Georgina’s Hair Care

Synthetic Hair vs. Human Hair Extensions

Hair extensions can be made from either “real” 100% human hair or synthetic fibres that closely resemble real hair. Each type has its benefits and I will now attempt to address some of the pros and cons of each type:

Human Hair
Human hair is very versatile as it comes in a huge variety of colours and textures so there will almost certainly be a perfect match for every person out there looking for extensions. Because the hair is real, it can be processed in much the same way as the hair growing from your head i.e. it can be washed, blow-dried, straightened and tonged, without causing any serious damage. Certain hair can even be dyed which means you can change the colour of your extensions when you change the colour of your hair. Importantly, the general length of time human hair can be worn on the head is much greater than with synthetic hair; Remy hair for instance can be worn for up to a year and standard grade human hair for at least 2 months. However, the main concern for most shoppers, particularly during this recession, is that human hair is vastly more expensive that synthetic hair, often 3 to 4 times more in fact and the longer the human hair is that you are after, the more money you will have to part with. Therefore, if your weave or braid style is not intended to be worn for more than a week or two, human hair extensions are not very cost-effective. Nevertheless, the versatility of human hair and the ability to style and re-style the hair do make the high prices worth it in the long run.

Synthetic Hair
The majority of synthetic hair available on the market today is not heat-resistant and so does not offer the same versatility as human hair, neither can it be dyed. However, an increasing number of hair companies are making a new, advanced type of synthetic fibre that is heat resistant to temperatures of around 180°. Better still; the advanced fibres cost much the same as standard synthetic hair, so you can get some of the benefits of human hair at just a fraction of the cost, no matter what length you choose as there is no premium on synthetic hair over 14 inches unlike with human hair. Synthetic hair is almost always silky in texture and when new always has a natural shine without the need for products. However, some hair brands will often look quite plasticy, so be sure to check the hair over before you buy it.

Take care not to have hair on your neck when it is hot as your perspiration and the rubbing that will occur from you moving around will cause the synthetic hair to tangle or even matt if you are not careful. If possible, always tie your hair up on these days or choose a shorter style.

Finally, the most notable argument for using synthetic hair over human hair is that it is much better at retaining its shape; unlike human hair where the curls will drop after a short time if not maintained, synthetic fibres will keep their curly or wavy shape for much longer, even after being combed so there is no need to spend hours reshaping your style, you can just get up and go!

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