Beginner’s Guide to Wigs-How to Tell Synthetic Hair from Human Hair
Hello Everyone! My First Article on Wigs
Hi friends! This is my first article, and I want to share what I know about wigs. Let’s start by talking about synthetic hair and its characteristics.
Synthetic Hair: Since it is made of synthetic plastic fibers, it tends to look very shiny. If it’s a long synthetic wig, the top of the wig will often sit very flat and stiff, because synthetic hair is slightly heavier and firmer.
Price: Synthetic wigs are generally affordable, ranging from tens to a few hundred RMB. (If you’re just curious, you can buy one to try it out.)
Human Hair Wigs: Sources and Features
Human Hair: These wigs are made from real hair collected from people around the world. (Did you see hair being collected when you were a kid?) Human hair comes in different grades. For example:
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Hair from children or teenagers tends to be softer, more elastic, and high-quality.
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Adult hair is often permed or dyed, which can damage it, making it stiffer and coarser. (However, once it enters the factory, it is treated to become smooth and manageable.)
Many domestic factories source human hair from neighboring countries like Vietnam, Myanmar, Laos, and North Korea, as hair from abroad is usually well-maintained and requires less processing. This saves time and material costs.
Before the pandemic, human hair wigs were reasonably priced, but after COVID-19, prices for wigs of all materials skyrocketed, and many wig factories went out of business.
Price: Human hair wigs are generally more expensive, especially high-quality ones.
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For men, the price is usually based on coverage area.
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For women, the price also depends on hair length—the longer the hair, the higher the cost. Prices range from a few thousand RMB to over ten thousand RMB, with the highest prices for custom long or full-coverage wigs.
How to Check If It’s Real or Synthetic
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Visual and Weight Check: First, look at the hair and shake it to feel its weight. Often, this alone can give you a clue.
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Burn Test (Carefully!): If you’re still unsure, gently pluck one or two strands and use a lighter to test it. (Don’t pull too many strands—you’ll regret it if it’s real hair!)
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Synthetic Hair: Made of plastic, it burns with a strong chemical/plastic smell.
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Human Hair: Burns to ash and smells like burning pig or sheep hair, which confirms it’s real.
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By following these steps, you can easily tell whether a wig is synthetic or made of real human hair.