How to choose hair for extensions – what types are there

If you want your extensions to look natural and last a long time, selecting the right hair is crucial. Selecting the hair type that best suits your needs can be difficult with so many options available.

This post will examine the various hair types—from synthetic to natural—that are used as extensions and go over what makes each kind special. Knowing these distinctions will help you make a more well-informed decision that fits both your style and budget.

Type of Hair	Description
Remy Hair	High-quality hair where the cuticles are kept intact and all face the same direction. It looks natural and lasts longer.
Virgin Hair	Hair that has never been dyed or treated with chemicals. It is the purest form and often the most expensive.
Non-Remy Hair	Hair where the cuticles are not aligned. It’s generally lower quality and may tangle more easily.
Synthetic Hair	Made from artificial fibers, it"s less expensive but doesn’t look as natural and can’t be styled with heat.
Blend Hair	A mix of human and synthetic hair. It combines some benefits of both but may not last as long as 100% human hair.

Where does hair for extensions come from

Myths regarding hair extensions that are not widely held. Strands purchased from people looking to change their appearance or who simply want to make some extra cash are used for encapsulation, tape, or tressing in the future.

It has long been a business to sell donor hair, which is then used for wigs, extensions, and hairpieces; they purchase hair at a significantly lower cost than they sell. The majority of cuts available today are purchased in Asian nations, Brazil, or India.

It’s interesting to note that Indian women come to pray and offer their hair as a sacrifice to the deity once a year, rather than bringing curls for profit. In India, this custom is so advanced that hairdressers can be found in nearly every temple, cutting the hair of those who desire it.

The next course of action is determined by the hair’s origin and the goals of the individual selling the cuts.

Managing the tails can be done in two ways:

1. Wash and comb them, and then sell them to girls or beauty salons;
2. Soak in acid and dye them in the desired color.

Soaking frequently occurs in factories that regularly sell low-quality hair. Small businesses or private sellers can apply silicones to the hair shaft to give it shine and smoothness without altering its structure by soaking it in acid or coloring it.

After a quick exploration of the sources, let’s move on to the most crucial subject: the different kinds of hair that can be used for extensions.

What types of hair for extensions are there

You can use artificial or natural hair for hair extensions. Artificial strands are not used for 1.5–4 month long-term extensions because they are not always able to tolerate thermal styling and differ greatly from natural ones in appearance and feel.

Natural fibers are a different story. They resist wear and, with the right color selection, blend in with natural hair to virtually hide the extensions.

Natural hair comes in four varieties:

1. Asian;
2. European;
3. South Russian;
4. Slavic.

Their color, smoothness, and density are different from one another.

Asian

Asian hair is the least expensive choice. Although they are sold in China, Korea, Pakistan, or Vietnam, Russian girls do not receive them in their original form. Asian hair is known for being hard and dark, and strands that are uneven in color and structure and are taken from different heads are not in high demand.

As we mentioned earlier, Asians soak the curls in acid to increase the product’s liquidity. The tails are shiny, silky, and smooth after all the adjustments and protective silicone layer has been applied, but they frequently stay stiff and become tangled, which frequently becomes obvious as soon as the tails are put on.

Such hair is frequently used for training sessions, where students practice haircuts and hairstyles, but it is not the ideal choice for daily wear.

High-quality Asian sections are hard to come by; they aren’t processed or gathered "from different heads," but you can hardly find them for sale either. Superior Asian hair is dense, tough, and challenging to manage; however, it works well for girls who have similar features to those of natural hair.

European

European hair is made from low- to medium-quality raw materials. Though they have a noble name, they are frequently Indian. Such hair has a porous structure and is more prone to breaking easily.

The tail is heavily treated with silicone to give it a "marketable appearance"; this results in shine and smoothness since the scales are smoothed. Naturally, all of these rods’ shortcomings will "come out" as they wear. It is preferable to use "Europe" for hair on hairpins rather than long-term extensions. A good affordable option for an evening hairstyle.

South Russian

South Russian hair is on another level when it comes to Asian and European hair. They are gathered in Siberia and Russia, usually in the southern areas near the Caucasus.

Features:

• Dense and thick;
• Dense and fluffy;
• Straight or slightly wavy;
• Mostly dark shades.

South Russian hair is long-lasting when properly cared for, resistant to styling, and accepting of corrections. Such curls don’t require processing, soaking, or repainting because quality South Russian hair naturally has a fantastic structure. Some vendors use silicone to cover the cuts, but more for show than to cover up flaws.

Slavic

Slavic hair is the most expensive and superior hair. They are the best option for extensions because they are low maintenance, obedient, silky, and have a long lifespan.

Origin: Ukraine and Russia.

• Elastic;
• Delicate;
• Light shades;
• Easy to style.

Because it has a nice structure and appearance from the beginning, this type of hair is not treated with acids. Slavic cuts are rarely, if ever, cleaned before being sold and covered with silicone.

The so-called children’s hair is the most valuable of all the Slavic hair. This is typically adult hair that is just naturally curly and has a "childish" beauty to it.

What you need to know about choosing hair for extensions

Hair is chosen for extensions based on many factors besides origin. Other factors need to be considered in addition to the variety—sellers, incidentally, frequently conceal and pass off well-processed Asian or, worse, southern Russian hair as Slavic.

Direction of the cuticle of the hair shafts

The cuticles on the hair shafts from one package may or may not point in the same direction. Such rods will become extremely tangled when worn and roll into impossible-to-comb tangles after washing if the cuticles are located in different directions.

The following marks indicate the direction of the cuticle:

• Remy – the cuticle is in one direction;
• No or non remy – the cuticle of the rods in the package can be in different directions.

Because silicone has been applied to the strands, smoothing out all of the scales, it is challenging to see where the cuticle is. The issue arises when the girl removes the silicone layer while wearing it.

Recognizing that a ponytail cut from one head cannot be non-remy is also crucial. Low-quality Asian and European extension ponytails that are gathered from various heads often contain multidirectional hair rods.

Impurities

We refer to hair rods collected from various heads as impurities. In other words, a girl’s hair may come from one or more girls. Occasionally, even with ten or fifteen people. Why is this undesirable? Individual differences exist in the structure, density, and porosity of hair. If you decide to dye such hair, be aware that different strands will react differently to the dye, so there’s no guarantee of a uniform color.

"Virgin" refers to hair that has been taken from a single head; it means "untouched" in English.

Degree of combing

All gathered hair is combed out prior to sale. This is required to ensure that the length of the rods in the tail is the same, or nearly so.

Two categories of combing exist:

1. Single Drawn – single combing. The collected tail is combed out once and only the shortest hair is removed. The remaining cut may have different lengths with a difference of several centimeters;
2. Double Drawn – double combing. With double combing, hair rods of the same length remain in the tail, which give the feeling of an even cut.

It is legitimate for both degrees to exist. Double Drawn is more costly than Single Drawn because it requires more raw materials up front to produce a 100-gram tail. The frequency of use is the same for both categories. The chosen style, haircut, and characteristics of the hair shafts should all be taken into consideration when choosing the strands.

Fascinating fact: sometimes it is less expensive to purchase Single Drawn with a 5–10 cm length reserve and trim the ends after extending in order to achieve an even cut. In this instance, there will be a roughly 30% overpayment, but the initial cost of an even Double Drawn tail will be 1.5–2 times higher.

How to choose hair for extensions

A number of factors are taken into consideration when choosing hair for extensions:

• Color of natural curls;
• Thickness and structure of natural hair shafts;
• Height.

Color

Matching the tone of natural hair is the ideal choice, but it can be challenging when a girl has unusually colored or natural hair. It’s pretty hard to find, say, a cut of golden-ash curls. In these situations, you should concentrate on the tips; the donor strands ought to match the color of your curls’ ends. The strands can be dyed if this approach proves ineffective. If we are discussing naturally occurring curls in well-known tones such as light brown, blond, or dark brown, then you must choose a cut that perfectly matches the tone of the hair.

Thickness and structure

Regardless of the method—capsule, tape, or Hollywood—while selecting hair for extensions, one must consider the properties of the natural rods.

• For initially wavy strands – wavy donor;
• For soft and thin – the same donor.

You could, of course, try extending thick, hard donor hair onto thin hair rods, but the image will be ruined because of how noticeable the difference is.

Height

The girl’s height determines the ideal length for the extension. You must realize that curls measuring 60 cm will appear different at 180 and 160 cm in height. Keep in mind that wearing extremely long hairstyles below the waist is difficult. Sure, it’s lovely, but wholly unrealistic.

40–50 cm is the most typical length for extensions. The hair will reach the waist from the level of the shoulder blades at a height of 1.65 to 1.70. This is the ideal length in terms of aesthetics as well as comfort and usefulness.

Attaching donor strands that are longer than twice the original length is not advised when extending.

Furthermore, if there are widely recognized guidelines for choosing a donor cut based on a girl’s height, color, and type of hair, then the decision regarding hair volume is personal. The master, during a consultation prior to the procedure, is the only person who can determine how many grams you require for extensions.

The technique used for the extensions affects the amount of hair as well. One procedure typically weighs between 120 and 200 grams, or less if the hair simply needs to be thickened rather than lengthened (60–80 grams).

Frequently asked questions

What is the price of hair extensions?

It is just not possible to pinpoint precise costs. Tens of thousands are covered by the range. Slavic hair of the best quality can range in price from 9,000 to 50,000 rubles per 100 grams. Asian and European hair costs between 3,500 and 8,000 rubles, which is significantly less. Due to its superior quality, South Russian hair is frequently priced similarly to Slavic hair or slightly less. Approximately eight thousand rubles per 100 grams.

How can you find out for yourself whether the hair is Remy and how many sources the strands were obtained from if the seller does not disclose these details?

Not in a way. Sometimes, even experts are unable to tell the difference between well-groomed hair and good hair. Regarding markings, the cuticle is in one direction and the tail is taken from one head; Slavic and South Russian cuts frequently by default provide for remy and virgin. It is best to check with the seller or find another one if we are talking about Asian or European ones.

The cost of a "Slavic" hair extension with labor is 7,000 rubles, which is what I saw a hairdresser offering. Should I accept this kind of offer?

A Slavic hairdresser who works cannot charge 7,000 rubles unless they are involved in charitable work. The type of extension will determine the final cost; each hairstylist sets their own rates for the work, but even a cheap tape extension will not come close to $7,000,000.

What is the lifespan of donor cuts and how often do they need to be replaced?

Everything is dependent on where the tail came from, how well the girl is groomed, and the hairstylist. They typically last two to four years before needing to be replaced.

I’ve heard that hair salon combs are used to gather hair for extensions. Is this accurate?

Yes, this is done with Asian and European tails, but these hair types are only used in the cheapest kits.

Which hair—with or without silicone—is preferable to purchase?

Naturally, it is preferable if the strands are not silicone-treated, as this will alter their true state. To get an early idea of how the strands will appear when worn, try to purchase raw cuts.

Have I ever used hair extensions? Comment with your experience selecting a cut!

Share with friends!

Understanding the various types of hair—such as virgin, remy, and synthetic—is crucial when selecting hair for extensions. Each type has advantages over the others in terms of durability, appearance, and texture. Selecting the best option for your style and maintenance requirements will be made easier if you are aware of these differences.

Popular on the topic Hair

How to wash a comb properly

An analysis of the top balms for every type of hair

How to repair hair damaged by chemicals

Kanekalon hairstyles and braids: care and braiding instructions

Aurora haircut options for women and who should wear them

Which haircuts will be in style in 2022?

How to identify the type of hair and what they are

An evaluation of every kind of anti-dandruff shampoo

Men’s undercut haircut varieties and styling options

50+ Gorgeous Holiday Hairstyles to Fit Every Occasion

Magazine Sections

Express your opinion or ask a question! Cancel reply

Selecting the proper hair for extensions is essential to getting a fashionable and natural look. Making an informed decision that fits your needs and preferences can be facilitated by having knowledge of the various hair types that are available.

Every type of hair, whether synthetic or human, has benefits of its own. Synthetic hair is less expensive and requires less upkeep than human hair, but human hair has a more natural appearance and greater versatility.

When choosing hair for extensions, take into account elements like length, color, and texture to make sure it goes well with your natural hair color and preferred style. Making informed decisions will allow you to have stunning, long-lasting effects that improve your appearance overall.

Video on the topic

LESSON 3. Types of hair extensions. Choosing donor hair correctly.

Hair extensions. Slavic, South Russian, European. Honest review.

THE WHOLE TRUTH about BIOPROTEIN HAIR. Hair extensions Simferopol. Studio More Expensive Than Gold #hair

Beauty Factory. Types of hair extensions. Which hair is better

Free Video: Types of Hair Extensions – Features and Differences in Extension Methods.