There are many types of hair extensions and they can be made from various types of materials and are available in many hair textures. With the many options available on the market, the question “Are hair extensions real hair?” often crops up.
Hair extensions fall into two distinct categories which are human hair and non-human hair. Non-human hair is made from man-made materials to mimic the appearance of real human hair this type of hair is known as synthetic hair.
Synthetic Hair
Synthetic hair is often made from acrylic or nylon which are chemically treated to look, behave and feel like human hair. The hair is often pre-styled by the manufacturer when it is sold. This type of hair is great if you are wanting to experience hair extensions for the first time as you get to understand how the hair is attached to your own hair. It is also great for one-off events like fancy dress parties or casting performances.
Synthetic hair is great if you need a specific colour the colour is uniform and can be easily reproduced accurately because the hair is man-made.
Typically synthetic hair extensions are moderately priced compared to human hair and the lifespan also reflects this. If you take care of it you can expect this hair to last up to 1 month before it starts to show signs of wear.
Human Hair
Human hair extensions are made from real human hair and can be cared for like your own hair. There are varying grades and qualities of human hair which will determine the lifespan. Higher-quality human hair is better to work with and is easier to maintain over a longer period of time.
Real human hair tends to vary in colour when dyed and there’s slight variation in the colour so please be mindful of this when choosing this type of hair. Good quality human hair can be dyed or toned to a shade closer to your own hair. Always consult a good hair colourist with experience colouring hair extensions before colouring your extensions.
Remy Hair
Remy human hair extensions are good quality and are easy to maintain. Remy human hair is of higher quality than non-Remy hair, it is better to work with and is easier to maintain over a longer period of time.
Qualities such as virgin Remy human hair and Remy human hair are a good place to start for seasoned hair extension wearers. Hair of this quality lasts the longest if looked after well. This is because of the way the hair is handled during processing from the time it leaves the donor to when it gets to you.
Virgin hair is raw, healthy and unprocessed hair with all the cuticles intact. Virgin hair comes from a single donor and it is cleaned and then sold. This is the highest quality of human hair and has the longest lifespan.
Remy human hair comes from many donors and has all the hair cuticles running in the same direction from root to tip. This type of hair is less likely to tangle and feels softer than non-Remy hair.
Non-Remy Human Hair
Non-Remy human hair is real human hair however, it is of lower quality and the lifespan is shorter than virgin Remy or Remy hair. This hair is great if you are trying human hair extensions for the first time and on a tight budget. Non-Remy hair is flexible and you can style it as you would your own hair. Unfortunately, this hair tends to tangle and shed more than Remy or virgin hair. Typically this hair can last up to 2-3 months depending on the usage and how you care for it.