Sunday, June 18, 2017

Why do wigs knot more than your own hair and how to prevent knotting - by Isadore Hoffman

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 totally 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 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. Different types of hair also produce a different electric charge.  Processed hair will have a tendency to knot 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 and less so in virgin hair wigs because different types of hair have a different electric charge. Whether or not a given wig will knot, processed or virgin, depends on a large variety of factors and is, to large degree, unpredictable. 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. 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. 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.  For more information about FeatherLite Wigs please visit our facebook page at FeatherLite Wigs, or email flhairsystems@gm for more information.

Wednesday, June 14, 2017


When looking to purchase a hair piece is always best to start with a bit of research.  FeatherLite specializes in collecting virgin Slavic hair for our hair pieces, so we will go over some of the challenges in finding virgin hair, how to know if it's authentic virgin hair, and why wig manufacturers often avoid working with virgin hair.  

Why is virgin hair so hard to find?  Let's start with a little background info.  My name is Isadore Hoffman.  I have been the owner and main wig maker of FeatherLite wigs for 9 years.  When I first started in the industry I was completely perplexed with the terminology used by wig makers and factories concerning types of hair and what it all means.  Even more challenging, was finding the quality of virgin hair that I wanted once I understood how it all worked.  It seemed to me that people who had it were impossible to find unless I was willing of visit Russia myself in search for it.  But I had a dream.  I wanted the perfect hair that I could simply wash, air dry, and leave the house with.  I wanted to be able to flip my hair from side to side, play with it between my fingers, and put it up in a ponytail just like I did with my own hair.  I wanted to make women feel beautiful!  And so, my journey began, and today I'm sharing this information with you in the hope that it will help you make more educated decisions about purchasing hair pieces.

To start with, virgin hair was not always hard to find.  As Slavic countries started to modernize, women stopped growing their hair so long.  They started dying it, cutting it, and adopting more modern hair styles.  Hair collectors had their work cut out for them, having to travel to more remote areas to find women with longer hair who were willing to sell it.  This began the surge in prices that continues today. 

Another road block I ran into, was discovering that the market is saturated with fake virgin hair ponytails fashioned by hair sellers who have perfected the art of chemical processing.  Now, this doesn't mean the hair is not Slavic or that it's cheaper hair sourced in India or China.  The issue for hair sellers is that hair comes mostly in darker colours and requires colour treatment to provide the spectrum of colours hair buyers and wig makers are looking for.  In addition, the hair often needs some chemical processing to make it finer.  This is part of the reason why you are almost never getting the hair you think you are getting.

When I finally started producing hair pieces on a larger scale in around 2010, I quickly found out why wig makers avoid using virgin hair.  That's right, big brand wig makers AVOID using virgin hair!  Why?  It's important to first understand how wigs are produced.  Normally, hair is sent to the factory in large quantity and gets sorted according to texture and general colour.  Any differences in texture are corrected and made uniform by chemical processing (more about this later), and the hair is dyed to meet consumer demands for various popular colours.  This way, they are always producing exactly what clients demand.  Virgin hair wigs are significantly more complicated to make.  Firstly, the hair available for purchase does not reflect consumer demand for colour and texture.  This means more women need light brown and blonde hair than there is hair available to purchase.  Only a small percentage of the hair available is naturally those colours. Secondly, more women are looking for straighter hair than wavy or curly hair, but the majority of the hair available is wavy or curly.  Therefore, if you wanted to produce wigs on mass to meet the demands of your consumers, you would not be able to do so with virgin hair.

I hope this was helpful to you all!  Stay tuned for our next blog post on how virgin hair wigs are made.  Visit FeatherLite by Isadore on Facebook  for information and events or email for inquiries.

Tuesday, June 13, 2017

How to purchase you first hair piece

The following article was written to give first time wig wearers some advice on how to purchase your first hair piece.  Click here for helpful tips on what to look for.  Check Check Maple Holistics for regular updates on the best products and solutions for virgin hair wigs.
Over the years I have been asked many questions on probably every topic having to do with hair.  In this article by Maple Holistics, I go over the most common questions people ask about wigs and hair. Read on to find out what people REALLY want to know when it comes to wigs and hair.

Ashy Hair - Why is it so hard to find?

This is by far the most requested hair colour and the most difficult colour to get.  Why is that?  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 reflects what is available in nature and some colors/tones are more common than others.  It is harder to find ponytails that are ashy from the roots to the tips.  Virgin hair wigs are almost always more ashy on average than dyed wigs.  For instance, a colour 8 in a dyed wig will look auburn while a virgin hair wig comparable to a colour 8 will simply be a lighter shade of brown.  For more information on this subject, email or visit FeatherLite Wigs on Facebook.

Monday, June 12, 2017

FeatherLite Wigs Styling Video by Isadore Hoffman

Wigs For a New Age

So you have decided to embark on a journey to find your self the perfect wig.  It seems like a pretty straight forward endeavor at first, browsing through stores, trying on different styles...  But sooner or later you become inundated with unfamiliar industry terminology, pushy sales people, and by the middle of the day your ready to go home and accept the hair God has given youYou can't have it all, can you?

Well actually, yes you can.  It does take a little bit of research and know-how to land your hands on a good hair replacement system, but once you do, there is definitely a huge silver lining to it all!  No more messing with your hair in the morning for a an hour trying to erase all signs of bed head, no more dealing with humidity issues that make you look like the lion king right before that all important lunch meeting, and no more fussing with a plethora of volumizing sprays, vitamins and concoctions to try and minimize the looks you will get from people giving you a second look.

In this blog, Isadore Hoffman of FeatherLite Hair Systems will take you through what you need to know about hair types and cap styles in the wig industry and how to choose the right type of piece for you.  Follow us for weekly updates on a variety of topics such as how to purchase your first hair piece, terminology used in the hair industry, different hair types you can buy and what they mean, how to decipher virgin hair from processed hair, and how to care for your hair piece properly.  In addition, we will provide product reviews on styling tools and products that are best suited for various hair types and provide you with information on ingredients to look for and which to avoid.  Feel free to email for blog topic suggestions as well as for any questions you may have.  Enjoy!  Follow us on Facebook at FeatherLite Wigs for updates on sales and events.