WIG HAIR FIBERS
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WIG HAIR FIBER TYPES
HUMAN HAIR FIBERS
EUROPEAN HUMAN HAIR FIBER
VIRGIN HUMAN HAIR FIBER
HUMAN HAIR BLENDED FIBERS
SYNTHETIC HAIR FIBERS
PROCESSED HAIR FIBER TYPES
HUMAN HAIR VS. SYNTHETIC FIBER
HUMAN HAIR FIBER IN GREY COLORS
HUMAN HAIR FIBER SOURCES
INDIAN HUMAN HAIR ISSUE
Today, wig hair is made of many materials. In addition to human hair, advanced synthetic fibers or a combination of human hair and synthetic fibers are used. Naturally, any of these fibers can be of superior, good, or poor quality. At Onthetop.com, we carry only wigs with superior and good quality fibers. We avoid carrying those products for street wear which use poor quality human hair and synthetic fibers.
Having said that, we do carry a theatrical line, and also wigs which are suitable for costumes, i.e. "Halloween quality". The latter are wigs made with low quality fiber, have a short lifespan, and are usually very inexpensive. These wigs have a specific purpose, and are not designed for streetwear.
The following paragraphs describe the differences between the various types of hair fibers:
HUMAN HAIR
The Human Hair wigs we offer are fashioned from the best quality human hair available for the price. Generally speaking, the finest texture in wigs continues to be human hair. The major advantage is that you can usually style them the way you want and often change that style very easily. They are like your own hair in responding to complete styling changes, accepting perms or even changing the color. The down side is, just like growing hair, all human hair wig styles lose their shape when wet. Your human hair wig will require re-styling each time you wash it. You can blow-dry it and use hot rollers or a curling iron, or you may wet-set it and dry it under a hood hairdryer. If you want something easier to take care of, a good choice would be the human-synthetic blend. It gives you the best of both worlds--the look, feel, and durability of human hair along with the synthetic's ability to hold its shape after washing.
High quality human hair wigs should give you up to 3-4 years of wear with proper care. If you are looking for high quality human hair wigs, you've come to the right place.
Caution: Some human hair wigs can be made from human hair with poor texture or quality. Just because the label says Human Hair does not mean it is "good quality" hair.
EUROPEAN HUMAN HAIR
This is the finest hair available for wigs. Most European hair is processed to remove the cuticle, and like most other human hair used in wigs, it may be bleached and dyed for uniformity of color. The texture and appearance of European hair depends on its origin. Much of the European hair used in wigmaking today comes from Russia and Turkey.
VIRGIN HAIR
This is hair which has not been chemically permed, tinted or processed to remove the cuticle, only sanitized and blended for color. It is available straight as well as with various natural curl and wave patterns. It is considered the strongest hair in the world, and is the most natural in appearance. Most of the virgin hair used today in making wigs is from Europe.
If you ever wonder if your wig is made of virgin hair, put it to this test - rub 10-20 strands of hair between your thumb and forefinger. If the hair bunches up, it is virgin. If the hair slides, it may be European hair but has had the cuticle removed, or "processed"...therefore it is no longer virgin hair.
The one drawback to virgin hair wigs is that they tend to tangle if not handled properly. The cuticle is still on the hair shaft, and unless care is taken to keep the hair all going in the same direction when washing, tangling may occur. There are wet products are made to minimize the tangling. See the Healthy Essential SeCure products in our Wet Products section.
Be sure to purchase only virgin human hair wigs which are described as "Remi" or "Remy hair". This means that the hair has been harvested with the cuticle going in one direction so that the possibility of tangling is minimized. However, human hair that is meant to be used as virgin hair is normally harvested very carefully and handled to maintain the proper direction. The special handling takes more time and is one of the factors that make this hair more expensive.
Virgin human hair wigs have the most natural appearance and texture and the most comfortable wearing qualities, but they are also the most expensive.
A virgin European human hair wig is the highest quality wig you can buy. However, when considering a virgin human hair wig, be sure to purchase only from an experienced, reputable dealer. Top quality is expensive to produce, and if the price seems to good to be true, it probably is. A good quality virgin European hair wig can cost from about $1500 up. A really top quality one can range from about $2000 to $5000, depending on the way the wig is made.
HUMAN HAIR BLENDS
Human-synthetic blends offer the easy care of synthetics with exceptional flexibility and styling versatility. Like human hair, these blends can be permed for extra body wave or curl. They can also be lightened or darkened to a certain extent with regular hair tint. When using any chemical process on a blend, please keep in mind that the synthetic fiber will not accept the chemical, but the human hair will. Therefore, the amount of change will depend on the percentage of human hair to synthetic.
The high percentage of human hair in the Jacquelyn HairLife blend creates the rich tonal dimensions of color-play most like natural hair, particularly in colors with natural highlights. Blends like this may give you 2-3 years of wear depending on proper care and the quality of the products used.
Human-synthetic blends give you exceptional value for your money...the quality and texture of human hair without the higher cost.
SYNTHETICS
Synthetic wigs are more natural-looking than ever before. Synthetics can be shampooed and dried naturally with minimal care. Less costly than human hair wigs, they retain their style very well but are less responsive to major styling changes than human hair. Synthetics will not accept a perm, nor can the color be changed to a great degree. Remember, synthetic wigs were designed to stay and look the way you originally bought them. Trying to change or restyle them can cause poor or even drastic results. All of our synthetic wigs are of very high quality synthetic fibers. The life of a good synthetic wig can be 1 to 2 years or more, depending on care and quality.
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CUTICLE HAIR AND VIRGIN HAIR?
Cuticle hair (also referred to as Remi or Remy hair) is hair which retains the cuticle (outer layer), but may have been colored or permed. Virgin hair is hair which has never been chemically processed in any way, and the color and curl pattern appears exactly as it came from the grower.
WHAT DOES THE TERM "PROCESSED HAIR" MEAN?
Processed hair is human hair from which the cuticle has been chemically removed by placing the hair in an acid bath. This process is done when the hair is harvested in large quantities and is performed in order to minimize tangling.
WHY IS THERE SUCH A DIFFERENCE IN PRICE IN HUMAN HAIR WIGS?
The difference in price depends on the quality of the hair used, and also in the construction of the cap. It is a common misconception that all human hair is created equal. Human hair quality varies widely depending on the ethnic and genetic characteristics of the grower.
The quality is determined mainly by the texture of the hair. Fine, silky-textured hair is generally considered to be higher quality than coarser textures. However the coarser textures are very strong, and tend to withstand a lot of chemical processing. Since it is more plentiful, it also tends to be less expensive than the finer hair. This is why a lot of manufacturers use this type of hair.
DISCLAIMER: This section is not meant to criticize, minimize, belittle, or disparage any ethnic group or its hair type. It simply compares the differences between one type of human hair and another as related to wigmaking.
WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HUMAN AND SYNTHETIC HAIR?
Synthetic hair is simply very fine plastic filaments. The structure is very different from human hair. Synthetics are easier to handle, due to their ability to hold the basic curl after washing. Depending on the simplicity of the style, some of them require very little styling. The life of a good synthetic wig is about 1 year, but can last longer with proper care.
As a rule, human hair is heavier in weight than synthetic fiber, but human hair is the longest wearing of all fiber. However, there are different qualities of human hair, depending on where it comes from. High quality European hair is considered the best hair in the world because of it's strength and texture. This type of hair is the rarest of all, and is very expensive. Wigs made from this hair run into the thousands of dollars.
Don't be fooled into purchasing a poor quality human hair wig, thinking that all human hair is created equal. Some human hair can be coarse in texture, resistant and very hard to style. These wigs sell cheap and are cheaply made, and if you think you're saving money by purchasing one of these, you'll probably wish you hadn't later. Shop around and ask questions before you make your selection.
High-quality Asian hair has been used in the manufacture of quality wigs for many years, and this type can be chemically treated to resemble the texture of European. High quality Asian hair is the type of hair that Jacquelyn uses to make many of their wigs. They look very nice and are relatively inexpensive for the quality.
Then there is Indo hair, which comes from Indonesia, and Indian hair from India. These types of hair are soft and fine in texture like good European, and is the hair of choice for most cranial prostheses and hair replacement companies today. This type of hair is more expensive than Asian, but if one is wearing a partial piece, because of it's silkier texture, it will blend very well with finer textured hair.
CAN I GET A 100% HUMAN HAIR WIG IN GREY?
If you want a blended grey color, it would be impractical to order 100% human hair. In the first place, it is very difficult to find white hair for the grey blends. If it can be found, it is terribly expensive. The other consideration would be that all human hair oxidizes (fades) over time, and periodically the darker color would have to be re-colored to match your own hair. If you get 100% human hair in grey, the white hair would take the tint and you wouldn't have a grey blend anymore. Synthetic hair will not take the color and remains white, preserving the original blend. This is why all of the hair replacement companies use synthetic hair for the white part of the grey blends.
Many manufacturers use Yak hair in making white or light grey wigs. This hair tends to be a bit coarser than human hair, but has many of the properties of human hair, and works very nicely where white or very light grey is needed, such as a Santa Claus wig and beard set.
WHERE DOES THE HUMAN HAIR WHICH IS USED FOR MAKING WIGS COME FROM?
There are four basic types of human hair used to make hairgoods for the hair industry: Chinese hair, Indian hair, Indonesian hair, and European hair. All these types of hair have distinct characteristics that set them apart from the others, in fact, the majority and bulk of human hair used in the hair industry is Chinese or Indian hair. Because of the stronger nature and thicker diameter of these hairs, they can withstand various harsh chemical processes that are used to make the hair look shiny, smooth and tangle free, which is called "processed hair". This type of hair, made from Indian and Chinese hair is indeed suitable for many hair markets, but undoubtedly not as "glorious", healthy-looking, and durable as Virgin (unprocessed) European hair. Due to its fine silky texture, wide color selection, and natural appearance, European hair is definitely the only choice for those who demand the finest wig available...the appearance of healthy growing hair...shiny and beautiful, reflecting light naturally, with bouncy swingy lively movement!***
HOW IS THE HAIR OBTAINED?
Rest assured, the way that hair is obtained is not an inhumane process. A factory will send a representative out to a village, or even to places like monasteries, and there he or she will contract with the residents to grow hair for a specified period of time, depending on the length of hair the factory is looking for. Human hair grows at an average rate of 1/2 inch a month, so that a 5 year contract will yield approximately 30 inches of hair.
There are very specific guidelines the growers must follow if they wish to enter into the contract. They must use natural herbal preparations to wash and condition their hair, they must never use blowdryers, curling irons, or commercial styling products, they must not color or perm it, and they must keep the hair covered to protect it from pollution and sun damage.
At the end of the contracted time period, the factories go in and "harvest" the hair, and then pay the growers for their "crop". The method of removal is not inhumane. Sometimes the head is shaved, and sometimes the hair is cut off. Whichever method is used, it is done with the grower's approval, and with no discomfort. Cutting or even shaving the hair does not remove the root. It remains intact beneath the skin to produce another "crop" in the future. It's a self-renewing resource!
***Many thanks to Leon Friedman for graciously allowing us to use this information.
THE INDIAN HAIR ISSUE
I have received numerous inquiries about the subject of the potential prohibition of the wearing of Indian hair wigs by Jewish women. I am not Jewish, so the laws of Judaism are generally pretty foreign to me. While I, by no means, claim to know everything about it, in an effort to try to understand more about it myself, I have done some research of my own, and I hope I can shed some light on the issue for you. This is a complicated and often confusing issue, and I will do my best to explain the problem as I understand it.
WHY IS INDIAN HAIR PREFERABLE TO OTHER TYPES OF HAIR USED IN MAKING WIGS?
There are three types of hair generally used in making human hair wigs: Asian, Indian, and European. European hair is the least plentiful, and therefore it is very expensive to the point where the price can be prohibitive to the average wig wearer. Asian hair is the most plentiful and least expensive, but it can be of coarse texture. This texture is mostly suitable for wear by women of Asian or African descent, as it is generally similar in texture to their own.
It should be noted here that not all Asian hair is coarse. Sometimes a texturizing process is performed on the hair to reduce the diameter of each hair to make it more resemble European texture. However, this involves a high degree of processing, decreasing the life of the wig.
Indian hair has long been used by manufacturers who make better quality human hair wigs because of its similarity in texture to European hair. European hair is very soft and silky, and is preferred by many Caucasian women because it resembles the texture of their own hair. However, in some cases, European hair can be too fine and limp to hold a style. While Indian hair is similar to European in texture on its own, without having to undergo the extra processing, it has more body and therefore is a better choice for making wigs. As an added benefit, Indian hair is much less expensive than European, and so this hair is very desirable by those who prefer a more silky textured human hair wig, without the high price of European.
For the purposes of this discussion, I will limit further commentary on the subject to Indian hair.
HOW IS INDIAN HAIR OBTAINED?
In order to answer that question, one must first be aware of the religious overtones surrounding the cutting of the hair. In the East Indian religion of Hinduism, deities are represented by images and idols symbolizing divine powers. Worshippers tithe money and may make other various material offerings of value such as jewelry or food to these gods at the temple. Women may even offer their hair as something that is valuable to them, as an act of humility or surrender of ego. The women's hair is cut, and often their heads are shaved. This may or may not be done by another Hindu, and may or may not be done at the site of the temple. Much of this hair is then gathered and sold to wig makers, and the money is allegedly used to maintain the house of worship, as well as charities and other good works sponsored by the temple.
IS THERE ANY WAY TO TELL HOW THE HAIR WAS OBTAINED?
Large amounts of cut hair arrive at a factory at one time, and while it may be labeled as Indian, Asian, European, etc., there is no practical way to determine whether the hair was cut in a religious ritual or obtained by other means.
WHY DO JEWISH WOMEN WEAR WIGS WHEN THEY HAVE HAIR OF THEIR OWN?
For thousands of Orthodox Jewish women, one of the most fundamental practices of daily life is adhering to the code of modesty that prohibits a public display of their own hair after marriage. Some of these women prefer to cover their heads with scarves, hats, snoods, etc., however, as a matter of fashion and a desire to blend in, most of them choose to wear wigs. When a wig is worn by a Jewish woman for religious reasons, it is called a "sheitel" or "shaitel" (pronounced shayt'l). Many women prefer to wear human hair sheitels because they look and feel more natural than synthetic ones. Because of the silky texture and affordability of Indian hair wigs, up until now, these have been the wigs of choice for many of these women.
WHY IS THERE AN ISSUE CONCERNING THE WEARING OF INDIAN HAIR WIGS BY JEWISH WOMEN?
Judaism takes idolatry very seriously. Not only are Jews prohibited from worshipping idols, but any object or material used in a religious ceremony that involves the worship of idols is prohibited. Because of the use of statues, paintings, and other images, the practice of Hinduism is considered by Jewish law to be idolatry. In other words, Orthodox Jews are not permitted to use or benefit by any item that has been donated or sacrificed to what they consider to be an idol.
It has been an ongoing controversy among rabbis (rabbi means teacher and is the name given to Jewish religious leaders) in the Orthodox community as to whether Indian hair is fit to be worn by Orthodox women, due to the possible religious overtones in the way it may have been obtained. This issue started about 40 years ago, and has cropped up a couple of times since then. Up to now, no consensus has actually been reached among all rabbis as to whether this hair should be prohibited or not. There is ongoing study into the matter, but right now the whole thing is up in the air and remains a perplexing controversy in the Jewish community.
Because of concern over violating the laws of their religion, some Orthodox women are reacting to the potential ban on the wigs in advance, just in case of a negative ruling sometime in the future. They simply aren't buying or wearing any wig that may contain Indian hair, and some have even gone so far as to burn their human hair wigs because of the knowledge or suspicion that they may contain Indian hair. The fear has gone so far as to include wigs allegedly made of Asian or European hair, because of concern that they may contain even small amounts of Indian hair.
It is suspected that some manufacturers mix small amounts of Indian hair into European hair wigs to add body to the otherwise too fine and limp hair. Indian hair is also added to Asian hair wigs to acheive just the opposite effect--to add a smoother, more silky texture. In fact, Indian hair has been so much in demand by the wig business that it is often exported to other countries for use by wig makers there. A wig may be made in Korea, China, or even Italy, but one may not be completely sure of the origin of any hair that is in a wig. We would hope to receive accurate information from the manufacturer, but unfortunately, because of marketing issues, that is not always the case.
HOW CAN I BE SURE IF A WIG CONTAINS INDIAN HAIR OR NOT?
The hair could be sent to a laboratory that tests human hair. There is one such lab that I know of in Southern California. From what I understand from the owner of the lab, it is possible to determine the origin of the hair, however, this procedure is expensive and time-consuming, and not very practical.
The only recourse Jewish women have is to follow the guidance of their own rabbis, but all rabbis do not agree on this issue. One well-known and respected rabbi has researched several wig companies, and has provided a list of wigs that he has approved as being free of Indian hair and therefore may be worn without a problem. Rabbi Blumenkrantz's list contains many wig brands, but naturally, the only ones we are concerned with are the ones we handle. These include Jacquelyn Custom European (CEFT) wigs and also the Georgie wigs on this list.
As we add new human hair collections to our website, we will provide information in the descriptions of each wig regarding which ones contain Indian hair.
Well, I have tried to cover the main issues here. If you want to read an in-depth forum discussion of the subject, go to this sheitel discussion. Now I must warn you that this is a 16-page on-line discussion, and there are numerous typos and Yiddish terms and phrases that may make it diffucult reading at times for the non-Jew, but you should be able to get some good information on the subject. These people seem to know what they're talking about and if you have the time and patience, you will learn a lot about the wig business.
I hope this has been of help to anyone interested in this subject.
HUMAN HAIR FIBERS
EUROPEAN HUMAN HAIR FIBER
VIRGIN HUMAN HAIR FIBER
HUMAN HAIR BLENDED FIBERS
SYNTHETIC HAIR FIBERS
PROCESSED HAIR FIBER TYPES
HUMAN HAIR VS. SYNTHETIC FIBER
HUMAN HAIR FIBER IN GREY COLORS
HUMAN HAIR FIBER SOURCES
INDIAN HUMAN HAIR ISSUE
Today, wig hair is made of many materials. In addition to human hair, advanced synthetic fibers or a combination of human hair and synthetic fibers are used. Naturally, any of these fibers can be of superior, good, or poor quality. At Onthetop.com, we carry only wigs with superior and good quality fibers. We avoid carrying those products for street wear which use poor quality human hair and synthetic fibers.
Having said that, we do carry a theatrical line, and also wigs which are suitable for costumes, i.e. "Halloween quality". The latter are wigs made with low quality fiber, have a short lifespan, and are usually very inexpensive. These wigs have a specific purpose, and are not designed for streetwear.
The following paragraphs describe the differences between the various types of hair fibers:
HUMAN HAIR
The Human Hair wigs we offer are fashioned from the best quality human hair available for the price. Generally speaking, the finest texture in wigs continues to be human hair. The major advantage is that you can usually style them the way you want and often change that style very easily. They are like your own hair in responding to complete styling changes, accepting perms or even changing the color. The down side is, just like growing hair, all human hair wig styles lose their shape when wet. Your human hair wig will require re-styling each time you wash it. You can blow-dry it and use hot rollers or a curling iron, or you may wet-set it and dry it under a hood hairdryer. If you want something easier to take care of, a good choice would be the human-synthetic blend. It gives you the best of both worlds--the look, feel, and durability of human hair along with the synthetic's ability to hold its shape after washing.
High quality human hair wigs should give you up to 3-4 years of wear with proper care. If you are looking for high quality human hair wigs, you've come to the right place.
Caution: Some human hair wigs can be made from human hair with poor texture or quality. Just because the label says Human Hair does not mean it is "good quality" hair.
EUROPEAN HUMAN HAIR
This is the finest hair available for wigs. Most European hair is processed to remove the cuticle, and like most other human hair used in wigs, it may be bleached and dyed for uniformity of color. The texture and appearance of European hair depends on its origin. Much of the European hair used in wigmaking today comes from Russia and Turkey.
VIRGIN HAIR
This is hair which has not been chemically permed, tinted or processed to remove the cuticle, only sanitized and blended for color. It is available straight as well as with various natural curl and wave patterns. It is considered the strongest hair in the world, and is the most natural in appearance. Most of the virgin hair used today in making wigs is from Europe.
If you ever wonder if your wig is made of virgin hair, put it to this test - rub 10-20 strands of hair between your thumb and forefinger. If the hair bunches up, it is virgin. If the hair slides, it may be European hair but has had the cuticle removed, or "processed"...therefore it is no longer virgin hair.
The one drawback to virgin hair wigs is that they tend to tangle if not handled properly. The cuticle is still on the hair shaft, and unless care is taken to keep the hair all going in the same direction when washing, tangling may occur. There are wet products are made to minimize the tangling. See the Healthy Essential SeCure products in our Wet Products section.
Be sure to purchase only virgin human hair wigs which are described as "Remi" or "Remy hair". This means that the hair has been harvested with the cuticle going in one direction so that the possibility of tangling is minimized. However, human hair that is meant to be used as virgin hair is normally harvested very carefully and handled to maintain the proper direction. The special handling takes more time and is one of the factors that make this hair more expensive.
Virgin human hair wigs have the most natural appearance and texture and the most comfortable wearing qualities, but they are also the most expensive.
A virgin European human hair wig is the highest quality wig you can buy. However, when considering a virgin human hair wig, be sure to purchase only from an experienced, reputable dealer. Top quality is expensive to produce, and if the price seems to good to be true, it probably is. A good quality virgin European hair wig can cost from about $1500 up. A really top quality one can range from about $2000 to $5000, depending on the way the wig is made.
HUMAN HAIR BLENDS
Human-synthetic blends offer the easy care of synthetics with exceptional flexibility and styling versatility. Like human hair, these blends can be permed for extra body wave or curl. They can also be lightened or darkened to a certain extent with regular hair tint. When using any chemical process on a blend, please keep in mind that the synthetic fiber will not accept the chemical, but the human hair will. Therefore, the amount of change will depend on the percentage of human hair to synthetic.
The high percentage of human hair in the Jacquelyn HairLife blend creates the rich tonal dimensions of color-play most like natural hair, particularly in colors with natural highlights. Blends like this may give you 2-3 years of wear depending on proper care and the quality of the products used.
Human-synthetic blends give you exceptional value for your money...the quality and texture of human hair without the higher cost.
SYNTHETICS
Synthetic wigs are more natural-looking than ever before. Synthetics can be shampooed and dried naturally with minimal care. Less costly than human hair wigs, they retain their style very well but are less responsive to major styling changes than human hair. Synthetics will not accept a perm, nor can the color be changed to a great degree. Remember, synthetic wigs were designed to stay and look the way you originally bought them. Trying to change or restyle them can cause poor or even drastic results. All of our synthetic wigs are of very high quality synthetic fibers. The life of a good synthetic wig can be 1 to 2 years or more, depending on care and quality.
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CUTICLE HAIR AND VIRGIN HAIR?
Cuticle hair (also referred to as Remi or Remy hair) is hair which retains the cuticle (outer layer), but may have been colored or permed. Virgin hair is hair which has never been chemically processed in any way, and the color and curl pattern appears exactly as it came from the grower.
WHAT DOES THE TERM "PROCESSED HAIR" MEAN?
Processed hair is human hair from which the cuticle has been chemically removed by placing the hair in an acid bath. This process is done when the hair is harvested in large quantities and is performed in order to minimize tangling.
WHY IS THERE SUCH A DIFFERENCE IN PRICE IN HUMAN HAIR WIGS?
The difference in price depends on the quality of the hair used, and also in the construction of the cap. It is a common misconception that all human hair is created equal. Human hair quality varies widely depending on the ethnic and genetic characteristics of the grower.
The quality is determined mainly by the texture of the hair. Fine, silky-textured hair is generally considered to be higher quality than coarser textures. However the coarser textures are very strong, and tend to withstand a lot of chemical processing. Since it is more plentiful, it also tends to be less expensive than the finer hair. This is why a lot of manufacturers use this type of hair.
DISCLAIMER: This section is not meant to criticize, minimize, belittle, or disparage any ethnic group or its hair type. It simply compares the differences between one type of human hair and another as related to wigmaking.
WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HUMAN AND SYNTHETIC HAIR?
Synthetic hair is simply very fine plastic filaments. The structure is very different from human hair. Synthetics are easier to handle, due to their ability to hold the basic curl after washing. Depending on the simplicity of the style, some of them require very little styling. The life of a good synthetic wig is about 1 year, but can last longer with proper care.
As a rule, human hair is heavier in weight than synthetic fiber, but human hair is the longest wearing of all fiber. However, there are different qualities of human hair, depending on where it comes from. High quality European hair is considered the best hair in the world because of it's strength and texture. This type of hair is the rarest of all, and is very expensive. Wigs made from this hair run into the thousands of dollars.
Don't be fooled into purchasing a poor quality human hair wig, thinking that all human hair is created equal. Some human hair can be coarse in texture, resistant and very hard to style. These wigs sell cheap and are cheaply made, and if you think you're saving money by purchasing one of these, you'll probably wish you hadn't later. Shop around and ask questions before you make your selection.
High-quality Asian hair has been used in the manufacture of quality wigs for many years, and this type can be chemically treated to resemble the texture of European. High quality Asian hair is the type of hair that Jacquelyn uses to make many of their wigs. They look very nice and are relatively inexpensive for the quality.
Then there is Indo hair, which comes from Indonesia, and Indian hair from India. These types of hair are soft and fine in texture like good European, and is the hair of choice for most cranial prostheses and hair replacement companies today. This type of hair is more expensive than Asian, but if one is wearing a partial piece, because of it's silkier texture, it will blend very well with finer textured hair.
CAN I GET A 100% HUMAN HAIR WIG IN GREY?
If you want a blended grey color, it would be impractical to order 100% human hair. In the first place, it is very difficult to find white hair for the grey blends. If it can be found, it is terribly expensive. The other consideration would be that all human hair oxidizes (fades) over time, and periodically the darker color would have to be re-colored to match your own hair. If you get 100% human hair in grey, the white hair would take the tint and you wouldn't have a grey blend anymore. Synthetic hair will not take the color and remains white, preserving the original blend. This is why all of the hair replacement companies use synthetic hair for the white part of the grey blends.
Many manufacturers use Yak hair in making white or light grey wigs. This hair tends to be a bit coarser than human hair, but has many of the properties of human hair, and works very nicely where white or very light grey is needed, such as a Santa Claus wig and beard set.
WHERE DOES THE HUMAN HAIR WHICH IS USED FOR MAKING WIGS COME FROM?
There are four basic types of human hair used to make hairgoods for the hair industry: Chinese hair, Indian hair, Indonesian hair, and European hair. All these types of hair have distinct characteristics that set them apart from the others, in fact, the majority and bulk of human hair used in the hair industry is Chinese or Indian hair. Because of the stronger nature and thicker diameter of these hairs, they can withstand various harsh chemical processes that are used to make the hair look shiny, smooth and tangle free, which is called "processed hair". This type of hair, made from Indian and Chinese hair is indeed suitable for many hair markets, but undoubtedly not as "glorious", healthy-looking, and durable as Virgin (unprocessed) European hair. Due to its fine silky texture, wide color selection, and natural appearance, European hair is definitely the only choice for those who demand the finest wig available...the appearance of healthy growing hair...shiny and beautiful, reflecting light naturally, with bouncy swingy lively movement!***
HOW IS THE HAIR OBTAINED?
Rest assured, the way that hair is obtained is not an inhumane process. A factory will send a representative out to a village, or even to places like monasteries, and there he or she will contract with the residents to grow hair for a specified period of time, depending on the length of hair the factory is looking for. Human hair grows at an average rate of 1/2 inch a month, so that a 5 year contract will yield approximately 30 inches of hair.
There are very specific guidelines the growers must follow if they wish to enter into the contract. They must use natural herbal preparations to wash and condition their hair, they must never use blowdryers, curling irons, or commercial styling products, they must not color or perm it, and they must keep the hair covered to protect it from pollution and sun damage.
At the end of the contracted time period, the factories go in and "harvest" the hair, and then pay the growers for their "crop". The method of removal is not inhumane. Sometimes the head is shaved, and sometimes the hair is cut off. Whichever method is used, it is done with the grower's approval, and with no discomfort. Cutting or even shaving the hair does not remove the root. It remains intact beneath the skin to produce another "crop" in the future. It's a self-renewing resource!
***Many thanks to Leon Friedman for graciously allowing us to use this information.
THE INDIAN HAIR ISSUE
I have received numerous inquiries about the subject of the potential prohibition of the wearing of Indian hair wigs by Jewish women. I am not Jewish, so the laws of Judaism are generally pretty foreign to me. While I, by no means, claim to know everything about it, in an effort to try to understand more about it myself, I have done some research of my own, and I hope I can shed some light on the issue for you. This is a complicated and often confusing issue, and I will do my best to explain the problem as I understand it.
WHY IS INDIAN HAIR PREFERABLE TO OTHER TYPES OF HAIR USED IN MAKING WIGS?
There are three types of hair generally used in making human hair wigs: Asian, Indian, and European. European hair is the least plentiful, and therefore it is very expensive to the point where the price can be prohibitive to the average wig wearer. Asian hair is the most plentiful and least expensive, but it can be of coarse texture. This texture is mostly suitable for wear by women of Asian or African descent, as it is generally similar in texture to their own.
It should be noted here that not all Asian hair is coarse. Sometimes a texturizing process is performed on the hair to reduce the diameter of each hair to make it more resemble European texture. However, this involves a high degree of processing, decreasing the life of the wig.
Indian hair has long been used by manufacturers who make better quality human hair wigs because of its similarity in texture to European hair. European hair is very soft and silky, and is preferred by many Caucasian women because it resembles the texture of their own hair. However, in some cases, European hair can be too fine and limp to hold a style. While Indian hair is similar to European in texture on its own, without having to undergo the extra processing, it has more body and therefore is a better choice for making wigs. As an added benefit, Indian hair is much less expensive than European, and so this hair is very desirable by those who prefer a more silky textured human hair wig, without the high price of European.
For the purposes of this discussion, I will limit further commentary on the subject to Indian hair.
HOW IS INDIAN HAIR OBTAINED?
In order to answer that question, one must first be aware of the religious overtones surrounding the cutting of the hair. In the East Indian religion of Hinduism, deities are represented by images and idols symbolizing divine powers. Worshippers tithe money and may make other various material offerings of value such as jewelry or food to these gods at the temple. Women may even offer their hair as something that is valuable to them, as an act of humility or surrender of ego. The women's hair is cut, and often their heads are shaved. This may or may not be done by another Hindu, and may or may not be done at the site of the temple. Much of this hair is then gathered and sold to wig makers, and the money is allegedly used to maintain the house of worship, as well as charities and other good works sponsored by the temple.
IS THERE ANY WAY TO TELL HOW THE HAIR WAS OBTAINED?
Large amounts of cut hair arrive at a factory at one time, and while it may be labeled as Indian, Asian, European, etc., there is no practical way to determine whether the hair was cut in a religious ritual or obtained by other means.
WHY DO JEWISH WOMEN WEAR WIGS WHEN THEY HAVE HAIR OF THEIR OWN?
For thousands of Orthodox Jewish women, one of the most fundamental practices of daily life is adhering to the code of modesty that prohibits a public display of their own hair after marriage. Some of these women prefer to cover their heads with scarves, hats, snoods, etc., however, as a matter of fashion and a desire to blend in, most of them choose to wear wigs. When a wig is worn by a Jewish woman for religious reasons, it is called a "sheitel" or "shaitel" (pronounced shayt'l). Many women prefer to wear human hair sheitels because they look and feel more natural than synthetic ones. Because of the silky texture and affordability of Indian hair wigs, up until now, these have been the wigs of choice for many of these women.
WHY IS THERE AN ISSUE CONCERNING THE WEARING OF INDIAN HAIR WIGS BY JEWISH WOMEN?
Judaism takes idolatry very seriously. Not only are Jews prohibited from worshipping idols, but any object or material used in a religious ceremony that involves the worship of idols is prohibited. Because of the use of statues, paintings, and other images, the practice of Hinduism is considered by Jewish law to be idolatry. In other words, Orthodox Jews are not permitted to use or benefit by any item that has been donated or sacrificed to what they consider to be an idol.
It has been an ongoing controversy among rabbis (rabbi means teacher and is the name given to Jewish religious leaders) in the Orthodox community as to whether Indian hair is fit to be worn by Orthodox women, due to the possible religious overtones in the way it may have been obtained. This issue started about 40 years ago, and has cropped up a couple of times since then. Up to now, no consensus has actually been reached among all rabbis as to whether this hair should be prohibited or not. There is ongoing study into the matter, but right now the whole thing is up in the air and remains a perplexing controversy in the Jewish community.
Because of concern over violating the laws of their religion, some Orthodox women are reacting to the potential ban on the wigs in advance, just in case of a negative ruling sometime in the future. They simply aren't buying or wearing any wig that may contain Indian hair, and some have even gone so far as to burn their human hair wigs because of the knowledge or suspicion that they may contain Indian hair. The fear has gone so far as to include wigs allegedly made of Asian or European hair, because of concern that they may contain even small amounts of Indian hair.
It is suspected that some manufacturers mix small amounts of Indian hair into European hair wigs to add body to the otherwise too fine and limp hair. Indian hair is also added to Asian hair wigs to acheive just the opposite effect--to add a smoother, more silky texture. In fact, Indian hair has been so much in demand by the wig business that it is often exported to other countries for use by wig makers there. A wig may be made in Korea, China, or even Italy, but one may not be completely sure of the origin of any hair that is in a wig. We would hope to receive accurate information from the manufacturer, but unfortunately, because of marketing issues, that is not always the case.
HOW CAN I BE SURE IF A WIG CONTAINS INDIAN HAIR OR NOT?
The hair could be sent to a laboratory that tests human hair. There is one such lab that I know of in Southern California. From what I understand from the owner of the lab, it is possible to determine the origin of the hair, however, this procedure is expensive and time-consuming, and not very practical.
The only recourse Jewish women have is to follow the guidance of their own rabbis, but all rabbis do not agree on this issue. One well-known and respected rabbi has researched several wig companies, and has provided a list of wigs that he has approved as being free of Indian hair and therefore may be worn without a problem. Rabbi Blumenkrantz's list contains many wig brands, but naturally, the only ones we are concerned with are the ones we handle. These include Jacquelyn Custom European (CEFT) wigs and also the Georgie wigs on this list.
As we add new human hair collections to our website, we will provide information in the descriptions of each wig regarding which ones contain Indian hair.
Well, I have tried to cover the main issues here. If you want to read an in-depth forum discussion of the subject, go to this sheitel discussion. Now I must warn you that this is a 16-page on-line discussion, and there are numerous typos and Yiddish terms and phrases that may make it diffucult reading at times for the non-Jew, but you should be able to get some good information on the subject. These people seem to know what they're talking about and if you have the time and patience, you will learn a lot about the wig business.
I hope this has been of help to anyone interested in this subject.
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