5 Simple Ways To Tell If a Fur Is Real Or Faux
Winter is coming and you consider investing in a warm, beautiful real fur coat that with the proper care will last decades. Distinguishing between real and faux fur can be tricky, especially with today’s high-quality synthetics—but there are a few reliable methods to tell them apart. Here’s a quick guide:
1. Feel the Texture
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Real Fur: Super soft, smooth, and warm to the touch. It often has layers—longer guard hairs and a soft, dense underfur.
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Faux Fur: May feel slightly coarse, stiffer, or overly silky. The strands are often uniform in texture.
2. Look at the Base
Part the fur and examine the backing:
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Real Fur: Attached to leather or skin—you’ll see a suede or hide-like material.
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Faux Fur: Has a fabric backing (knit or woven), often visible as threads or mesh.
3. Burn Test
Pluck a few strands and burn them carefully:
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Real Fur: Smells like burnt hair; ashes crumble to dust.
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Faux Fur: Smells like burnt plastic; melts into hard beads.
4. Blow Test
Blow on the fur to separate the hairs:
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Real Fur: Hairs move individually and naturally, showing layers and depth.
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Faux Fur: Often clumps or moves less freely; less “lifelike.”
5. Examine the Tips
Look closely at the hair tips:
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Real Fur: Tapers to a fine point like natural animal hair.
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Faux Fur: Often cut bluntly; uniform and synthetic-looking.
The purchase of a real fur is not just a move to renew your wardrobe, it is an investment that will repay the money you have allocated in the best way. Therefore, it is important to learn how to recognize a real fur garment and not waste your money on synthetic alternatives that will not be as warm and long-lasting as the genuine ones.
