Wigs are more common than you may expect. With all the technology out there, some of them are nearly undetectable. Whether you wear a wig as a protective style, just to switch up your look, for a performance, for health reasons or to transition from relaxed to natural, a wig is a great go to. Here is some must needed information to help you choose the right wig for your needs and style.
Natural vs. Synthetic
- Human hair is the higher quality hair, but if the construction isn’t done right it won’t matter. There are high quality synthetic wigs on the market and guess what? They tend to be more affordable!
- Human hair wigs are often very expensive, but they are a great investment, as they tend to last 5-10 years with proper care and maintenance. Synthetic wigs tend to only last anywhere from a few weeks to 6 months (depending on how often you wear it).
- Natural wigs are extremely versatile. You can color, style and clean these wigs as often as you’d like. Synthetic wigs tend to hold their shape longer, even after a quick washing, but can’t be washed often.
Hand-Tied or Machine-Made?
Hand-tied wigs are constructed manually one individual strand at a time. This process is very detailed and labor intensive, and therefore, these types of wigs tend to be very expensive. The quality of these wigs is amazing and often yield a more natural result. The hairs will all flow in one direction and will less likely tangle when made this way.
Machine-made wigs are made rather quickly and the hair is sewn directly onto a cap or nylon strips. Though these wigs have styling versatility, they often don’t move as effortlessly and can’t be parted as easily, like natural hair would.
Full-Cap, Open-Cap or Half Coverage?
A full-cap wig has hair often hand tied onto a mesh cap. There are no gaps between the hair and it completely covers your head. These wigs provide total coverage and therefore are great for protective styling. On the downside, these types of wigs can be uncomfortable, especially in the summer months when you sweat and your scalp is begging to breathe!
An open-cap wig is made with nylon tracks that are machine sewn onto a wig cap. There are gaps between each strip, providing the head with ventiliation. If this type of wig is made with thin hair it can show your hair and scalp underneath due to the gaps.
A half coverage wig is either a clip on or elastic band structure. This type of wig is meant to help enhance your hair, versus being an alternative. It often requires for you to blend a portion of your hair in with it in order to complete the style. This is perfect if you want your bun to be fuller or your wrap to be longer.
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