PREPARATION
“If you don’t keep your natural hair clean, wigs can damage it, and you can develop scabbing and scalp conditions,” Saadique says. “Don’t sleep in it or wear it all the time because your hair needs sun exposure and your scalp needs to breathe.”
WHAT TYPE OF WIG?
Human Hair
Can be worn daily for up to a year if you care for it properly. Not only does it feel and move naturally, but you can use styling tools on it. As with your natural hair, it’s not immune to rain and humidity, and its colour fades when exposed to light and other elements. Human hair’s denser than synthetic hair, and you have to wash it and deep condition it regularly. It’s also more expensive. A good-quality, human-hair wig starts at R10 000.
Synthetic Hair
It’s easier to care for than human hair because you don’t have to restyle it each time you want to wear it. It’s also weatherproof, won’t droop or frizz, and costs and weighs less. If well cared for, it’ll last for up to five months of daily use. But while it retains its vibrancy and colour, synthetic hair’s coated with a shine that can look reflective and unnatural, and dulls with frequent washing. You can’t change the style and colour of a synthetic wig.
“Monofibre, while not fully organic, is similar to human hair in that you can manipulate it to create various textures and styles,” Saadique adds.
REMY HAIR
Hair gathered from a single donor and processed, regardless of its grade or quality. It’s the process of collecting hair and keeping it in bundles as you’ve cut it, so its cuticles (which protect each strand of hair) lay neatly next to each other and the hair’s less likely to tangle.
NON-REMY HAIR
Collected from various sources rather than from a single donor. Cuticles are usually destroyed before processing.
VIRGIN HAIR
Chemically unprocessed human hair from a single donor, free from dyes, perms, bleaches and hard washes.
A SEAMLESS LOOK
To achieve a natural-looking hairline, wear a lace-front wig, made of near- invisible material, with individual hairs sewn into it. The downside? It’s delicate, so if you pull or stretch it, it’ll lose its shape. “The closure that helps it sit properly and its hair net are important,” Saadique says.
TEXTURES
Silky: Holds curls best. kinky:Mimics natural hair.
Natural-looking, soft and bouncy.
Light Yaki: Mimics natural, relaxed hair. Not too coarse. Available with waves or curls.
Fine Yaki: Mimics fine, natural hair. Chemically relaxed for a smooth and sleek feel.
GETTING YOUR MONEY’S WORTH
Base your decision on reputation. A trusted choice is Mike and Les, based in Lyndon, Joburg. Don’t buy a wig online, because there are con artists out there. You have to feel it and try it on for size.
