Whether you are experiencing hair loss or have a sensitive scalp, wearing a wig may be beneficial to you. It protects your natural hair and gives it a break, making space for healthy regrowth.

However, as we all know wearing a wig doesn't look natural, right? Wrong! As long as you know how to choose a wig, your hair can look natural while being more beautiful than ever. To do that, here are some helpful tips for you.

1. Consider Your Daily Lifestyle

You can save money or have your wig for a longer period of time if you take your lifestyle into consideration when buying one. That's because different wigs are made for different people.

For example, if you have a job that's physical, human hair wigs are your best bet as they are more durable. But if you work at home or in an office, perhaps cheaper heat-friendly synthetic wigs are ideal.

What Are Wigs Made Of?

Wigs have been around for a very long time. With that being said wig hair types have varied throughout the years. Some of the first known wigs came from Ancient Egypt and even then we're made with human hair exclusively reserved for the royals at the time. 

There's a wide variety of options when it comes to what wigs can be made of today. The rising demand of wigs in the marketplace has inspired wig manufacturers to create new and innovative materials in the art of wig making.

Wig Hair Types

Nowadays, there are basically three materials that can be used to make different wigs: human hair, synthetic fiber and a blend of the two. Each has its own advantages.

Human hair wigs feel more natural and can be styled or colored like your original hair. They can also last longer if handled with proper care.

On the other hand, synthetic wigs cost less, have low maintenance, and are weather-proof. Aside from natural colors, modern synthetic wigs can be styled with abstract and wild shades

Without further ado, let's deep dive into specific wig hair types.

What is Synthetic Hair?  

Okay, the very first thing you need to understand about synthetic hair is what exactly IS synthetic hair. To make a long story short, synthetic hair is a man-made fiber created to resemble human hair.

Synthetic hair can be made from either acrylic, polyester, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and Kanekalon. Not all synthetic hair is created equal. There is low quality synthetic hair and high quality synthetic hair.

Compared to human hair, synthetic hair is cheap and pretty low maintenance, which is a reason why people tend to lean towards synthetic wigs, but, if you are new to the wig world then you'll soon find most people feel that synthetic hair is not as natural looking compared to human hair wigs, however, that may not be altogether true with some slight modifications as we'll talk about shortly.

Advances in high-quality synthetic hair has made leaps and bounds in recent times. High quality synthetic hair can be curled like human hair under low heat thermal settings. 

Pros of Synthetic Hair:  

• You do not have to worry much about hair maintenance. Synthetic hair holds it's curl and style, which makes it 100 times easier. All you must do is wash clean and dry the wig, it will naturally return to its original style every time.
• As we mentioned earlier, the price of synthetic hair is cheap. It is not going to break the bank if you are on a tight budget. Synthetic hair is budget-friendly and inexpensive compared to other hair types.
• There is wide variety of synthetic hair colors available in the market which is another cool aspect worth taking note of.

Most people assume that synthetic hairs are less likely to last or perhaps it doesn’t look natural, but on the other hand, if you take the time to properly care for synthetic hair one can hardly notice any difference.

Check out this article about the most effective hair products to use on synthetic hair: Best Synthetic Wig Shampoo and Conditioner.

Human Hair Blend Wigs  

Human hair blend wigs are a type of wig that has human hair and synthetic hair blended together. This blend can be adjusted at various percentages depending on the manufacturer. For example: 80% human hair, 20% synthetic hair, etc. 

A huge perk of blended wigs is that they can hold their style for a long period of time due to the synthetic fibers, while giving that natural look and feel because of the human hair.

Generally, blended wigs are much cheaper than human hair wigs and more realistic than synthetic wigs. It also gives you the freedom to cut or trim its length depending on your personal preference, and you can also use styling products and tools, such as flat iron or curling iron to create an entirely different look.

Benefits of Human Hair Blend Wigs:

• Human hair blends can hold styles for a prolonged period of time due to the synthetic hairs.
• Resembles and behaves like natural human hair. 

How to Care For Human Hair Blend Wigs 

Blended human hair wigs are slowly becoming a staple in the wig industry, primarily because it offers great quality at a lower cost. Most blended wigs are chemically processed to give them a natural appearance with unique color variations, which is why it is important to choose hair care products that are formulated specifically for your wig. 

The estimated lifespan of a blended wig is approximately one year if it is properly maintained and taken care of. In this section, we will walk you through the step by step process on how you should take care of your blended wig to maximize its lifespan and maintain its natural look.

Detangle Your Blended Wig

Whether you wear your blended wig in your daily life or occasionally, you are bound to encounter some tangles. To bring it back to life, start by gently detangling the hair strands of your blended wig with a wide-tooth comb starting from the bottom and working your way to the top. Do this in small sections to remove the tangles.

If the tangles are extremely tough and simply combing it is not enough, mix your wig conditioner with 3/4 of water in a spray bottle. The ratio should be roughly 3 parts water to 1 part conditioner. After preparing the conditioner-water mixture, proceed on spraying it on the tangled wig as you gently comb it.

Shampoo & Condition

There is no need to wash your wig daily, but make sure to keep them in a wearable and tip-top shape by specifically using hair care products that are designed to accommodate whichever fiber you are working with to prolong the natural look of your blended wig.

As you wash your blended wig, make sure to use cool water until it's thoroughly wet. In a basin or sink, add an appropriate amount of shampoo and gently swirl the product into the hair. After applying the shampoo, gently rinse it with cool water and proceed on applying conditioner evenly on the strands and then rinse.

Deep Condition (optional)

Blended wigs suffer from damage inflicted from hot tools, styling, chemicals, sun exposure, and more. To add an extra layer of moisture and protection, you can apply deep conditioners, hair masks, or leave-in conditioners to your blended wig every once in a while to prolong its life.

Dry Your Blended Wig

In drying your wig, make sure to avoid twisting or squeezing the hair. Instead, gently pat the wig using a clean towel and proceed on light combing the hair strands once again.

What is Non-Remy Hair  

Non-remy hair is also a human hair, but this kind of hair uses hair from multiple hair donors. Because the hair is collected randomly the cuticles of the hair run in different direction causing tangling.

In order to avoid this issue non-remy hair is stripped of all cuticles to create a uniform smooth surface on each hair. Such kind of hairs is readily available in the market compared to Remy hairs.

Some of the perks of non-remy hair are mentioned below: 

• Non-remy hair is readily available
• It is cheap
• Look natural

What is Remy Hair? 

Remy hair is well known as the highest quality of human hair. It has shiny texture and lustrous look which makes it expensive than any other hair. Such hairs are prepared from the finest kind of human hair. This is the reason why this hair lasts for long.

Some of the Benefits of Remy Hair

• It is hard to tell different, such hairs are natural-looking.
• Matting and tangling are not an issue with Remy hair.
• You can style it accordingly without worrying about anything.
• These hairs are silky. As we said it is the finest quality which makes it expensive, but the money is worth paying for.

What is Virgin Hair?

Virgin hairs are natural hair, so it is important to look after it properly as this hair is sensitive and demand proper attention. In other words, you can say that virgin hairs are natural or raw human hair.

Benefits of Virgin Hair: 

• There are variety of options for styling your hair with virgin hair.
• It is prepared by the skilled person which makes it last long
• Virgin hairs are shiny and lustrous.
• This hair is thick which means you don’t have to worry about hair fall.

3. Choose a Wig Style That Fits Your Face

An appealing look is composed of a hairstyle that compliments the facial shape. Nowadays, wigs are made to entirely fit with people's facial features. If you think your previous hairstyle suits you well, you can always choose a wig that strongly resembles it. But if you want a new appearance, make sure to keep this tip in mind.

4. Look for Your Wig Cap Size

If you don't want your wig falling off your head, you should wear the right cap size for you. Choose from Child, Petite, Petite/Average, Average, Average/Large, and Large. But how do you know your cap size?

Take a measuring tape and get the circumference of your head. Start from your front hairline and take the tape to your nape by going behind your ear. Then go behind the other ear to get back to the front hairline.

5. Pick the Right Wig Cap Construction

After you pick your style and measure your cap size, choosing the cap construction for you will be easier. There are different cap features that come with different cap constructions. Pick the one that fits your situation or preference.

Lace Front wigs are best for those that want the most natural looks. For complete comfort, you should buy 100% Hand-Tied wigs.

Basic cap wigs are cheaper, more durable, and gives more convenient air ventilation.

To feel comfort and beauty when wearing a wig, you need to choose the one that suits your appearance and daily life. Considering the tips mentioned above will surely help you get the best option there is. So, make it a checklist to guide you when shopping for wigs.

Conclusion 

That is it! Here in this piece of writing, we tried to cover all the important aspects related to how to choose a wig and its different types. Gone are the days when people used to wear wigs for hiding baldness.

Now more than anything, people wear wigs out of fashion. Not just this, but now more than ever wigs are gaining popularity again. But as we know with great thing comes great responsibility, which is true with wigs too.

Sometimes we forget to pay attention to crucial steps related to wigs. That is why we compiled this article, so you do not have to waste your time researching your perfect solution related to wigs and wig hair types.