Why Are Human Hair Wigs So Expensive
The ultimate in luxurious texture, movement, and shine, human hair wigs make you look like a million bucks. And often, feel like they cost that much, too! But the price tag makes more sense when you know what goes into making a wig. (And when you see the lengthy journey the fibers travel, the cost might seem more than reasonable.)
Easily customized by your favorite stylist, SOPHIA can be worn with layers, bangs or left as is in a stylish blunt cut. Shown in Dark Red.
From Template to Broker
Most human hair comes from China and India (with Brazil, Malaysia, and the Philippines also regular sources). And while wig technology is highly advanced—and the human hair market a multi-billion-dollar business—much of the actual sourcing begins in a surprisingly ancient way.
Religious Hindu women travel for days making pilgrimages to temples such as the Venkateswara Temple in Tirumala, India, where their heads are shaved as part of a sacred ritual called “tonsuring”. Hundreds of barbers shave a new person's head every five minutes—and the strands can often be 30 inches long!
It’s estimated that the temple in Tirumala makes more than $7 million a year in sales—with hair selling for up to $300/pound to brokers. But it’s the meticulous preparation and handwork that explains the wig’s high price tag.
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FUN FACT: In India, a woman was reportedly paid $1,500 for her long, naturally blonde hair—which was then turned into an $8,000 wig!
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The 5 Steps to Crafting a Wig
Creating a completely natural-looking, high-end human hair wig begins with;
1) preparing the fibers. Individual strands are sorted into bundles with all facing in the same direction (roots at one end, tips at the other), then washed, combed, and disinfected gently to ensure no impurities remain. It’s a process that demands close attention—as oversoaking will strip the hair of valuable oils. At this stage, hair is either left natural or permanently style (straightened or curled), and colored if the color isn’t uniform. Then, it goes to the drying stage (which again demands attention to ensure hair doesn’t become brittle).
2) Developing the wig pattern is next, with the foundation of the wig formed to a mold, ensuring the wig fits comfortably with no irritation. The edge and crown of the wig’s foundation is
3) layered onto the mold with fine netting that matches the wig’s hair color, then sewn firmly in place. Individual hair strands are
4) attached with knots to the wig’s cap—which can require up to 40,000 knots in total and take up to 40 hours! To complete the look, the finished wig is then,
5) pinned to a soft block and styled (dampened, combed through, dried in an oven, and then straightened, curled, and cut as desired).
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DID YOU KNOW? Human hair is not just used to make wigs, extensions, and fake eyelashes, but fertilizers and amino acids used to make pizza dough, as well.
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Is My Human Hair Wig Legit?
Wig wearers can be fooled into thinking they’re buying a real human hair wig when in fact, the wig is synthetic or contains only a small amount of human hair. To help protect against this:
Buy from a reputable wig company. Checking that a site is secure and has accurate/ working contact information is the first test in determining whether a company can be trusted.
Consider the price: Human hair wigs are traditionally more expensive than synthetic wigs, so if the price looks too good to be true, it’s probably not true human hair. And for those looking at the same wig from different suppliers, be wary if one of them is selling the “same wig” at an extreme discount.
Don’t look at reviews on the wig company’s website itself. A bogus company can post anything on its site! Google search the company’s name plus the word “reviews” instead.
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The Flame/Burn Test: Pull a couple of long strands from your wig and hold them above the flame of a lighter or unscented candle. If it singes, burns upwards, and smells like burnt hair, it’s real!
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Protect Your Investment
Human hair wigs can be heat-styled, just like bio hair. But without the scalp’s natural oils, the hair can dry out. And regular drug-store products can damage fibers. Protect your investment with ENVY’s Human Hair Kit—specially formulated to replenish and soften with every use. Includes:
- Moisture Repair Shampoo (6oz)
- Moisture Repair Conditioner (6oz)
- Moisture Repair Leave-in Conditioner (6oz)
