Wigs and Hair Enhancements
Since the beginning of time wigs have played an important role in the world of beauty. Specialist and hair extension experts are readily found and the choices of products are endless. Hair enhancements can help get you through a difficult time when your hair just isn’t cooperating. By difficult time that could also apply to those going through intense chemotherapy from cancer or just the after effects of some type of illness. Here are some great tips when shopping for wigs or extensions.
1) Wigs are available in “Human Hair” or braid wig “Synthetic Hair” these are the differences: Human hair is usually more realistic, requires the same cleansing and styling as natural hair, there is greater durability. The disadvantages are human hair reacts to all climate changes as natural hair does, the hair needs to be styled after each shampoo, color will fade and hair will break and damage from wear and tear.
2) Synthetic Hair is usually realistic and hard to spot, they are a great value and less expensive, they do not need restyling after cleaning, they do not frizz or flatten, synthetic wigs come in array of colors and styles. they do not fade and last much longer than human hair. The disadvantages are if you have fine hair a synthetic wig may be too dense and thick and look unnatural, hair coloring a synthetic wig is not a good idea, and a synthetic wig can not withstand extreme heat from styling tools.
3) Quality and cost of different wigs: Usually the old cliché “You get what you pay for” stands true when purchasing a wig, here are a few key factors to consider. Wigs are usually made of three different types of hair, European which is top of the line, hair from Asia and India which is middle of the road and human and mixed animal hair (yes animal) mostly yak, angora, horse and sheep and is the least expensive. And then you have your selection of synthetic wigs which are made of man made materials.
4) Hair Extensions and hairpieces also come in natural hair and synthetic materials. They can be applied in a number of different ways vary in price. Remember to always ask about the maintenance requirement of different extension applications; they vary from minimal to high maintenance and cost.
A) Bonded extensions-hair wefts or tracks of hair are attached with an adhesive against the root line by the scalp-generally lasting 2-4 weeks before maintenance is needed.
B) Track/sew in extensions-hair wefts are attached to a cornrow (a narrow row of a braid tight to the scalp) with a sew in method with a blunt rounded custom designed needle. Maintenance is usually dependent on your hair type, this procedure works well with coarse, strong hair.
C) Fusion extensions- hot or cold are attached in small sections close to the root with a special tool, maintenance depends on your hair type, and these extensions are usually costly.