Now, we will talk about the most complicated kind of wig making process—a 100% hand-tied human hair wig. This type of item sells for up to thousands of dollars when done professionally. The following six steps will show you the process:
The human hair strands are laid down on a surface in the same direction. Shorter hair strands, which measure less than three inches long, are separated from the rest of the hair. These strands are not used.
The remaining strands are tied together. The bundle of hair is now hand washed with warm, soapy water before being rinsed several times and dried by a towel and left in the open air. After cleansing, the hair can be permanently styled with curls or waves if preferred.
The foundation is created from fine-mesh silk netting. The pattern for the wig is positioned on a block, where springs are to be sewn into the foundation to hold it in place.
The hair strands are then knotted. The most common knot is the single knot, which resembles the knot used in creating latch-hook rugs. Knots are created throughout the wig, including the front edges.
After the initial knotting, the wig is now removed from the block and mounted on another soft block. Another batch of knotting is executed around the edges. The inside surface is now ironed to secure the knots.
The wig is ready for styling! To set the style, it is placed in a warm oven.
This is just an overview of the very complicated process of wig making so you can understand why hair wigs can be priced so high. Different wigs are created through different processes; some more complicated than others.
Synthetic Wigs vs.
Human Hair Wigs
A common question about wigs is which type is most ideal. Well, we cannot really answer that question. What we can tell you is that synthetic hair wigs and human hair wigs offer very different things but are great in their own ways. It is important to understand each type if you are planning on buying one for yourself.
Human Hair Wigs
Human hair wigs are, obviously, very natural as they come from actual human hair. It would be nearly impossible for the makers of the synthetic kind to imitate the aesthetics, texture, and movement of real hair. The realistic feature of this type of wig is one of the main reasons why they are mostly more expensive than their synthetic counterparts.
Human hair wigs can generally be styled in the same way as you would with actual hair. They may be permed, rebonded, colored, or cut like real hair. However, as the hair in a human hair wig does not receive natural nutrients from the scalp, chemical processes may damage human hair wigs.
As there are different kinds of human hair in real life, there are also various types of human hair wigs to choose from. Usually, human hair wigs are classified as Chinese hair, Indian hair, Indonesian hair, and European hair. These types of hair generally have the most distinct features.
Chinese hair is mostly straight, thick and silky. Meanwhile, Indian hair is thinner and more textured. Indonesian hair, being a common type of hair, is usually the cheapest among all types. European hair is known to be the finest and most expensive.
Human hair wigs are mostly better in quality as compared to synthetic ones. However, there exist fake human hair versions, so you have to watch out for those. Authentic human hair wigs can last a year or more, even with daily use, as the natural nutrients of human hair are still embedded in the strands.
Usually, the less processed the human hair wigs are, the longer they last.
There are products specifically formulated for the human hair kind of wig. Do not think that because they are made out of human hair, they need the exact products you use on your actual hair.
Take note that human hair wigs are not attached to the scalp. Therefore, they do not receive the natural oils that would otherwise be received by the actual human hair. Because of this, more conditioning and hydration are required to maintain these wigs, as compared to how you would treat real hair.
Given these points, human hair wigs are also a lot more high-maintenance than synthetics, which is why some people prefer them.
Synthetic Wigs
While synthetic hair wigs are not created from actual human hair, technological advancements have drastically improved their synthetic quality.
Synthetic hair wigs have the advantage of being worn without having to be styled. There are materials and chemicals used in the creation of synthetic hair which make them effortlessly styled and in place most of the time.
However, since the style of synthetic hair wigs is practically predetermined, it is more difficult to style them differently. While there are a few techniques that can be used to style this particular type of wig, such as using heat, synthetic fibers are generally not the best materials to flex and stretch.
Synthetic hair wigs last around four to six months on average. However, if you prefer to purchase heat resistant variants, you will have to expect it to have a shorter life cycle as heat can still break the strands. Generally, heat resistant wigs last about two to three months.
How to Choose Your Wig?
Different types of wig caps
Unsurprisingly, wigs are constructed in various ways. First, there is the construction of the wig cap. A wig cap is the base of the hair wig, as it where the wig is created.
There are several different types of caps. Each of them has its own advantages and disadvantages. Below are the basic types of wig caps:
Hand-Tied Monofilament Wig Cap
Also known as the 100% hand-knotted monofilament wig cap, the 100% hand-tied monofilament cap offers the most natural look among all other caps. Instead of the wide stretch lace usually seen in most wigs, the 100% hand-tied monofilament wig cap has a thinner stretch material that adapts to the shape of the user’s head.
As the name itself shows, 100% hand-tied monofilament wig caps are tied by hand. Compared to machine-tied materials, hand-tied caps are not as tightly sewn together which lets the hair strands move around.
This type of wig cap is also the softest—and therefore the most comfortable—as it uses a resilient and flexible stretch material. Those suffering from hair loss should ideally invest in wigs with this type of cap as it does not damage the scalp and the hair as much.
Monofilament Wig Cap
As mentioned in describing the 100% hand-tied monofilament wig cap, monofilament caps are really generally very natural looking. Not all monofilament wig caps are 100% hand-tied, but all of them are soft and ideal for sensitive scalps.
Lace Front Wig Caps
Hair wigs with lace front caps have hair strands tied to a sheer lace base. Usually, these hair strands are attached with wig glues or tapes to the crown area of the head. This makes the wig tightly secured, allowing it to stay in place.
Once applied with glue, wigs with lace front caps can sit on the human head for weeks at a time.
The appearance of wigs with lace front caps gives a very natural look especially to the hairline, as most lace front caps include baby hair to hide the lace. Wearers of this type of wig can style their wigs away from their face and still make their hair look authentic.
Basic Wig Caps
The basic wig cap is the most common type among all others. Wigs with basic caps have hair sewn into them with a closed lace layer sitting on the crown part of the wig.
To hide the crown, the hairstyle of this type of wig is usually teased. Given this, hair wigs with basic caps are not the most realistic. However, if you are looking for an affordable wig, then this could be your best bet as the basic wig cap is the cheapest type of wig cap among all.
Know the size of your wig
Aside from knowing the types of wig caps most suitable for your needs, it is also important to know what size you should buy. Ideally, you should use a non-stretchable measuring device for this, such as a flexible metal measuring tape or an unstretched cloth tape measure.
Circumference
To know what wig size is right for you, you must first measure the circumference of your head. Wrap the tape measure from the center of your forehead at the hairline area to behind your ears. Bring the tape measure down around the nape of your neck and then back up to the center of your forehead.
Forehead to Nape
After this, measure the forehead to the nape. From the center of the front of your hairline, bring the tape measure down to the nape of your neck. For bald people, measure about an inch above your brow bone down to an inch below the small bone around the bottom of your skull.
Ear to Ear
Next, measure the distance between your ears. Start measuring from about half an inch above the crease at the top of your ear. Bring the tape measure across the top of your head and end the measurement at the same point on the ear opposite from where you started measuring.
Temple to Temple
Finally, measure the distance between your temples. To do this, simply start measuring at one temple. Then, let the tape measure pass round the back of your head until it reaches the opposite temple.
Knowing The Different Wig Cap Sizes
Take note of these measurements and bring them with you whenever you shop for wigs. Wig cap sizes vary from brand to brand. To give you an overview, here is an example of the general measurements of wig capsizes.
