Different Wigs Materials

By Author: Zhang Lei
Total Articles: 1
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In the market, there are mainly five types of wig materials: synthetic fibers, protein silk, animal hair, human hair, and blended hair. Human hair can be further divided based on the collection method into fallen hair （Grand Hair）, shaved hair, and raw/virgin/donors hair, each with different usage effects. The value of human hair wig materials is also closely related to their lengths and thickness (how much hair pieces come from tail-to-top, as a ratio).

First, let's take a look at the differences in collection methods, appearance, and usage effects of fallen hair, shaved hair, and virgin/raw/donors hair.

Fallen Hair: As the name suggests, this refers to hair that naturally falls from people's heads. It's often referred to as "hair balls(mess hair pieces as a nest)." These hairs lack nutrients and moisture due to being naturally shed, leading to reduced flexibility and luster. Fallen hair comes from people of different ages and health conditions worldwide, resulting in significant variations in hair quality, color, and more. It's essential to note that natural fallen hair has white marks at the roots, which ...
... are traces of follicle implantation. Of course, these marks can be removed through a process called "head-pushing" by the process in factory.

Shaved Hair: Shaved hair generally refers to hair cut from the heads of healthy individuals by barbers or non-professionals when they want to cut hair. These hairs are collected after being scattered and piled.

virgin/raw/donors hair: Also known as "original virgin/raw/donors hair" or "protective cuticle aligned hair," this is collected by specialized hair cutters who roam the streets or travel into remote rural areas to gather hair from healthy individuals. For example, Indian virgin/raw/donors hair is often donated by Indian women to temples, which then auction it to buyers as part of their religious beliefs. Jewish people, due to their faith, do not use hair from Indian donors. Healthy individuals have healthier hair, normally, the healthy hair characterized by a three-layer structure: cuticle scales on the outer layer, a cortex in the middle, and a medulla on the inside. Cuticle scales protect the hair, giving it strength and shine. Identifying the source and quality of virgin/raw/donors hair is crucial.

Understanding the three main collection methods provides a basic understanding of the differences in hair prices. High-quality, naturally colored, and thicker virgin/raw/donors hair is the most sought-after and offers superior performance (dyeing effects, long lifespan, tangle-free) at a higher price point. Different countries have varying prices for virgin/raw/donors hair materials, but the differences are not significant.

With a clear understanding of wig materials, let's look at wig processing. Most factories in the market still use the traditional method of "pulling hair." For example, fallen hair (Grand Hair) is initially torn by hand so that hair strands can apart. While shaved and traditional virgin/raw/donors hair mix materials on a wide comb, compress them with a nail rake-like brush, and pull strands by strands using a strong clip until they reach the desired length gathered together. Fallen hair (Grand Hair) has lower quality, is prone to breakage, lacks shine, and has difficulties with dyeing. Shaved and traditionally processed virgin/raw/donors hair may not provide as good usage effects because the hair top and end may mess up, making it prone to tangling. Some factories have come up with the idea of "reverse alignment," which involves using a machine to align the hair ends, although it can only achieve 90% alignment. Furthermore, in traditional production, hair is often acid-treated (strong acids tub), before making hair weft or hand-woven products to remove the cuticle scales, making the hair soft and tangle free. This type of product initially feels good but has reduced longevity and usage effects because the hair structure is compromised. Hair is weak and cannot last longer.

New Star Hair products(www.newstarwig.com), on the other hand, do not undergo pulling process; we categorize and organize them based on different colors and qualities. During processing, we always aim to maintain the original characteristics of the hair, ensuring better performance and longevity.