Five simple ways about how to quickly tell if fur is real or fake
  1. The Feel Test

Feel the difference by touching the hairs between the finger and thumb.

Real fur feels very soft and smooth to touch, easily rolls between fingers. The fake fur is rough to the touch. It may become sticky in wet weather and may have the same feel as a stuffed animal toy.

 

  1. The Look Test

Gently blow on the hairs, separate them and look at the base.

Real fur usually consists of several layers of thin, almost curled hair that form a thick wool through which longer hair extends. The hair is still attached to the leather. Fake fur usually has a relatively simple structure, and each hair is usually the same length or even the same colour.

 

  1. The Pin Test

Driving the pin through the base to which the fur is attached.

If it is hard to push through, or the leather resists completely, it is likely to be real fur. If it is fake fur, the pin should easily pass through the base.

 

  1. The Burn Test

Carefully pull a few hairs from the fur and place them in a flame.

Burnt real fur smells like burnt human hair, but fake fur smells like burning plastic and forms a very hard plastic ball between the finger and thumb.

 

  1. The Cut Test

You can make a small incision to check the inside of fur.

The inside of the real fur has a texture of animal skin, while the fake fur is a synthetic woven underlay.