Here is a quick “cheat sheet” to help you become an expert “fur or faux” detective. To learn more about Born Free USA’s work to counter the fur trade, decrease consumer demand for fur products, and educate the public about the cruelty of fur fashion, please click here.
The Feel Test: Feel the difference by rolling the hairs between the finger and thumb.
Genuine Fur: Feels smooth and soft, easily rolls between the fingers.
Fake Fur: Feels coarse.
The Look Test: Blow on the hairs so that they divide, and look at the base.
Genuine Fur: Often made up of several layers of thin, almost curly hairs that form a dense under-wool through which the longer hairs stick out. The hairs remain attached to the leather (skin).
Fake Fur: Simpler in structure, individual hairs are often the same length and are even in color.
The Pin Test: Drive a pin through the base where the fur is attached.
Genuine Fur: The leather resists; pin is hard to push through.
Fake Fur: Pin goes easily through the base.
The Burn Test: Carefully pull a few hairs from the fur and hold them to a flame.
Genuine Fur: Singes and smells like human hair.
Fake Fur: Melts and smells like burnt plastic and forms small plastic balls at the ends that feel hard between the finger and thumb.