If you’re familiar with wigs, you’ve already heard of the difference between human hair wigs and synthetic wigs. But what is synthetic hair, and what is it made of?

Here, we’ll dive into the question of what are synthetic wigs made of and what that means for your wig care.

What is synthetic hair?

Synthetic hair is just what it sounds like: Hair fibers that have been man-made. Usually, synthetic hair is made out of material like acrylic or nylon, and is then treated and dyed to mimic natural human hair.

So if you’re asking yourself “what are synthetic wigs made of?” There’s your answer. Synthetic wigs are made of a fiber like acrylic or nylon and then styled to look like hair. Synthetic wigs can also be made of silk, silicone, single-filament polyester, or a number of other materials.

While you might read these materials and be a little wary, the science of how synthetic hair is made has come a long way, and synthetic wigs are often almost indistinguishable from human hair wigs. It’ll depend on the manufacturer and how much money the wig cost, but you can find super realistic-looking synthetic wigs out there.

Benefits of synthetic wigs

Now that you have an answer to the question of what is synthetic hair, you might be wondering why you would choose a synthetic wig over a human hair wig. There are a few benefits to synthetic hair that might make it the right choice for you.

Affordability

One of the biggest pros of synthetic wigs is that they’re usually more affordable than human hair wigs. This means you have more options to have multiple styles, colors, or types of synthetic wigs, and can more easily switch up your style. It also makes them a good entry place if you’re new to wearing wigs and aren’t sure exactly what you’re looking for.

Style memory

Another benefit is that synthetic wigs have what’s called “style memory” or “style retention”. Because of how synthetic hair is made, the materials hold the style better, so you don’t have to restyle your curls after every wash day, for example. This makes synthetic wigs pretty low maintenance; after washing and drying your wig, you’re basically ready to go.

Lack of frizz

Depending on where you live, how synthetic hair is made may have another advantage for you: no frizz. The fibers of synthetic hair wigs are less likely to frizz, go limp, or lose their style in hot or humid climates, so if you live somewhere where weather is a consideration, synthetic wigs might be a good choice.

Disadvantages of synthetic wigs

Depending on your preferences, how synthetic hair is made may be a drawback for you. Here are a few potential drawbacks of caring for synthetic wigs.

Limited choice

While style memory may be a benefit for some people, if you want the freedom to change your style or color on the regular, synthetic wigs may not be the right choice for you.

It’s not recommended that you change the color of your synthetic wig or try to restyle it with heat tools, so once you choose your wig you’re pretty much locked in. Plus, while synthetic wigs are pretty versatile, they don’t last forever. If you wear your wig daily, you’ll probably be able to get four to six months of wear out of it.

Shine

Because of the fibers that synthetic hair is made of, your wig may have an unnatural-looking shine to it. Usually higher quality (and more expensive) synthetic wigs don’t have this issue, but if you’re on a budget you may notice this in your synthetic hair.

Special products

Most wig care experts will tell you to focus on natural ingredients in your products, but that’s not the case for synthetic wigs. The fibers synthetic wigs are made of require special products that are designed for synthetic hair care, which may be a con just because it’s one more thing to consider.

If you have shampoo and other products already, you may need to cycle them out for synthetic care ones instead.

Shop the Lauren Ashtyn collection today

Understanding what are synthetic wigs made of is a good first step to choosing which kind of wig is right for you. Some people may hear synthetic and think that means unnatural, but really the answer to “What is synthetic hair?” isn’t too scary.

The choice of what kind of wig you need mostly comes down to personal preference and how you’re going to wear it. Our expert consultants can help you decide based on your lifestyle and preferences so you don’t have to make the decision alone.

Check out our collection of luxury wigs today for inspiration and to find the one that’s right for you!