Generally speaking, synthetic hair is a lot cheaper than human hair and as advances have been made so much to synthetic wigs over the past few years, many of them now look no different to human hair wigs.

However, it is worth bearing in mind that due to synthetic hair being so effective in retaining shape, it can be difficult to re-style synthetic wigs. Typically heated products shouldn’t be used on synthetic fibres, as it can cause serious damage to the hair. Although there are a lot more heat-friendly synthetic wigs available, even these can prove difficult to re-style.

How long does synthetic hair last for?

Overall, if cared for properly, synthetic wigs generally have a lifespan of about 4-6 months of daily wear. However, if you are switching things up in your wig collection and don’t wear the same wig each day, this could mean they last much longer.

Best practise care for synthetic hair

In order for you to keep your synthetic hair in the best condition possible, for the longest length possible, it’s important that your day to day hair routine is synthetic hair friendly. We recommend the following:

1.

Make sure your wig stays as de-tangled as possible, using a wig comb or brush. You can always read our guide on how to untangle a wig, should you need further help with this.

2.

When you wash your synthetic hair, it needs to be in cold water and then air-dried after, with this routine occurring every few weeks.

3.

When styling and washing, it’s important to always use the right styling products, ones that are made specifically for synthetic hair.

4.

We often get asked about the shine that some synthetic wigs can have due to the man-made fibres they’re made of. In order to make these look more natural and less shiny, please check out our post explaining the best way to remove shine from a synthetic wig.

We hope you now have a better understanding of synthetic hair! Should you wish to have a look at our own collection of synthetic wigs and related products, then please head back to our online store

View Post

Comments

One thought on “What is Synthetic Hair?”

Hi
Nice to see an article from a trans person. I am trans and have bought from you before and have been pleased with the service. Being in Guernsey I have to buy on line as I don’t travel to the UK so much now. I would rather come in for a try on session.
The most difficult thing to choose and understand is the colour options. The best thing is your front of message picture of the various wigs on heads marked with the colour names. With them being side by side it is so much easier to understand the colour differences. Might you do that as a marketing tool it would be really helpful.
Bethany

Wig Reviews

Soft Lift Hat Review