Women’s hair loss can be embarrassing, and it can be a
lengthy progress when it comes to growing it all back. Wigs are a simple way to
cover up your hair loss to boost your confidence whilst going through
treatment, and here you can find out some of the pros and cons of both
synthetic and human hair wigs, to help you choose the perfect one for you.
Here at The London Centre of Trichology we specialise in
women’s hair loss, with leading experts who will guide you through your
diagnosis and treatment to ensure you feel reassured throughout.
Pros of
Synthetic Hair
Synthetic hair is relatively easy to look after, you just
need to wash it as you would your own hair, leave it to dry, and then shake it
to give it back some volume. This is ideal for those of you with limited time
to dry and style your wig, especially since synthetic wigs hold their style no
matter what the weather.
Synthetic wigs also come in a huge variety of colours and
styles, so you will have no need to go to the hairdressers while going through
treatment. For some women, going to the hairdressers can be a stressful experience
and can sometimes feel a little intimidating, so this is a brilliant solution.
It also offers you the opportunity to experiment with new colours without
further damaging your hair.
Another plus of synthetic hair is that it is relatively
inexpensive, costing much less than human hair at about £100 for a wig.
Cons of
Synthetic Hair
There is, however, a bad side to synthetic hair, which is
that it looks unnaturally perfect with its glossy shine and faultless style.
For some this may be a good thing, but it can often hint at the fact that you
are wearing a wig.
Another problem with synthetic wigs is that you cannot get a
silk base with synthetics, which means that your hair will look less natural
than if you were wearing a human hair piece. This isn’t always noticeable, but
for the self-conscious it can pose problems.
Although synthetic hair costs less, it lasts for a much
shorter amount of time than human hair. The average “lifespan” of a synthetic
wig is around 4 to 6 months, depending on how well you treat it. Some wigs will
be heat resistant, but most synthetic wigs are unable to be straightened or
curled, and will melt under high heats.
Although this is not obvious, unless you compare the wig
against real hair, synthetic hair doesn’t feel like most human hair due to the
fibre it is made of, which once again can emphasise the fact that you are
wearing a wig.
Pros of
Human Hair
Human hair is hugely versatile and can be coloured, permed
and styled just like your own normal hair. This is perfect for those wanting to
experiment with colours and styles without buying a new wig each time. Another
pro of human hair is that it can come in a variety of textures, so you can find
the perfect match for your own hair. This helps to blend the wig in, to ensure
that no one will ever notice that it’s not your real hair.
A natural look can be achieved using the variety of scalp
options that are available, which can be chosen to meet your needs and
hairline. For example if you like to wear your hair up, a suitable scalp option
can be chosen to adjust to this.
Human hair lasts a very long time if well cared for, and can
live for well over a year without looking frizzy or damaged. Wigs made from
human hair will feel incredibly soft and look completely natural on all types
of people.
Cons of
Human Hair
With this convincing wig comes a hefty price tag however,
with all of the hair for these wigs being grown from real people’s heads. This
means you can expect to pay upwards of £300 for a wig, with many products
needed for proper maintenance as well.
This leads us to the next con – there is a lot of upkeep
needed to keep human hair in a good condition. It will need to be washed, deep
conditioned and occasionally straightened much more often than a synthetic wig.
Due to being made from real human hair, these wigs will
behave like your own hair would, and will get static and dry in humid
conditions. This could however also be a positive aspect of human hair, as it
adds to the natural effect of the wig.
For more advice on women’s hair loss and treatment, visit The London Centre of Trichology.
