Wig Fibers Explained: Kanekalon, Heat-Friendly Synthetic, Remy Human Hair, and More

When you’re shopping for wigs, you’ll see different fiber names like Kanekalon, Toyokalon, heat-friendly synthetic, and Remy human hair. But what do these terms actually mean? At Godiva’s Secret Wigs, we’ve been helping women since 1997, and we know that understanding wig fibers can help you choose the wigs that best fit your lifestyle, budget, and comfort.

Why Wig Fibers Matter

The fiber determines how your wigs feel, look, and behave. Some fibers are designed to hold a style no matter the weather, while others offer more styling versatility. Knowing the difference helps you shop with confidence.

Kanekalon

At Godiva’s Secret Wigs, all of our wigs are made with premium Kanekalon fibers—and not all Kanekalon is created equal. Many wig companies use lower-grade versions that can feel stiff, look shiny, or lose shape quickly. Our Kanekalon is specially processed to reduce shine, stay lightweight, and move naturally, giving you the most realistic look and comfortable wear.

Pros:

Realistic, soft texture that mimics natural hair.
Special processing keeps shine natural-looking, never plastic.
Holds its style beautifully—even after washing.
Lightweight, breathable, and comfortable for all-day wear. Many low-density choices available too!
Moves like real hair, with soft swing and bounce.
Weather-proof—styles won’t frizz or fall flat.

Cons:

Cannot be heat styled (avoid curling irons, flat irons, or blow dryers).

[Dani & Ro Takeaway] Premium Kanekalon is the reason our wigs look so natural and stay so easy to care for. It’s truly a “ready-to-go” fiber.

Toyokalon

Toyokalon is another type of synthetic fiber, known for its silky feel. It’s often used for curlier or highly textured wig styles.

Pros:

Very soft and silky texture.
Great for curls or waves.

Cons:

Can be shinier than Kanekalon, which may look less natural in certain lights.
Not as durable as Kanekalon for long-term wear.

Heat-Friendly Synthetic

Heat-friendly synthetic fibers are designed to withstand low levels of heat from styling tools.

Pros:

Can be curled or straightened with a low-heat styling tool.
Offers more styling flexibility than traditional synthetics.

Cons:

Doesn’t hold its style permanently—if you wash it, you’ll need to restyle.
Tends to wear out faster than Kanekalon wigs.
More delicate and prone to frizz from heat exposure.

[Dani & Ro Takeaway] While heat-friendly fibers may sound appealing, in general they do not hold up as well. If you want different looks, a smarter decision is to own multiple Godiva's Secret Wigs in different styles. This way they are effortless and will always keep their style and natural look and feel.

Remy Human Hair

Remy human hair wigs are made with real human hair, with the cuticles aligned in the same direction. This helps reduce tangling and gives the smoothest finish.

Pros:

Can be colored and heat styled.
Long lifespan with proper care.

Cons:

Very expensive (often $1,000–$4,000+).
Requires significant upkeep (washing, blow drying, styling).
Sensitive to weather—can frizz or lose shape in humidity.
Overall much thicker and heavier feeling. The opposite of low-density.

Acrylic and Polyester Fibers

Before Kanekalon and Toyokalon, many wigs were made with acrylic or polyester fibers. These older fibers gave wigs a shiny, “plastic” appearance that often looked unnatural.

Pros:

Very inexpensive.
Still found in low-quality costume wigs.

Cons:

Unnatural shine that makes wigs look fake.
Stiff, uncomfortable feel.
Do not move like real hair.
Not durable and prone to tangling.

This is why so many women who tried wigs years ago had a bad experience—they weren’t wearing today’s advanced high-quality synthetics like our Kanekalon.

[Dani & Ro Tip] If you had a wig in the past that looked too shiny or plastic, it probably wasn’t our premium Kanekalon! Don’t let that old experience stop you from trying again—you’ll be amazed at the difference.

Other Fibers You Might See

Non-Remy Human Hair: Less expensive than Remy, but tangles more easily since cuticles aren’t aligned.
Virgin Human Hair: Premium hair that has never been chemically processed. Gorgeous, but extremely expensive.
Human Hair/Synthetic Blends: A mix of human and synthetic fibers. These can balance cost and style retention, but care is much more complicated.

FAQs About Wig Fibers

Which fiber does Godiva’s Secret use?
We use premium Kanekalon—the highest-quality synthetic fiber—for all of our wigs and toppers.

Which fiber is easiest to care for?
Kanekalon wigs are the simplest: wash, dry on a Wig Hanger, and wear.

Do Kanekalon wigs look real?
Absolutely! Our premium Kanekalon fibers look so natural that even hairstylists often can’t tell the difference.

Why doesn’t Godiva’s Secret carry human hair wigs?
Because our Kanekalon wigs are lighter, easier to care for, cost-effective, and always ready-to-wear—giving women beauty and confidence without the hassle.

Why Trust Godiva’s Secret Wigs

At Godiva’s Secret Wigs, we’re a mother-daughter team (Dani & Ro) who not only sell wigs, but wear them ourselves. Since 1997, we’ve helped hundreds of thousands of women feel confident with our exclusive line of lightweight, natural-looking high-quality synthetic wigs and toppers. With over 50 years of combined wig-wearing experience, plus our thriving YouTube channel and private Facebook group — Godiva’s Secret Wig Community, you’ll never be on this journey alone. Our community is filled with supportive women who share their stories, photos, and tips, making it the most encouraging place online for wig wearers. You can trust that every product we recommend has been tried, tested, and loved.

Before you buy, click here to virtually try-on our beautiful wig styles and colors: Dani & Ro's Virtual Wig Try-On Room

Final Thoughts

Each wig fiber has unique qualities, but premium Kanekalon stands out as the best for natural beauty, easy care, and durability. That’s why we exclusively use high-quality Kanekalon in our wigs and toppers—it gives our clients gorgeous, ready-to-wear hair every time. Explore our best selling wigs to see the difference for yourself.