If you've ever put on a wool sweater and immediately wanted to take it back off, you may assume alpaca will feel the same way.
Alpaca fiber is known for being exceptionally soft, which is one of the reasons it is so prized for clothing worn against the skin. Unlike sheep's wool, alpaca contains no lanolin, and properly selected fiber has the smooth, soft feel that surprises so many people the first time they touch it.
But there's a little more to the answer than simply saying alpaca isn't itchy.
Not all alpaca fiber is the same. Fiber diameter, quality, processing and even where you're wearing the finished product can all affect how it feels against your skin.
We've raised alpacas and worked with their fiber for years, so let's talk about what actually makes a fiber feel itchy and why alpaca can feel so different.
Why Does Some Wool Feel Itchy?
That scratchy feeling isn't simply happening because something is “wool.”
One of the biggest factors is fiber diameter, which is measured in microns.
Generally, finer fibers bend more easily when they touch your skin. Coarser fibers are stiffer, so the ends of those fibers are more noticeable against your skin. That's the prickly or itchy sensation many people associate with wool.
That's also why two wool sweaters can feel completely different.
The same thing is true with alpaca.
Is All Alpaca Soft?
One of the first things people notice when they touch alpaca fiber is how soft it feels.
Fiber diameter plays an important role in that softness. Finer fibers bend more easily when they touch your skin, which contributes to the smooth feel alpaca is known for.
Alpaca farmers sort and grade fiber because different parts of the fleece are suited to different purposes. The beautiful, finer fiber is what we want for products worn against the skin. Coarser fiber has other uses, including felted products.
That's an important distinction.
We aren't taking every bit of fiber that comes off an alpaca and turning it into a hat or scarf. Knowing which fiber is appropriate for which product is part of working with alpaca.
Alpaca Doesn't Contain Lanolin
Here's another major difference between alpaca and sheep wool.
Alpacas do not produce lanolin.
Lanolin is the waxy substance naturally present in sheep's wool. Alpaca fiber doesn't contain it.
That's one reason alpaca is commonly considered a hypoallergenic fiber and why people who have had difficulty wearing traditional wool often become interested in alpaca.
Of course, everyone's skin is different. No company can honestly promise that every person will react exactly the same way to a natural fiber.
And if you're buying an alpaca product because you have particularly sensitive skin, check the complete fiber content. Many finished alpaca products are blends rather than 100% alpaca.
Why Does Fine Alpaca Feel So Soft?
There's something fun about letting people feel good alpaca fiber for the first time.
They usually aren't expecting it.
Fine alpaca fibers can have a very smooth, soft feel, which is why alpaca is used for products worn directly against the skin, including hats, scarves, gloves and socks.
But again, “alpaca” on a label doesn't automatically tell you how soft something will be.
The grade of the alpaca matters. The other fibers in a blend matter. The yarn matters. The construction of the finished product matters.
That's why touching the actual product tells you considerably more than simply reading the word alpaca on the package.
Is Alpaca Good for Sensitive Skin?
Many people who dislike the feel of traditional wool find alpaca much easier to wear.
Its lack of lanolin and the softness of finer grades of alpaca fiber are two reasons it's particularly appealing to people looking for natural fiber products that feel good against their skin.
But sensitive skin varies enormously from person to person.
If you know you're particularly sensitive to fibers, we'd recommend starting with a product you can feel against your skin and paying attention to the entire fiber blend.
There's a big difference between saying many people with sensitive skin enjoy alpaca and promising that absolutely nobody will ever find it itchy.
We'd rather give you the first answer.
Does Alpaca Have to Be 100% Alpaca to Be Soft?
Not at all.
In fact, there's a good reason many alpaca products are blends.
Different fibers bring different characteristics to a finished product.
Take socks.
Alpaca brings qualities we want from the natural fiber, but a hardworking sock also needs stretch, structure and durability.
Our Alpaca Crew Work Socks are 78% USA grown alpaca, 20% nylon and 2% Lycra.
The nylon and Lycra aren't there because we're trying to avoid using alpaca. They're there because they help make the finished sock work better.
The highest alpaca percentage doesn't automatically make the best product.
What matters is whether the finished product does what you bought it to do.
What If You've Tried Alpaca Before and It Felt Itchy?
Don't assume you're imagining it.
There are several possible explanations.
The alpaca could have been a coarser grade. The product could have contained other fibers that bothered you. The yarn or construction could have affected how it felt. Or you may simply be more sensitive to fibers against your skin than someone else.
That's why we don't like blanket statements such as “alpaca can never itch.”
Good alpaca can be extraordinarily soft.
That doesn't mean every alpaca product is identical.
Is Alpaca Warmer Than Wool?
People searching for non itchy natural fibers are often also looking for something warm.
Alpaca is an excellent insulating fiber and can provide substantial warmth without requiring a tremendous amount of bulk. That's one reason you'll find it used in socks, gloves, hats, scarves and other cold weather products.
But just like softness, warmth depends on more than the name of the fiber.
Fiber content, yarn, knit, thickness and construction all affect how warm a finished product will be.
A lightweight alpaca sock and a heavyweight wool sock aren't directly comparable simply because one contains alpaca.
How Should You Choose an Alpaca Product?
Don't just look for the word alpaca in giant letters.
Turn the product over and look at what you're actually buying.
Check the fiber content. Look at the construction. Think about where and how you're going to wear it.
And when softness is particularly important, pay attention to the quality of the fiber and the finished product.
After years of working with alpacas, that's one of the biggest things we'd like people to understand:
Alpaca is an incredible fiber, but making a great alpaca product still requires using the right fiber in the right way.
So, Is Alpaca Wool Itchy?
For most people, fine alpaca is remarkably soft and doesn't have the scratchy feel they associate with traditional wool.
Alpaca contains no lanolin, and fine grades can feel exceptionally soft against the skin. That's why many people who haven't enjoyed wearing traditional wool are surprised when they first feel a good alpaca product.
But we'd never tell you that every alpaca fiber, every alpaca product and every person's skin are exactly the same.
Fiber quality matters.
And once you feel really good alpaca, you'll understand why people keep asking us this question.
Want to Feel the Difference?
If you're wondering whether alpaca really feels different from the wool you're used to, our Marvin and Quigley Socks are a great place to start. They're incredibly soft and an easy way to experience why people fall in love with alpaca fiber.
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