Wig Types and Materials: A Comprehensive Guide

Wigs encompass various types such as head wigs, hair pieces, and hair extensions. In the wig industry, they are categorized based on the materials used to make them: human hair, synthetic hair, and animal hair.
1. Human Hair Products

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a). Human hair is further divided based on its origin: Chinese hair, Indian hair, Brazilian hair, Burmese hair, Mongolian hair, Vietnamese hair, European hair, etc. Chinese hair is the most common due to China’s large population. However, many clients prefer Indian and Brazilian hair. The reason is that Chinese hair tends to be harder and coarser, while hair in Western countries is naturally softer and finer. Therefore, they often choose hair that is similar to their own hair texture, such as Indian and Brazilian hair.

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b). Human hair is also divided into Remy human hair and non-Remy human hair. Remy hair refers to hair that has been cut from a single person’s head, with the hair cuticles facing the same direction, similar to fish scales. Non-Remy hair, on the other hand, has cuticles that are disordered. Due to the higher cost of human hair materials, human hair wigs are among the more expensive types of wigs, with Remy hair being particularly expensive.

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c). When assessing the quality of wigs, we primarily look at the material. The next factor is the grade, which refers to the length of the hair. In simple terms, if a wig’s hair flows from top to bottom and is thick at the top and thin at the bottom, the grade is considered poor. Different grades mean different levels of material used, resulting in different prices. Additionally, the smoothness and texture of the hair are important factors.

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2. Synthetic Hair Products

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Synthetic hair comes in many varieties. In China, there are three types of synthetic hair: domestic, Korean, and Japanese. The type of synthetic hair directly affects the wig’s texture, luster, quality, and durability, and the prices of these three types of synthetic hair vary significantly.

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a). Domestic synthetic hair is the cheapest among the three and is suitable for wigs worn by mannequins or sports fans.

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b). Korean synthetic hair is moderately priced.

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c). Japanese synthetic hair is the most expensive, with the price of the same grade of Japanese synthetic hair being more than three times that of domestic synthetic hair, making it suitable for real human wigs.

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The hair fibers produced by the Japanese Kanekalon company are widely recognized as the most suitable for wig production. They closely resemble real hair in both texture and luster, offering an ultra-realistic appearance. Lace wigs utilize these fibers to ensure the quality of the wigs from the source.

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Animal hair mainly includes ox hair, mohair, and horse hair. The products made from these three materials have significant differences in texture: human hair has the best feel, and wigs made from real human hair are crafted from treated, pure human hair, offering high realism, no tangling, and the ability to perm, dye, and style, although they are more expensive and not as good in setting effects. Next is synthetic fiber (which is shinier), synthetic wigs are made from synthetic fibers, have poor realism, can cause itching when worn, and are prone to reactions with the scalp.

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However, they are cheaper and have long-lasting setting effects. Lastly, there are animal hairs. Animal hair is significantly more voluminous than human hair and synthetic fibers of the same weight, and the texture is also different. Of course, the difference between synthetic and animal hair is not very significant, but animal hair is slightly more expensive than synthetic fibers. There is also a type of wig made by mixing these three or two of them.

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By area, there are full wigs and hairpieces. Full wigs are wigs that cover the entire head, easy to wear, secure, with a large coverage area, and widely applicable. Hairpieces can be custom-made into different shapes and sizes according to different needs, with high flexibility, ultra-realistic appearance, and good breathability.

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By manufacturing method, there are machine-made wigs and hand-tied wigs. Machine-made wigs are produced by machines, usually in bulk, and are inexpensive, but their realism is not ideal, they are heavier, have poor breathability, can easily obstruct hair follicles, and are prone to tangling. Hand-tied wigs are made by hand, with high realism, good breathability, and comfortable wear, but they are more expensive.

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From a craftsmanship perspective, there are machine-made wigs, half machine-made and half hand-tied wigs, full lace wigs, Jewish wigs, front lace wigs, toupees, and mono wigs.

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By usage, there are child hair wigs, anime wigs, holiday wigs, women’s wigs, and men’s toupees.

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