There are dozens of different reasons why people choose to wear wigs these days. Not only is it a tremendous time saver, but a proper hair wig guarantees a specific style, body, length, and fullness, meaning the wearer knows how beautiful they’ll appear every time they wear the wig. Not to mention, a wig can hid the effects of aging and save the owner a ton of money on cuts and hair products.
However, for some people wig wearing is a product of severe hair loss or could be a side-effect of a serious illness or treatment. Whatever the reasoning, there are a variety of different wigs and materials to choose from.
There are a plethora of different materials to choose from. While most people today select human hair synthetic wigs, a lot of today’s hairpieces available are made from horsehair, wool, feathers, buffalo hair, yak hair, or a series of synthetic materials.
There are also a plethora of different types of wig caps. There is the standard cap wig, the most commonly seen version (and typically the most affordable) of the wig cap. Typically the standard wig cap has the hair machine-sewn on, and the hairs themselves are pre-designed into a specific style. The main advantage of this style wig cap is that the hair is given a natural “lift,” which makes it appear full of volume.
While wigs made of the hair from horses, buffalo, yak, wool, and feathers are found quite commonly, synthetic fiber wigs have greatly increased in popularity. Almost indistinguishable from human hair, synthetic wigs are typically easier in terms of maintaining and care for. However, it’s important to remember that because they are synthetic, they are damaged easily is the wearer attempts to curl, blow dry, or hot roll them.
For those interested in wearing a customized hairpiece, a vacuum wig might be just the thing. By taking a plaster mold of an individuals head, wig makers create a headpiece that not only offers a perfectly proper fit but will even produce a suction on the head (hence the name ‘vacuum’). With a silicone base that hair is injected into, vacuum wigs are arguably the most sought-after wigs available. But be careful! Because of the way they are made and designed, vacuum wigs can be extremely warm, and typically take some time before the wearer properly gets comfortable with it.
Some of the best wigs, however, are human hair wigs. They get the name because, well, they’re made from human hair. Because they come from other people, human hair wigs are the most natural looking of all wig types. However, with this realism comes a hefty price tag, as human hair wigs are often much more expensive than those made of synthetic materials. Of course, the advantages of using a human hair wig are obvious. Since the hair is “real” by human standards, it can be cut, styled, curled, and dyed in the same fashion as naturally-growing human hair.
