We all love hair extensions that looks good, feels soft, is shed free and tangle free, and lasts long. However, most ladies have learnt the hard way that not all hair that looks good once out of its packaging will stay that way after wearing the hair extension for a week or after undergoing the first wash. Indeed, not all hair extensions are created equal!
If you are interested in buying 100% virgin hair extensions or you have been on the lookout for Remy hair, chances are you have stumbled on something that looks like this: 100% Unprocessed Virgin Remy Hair. If that didn't leave you feeling confused, nothing else will.
More often than not these two terms (Virgin hair extensions and Remy hair extensions) get used interchangeably but they are quite different. But how do we know the difference? This blog post will clearly explain the difference between Virgin hair extensions and Remy hair extensions. Let's start off by defining some ''hair terminologies.'' Enjoy reading!
What is Virgin Hair?
Virgin hair describes hair that has not been processed in any way. It is hair that was never EVER dyed, permed, bleached or treated by its donor. It is often gotten from the ponytail of a single donor with cuticles flowing in the same direction- from root to tip and subsequently with the cuts on each weft being of the same length. Virgin hair is typically smooth, durable and tangle free because it hasn't been processed. Depending on the country from which the hair was gotten or the nationality of the donor, Virgin hair can be Brazilian (although very rare as Brazilian women rarely cut their hair), Peruvian, Indian, Malaysian, Chinese (which is very common in the market) and the list goes on and on.
What is Remy Hair?
This type of hair is cut while the hair is held in a ponytail, hence the cuticles are intact and the hair flows in one direction (meaning the roots of the hair are on one end while the tips are on the other end). The cuts on each weft are also of the same length. The texture is smooth and even and the hair is quite durable and long lasting.
The major difference between Remy hair and Virgin hair is the fact that -
- The Remy hair donor may or may not have processed it before it was cut, whereas, Virgin hair has never been processed.
- For Remy hair, the manufacturer/hair seller may have dyed, bleached or treated it to give it the desired look and texture before packaging it for sale, whereas, Virgin has not undergone any such alteration.
Hence we can deduce that not all Remy hair is virgin hair since it may have undergone coloring, straightening, curling, perming or other treatments to give it the gorgeous look it has. Some sellers may offer Virgin Remy hair meaning it was cut as described above and it has never been treated.
On the other end of the spectrum is Non-Remy hair. Non-Remy hair is hair that is typically picked from left-overs on salon floors hence it does not flow in one direction, may not be from a single donor and is prone to tangling. To enhance sales, most companies dip the hair in silicone making it look gorgeous, feel silky and even tangle free. But after a few washings, dyes, heat application or simply time, the inevitable happens as the silicone starts to disappear and it starts shedding and getting that not-so-gorgeous look.
There you have it... Hope this helps you navigate easily when choosing the right hair extensions for you!