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Article By Jennifer PompaSynthetic hair is exactly what the name says: a form of hair that is simulated to be made to look like human hair. Synthetic hair looks, feels, and moves like real human hair however it is a cost friendly alternative to human…
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Article By Jennifer Pompa

Synthetic hair is exactly what the name says: a form of hair that is simulated to be made to look like human hair. Synthetic hair looks, feels, and moves like real human hair however it is a cost friendly alternative to human hair.

Synthetic hair is made up of various plastic based fibers, the most notable being Kanekelon, and Toyokalon. Synthetic hair is widely used in extensions, wigs, ponytails, bang pieces, top pieces and hair wraps.
 
Colors: Synthetic hair comes in a wide variety of colors from natural to bold and bright. It is colored using a process similar to textile dying therefore fading of synthetic hair is rare if not obsolete

Texture and lengths: Synthetic hair comes in a variety of textures made to mimic natural hair textures. Textures include: Silly straight, wavy, deep wave, body wave, spanish wave, curly and everything in between. Synthetic hair is available in any length desired.* Within reason, 50 inch synthetic hair would be rare*  

Why do some people prefer synthetic over human hair? While human hair is always the most natural and longest lasting , some people prefer synthetic hair because of how cost friendly it is. Synthetic hair also does not need to be styled, the style or curl pattern that is set into your synthetic hair is the style or curl pattern that will always remain even in spite of washing. Because it does not need to be styled it is popular with people who like to spend a minimal amount of time styling their hair.

That being said most* synthetic hair cannot be styled. Synthetic hair also does not respond to the environment like human hair so for instance on a very humid day human hair would fall and lose it’s style while synthetic hair would hold it’s style. Because synthetic hair does not respond to the environment it is a popular choice for occasions where the weather may be a factor such as an outdoor wedding or event.
 
Types of Synthetic hair: There are varying types and qualities of synthetic hair. For the most part, what you pay for is what you get. The cheaper varieties of synthetic hair can look very much like plastic and have an unnatural shine. While most synthetic hair looks shinier than human hair the better quality options will be less noticeable and look much more natural.  Most synthetic hair cannot be heat styled, however there is heat friendly synthetic fiber that can be styled up to a certain temperature.

A word on Styling heat friendly synthetic fiber: While some synthetic fiber claims to be heat friendly I should advise that styling of synthetic hair will break down the fiber prematurely. While the idea is novel, there is still more development needed before synthetic fiber can truly be styled like human hair.

When styling synthetic fiber it is important to let the style “cool” in the position desired. For instance if you were curling heat friendly synthetic fiber you should pin the curl and allow it to completely cool to room temp before removing the clip for the curl to set in.

Life Span of Synthetic hair: Synthetic hair can be expected to last anywhere from 1-6 months before signs of wear are apparent. With proper care synthetic hair has been known to last longer.

Synthetic Hair Care Products: There is a wide variety of synthetic hair care products from a wide variety of manufacturers available. I strongly advise using a product that is specially formulated for synthetic hair in order to extend the life of your synthetic hair, especially the more expensive versions. While the shampoo and conditioners seem to do a great job of cleaning and maintaining the hair, the styling products fall short in my opinion. The styling products lack the strength or “hold” to do any serious styling. I recommend using styling products that are formulated for processed or color treated hair.