Background Intro:

The lifespan of anything is limited, let alone wigs. If you are a beginner or an experienced wearer, it’s essential to know about the lifespan of a wig when planning to invest in a wig.

Here are details about the lifespan of a human hair wig and how to extend its longevity.

Human hair wigs vs. synthetic wigs

Before talking about how to prolong the lifespan of human hair wigs, it's essential to figure out the differences between human hair wigs and synthetic wigs.

Human hair wig

As its name suggests, it is made from natural hair of people. It is a kind of high quality wig that offers more versatility and the most natural appearance. It can be curled or dyed like your natural hair. With proper care and maintenance, a human hair wig can last for several years.

Synthetic wig

Synthetic wigs are made from various artificial fibers. When you wash your synthetic wigs, since it is pre-styled, it can quickly restore its original shapes after air drying. It is more affordable but has a shorter longevity from a few months to a year. Because of its sensitivity to heat, it can't be heat styled.

How Long Does a Human Hair Wig Last?

The answer varys from person to person. On average, human hair wigs last approximately 1-3 years and some wearers claim that their human hair wigs last for 2-5 years

Factors that may affect the lifespan of human hair wigs

Hair texture

On average, human hair wigs last longer than synthetic wigs.

If worn every day and meticulously cared for, the lifespan of a human hair wig can reach 8-10 months or even more than a year, while the lifespan of a synthetic wig is only 3-4 months.

Human hair wigs are not easy to get tangled and fall off, and do not require extensive maintenance because they have not been chemical-treated.

We want to tell you in advance that human hair includes virgin human hair, remy human hair, and non-remy human hair.

virgin human hair: it is 100% human hair that has never undergone chemical treatment such as perming or dying. Virgin human hair usually comes from young women who never had their hair chemically processed, so there will be no grey hair or split ends.

remy human hair: it refers to wig hair that has not had its stratum corneum stripped and hair strands that grow in one direction. Remy hair is easy to comb out and has a thick density, mostly deriving from a person's ponytail or may be shaved off from the scalp.

non-remy human hair: it is human hair collected from different heads. Since it is not collected from one head, the direction of the stratum corneum is also different. If manually flipping all the wig hair in the same direction, it will be very time-consuming. The lifespan of non-remy hair is about 6 months.

Cap construction

The construction techniques and wig caps of human hair wigs can also affect their lifespan. A tight weave of monofilament base and layered structure of silk base can increase the wig's longevity.

A wig with high-quality lace will be more durable than one with low-quality lace.

For lace front wigs, the individual hair strands are only hand-tied on the front hairline, so the rest of the wig has wefts.

For full lace wigs, the individual hair strands are hand-knotted onto the entire wig invisible lace to achieve a supremely natural look.

Due to the thicker texture in the back, a lace front wig normally has a longer lifespan. While a full lace wig must be taken more care of because the whole hair cap is made of lace.

Usage frequency

Usage frequency is another factor that affects the lifespan of human hair wigs.

If you wear a wig every day, it will lead to faster wear and tear, which means taking a toll on the lifespan of it. While a wig with lower usage frequency such as 2-3 times a month can have a lifespan of more than three years.

If you have other alternative wigs, it is suggested you alternate between them to extend their lifespan.

Styling

Since human hair wigs can be styled like your natural hair, the use of curling irons or straighteners can also affect the lifespan of your wigs.

Long-term excessive styling can be detrimental to hair and results in shorter lifespan of your wigs. If you have to do heat styling, please use heat protectant products to reduce damage to the hair fibers of your wigs.

Besides, you’d better choose a pre-styled wig or use heatless curls, which can help prolong the lifespan of your wigs.

How to make a human hair wig last longer?

Wash your wig with mild shampoo

Use a special wig shampoo or sulfate free shampoo and lukewarm water(not hot water )when washing wig. Please gently stir the wig in water. Avoid rubbing or twisting the hair, which can cause hair to get tangled or fall off.

Remember to avoid using clarifying shampoo as it can remove deposits and natural oils from the hair.

Please pay attention to the washing frequency. Wash your human hair wig regularly but avoid over washing. Gently massage on the wig roots and avoid violent washing.

Though a blow dryer can speed up drying the hair, minimize using it. Instead, gently squeeze out excess water with a dry towel, then place your wig on a wig stand let the wig air dry. This is the key to the drying process.

Please make adjustments to the washing process to cater to the hair material and wig style.

Store your wig properly

Since proper storage can keep human hair wigs from deforming, when not wearing a wig, please store it on a wig stand or a mannequin head to maintain the wig shape of the wig and prevent tangling.

If you don’t have wig stand or mannequin head, a silk bag or the original box will be a nice choice. Please remember to comb out your wig gently with a wig brush or a wide tooth comb to remove tangles before storing it.

Avoid placing your wig flat. Remember not to expose your wig to direct sunlight and any heat sources, which can fade the natural luster of your wigs and give rise to shorter lifespan of your wigs.

Be careful when using styling products

Please don't use any products containing harsh chemicals, as it can damage the hair fibers over time.

When using straighteners or curling irons, remember to use them at a low temperature. Apply heat protectant spray before doing heat styling on your human hair wigs.

Never use styling products near the wig roots, which will detriment the intact cuticles of your wigs.

If you have just washed your human hair wig, wait for the air dry thoroughly instead of doing heat styling on wet hair. After the wig is completely dry, use a wig brush to comb out the wig hair.

Final Thoughts

When choosing a perfect wig that has long longevity, there are many factors you should take into account. If you want to learn more about how to make your human hair wigs last longer, please visit https://www.wigshe.com/, which will give you a lot of practical knowledge of high quality wig. We warmly welcome you!

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