What are the Types of Hair Wig Fibers?

Hair wigs are categorized by wig base components, such as lace mesh, monofilament mesh, combination mesh, and polyurethane, by both amateurs and experts. The aim of these wig types is to have a natural look of the scalp, regardless of the hair fibers used.

However, the appearance of the wig also depends on the hair fiber type used. There are two types of hair, synthetic and human, that are hand-tied to wig bases.

Since the first wig was made, synthetic and human hair wigs have existed, as seen in ancient Egypt where the first natural wig was made from human hair and its synthetic counterpart from palm fibers and sheep wool. The distinction between synthetic and human hair wigs remains the same, with only changes in the material sources and production processes over time.

Modern manufacturing processes and innovations make it difficult to distinguish between synthetic and human hair wigs, unless inspected closely. The production of synthetic hair wigs hasn't affected the hair trade, with many women, particularly in developing countries, viewing hair selling as a profitable business, which has been a thriving global commodity for over a century.

Most human hair wigs rely on the billion-dollar hair trade industry, providing options for men and women who need wigs for fashion or medical purposes.

Let's now examine wig types with a focus on the hair wig fiber strands to determine the best fit for hair loss, cancer, or protective needs.

Hair Wig Fiber Types

We can’t deny the importance of acquiring hair for wig making; this hair is processed differently to create the types of human hair wig fibers we see today. Wigs have seen a surge lately due to their purpose going just beyond hair loss, alopecia, cancer, or protection. Fashion trendsetters and celebrities have put wigs back into the limelight. It is now a significant fashion statement similar to its popularity in the 16th century with less ridiculous and pompous designs. 

Let’s look at these hair strand fibers in detail and learn more about their perks and benefits.

Human Hair Wigs

Human hair wigs are the standard of natural wigs and come from actual human hair donors. Human hair gives wigs a very natural appearance with the ability to style and care for it as if it’s natural hair. The standard human hair wig comes from different sources, and manufacturers bundle and process it according to style, color, and texture.

Human hair wigs are comparably pricier than synthetic hair wigs because of the limit in supply. Not to mention, quality checks ensure that only the best-undamaged hair strands will make it to manufacturing and chemical processing. 

You can style human hair wigs like how you would style natural hair, which means you can use a hair iron or curler to give that variety when you get tired of your wig’s style. But be warned, though, wearers should be extra careful when heat-styling their human hair wig as they can quickly burn. To be on the safe side, be sure to use a heat protectant to make your wig last longer. 

With proper care and maintenance, human hair wigs can last a year or more. You can read more tips on how to make your wig last with our detailed guide. 

Virgin Human Hair Wigs

Virgin human hair wigs are a special kind of hair that is more expensive than the basic human hair wig. Standard human hair wigs are already chemically processed either during manufacturing or on the human donor’s head. Some processing plants also put color styles or chemical protectants to make the hair last longer. 

Virgin human hair, however, is pricier for the exact opposite reason. No chemical processes of any kind are evident on the human hair while manufacturing or on the donor’s head. This supply limit and rarity is why virgin human hair is costly.  From the collection of human hair to the wig-manufacturing plant, staff will carefully handle and avoid any damage to the hair bundles to preserve the direction, texture, and style. 

This care for virgin human hair wigs makes them unique and special in the wig category, as they look, feel, and move like natural hair. This isn't easy to achieve and requires the utmost quality, making virgin human hair wigs the best option out of all the wig types. You can also customize and style virgin hair wigs to whatever you think best fits you. 

For virgin human hair wigs, you can check out the Chavie Russell Wigs Virgin human hair product line for the most natural and best-looking human hair wig. 

Remy Human Hair Wigs

Another excellent option you can look for if you want the best-looking human hair wig is the Remy Human Hair Wigs. These wig hair strands can either be chemically processed or not. Like virgin hair wigs, hair collectors take extra care and caution to bundle this hair together to preserve its direction, color, and texture. 

The defining feature of any Remy human hair wig is the fibers all run the same way. This feature makes the hair wig look shinier, smoother, and more realistic. You can even run your hand through the hairs; they will feel soft and won’t tangle. The best form of human hair wig is called the virgin Remy human hair wig, perfect for women who want to personalize their look without worrying if their hair looks natural or not because they can’t tell the difference. Remy human hair wigs will last for about two years or more with proper care and maintenance.  

Synthetic Hair Wigs

Synthetic hair fibers are supposed to emulate real natural hair in appearance and feel and are a much more affordable option than human hair wigs. While the texture may differ from natural human hair or human hair wigs, high-quality synthetic wigs look like a close approximation. In some cases, it can be challenging to spot the difference. 

A downside to synthetic hair wigs is that they are pre-styled. This means there would be no way to change the wig and style it differently. The materials from synthetic hair wigs are not heat-friendly and would melt when using hair curlers, flat irons, and hair dryers. Even when applying heat-protectant, it isn’t advisable to heat-style these wigs. 

Synthetic hair wigs can last six months or more with proper care and washing routines. 

Heat-Resistant Synthetic Hair Wigs

A better option than the regular synthetic hair wigs, heat-resistant synthetic hair wigs are an affordable option without compromising the ability to style your hair wig and switch things up. The material used in the hair fiber is resistant to heat-styling tools such as curling irons, flat irons, and blow dryers. 

However, this doesn’t make the hair wigs more durable than the regular synthetic wigs, and they can only last for 2-3 months before it needs replacement. Heat-styling daily can make the hair wig lose its sheen, making it look less natural. 

Final Thoughts

Whatever kind of hair wig you want to purchase, whether it’s the more natural human hair wig or the artificial but almost-natural-looking synthetic hair wig, if it makes you feel and look good, then who’s stopping you from ever purchasing one?

At Chavie Russell Wigs, we’re all for making our clients happy and satisfied when they purchase our human hair wig. While we don’t offer synthetic hair wigs, what we offer is the better option of Remy and Virgin human hair wigs at an affordable price. We never compromise on quality and want you to look the best you can be with your hair wig, whether it’s for hair loss, alopecia, cancer, or protective styling.