Thread: Hair pieces - natural or synthetic?

Last night I wore a hair piece, a big clip on ponytail, for my restaurant gig. Singapore is REALLY REALLY hot and very humid. At the end of a set I have sweat running down my belly, back and legs like I just stepped out of the shower. And my hair - a curly girl nightmare - looks like hell in 5 minutes. Saturated from my shoulders down and frizzy as all get out. So, I thought I'd give the hair piece a go. It was great! I need more!! The question is this. Does natural hair or synthetic hair work better with sweat? Gross, I know, sorry. What happens to the hair piece as sweat gets soaked into it? And how long do they seem to last for you girls who are hair piece experts? I used a cheap synthetic one last night just to give it a try, and it seemed not to be bothered by sweat, but the natural hair pony tails just looked so real. I would imagine they react the same as hair on your head... but maybe not. I guess it depends on the hair source - some hair types being unaffected by humidity and some, like mine, being very seriously and tragically affected by humidity.
Any advice?

This could be my story that you've so poignantly written! Tired of the frizz caused by the sweat from a 45 minute solo, I bought 3 hair extensions, put them on, marvelled at how great and different they looked, then tried them out at my nephew's wedding. People I knew well barely recognized me, I got compliments from my own family that I've never gotten, lol, only to discover that after a few performances with them on, I wished I'd found them sooner. I don't know what my fake hair is made of, but I truly wish I could glue them to my head for freakin' ever. I love em!

Actually, the turning point was yesterday. I had just finished an afternoon gig and the client rushed over to me excitedly with his dvd recorder to show me my dancing. Delighted, I began to watch - my delight spiralling rapidly downwards in to abject horror as I saw my HAIR!! AAAARRRRGGGHHHHH! Forget the dancing - I only had eyes for my hideous hair. Frizzy, woolley and crunchy looking on the top half and dripping wet and stuck to my skin on the bottom. I literally felt ill seeing it. Worzel Gummidge - MOVE OVER! Khalila is in da house.

Stage hair that stays fixed is a revelation:D

How often do you perform,Khalida?

I have this same issue so I almost NEVER wear my hair. I like 1/2 human hair wigs. you can leave the front of your hair out to cover it up if you typically wear your hair out of your face. It looks very natural. If you're a bang wearing girl just go for a full human hair wig. You can spray and fry it and it stays pretty well. Every couple of wears I wash/condition it or sometimes just condition and rinse with warm/hot water. For $50ish bucks I get a lot of wear out of it.

The synthetic tends to get knotted very quickly and shows an awful plastic looking shine. Not to mention at 1/2 the price of a human wig its not a good value for your money as they are not as durable.

I like synthetic. Get a wig wash and a conditioning spray. Every 2nd or 3rd time you wear it (maybe more if there's serious sweat, or smoke) swish it around in a sink of water with some wig wash, rinse it out and sqeeze it gently in a towel. Let it dry COMPLETELY before you comb it.

When combing it out, spray it thoroughly with wig conditioning spray (I use Revlon dual conditioning spray) and a shower comb or wig brush. Comb out the ends first, then work your way up. I lay mine on the bed or my lap for this (careful, pets get very jealous!!)

I've had high-quality hairpieces (European Naturals) last for a couple of years, cheaper ones only a few months.

I store mine in hairnets loosely tucked into plastic cases (like sheets come in) that are open at one end for air. I also give them names, but that's another issue.

Recently I left my newest one in the car too long on a hot day and the ends sort of melted. Now they're kinked/frizzy. It's awful.

Well AishaSakina and Lauren pretty much said it:)

However I have some tips:
Take the butterfly clip out of the
clip-on and sew in toupeé clips,
it makes it look more natural and it will be secured on.

If you want curly hair,go natural because the synthetic curls have a shorter lifespan.

Fabric softener works as a cheap conditioner and anti static.

Originally Posted by Lauren_

I also give them names, but that's another issue.

I thought I was the only one!..l;,

Originally Posted by emma-bessa

Fabric softener works as a cheap conditioner and anti static.

???? WOW! Who knew! Where'd ya get that tip from? I'd of never tried that. great to know!

ahhh. I hadn't considered a 1/2 head or 3/4 head. The hair might get wet at the bottom but atleast the top might look decent for the night!!
emma-bessa, I am dancing around 4 nights a week plus the occasional private gig. The idea of just 'putting hair on' without an hour of pointless preparation is very seductive!! My own hair is pretty thick and rather difficult to get the pony claw to surround properly. I am wondering if you think the toupee clips would work on thick hair - whatever a toupee clip is!!?
The synthetic ends did get a little matted and knotty. Might try a human hair one, I think.
What do you name your hair??!

Wow,4 nights a week is a lot of work,
congratulations!:)

I think two natural 3/4 wigs would be perfect for rotating,
so that one clean and styled is always avaliable.

A toupeé clip looks kind of like a snap hairclip and a comb had a passionate affair;)

You sew them on to wigs and hair pieces insides to secure them,they work on most hair except buzz cuts.
12 Brown Toupee/Wig Hair Extension Clips- POWERSELLER! - eBay (item 230280272534 end time Aug-13-08 17:54:40 PDT)

Oh..."Amal"gets the khaleej and Iraqi gigs,the S-curled "Yasmin" likes to wear animal prints and so on...
Maybe I do that because I don´t have a stage name?
What can I say-I wear many wigs in life:D

I've never found a human hair hairpiece I could afford, so I've always used synthetic. I manage to find banana clips and 3/4 caps for under $40.

I like banana clips the best if I want to stay cooler, as the clip keeps your hair up off of your neck.

toupee/wig comb clips work on any hair. do a google search and you'll see what they look like. I sew one to the inside of my hairbands to keep them secure.

I used to use a product meant for show horses on my wigs called Show Sheen. I need to google it to see if they still make it and get some more. it's a pump spray that makes the hair super, super slippery and shiny and keeps it from tangling and puffing out. I also like the smell as it reminds me of my horse show days. :)

Originally Posted by khalilaNZ

What do you name your hair??!

Lulu


Betty


Jeannie



Kathy


Emma, what have you named yours? Anyone else?

As a former hairdresser I'd say go with synthetic in this day and age. It's cheaper, so if you need to replace it you don't have the same massive outlay, and real hair hairpieces have to be looked after just like real hair, only even more carefully, and are as unpredictable and badly behaved as your actual hair might be. In some cases worse. When I was in tech I remember we had to learn about wigmaking (though none of us actually did it) and one of the most important things you need to do when you make a wig is ensure every hair is lying in the same direction. That doesn't happen with a lot of less expensive hairpieces, so they will tangle. Also, the hair has probably been treated a lot; the human hair on the mannequin heads we all had to use at polytech was Chinese hair that had been bleached and then coloured light brown (and I swear half of it was in upside down as well). So it was quite damaged, and had no sebum coming off a scalp to coat it. It was horrible stuff.

That said, you can get real-hair pieces that are beautiful, but they cost a bomb and are pretty fragile. But synthetic hair these days looks really good, often really real, and is much less hard work to care for.

Well, I guess I need to get one of each (a better quality synthetic one to start with) and see how they go!! And start watching classic movies and tv shows.... One of the things I loved about the hair piece last night was that it was off the back of my neck. Bliss!
I still have to wear a headband to stop sweat from running into my eyes. Because my fringe is longish and just as out of control as the rest of my hair, I scaped it all back and glued it down with hairspray. Easy, but not particularly flattering, especially with the head band. I was dangerouly close to looking like Olivier Newto John. Any ideas on how to soften up the exposed forehead with out looking like mutton dressed as lamb? What I mean is, I can't wear jewels stuck to my forehead of dangly jewels hanging down. Sadly, too old. I like Laurens headbands, but I don't have the right fringe for it. Or maybe I could make it work ...

Originally Posted by elisagamal

I've never found a human hair hairpiece I could afford, so I've always used synthetic. I manage to find banana clips and 3/4 caps for under $40.

How long do you aim for?
This one is inexpensive and has nice layers,it´s a wig but I use it as a 3/4:
(have it both with highlights and solid color)
H-Jasmine Wig, Long Human Hair Wig by Elegante Wigs - WOW WIGs.com

This is a flat ironed and smooth synthetic 3/4 wig that´s my favorite
budget piece,holds up well and soo cheap:
Niki, 3/4 Wig by Sepia Wigs - WOW WIGs.com

Originally Posted by khalilaNZ

Any ideas on how to soften up the exposed forehead with out looking like mutton dressed as lamb? What I mean is, I can't wear jewels stuck to my forehead of dangly jewels hanging down. Sadly, too old. I like Laurens headbands, but I don't have the right fringe for it. Or maybe I could make it work ...

I "glow" like a pig when I dance for more that 15 minutes...

I sew stripes of velcro to the insides of the headbands,
and to stripes of absorbing fabric so I can just throw them in the washing machine and replace with a clean one.

Look at the headbands Sarah Skinner makes,
they don´t *have* to be that unflattering shapes that comes with most costumes!
Peach costume | Shakemyday

Originally Posted by elisagamal

I used to use a product meant for show horses on my wigs called Show Sheen. I need to google it to see if they still make it and get some more. it's a pump spray that makes the hair super, super slippery and shiny and keeps it from tangling and puffing out. I also like the smell as it reminds me of my horse show days. :)

Yes, they still make show sheen! ..g.:

Originally Posted by emma-bessa

Take the butterfly clip out of the
clip-on and sew in toupeé clips,
it makes it look more natural and it will be secured on.

Just stumbled upon this thread:

Emma-bessa,
I've always wondered if this was a possibility...glad to hear that someone else has actually done it! Have never tried it b'cos I thought the opening might be much smaller than a regular-sized fall or wig. Would this trick work with just about any butterfly-clip hairpiece -- which vendor's products have you tried?

I don't have one of these butterfly-clip hairpieces, but have a full wig and have been looking for a 3/4 fall. Hard to find one in a color/style I want, and would prefer to avoid the extra work of getting one in a different color and dyeing it. I've seen many clip-ons with a color/style that I want, so am hoping to try out this trick.

Many thanks!

Speaking of hair...I just bought some clip-on extensions from Sally's Beauty Supply and love them. they feel so natural and I've had them in all day. The hair color and texture was exactly the same as my own hair. Usually I find synthetics get too hot.
I just hope these last a while as they were kinda spendy (64$ on sale).

Capistrano Bay Beauty on eBay is where I got my synthetic clip-on fall, which is still going strong after many wears and totally fools people even close up. Invest in a good wire wig brush and lay it out on a pillow to brush it starting from the ends and in sections, that way you don't pull. Also, it's cheaper to get synthetics if you hair color changes or you change up your highlights, etc.

Originally Posted by Nepenthe

Speaking of hair...I just bought some clip-on extensions from Sally's Beauty Supply and love them. they feel so natural and I've had them in all day. The hair color and texture was exactly the same as my own hair. Usually I find synthetics get too hot.
I just hope these last a while as they were kinda spendy (64$ on sale).

Are these like individual extentions or a sort of all over piece? I saw some that my hairdresser was playing with one day. I think they were made by Jessica Simpson's company (?) but it looked like the ones in this link where it's sor of a half cap worn in between your hair. (float your mouse over the tiny wig pic)

Extensions.com :: The Hair Professionals :: Synthetic Hair Extensions :: 23" HairDo Synthetic Wavy by Jessica Simpson Hair Extensions

I've been interested in trying these but do they look plastic?
Do they stay put while dancing?

I found that the synthetic wig I had got really fried and frizzy looking after a couple months of laying on my hot skin. The wig shop told me it was because the body heat was melting the hair. Guess I am a hot mamma...LOL

International Wig sells some really great synthetics. I wear them all the time because I sweat and it is crazy hot and humid here too. I have cheap ponies that have held up well for a few months but International Wig ones are way better. The ponies are easy for quick...I need hair! In my experience, synthetic hair does not end up looking sweaty. Love it!!

HookedNovice - mine were a lot different. They were made by a company called EuroNext. It is 10 different pieces with tiny clips like the toupee clips shown above, 14" long straight hair.

I happen to have stick-straight hair (unless I intentionally make it wavy) and usually if I just left it down it would be flat to my head. But adding these underneath my own hair created more volume but with the same "straight" look. I got compliments on my hair and people thought I had flat-ironed my hair - when all I did was gave up on trying to "give it body" and such.

Now I'm addicted and want to buy more. I found a site online that offers the same products, but with different colors so that I could add blonde highlights, or even crazy colors like pink!

I just stumbled across this thread 'cause I was looking for more info about wearing wigs (tips, tricks, helpful suggestions, etc). I've worn a wig a couple of times (mostly just a headband wig) but don't know much about really making them work for me. I've had some unpleasant experiences with wigs that felt like I'm wearing a helmet!
My hair has always been so baby fine and thin and it is getting even more so as I get older. (sigh) I recently cut my hair to just above my shoulders because it didn't look good trying to grow it long. (double sigh)
Lauren, I love the picture of you bending back. Is that a wig you are wearing? If so, where did you get it & how do you get it to look so good? I would love to look that good! I want to be able to dance and not worry about my hair or a wig flying off! ..l;,