Are All Synthetic Wigs Heat Resistant?

Synthetic hair is a manmade fiber and not all synthetic fibers are equal in quality. Likewise, not all synthetic wigs are heat resistant. Unlike regular synthetic wigs, our heat resistant wigs can withstand heated styling tools at moderate temperatures without damaging the fibers. 

Why Should You Choose Heat Resistant Wigs

Modern synthetic hair can look and feel just like human hair, but with standard synthetic wigs, the style is "set" and cannot be changed with traditional heated styling tools. Heat resistant synthetic fibers make great realistic wigs because they behave much like human hair; You can change your hairstyle as often as you like. There’s no reason to stick with one hairstyle just because you’re wearing a wig! Heat friendly wigs allow you to create beachy cascading waves, glamorous corkscrew curls, sleek straight locks, or kinked styles with ease.

How Can You Tell If A Wig Is Heat Resistant?

Because the fibers in a regular synthetic wig are made from plastic, they are sensitive to high temperatures so you can’t use heat styling tools on them without causing serious damage. If you are unsure whether a wig you have is heat resistant, you can test a small a portion of hair from the back underlayer section of your wig. Testing should always be done while the wig is on a wig stand or mannequin head, not while wearing the wig. Use a styling tool on low heat and watch for unusual frizzing or melting of the fiber. If the wig styles naturally then it is heat resistant.

How To Style Synthetic Heat Resistant Wigs

You can only use heated styling tools on specific heat defiant wigs. Using a curling iron or hair straighteners on a regular wig will cause irreparable damage. Even on heat resistant wigs, care should be taken to monitor the temperature of styling tools. You can use styling tools designed for real hair such as curling wands, hair dryers, hot rollers, or straightening irons. However, it is preferable to use straightening irons or curling wands that have adjustable temperatures to style synthetic wigs.

It’s much easier to style your wig while it is on a wig stand or mannequin head – especially if you are using hot rollers. You can use butterfly clips to help with curling different sections of hair. With natural hair, it can be difficult to style the hair on the back of your head but using a wig stand gives you a 360 view so a wig hairstyle will look better than ever! 

When straightening or curling you should take care to avoid the roots of your hairpiece where small knots are holding it together. Remember to always use wig specific styling products such as Brandywine Wig Styling Mousse or Brandywine Synthetic Wig Hairspray and follow the instructions specific to any heat products. Using regular hair sprays and mousses can cause damage to synthetic hairpieces. Heat friendly synthetic fiber can withstand heat up to 280°F but it’s always better to start with low heat and increase only if you need to. As with natural hair, leaving hot irons on hair for too long can cause kinks or damage.

How To Care For Your Heat Friendly Wigs

Heat friendly wigs require special care. Once you have spent time styling your wig you can store it on your wig stand or canvas block head to maintain the beautiful hairstyle you have created – unlike real hair, your wig will hold curls and shape. When you wash your heat friendly wig after a heat treatment, it will return to the last style you created, not the original box style. We offer a multitude of products that make caring for these wigs easy, such as wig shampoo, conditioner, and styling sprays. Visit our Wig Buying Guide for more information.

What Are the Cons of Heat Resistant Wigs?

Heat resistant synthetic wigs require more skill and patience than real human hair when creating a new hair style. If you want to simply put on your hair and go, you may prefer a traditional synthetic wig. Heat friendly wigs are also more sensitive to tension. They can kink or become frizzy looking if the back of the wig is rubbed against the back of a chair, for example. These untidy areas can be removed with a flat iron, but some women find the extra effort inconvenient. In addition, regular synthetic wigs do tend to last a bit longer than heat resistant ones.