Customer: “Is there a way to test the hair to see if it is actually real human hair or a synthetic fiber?”
Answer:
We often get this question and this is how you can conduct your own test. It is not necessary to conduct a microscopic analyzation to find out what type of fiber the hair extension or hair piece contains. Often a simple burn test will reveal the type of fiber.
In the textile industry it is often required to know how to conduct a fiber burn test to identify the content. The same tests can be done on hair.
1. Remove single strands of hair from different areas of the questionable unit.
2. Hold a single strand with tweezers and use a lighter to keep a steady flame. Do not use matches as they will mask the odor.
3. Pay attention to the odor, ember and flame.
Human hair is a protein fiber that burns with a small flickering flame and will not continue to burn unless you hold the flame continuously to the strand. It burns briefly with an orange flame and then chars leaving a dark ash that turns to powder when crushed. The odor is of burning hair or burning feathers.
Synthetic fibers are either nylon or polyester and each burns quite differently.
Nylon fibers burn rapidly but briefly and then melts. It has a sparkling flame that has a blue base and orange tip. The ash is like hard amber beads. The odor smells like boiling green vegetables (burning celery).
Polyester fibers melt and burn rapidly at the same time. It has an orange sputtery flame with black smoke and gives off a sweetish odor. The ash drips and is sticky to the touch before forming into hard black beads.
Remember to burn test each fiber seperately as your piece may contain a blend of both human hair and synthetic.
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