Pros and Cons to Human Hair Wigs and Extensions

Wigs and extensions made with human hair have been used for thousands of years, but today these accessories are facing stiff competition from newer synthetic hair products. To make sure your next wig or hair extension purchase is the right one, use this list of pros and cons to decide what type of accessory is best for you.

Pros to Human Hair Wigs and Extensions

The biggest pro to human hair wigs and extension is their realistic and natural look. Because these accessories can be cut, styled and dyed they may be tailored to create any number of genuine looks and styles. Additional pros include:

Increased Durability – Wigs and extensions made with real hair can withstand repeated styling, ironing, curling and washing for years to come. While care must still be used when working with these accessories, they still hold up much better to long term wear than synthetic hair products.

Breathability – Natural hair products ‘breathe’ much better than synthetics, which is a big pro for those who wear wigs most of the time.

Manageability – Accessories made with real hair are much more manageable than synthetic hair accessories. Because you are working with real hair, you can use products to soften the hair, hold the hair or enhance curls.

Cons to Human Hair Wigs and Extensions

Wigs and extensions made with human hair need to be properly cared for if they are to last for many years to come. Unlike synthetics, accessories made with natural hair need to be washed and styled – which can be time consuming. Additional cons for natural wigs and extensions include:

Price – By far, an accessory made with natural hair will cost much more than one made with synthetic hair.

Reaction to Weather Changes – Real hair, even when made into an extension or wig, will still react to weather changes so it is possible for these products to frizz or curl when exposed to humidity.

Weight – Synthetic hair accessories weigh a lot less than accessories made with real hair, and large hair pieces made with real hair can be quite heavy; although this con is somewhat offset by the extra breathability of real hair.

Ethics – High end hair extensions and wigs made with human hair have been tracked to sales that raise ethical concerns. For example, impoverished women pressured into selling their hair who only received pennies on the dollar for what their hair was sold for or women who gave their hair as an offering in a local religious ceremony without being aware that their hair was later sold.