Your take on wigs made from human hair

For me, it has nothing to do with reason or logic, so I am unlikely to be reasoned into believing human hair is the way to go for my dolls. I am fully aware that when processed correctly human hair is as clean and hygienic as any animal or synthetic hair. It doesn't matter to me.

It has more to do with the fact that the hair is human. I have no problem with mohair or angora, for instance, even though it is almost exactly the same stuff down to the protein level. Even when it's attached to the skin! But while I'd wear a necklace made of animal horn I'd never wear one made of human fingernails (I saw a woman on TV who makes elaborate, tiny sculptures out of fingernails and I was totally squicked. Apparently so are others, as she has resorted to embedding them in acrylic to get people to buy them... She calls it "human ivory."). I'd also wear jewelry made from animal bone, but not human. Victorian hair work jewelry? Nope. Couldn't do it (even though it's gorgeous.) I wouldn't wear ivory, but that's because of the way it's sourced.

I totally understand why people would choose a wig made from human hair, whether for themselves or for their doll. Human hair wigs can be lovely, and often more realistic than synthetic. But it just gives me the creeps-- and I am totally aware that it's totally irrational to feel that way!

 

I have one or two human hair wigs. It's nothing I brag about or hide. They serve their purpose, and they were for a good price.

 

I used to be icked out by the thought of human hair on my doll...but now I have a 100% human hair wig (that's what they called the extensions on the package, but they obviously lied because there are plasticy fibers in there too) for one of mine. It was absolutely a last resort, and I am so insanely happy with it that I don't care at all. Plus, and I think it's because of the colors, I don't really think of it as human hair.

I get that people are freaked by it though. I think if the hair was a natural color I wouldn't have it, it irrationally grosses me out a little. Which is why me having one is funny...but again, I don't even think of it as human hair so it's not an issue.

 

I wouldn't mind using a real human hair on my dolls but if it depend on the price and how rich I feel at the moment

Just like I wouldn't go around telling everyone about my hobby, I wouldn't go around telling anyone my doll are wearing wig made from human hair either.

 

Human hair is sold as wigs and hair extensions for humans all the time.
It wouldnt be an option if they didn't have a way to properly sanatize it, which Im sure they do lol.
People have been selling their hair for hundreds of years and they still do today.
Im more for synthetic heat resistant fibers myself, so I wouldnt have the need to get a human hair wig.
I suppose because Ive had real human hair extensions it doesnt bother me or creep me out.
It's no different than buying 2nd hand clothes, you wash them and it's all good lol. Or wearing real fur (which I don't support but it's an example. )

IF I decided to use a human hair wig for a doll and people asked what it was made of, I would be honest.

 

I wouldn't be creeped out, but I would definitely boil a wig like that before putting it on my doll. I also probably wouldn't tell strangers/random people about it being made of human hair, just because so many people already find dolls so creepy that I wouldn't want to risk making them feel even more uncomfortable.

Personally, I don't think wigs of human hair are actually better for dolls than synthetic wigs. On humans they are much more realistic, but human hairs are actually out of scale for doll heads. Imagine if all your hairs were 3-6 times thicker than they are! The added texture of human hair, to me, actually looks stranger on dolls than the texture-less smoothness of synthetic hair.

 

We do it on humans... so why not on dolls?
X:

I don't see the difference, really.

 

I don't really see the difference it makes as long as the doll looks good, and the wig is kept clean. It is usually off scale though, but it doesn't really show. My sister and I attempted to make a wig out of our hair. We grew ours out and cut it really short at summer so we get a lot of material. It might be cost effective, but it is ridiculously tedious, crocheting the hair through a mesh. XP

 

I am not sure if this has already been mentioned, so many posts here, but when human hair is used for wig making it is chemically treated so it is completely sterile. Of course if you cut off your own hair and make a wig no it will not be sterile. It is against the law to sell hair that has not been treated. That being said real European hair is very expensive to buy and most companies sell a synthetic mixture. I dont see anything gross about this at all. People use mohair hair that comes from animals, so what is the big deal.
People get paid big bucks to donate virgin hair.

Of course reading through the rest of the posts my points have already been made lol but no I would not be grossed out or offended. But I wouldnt wear cat or dog fur to me that is really gross.

 

Eep! I'm a little scared. I'm not sure why since my friend lost all her hair due to chemo and I'm completely comfortable braiding or washing her human hair wig. But the idea on a doll seems a little od to me.

 

My instant reaction when I saw the title of this thread was: Crrreeepy! I don't know what it is, but human hair wigs freak me out a little. Also, even when shopping for wigs for me (I admit it, I've got a foot in the cosplay hobby as well) I avoid human hair wigs. Besides the knee-jerk squeamish reaction, I feel like human hair should be saved for wigs for people who truly need them: those who have undergone some sort of surgery or chemotherapy, for instance. True, doll wigs could be made from pieces of hair that are too short for people wigs, but...still.

 

I have several dolls that have human hair wigs. Most are Himstedts, but I have 2 BJD human hair wigs. I didn't go out of my way to search them out, they just happened to be available and I liked them. I never put any thought into where the hair came from. It has never bothered me. All my wigs are very clean, you can tell when you get them that they have been very carefully processed so the hair is clean and in good condition. I prefer mohair and synthetic hair for my BJDs, just because I like the way it looks on them. But I prefer human hair on my larger dolls. My daughter's friends are freaked out by my dolls. They don't like my dolls looking at them, and they are totally grossed out by the ones that have human hair. My take on it is that they respond that way because they either view the hair as dead body parts, or because of the way they feel about dolls and clowns. I am always surprised at how many people are disturbed by dolls and are frightened by clowns. It must be an instinctive thing that is triggered somehow, and some people don't grow out of it as they get older.

 

I think that wigs made of human hair are a lot of maintenance, but otherwise I really don't have a problem with them. Sure, some people might find it a bit creepy, but I don't think that it's any creepier than that clump of hair stuck in your shower drain. But you know, to each their own! Certainly, because I'm lazy and would forget to properly care for the wig (and it'd die and get all gross), I wouldn't buy one myself (because wouldn't that be a waste of money?), but by the same token, all the power to you if you use them.

 

I don't think they're creepy or weird or anything.
Although I've never seen much point in them, given how high maintenance they are.
That, and I don't see human hair laying quite right on a dolls head, too stiff...
I'd rather just stick with synthetic. :/

 

Personally I don't think it's something I'd buy not because it bothers me. I don't really care if it's human hair or not it doesn't creep me out. I wouldn't buy it because of the maitenance. I don't have hair (Alopecia Areata and proud of it) so I don't really see the point in getting a wig for myself. For my dolls yes because I love styling hair and seeing how it photographs especially on a doll....Plus hide the seam lines from the head cap. But human hair one: Has lots of oils in it and two: I just don't wanna deal with the hassle. I'd rather synthetic or fake fur wigs.

What does bother me is if it is from an animal only because of my allergies. Severely allergic to cats and I had to triple check to make sure the fur wig I bought for an OT doll was made of fake fur to be sure it wouldn't cause my allergies to act up. If someone was selling something like that human or animal hair and didn't tell the seller then I would have a problem.

But it doesn't creep me out frankly because it's none of my beeswax what someone does with their hair.

 

I think if I knew where the hair came from, for example the wig was made from my doll hair, I'd use it for a non played with doll. I wouldn't like the drying out factor.

My play wigs need to be something durable.

 

Meh. Why should human hair wigs bother me? It's just human hair.
I find it feels rather nice although I do prefer mohair above it as far as texture is concerned.
But then you have the benefit of human hair responding better to styling. :p

In the end, to each his own.

 

This is an interesting point of view. Actually, when I bought my first doll, I always thought her hair was made from real human hair, and thus found the price of her wig to be justified. I didn't really give too much thoughts of whose hair that once belonged to, or what that person did with their hair, etc. I just thought it was cool to have a doll with real human hair and real clothes. I had people complimenting my girl's hair, and I felt proud because of that. I must admit I was a bit disappointed when I later found out that the wig is made of fibers instead of real hair. ^^;; So I don't think I'll be creeped out if a doll hair is made from human hair.

 

i have wigs made out of a lot of different fibers, but none human. not that i have anything against them, i just don't have one yet. my mom went through chemo, and as a result, she cut her hair off before it fell out. she has tried to get me to make a wig out of it and gets a freaked out look from me and a "NO!". to me that's just too much to take on a personal level. now that she is all better, she just laughs at my attitude.

 

It doesn't freak me out, neither does the hair from a sheep or goat used as a doll wig.

Teddy