If you’re researching wigs for the first time, you’re sure to notice a distinct price difference between human hair and synthetic wigs. Your initial response may be somewhere along the lines of shock paired with an unbelievable urge to just take in the beauty of human hair wigs. You just want a wig that looks fabulous and natural, but also lasts as long as possible. Purchasing a human hair wig is not just an everyday splurge; It’s an investment. But does the price really reflect the quality of the product? Are human hair wigs expensive? Here’s a look at where the cost factors into the construction and quality of a human hair wig.
Price & Quality: The Truth Behind the Cost of Human Hair
If you’re ready to take the plunge into purchasing your first human hair wig,the pricing may take you by surprise at first. After all, human hair wigs can vary in price from $600 to $3000. While everyone loves a deal, purchasing a human hair wig proves sometimes paying less does not equal more in the scope of value. The cost of human hair wigs stems from: A) using high quality biological human hair, and B) the work it takes to construct each wig.
Quality of Human Hair
Unlike synthetic hair, human hair cannot be fabricated on demand. It a natural material that takes time to grow, so it is in much lower supply than standard synthetic hair. Additionally, it takes 2-3 heads of hair to create a single human hair wig. This, of course, makes human hair more expensive.
Additionally, the human hair used to make wigs is also available in various qualities.
- Standard Human Hair, which is an extemely high quality material, but does go through significant processing before being made into a wig.
- Remy Human Hair, which is the gold standard of human hair. When the hair was collected, it was collected with the hair cuticles in the same direction. This means the hair cuticle is left intact, giving the most natural look and feel imaginable. This is the most expensive human hair option.
- Human Hair/Synthetic Blends: This is a wig that is made from a combination of human hair and synthetic hair. They are less expensive than full human hair wigs, but you won't get the same quality that you would from a human hair wig. This type of wig presents its own pros and cons that you can learn about here.
- Budget Human Hair, which is a low quality human hair that is used to create fashion wigs. While these wigs are available at a much lower cost than typical human hair wigs, they do not boast the same benefits. If the price seems too good to be true, it probably is. These wigs are highly processed and often don't feel like "real hair." In most cases, we recommend buying a high quality synthetic wig over a low quality human hair wigs.
Constuction of Human Hair Wigs
When dealing with high quality human hair, wig makers often contruct wigs with full lace or hand-tied caps. This is an intensive process that involves hand tying each individual hair to a mesh wig cap, providing the most realistic look possible. Making a single hand-tied human hair wig can take as long 3 days to complete. That doesn't even include the time and energy it takes to sort, process, and prepare the hair, which can take weeks. Because the construction of human hair wigs is so time consuming and laborious, this drives up the price of the wig.
Are Human Hair Wigs Worth the Price?
There's no denying that human hair wigs are the highest quality hair pieces available. There's a reason why they come with a high price tag. However, at the end of the day, whether or not human hair wigs are "worth the price" depends on you and what you want in a wig. Ask yourself these questions before purchasing your first human hair wig:
- How long do I need to wear a wig? One huge pro of human hair wigs is that they boast a significantly longer lifespan than synthetic hair. While synthetic wigs will normally only last anywhere from 4-6 months with everyday wear, a human hair wig can keep its healthy luster and silky feel for a year or more with the proper care (maybe even longer if you don't wear it everyday). If you need a wig as a long-term hair loss solution, then the larger upfront cost of a human hair wig might make sense for you.
- Is this my first wig? If it is your first wig, we recommend purchasing a synthetic wig to start with. Many women who experience hair loss find that they don't even like wearing wigs and switch to headwear and "hats with hair" hairpieces instead. Wait to make the investment until you know you want to wear a wig.
- Do I want to style my hair? The ability to heat style human hair wigs is a plus for many. You can straighten your hair, work in a few curls, or simply try something new. However, like your natural hair, human hair wigs do not hold their style for long and need to be restyled regularly.
- Will I be able to maintain my wig? Human hair wigs do require slightly more maintenance than synthetic hair wigs. Keeping up with proper care of your wig can ensure your locks stay sleek and picture-perfect. You will need to apply hair oils and treatments to the human hair to keep it moisturized.
- Will a human hair wig make me feel like my best self? Hair loss can be a demoralizing experience. A human hair wig is the closest replication to your natural hair. What's more, many women feel comforted to know that their wig is made of real human hair. For some women, a real hair wig makes them feel like themselves again after hair loss. This alone might make the price of a human hair wig worth it to you.
Make a Wig Wish List
You have a style in mind. You know the length, if you do/don’t want bangs, which side you want your hair parted, etc. Now it’s time to determine what added features this entails.
Sitting down to determine what style of wig you want can help give you a better idea of what features you’re looking for. Different features include cap style, lace front, and monofilament cap additions. Wig features will affect your overall cost. If the feature you want is part of your dream wig and in the budget, the additional cost will be totally worth it in the end. You can shop wigs here.
To give you an example of how certain features can affect a wig, let’s say you’re in the market for a wig with no bangs at all, just long, luscious locks. For this style of wig, a lace front would be ideal. The lace front will add a highly realistic hairline. However, if you’re interested in a wig with full bangs that cover the front hairline, a lace front is not necessarily a feature you should seek out.
Not in the Budget? No problem!
A human hair wig may not be part of your budget at the moment, but that’s A-OK! Synthetic fiber wigs are looking better than ever, and you can even get one for less than $100. In fact, most people have trouble even telling the difference between synthetic and human hair. Many offer similar features to synthetic wigs, including a lace front and monofilament sections to mimic a natural hair part and allow for versatile styling options. If you want more control over your hairstyle, heat friendly synthetic wigs are also available and give you the ability to use heat tools up to 350 degrees. You can learn more about synthetic hair here.
If your search for human hair wigs has revealed some too-good-to-pass-up pricing options, there’s a pretty solid chance they are not worth it. As previously stated, the time spent and quality materials used to construct a human hair wig contribute to the higher cost. When purchasing a human hair wig is feasible, stick we recommend sticking with reputable, well-known designers for the most beneficial options.
To Sum Up….
While human hair wigs are expensive, especially in comparison to wigs made from synthetic fibers, the value of the hairpiece matches the price tag. Our advice is to think about what’s important to you in a wig and weigh your options. Have you owned a human hair wig? If so, tell us about your experience in the comments below!