Authentic virgin hair is actually fairly available and easy to find. The reason it’s hard to find wigs made out of it is because of the labor involved in producing them. It’s important to understand how regular wigs are produced before one can understand how virgin hair wigs are produced. For regular wigs, the factory receives a large quantity of hair, sorts the coarse hair from the fine hair, and groups hair according to general hair color. Any differences in textures are corrected and made uniform by chemical processing and the hair is dyed to meet demands for various popular colors.

The procedure for making virgin hair wigs is significantly more complicated. Firstly, only hair that is similar in color and texture can be grouped. If the difference in texture between ponytails is too great, this can cause knotting and frizz. The matter becomes further complicated the tighter the curl or wave of the hair. If a tighter wave pattern is mixed with a looser wave pattern, the combination of the two will result in frizz or a fluffy texture.

The second consideration when working with virgin hair is matching colors. Things to take into consideration here are shading patterns and contrast.  Certain colors will combine nicely to create a natural shading pattern.  Others will result in a totally unrealistic shading pattern which can make the wig appear dyed or unnatural.  It’s not simple to make a virgin hair wig!  This is why FeatherLite Hair systems takes pride and care in the pieces we produce.

Why It It So Hard To Find Ash Tones?

Ash tones.

Hair may grow out of our scalp ashy, but as the hair grows it tends to become progressively lighter and warmer toned as you move down towards the ends.  Since hair is normally collected by cutting it from a low ponytail at the nape of the neck, the ashy roots are not included.  This issue can sometimes be solved by collecting hair from a donor who is willing to cut many small ponytails very close to their scalp.

Secondly, virgin hair is a natural product and will reflect the spectrum of colors available in nature.  Some colors/tones are more common than others, and red tones are very common.  It is harder to find ponytails that are ashy from the roots to the tips.  It should be noted, however, that virgin hair wigs are almost always more ashy on average than dyed wigs.

For instance, a color 8 in a dyed wig will look Auburn while a virgin hair wig comparable to a color 8 will simply be a lighter shade of brown.  This is the reason seasoned hair replacement wearers will often opt for a virgin hair piece over a less expensive dyed or chemically processed hair piece.  Most of our clients at FeatherLite Hair Systems are aware of the practical differences between dyed hair and natural virgin hair and seek out our product specifically for the long term benefits virgin, non-treated hair can provide.

Why Is It So Hard To Find Virgin Blonde Hair?

In addition to being rare (blonde is a phenotype expressed from a recessive gene and gene sharing), the wholesale hair industry is dominated by extension makers that so much of the longer blonde hair never reaches the hair wholesale market. Contrary to popular belief, blonde may be rarer, but it is not as rare as we think it is.  It is, however, in popular demand.

FeatherLite Hair Systems specializes in the creation and production of virgin blonde Slavic hair wigs.  Many of our clients contact Isadore Hoffman directly for the specific purpose of sourcing and creating virgin blonde hair pieces that will mimic their own natural shading pattern as closely as possible

How Do You Prevent Knotting?

Avoid knots.

As an expert in the field of hair replacement, I wouldn’t say that there is a definitive answer to which type of wig knots the most. The factors that produce knotting in virgin hair wigs are entirely different than the factors that produce knotting in processed hair wigs.

Although the issues can sometimes be combined in one individual wig. It’s actually quite normal for virgin hair to knot to some degree specifically because the cuticle is still intact. Because the cuticles from different ponytails of hair can be different shapes and sizes, and multiple ponytails of hair have to be combined to produce 1 wig, the cuticles from different ponytails will catch on each other whenever there is friction between strands of hair.

Every time a person with long hair moves their head back and forth, they create friction between strands of hair. Processed hair will have a tendency to become knotted if the chemical process was left on for too long or if the concentration was too strong for the specific texture of hair it was applied to.

Static is also a factor that can produce knotting in processed wigs but less so in virgin hair wigs because different types of hair have a different electrical charge. Whether or not a given wig will become knotted, depends on a large variety of factors and is, to a large degree, unpredictable whether it’s processed or virgin. There are steps in the production process that can be taken to reduce the chances of knotting, which involve highly skilled work and experience with hair.

Again, it is harder to apply this level of attention to detail and expertise when wigs are being mass produced and there will be a lot more variability in this case.  This is why FeatherLite Hair Systems does not mass produce hair pieces.

As far as virgin hair goes, there are various hair coats and treatments that can be applied to the hair to minimize knotting in many cases when it does occur.  These treatments are less effective on processed hair but are still part of the line of treatments you would apply to try and alleviate the problem.

Purchasing Your First Hair Piece 101 – Advice From Isadore Hoffman Of FeatherLite Wigs

How Long Do Virgin Hair Wigs Last?

This, again, is a question with many variables to consider.  The longevity of any hairpiece will normally depend on the frequency of wear and whether or not the hair is being styled or worn in its natural state. Isadore Hoffman, owner of FeatherLite Hair Systems, will normally recommend that clients purchase a wig with a natural texture that is as close as possible to the texture the client wants to wear.

For instance, if you know that you are the type of person who wears your hair straight most of the time, it is not ideal to purchase a curly wig just to have the versatility of being able to wear it curly occasionally. This will definitely decrease the amount of damage your wig will incur over time and will alleviate the frustration of having to style it so much to maintain the shape.

What Are The Benefits Of Using Virgin Hair?

• The color will always be the most natural looking because it is natural!
• The colors will usually have a slightly darker root, which enhances the naturalness of the wig, and will tend to reflect less of a reddish tone in the light.
• The wig will not develop a “halo” or red at the roots over time, and will not become lighter at the roots than it is at the bottom.  It is a natural tendency of hair to be lighter at the ends than it is at the roots, not the other way around.  In fact, I always have to repeat to new customers who are used to buying wigs darker to accommodate for the eventual color change, that they should just get a wig in the color that they want. If you’re waiting for it to change color it’s not going to happen for a very long time… if ever. I find that people with darker hair find a lot of relief in this. Blonde hair, which has a natural tendency to highlight in the sun, will do so over a longer span of time than a dyed or bleached wig when exposed to intense sunlight. Some blondes will have this tendency more than others based on the specific biological makeup of the hair. It will most definitely not turn orange or red though. That is not a tendency of virgin blonde hair.
• You virtually eliminate the need of having to dye the wig over and over which can add up over time. The color also becomes less accurate the more times it’s dyed because it becomes harder to dye. If you do choose to dye the hair, however, the most accurate color can be achieved when starting with virgin hair. It is much harder to achieve a specific color with hair that has been previously dyed or processed. For this reason, stylists may be more willing to work with a virgin hair wig
• The hair won’t do anything your own natural hair wouldn’t do.  The way that you see it in its natural state when it hasn’t been styled, is the way it will look if you get stuck in the rain;)
• You can wash it yourself if you have some degree of facility with hair. There are no specifications about water temperature, or special products, which is a big benefit for a lot of people.