Synthetic wigs in South Africa: prices, heat and care

Synthetic wig prices across SA stores

Wigs that say synthetic or heat resistant, at most two per store, cheapest first. Checked 6 Oct 2026. Prices change, so confirm on the store's page.

Stylists who fit wigs, by city

City pages go live once three stylists there are verified.

Synthetic wigs, explained

What a synthetic wig is

A synthetic wig is made from man-made fibre instead of human hair. Glamour South Africa says synthetic wigs have improved and are affordable, but they usually have a shorter life and limited styling options. Wigs.co.za says Jon Renau's synthetic fibre is made by Kaneka and that the style is baked in, so it keeps its shape when washed and stays intact in rain, because the fibre does not react to moisture the way human hair does.

How long one lasts depends on the fibre and the care. Wigs.co.za says that with proper care and maintenance a synthetic hair system can last up to six to nine months. That is the retailer's figure for its own brand, and cheaper wigs may not last as long, so treat it as an upper guide.

Heat resistant or not

This is the question that matters most with synthetic hair. Wigs.co.za says traditional synthetic fibre is not heat friendly, and Jon Renau's care guide, which it publishes, says no heat tools should be used on a synthetic wig. Heat resistant fibre is a separate line. Jon Renau says its heat resistant fibre can withstand heat up to 350F but recommends working at 270 to 280F, about 132 to 138C. Steaming is a different matter: Wigs.co.za says steaming permanently changes the shape of the fibre until it is steamed again, and that once a curl pattern has been altered you cannot get it back.

So read the listing before you plug in a tool. A wig that says heat resistant or heat friendly may take a curling iron. One that only says synthetic should be treated as if it will not.

What synthetic wigs cost in South Africa

The data is thin. On 6 Oct 2026, 44 wigs at three stores named synthetic or heat resistant fibre in the listing. Thirty were at Takealot, from R109 to R666 with a median of R313. We could not check who sells them or what they promise, so read the product page and return terms. The other 14 were seven colours of one HairUWear Hairdo Fantasy wig at two stores, and the price differed by store: R2,432.75 at Hair Health & Beauty and R3,649.12 at Hair House Warehouse, exactly 50% more for listings with the same product name.

At the premium end, Wigs.co.za lists seven wigs from its 2024 HD Collection as heat resistant synthetic, with a lace front and open cap. They run from R2,580 for Luna to R6,560 for Hollie, with Dawn at R3,220, Celeste at R3,340, Maeve at R3,910, Aurora at R4,720 and Stellar Star at R4,830. Wigs.co.za says it delivers nationwide, with physical locations in Cape Town and Johannesburg, and that deliveries take 14 to 21 days because of the number of colours and styles. We left fantasy colour wigs from another brand, at R690 to R1,218, out of the table.

Looking after it

Jon Renau's care guide, published by Wigs.co.za, says to wash every 6 to 8 wears in cool running water, to let the wig air dry naturally on a plastic or wire wig stand and not to blow-dry it. Wigs.co.za says the usual problems are tangling, matting, a fraying lace front, shedding and a dull look when the wig is not maintained, and that a wig that is too small stresses the lace front and shortens its life. Measure your head first. Headcovers gives cap sizes of 20 to 21.5 inches for petite, 21.5 to 22.5 for average and 22.5 or more for large, and says adjustable straps give up to half an inch of flex.

Skin and scalp

A case series in Contact Dermatitis in 2021 by Dlova and colleagues describes 10 African women with a history of atopy who developed irritant contact dermatitis on the neck from synthetic hair extensions. It cleared completely when the extensions were removed, with topical steroids and emollients depending on severity. The authors conclude that artificial hair extensions should be considered a potential irritant and that people with atopy are at risk. That study was of extensions, not wigs, so it does not show that synthetic wigs do the same. It does suggest that if you have eczema, you should watch where loose ends of synthetic hair touch your skin and stop wearing it if a rash appears.

Synthetic or human hair

Choose by how you will wear it. Glamour South Africa says human hair looks natural, can be washed, heat styled and coloured, and costs more, while synthetic is cheaper with a shorter life. If you want a wig for a few weeks, for a costume or to try a style, a synthetic wig is the low-risk way to learn what you like. If you want to curl it, straighten it or wear it most days for a year, look at our human hair wigs page.

Synthetic wigs: questions