Securing a wig is essential for comfort and confidence. Different methods can be used, depending on the type of wig and personal preferences. Some methods include combs and elastic straps designed to grip natural hair and the wig cap. Other options include wig clips and adhesives.
Synthetic
Wigs are a popular accessory among women and men who want to change their look for medical reasons or add extra volume and length. While wigs are considered basic vanity products, their production and manufacturing are far more complex than one would think.
While most wigs are made from human hair, the rest are usually made from synthetic materials such as acrylic, polyester, or Kanekalon. These materials are sourced from various places and require many raw materials to produce the final product. These raw materials are not naturally occurring and have the potential to cause significant disturbances to the earth’s natural functionality.
Once synthetic hair strands are created, they must be pieced together on a net to create the appearance of a full head of natural hair. This process can be very taxing on the earth’s natural functionality as it causes the strands to lay differently than they would naturally.
Another major raw material required is electricity, which helps to run the machinery that produces wigs, ships them, and keeps them running in the factories. It is another source of pollution that comes from fossil fuels. The more energy used, the greater the impact a wig has on the environment. In addition, once a wig is worn out, it must be thrown away, which can be difficult to recycle as it cannot break down.
Lycra
Lycra is a popular material often used to create comfortable and stretchy garments. It is breathable, durable, and can be made in various weights and thicknesses to suit any season. It also resists wrinkles and is easy to wash, making it a great choice for clothes that must be washed frequently. Cotton lycra is particularly versatile and can be used to make pullovers, shirts, and dresses. It can even be mixed with heavier knit fabrics to create baby blankets.
Spandex is another name for this highly-stretchy synthetic fabric, and many people use the terms interchangeably.
The manufacture of spandex is a heavily polluting activity that requires large amounts of fossil fuels, so the production of this fabric does harm the environment. It is also non-biodegradable, meaning it will take thousands or even millions of years for elastane fibers to break down and contaminate the water supply.
If you’re looking for a cotton lycra fabric to make your elastic wig band, look for a local fabric store specializing in sewing materials. They’ll be more likely to carry this type of cotton fabric and can give you more information about the quality, price, and care instructions.
Cotton
Cotton is one of the most common and widely produced textiles worldwide. It’s a soft fabric that’s extremely absorbent and is available in a wide range of colors. It also takes dye well and doesn’t cling to static electricity, making it more comfortable than synthetic.
Several methods of processing cotton into yarn can create woven fabrics or knitted products. It may be processed by hand or machine and blended with other fibers to make blends or composite materials. Cotton is often woven into fabric on a traditional weaving loom with tense lengthwise threads called the warp and crosswise threads called the weft.
Elastic made from cotton can be found in many woven garments, such as denim and damask. It’s also popular for waistbands and cuffs because of its natural comfort, breathability, and strength. This elastic type doesn’t roll or twist as it stretches and can be used without a casing.
There are even wig grip bands made from cotton. These are ideal for securing a wig or hair topper without glue, tape, or clips. They typically have a small swatch of velvet that lightly grips the hair and transitions to a clear adjustable cord in the back for maximum breathability.
Polyurethane
Polyurethane is a major class of industrial polymers. Its properties are extremely versatile, so it’s such a useful material. Polyurethane can be solid or have an open cellular structure called foam. It is manufactured by reacting polyols (alcohols with more than two reactive hydroxyl groups per molecule) and diisocyanates derived from crude oil with additives.
The properties of the polyurethane depend on the chain length and functionality of the polyols used and the chemistry of the isocyanates. Other factors that influence the properties of polyurethane are catalysts, surfactants, chain extenders, cross-linkers, and blowing agents.
Rigid polyurethanes are produced by using polyols with a low molecular weight and high functionality, which react with aromatic isocyanates, such as diphenylmethane diisocyanate, to create highly branched structures with more than 90% closed cells. Flexible polyurethanes use fewer functional molecules and shorter chains, which lead to a more brittle, chain-free amorphous structure.
Some manufacturers are moving away from petrochemical-based polyurethanes and looking for renewable sources of raw materials to help reduce the environmental impact of polyurethane production. Glycerol, a liquid byproduct of biodiesel production, and castor oil triglyceride are viable substitutes for petroleum-based polyols. These bio-based polyols can produce flexible PU wigs with a skin part that looks like the hair is growing directly from your scalp.
