The Difference Between Human and Synthetic Hair
06 / 30 / 21

The Difference Between Human and Synthetic Hair

There are plenty of options available to those struggling with thinning hair. In fact, when you join us at Parisienne Hair Solutions in Greenville, SC, you’ll find thousands of men's and women's wigs, to say nothing of extensions, toppers, and custom hair systems for men and women. And as you explore these different options, you’ll get to make some critical decisions regarding the color, cut, and style of your new hair.

An additional decision you’ll need to make: Do you want real human hair, or synthetic hair? Many of our hair solutions are available with both options, including our wigs and our hair systems. This may be a decision that proves a bit trickier. After all, what are the differences between human and synthetic hair? Does it really even matter which one you choose?

Choosing Between Human Hair and Synthetic Hair

Historically, many people have favored human hair for one simple reason: They tend to offer the most natural look and feel. Having said that, synthetic hair has improved by leaps and bounds in recent years, to the point that this distinction is no longer as relevant. In fact, we can show you some synthetic hair that look and feel so natural, you won’t be able to tell they aren’t made with human hair.

However, there are still some areas in which human hair and synthetic hair differ.

The Pros and Cons of Human Hair

We’ll start by listing a few of the big advantages of human hair. One reason why we often recommend human hair wigs to our clients is because they allow for more textural variation; so, if you’re looking for hair that closely replicates your natural hair texture, human hair may be the best bet. Additionally, human hair wigs can be styled however you want, especially if you take your wig to an experienced stylist.

As for potential downsides, human hair can require a little bit more maintenance than synthetic ones. Certainly, you’ll need to wash and restyle your human hair regularly, just as you would with “real” hair. Most clients do not mind this level of maintenance, which is no worse than what you’d have to do for your naturally growing hair, but it’s still something to be aware of.

The other thing to note is that human hair can be sensitive. So, if you get a human hair wig or hair restoration system, it may get frizzy in humid weather, and it may become brittle or damaged when exposed to heating tools.

The Pros and Cons of Synthetic Hair

The main reason why some clients choose synthetic hair is that it’s better for “style retention,” meaning your synthetic wig or hair restoration system can revert back to its normal style with ease. And, synthetic hair requires less maintenance. You will only need to wash it every six to eight days.

Additional perks to synthetic hair: They are weather-proof. They can be obtained in literally any color. And, they tend to be a little bit less expensive than human hair options.

As for detriments, synthetic wigs and hair restoration systems may not last as long as human hair ones. And, once you select a synthetic wig or system, you’re usually locked into the color; it is not recommended that you change the color of synthetic hair.

Finding the Right Option for Hair Restoration

Whether you choose a synthetic wig or hair restoration system or you select one made with human hair, you can get something that looks and feels just like the real thing, and you can regain your sense of confidence. We’d love to tell you more. Reach out to Parisienne Hair Solutions for a FREE consultation, where we can find the best solution for you and your hair loss.