When your clients are searching for the perfect hair system, whether they’re looking for a toupee or wig, the first step is deciding between synthetic hair vs human hair. Both synthetic and natural hair pieces will suit a wide range of clients. It comes down to their personal lifestyle, preference, and budget. As a haircare professional, you’ll be able to guide them in the right direction and choose a hair system option that’s best for them.
In this blog, we’ll go over the difference between synthetic and human hair to help your client decide which hair system will work best for their needs.
Synthetic Hair vs Human Hair Systems
If you’re familiar with hair systems, you likely already know the difference between synthetic and human hair, but your client may not know the specifics. Keeping yourself and your clients well-informed about their hair system options is essential. Let’s cover the basics of synthetic hair vs human hair systems.
What is Synthetic Hair?
Your client might ask you, “where does synthetic hair come from?” Synthetic hair replicates natural hair using manufactured fibers such as acrylic or nylon. After various chemical processes, these synthetic strands give a similar feel, look, and color to human hair. The quality of materials used to make synthetic wigs or hairpieces will determine how real the hair will look.
What Are Natural Hair Pieces?
Natural hair pieces are made with real human hair, whether it be from a donor or supplier that specializes in sourcing human hair. Most companies source hair for hair systems from China, but other countries like India, Brazil, and the Philippines also play a massive role in supplying human hair. The human hair is collected, chemically treated for shine and smoothness, then dyed to the color desired during processing.
Which is Better Synthetic or Human Hair Wigs?
Suppose your client is deciding between synthetic hair vs human hair in choosing the right wig. They’ll likely have questions such as “is synthetic better than human hair?” or “can you distinguish between natural and synthetic fibers?” To answer these questions, we’ll go more in-depth on the benefits and disadvantages of choosing either hair system option for your client. Either choice will be better for some clients and not for others.
Synthetic Hair vs Human Hair Pros and Cons
Appearance
Since human hair wigs and toupees are made of 100% human hair, they offer the most natural look and feel of the two options. They offer versatility in styling, being able to cut, color, and heat style. The hair will feel softer and silkier than synthetic varieties. Your clients will find that natural hair pieces feel and look more real than synthetic—it’s hard to compete with the real thing, but it can get pretty close! There are also more texture options with human hair to get that perfect match.
Customization
Since human hair systems don’t usually come pre-styled like synthetic ones, there’s more customization required to get your client's desired look. They can make an appointment with a professional hairstylist (like yourself!) for their hair system's cut, color, style, and application. This results in a natural look that most closely resembles their real hair (this works well for those with thinning hair that must match their hair for blending purposes!) Only a few synthetic hair options can be heat styled, leading to fewer custom styling options.
Durability
Natural hair pieces will generally last significantly longer than synthetic hair systems. With proper care and treatment, real human hair wigs and toupees can last one to three years. Since human hair is less prone to tangling and matting, it allows the hair to stay strong and long-lasting compared to synthetic hair. Expect synthetic hair systems to last from four to six months.
Cost
The main con with human hair would be the price tag. Expect to pay anywhere from $500 to $1,500 for a quality human-hair wig or $200 to $300 for a shorter style. The argument is that it’s worth the investment when you look at how long they last and the quality compared to synthetic. With synthetic hair, the price tag is much more reasonable for those within a specific budget. Expect to pay closer to $50 to $300 for synthetic hair systems.
To answer the question, which is better synthetic or human hair wigs? It all comes down to the hair system client consultation. Each client has their own needs and preferences when it comes to what type of hair system they choose. Consider all of the qualities of synthetic hair vs human hair to help your client make the right choice. When it comes time to apply those hair systems, ensure you have the best products for application with Sunshine Tape Products!
