Human Hair Extensions: Busting the Jargon #1

The world of human hair extensions can be very confusing. There are lots of different terms used such as Remy hair, Virgin hair and Processed hair, but what does it all mean? Over the next few blogs we’re going to break down some of the jargon and help you to get a better idea of what you’re buying. We’ll begin here by looking at the origins of the human hair that is used in extensions:

Asian HairThis is an umbrella term for two different types of hair from different parts of Asia:

• Chinese Hair – This type of hair is thick and coarse, naturally straight, and generally black or dark brown in colour. Chinese hair is available in large quantities and is fairly cheap to obtain. The hair is durable and can withstand multiple chemical processes which strip it of its cuticles. This can make it more prone to tangling. The hair strands are very coarse and reflect light differently, which can make it appear up to 3 times thicker than Caucasian hair.
• Indian Hair – This kind of hair varies from fine and straight to coarse and curly. Again, it’s available in large quantities but, unlike Chinese hair, Indian hair fibres are thinner and can be treated to look and feel like European hair. However, if the hair is not Remy or Virgin (see our next blog for full explanation of these terms) then it will require chemical processing to strip the cuticles, which leaves the hair weak and of poor quality.

European HairAlso referred to as Russian hair or Caucasian hair, European hair has a fine to medium fibre density which is naturally straight to slightly wavy. The hair is available in a variety of natural colours, with the most common being dark blondes to medium browns. European hair is high quality, but is available in smaller quantities than Asian hair, therefore it tends to come at a higher price to the consumer.

True Caucasian hair is the best match for the European and American markets. However, it is becoming increasingly difficult for suppliers to source good quality Caucasian hair that is longer than 15 inches. The hair fibres are more delicate to work with than with Asian hair, therefore extra care must be taken at the manufacturing level. Caucasian hair is the most sought after for hair extensions but also comes with the highest price tag for the consumer.

In our next blog – We’ll be looking at the science behind human hair to give you a better understanding of the human-hair extension process!

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