Artificial Hair Guide

Hairpieces and wigs are not a modern invention. In fact, historians have concluded that wigs were worn as many as 6,000 years ago by the Egyptians. The Egyptians used wigs not only as a fashion statement, but also as protection from the sun. Wigs probably reached the height of their popularity in Europe between the 16th and 19th centuries. The vast majority of these wig wearers were male. The wig made its way to America in the 17th century, brought to this country on the heads of British settlers. Men of high social status wore wigs up until about the time of the American Revolution.

People wear hairpieces for many reasons, whether its because of a medical condition that causes hairloss , or even medical treatments that cause hairloss. Men and women wear wigs to cover up baldness. Some people wear wigs for fashion purposes. Many people like to use wefts or extensions to add length or volume to their existing hair. The reasons for wearing hairpieces are as individual and unique as those wear them.

Wigs can be made out of natural human hair, synthetic hair (known as modacryllic fiber hair), animal hair, or a combination of all three. Human hair wigs are superior for their realism and ability to style, but they are very expensive. Animal hair wigs are a more affordable alternative. Animal hair wigs usually come from horses or boars. If you are unsure about whether a wig is natural or synthetic, pull out a strand and light it with a match. Everyone is familiar with the odor of burning human hair. Synthetic hair will burn very quickly and will leave behind tiny hard beads that you can feel with your fingers.

Wigs can be either hand or machine made. Both methods of production can yield realistic, high-quality hairpieces, although hand-made wigs are more expensive. Even synthetic fiber wigs can be made to look as natural in texture, color, sheen, and feel as human hair due to the advances in the production of modacryllic fibers. The common names of some of these fibers are dynel, venicelon, and kanekalon. Synthetic hair has some disadvantages, they are hard to color and to curl with an iron. Many synthetic wigs will melt if they are exposed to heat styling.

Hair used for extensions can also be human, animal, or synthetic. If you plan on coloring the hair, always stick with natural hair, preferable blonde (it can be colored easier). Men's toupees also are made using the same methods and materials as wigs, wefts, and hair extensions.