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Introduction to Human Hair Weaves
Types of Human Hair
Human hair for weaves and extensions generally falls into a few main categories: virgin hair, non-virgin hair, and Remy hair.
Virgin Hair
Virgin hair is hair that has never been chemically processed or treated in any way. It is 100% natural from root to tip. Virgin hair maintains the cuticles all facing the same direction so it has a natural shine and smooth texture. Virgin hair provides the most styling versatility since it has not been stripped of its natural integrity. It is the most expensive type of human hair.
Non-Virgin Hair
Non-virgin or processed hair has been chemically treated in some way, often to create colors or textures different from the natural hair. This processing can damage the cuticle layer of the hair, causing it to tangle more easily. Non-virgin hair includes bleached, colored, permed, or chemically relaxed hair. It costs less than virgin hair but lacks some of the shine, strength, and longevity of virgin hair.
Remy Hair
Remy hair is the highest grade of human hair available. It refers to hair where the cuticles are kept intact and aligned all in the same direction from root to tip. This parallel cuticle alignment helps reduce friction and tangling. Remy hair can be either virgin or non-virgin hair. Virgin Remy hair is the most premium type of human hair for weaves and extensions. The aligned cuticles make the hair move and feel more natural.
Hair Textures
When choosing a human hair weave, it’s important to select a hair texture that matches your natural hair. There are three main hair texture categories:
Straight Hair
Straight hair has no curl or wave pattern. The hair shafts are smooth from root to tip. Straight hair tends to be the most common hair texture. If your natural hair is straight, look for hair weaves labeled as straight or silky straight. These will blend most seamlessly with your natural hair.
Wavy Hair
Wavy hair has a slight curl pattern with visible S-shaped waves. The waves can range from loose to tight. If your natural hair has a wave to it, choose a wavy or deep wave texture weave. The waves will mimic your natural pattern.
Curly Hair
Curly hair has tight ringlets or corkscrew curls. The curl pattern can be loose or tight. If your natural hair is curly, select a tightly curled or kinky curly weave texture. The tight coils will match your natural curls. Avoid choosing a straight weave if you have naturally curly hair, as it will look very mismatched.
Selecting a weave with a texture similar to your own hair is key for a natural blended look. Be sure to assess your hair’s natural wave or curl pattern closely when deciding on a weave texture. With the wide variety of human hair textures available, you can certainly find an option that is a perfect match.
Hair Quality
The quality of human hair used in weaves can vary greatly. Some key factors that determine hair quality include:
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Cuticle alignment – The cuticle is the outermost layer of the hair shaft that protects the inner layers. Properly aligned cuticles reflect light better, feel smoother, are less prone to tangling, and last longer. Quality hair should have cuticles facing all in the same direction from root to tip for optimal longevity and shine.
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Strength – High quality hair has a robust, resilient hair shaft able to withstand manipulation and heat styling. Hair strength comes from the integrity of the inner cortex layer and how intact the keratin proteins are. Healthy, undamaged hair is less prone to breakage.
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Shine – The shine of hair depends on the condition of the cuticle layer. Intact cuticles with tight scales reflect light better and enhance shine and luster. Smoother cuticles without raised edges also increase shine.
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Longevity – Several factors affect how long hair will last such as cuticle alignment, strength, elasticity, density, and absence of chemical damage. Quality hair maintains integrity even after repeated installs and removals. It resists dryness, tangling, and breakage.
The highest quality hair has intact, aligned cuticles and an undamaged cortex to achieve optimal shine, bounce, strength and durability over time. Ensuring hair is in excellent condition before harvesting and processing is key to longevity. For the best results, virgin hair that has never been chemically treated or heat styled is recommended. With proper care and maintenance, high quality human hair weave can last up to a year or longer.
Hair Colors
Human hair for weaves and extensions comes in a variety of natural hair colors as well as dyed colors.
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Natural Black Hair – This is hair that is naturally black in color without any chemical processing or dyeing. It has a rich, dark color that looks very natural. Black hair blends well for women with black or very dark brown natural hair.
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Natural Brown Hair – There are light, medium and dark shades of brown hair that occur naturally without dyeing. Brown hair will have different levels of warmth, from ash brown to golden brown. Medium brown hair is versatile for blending with many natural hair shades.
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Natural Blonde Hair – True blonde human hair without processing is more rare, but available. The lightest shade is platinum blonde, while golden and ash blonde are other natural shades. Blonde hair provides highlights and works for blending with lighter brown natural hair.
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Dyed Black Hair – Some suppliers will dye brown or blonde hair black to increase supply. Dyed black hair tends to have a cooler, shinier look than natural black hair. The quality depends on the dyeing method.
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Dyed Brown Hair – Human hair can also be dyed into various brunette shades, like chocolate brown or caramel brown. Dyed brown hair expands the shade options, though texture may be affected.
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Dyed Blonde Hair – Blonde shades like honey blonde and bleached blonde are created by dyeing darker hair. However, harsh bleaching can damage the cuticle. High-quality processing is needed for dyed blonde hair.
Hair Lengths
Human hair weave lengths can range anywhere from 6 inches all the way to 30 inches or more. However, there are a few common lengths that are most popular:
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10-12 inches – This mid-length hair is a popular choice as it provides a bit more length than natural hair but is still manageable. 10-12 inches hits around the mid-back on average.
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14-16 inches – Landing around the bra strap or mid-back, 14-16 inches provides noticeable length while still being easy to care for. This versatile length works for many styles.
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18-22 inches – For a long, sleek look, 18-22 inches is ideal. At this length, hair extends to the lower back and waist area. It’s great for voluminous curls or super straight styles.
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24-30 inches – Extra long 24-30 inch hair reaches all the way down to the hips and upper thigh area. This dramatic length is perfect for creating statement hairstyles full of length and volume. The weight requires some extra care.
For closures and frontals, common lengths are 4×4 inches, 5×5 inches, and 6×6 inches. The size indicates the dimensions of the lace base. 4×4 closures are versatile for addition coverage and blending with various installations.
Installation Methods
There are several popular methods for installing human hair weaves:
Sew-In
A sew-in weave involves sewing the wefted hair tracks directly to your natural hair using a needle and thread. Your stylist will cornrow your natural hair into braids first to serve as the base. The wefts are then sewn down to the braids using a zigzag or bricklay pattern. Sew-ins provide a very secure installation that can last 6-8 weeks. However, the tight braiding and sewing can damage natural hair over time.
Fusion
Fusion weaves use a keratin-based bonding glue to attach wefted hair extensions to natural hair. The stylist sections out small pieces of your hair and applies glue before pressing the weft onto the section. The glue forms a temporary bond that lasts 4-6 weeks on average. Fusion weaves allow for more flexibility in parting and styling compared to sew-ins. But the glues can be damaging to natural hair and scalp over time.
Clip-In
Clip-in weaves use pressure-sensitive clips sewn into a wefted hair piece, which can be clipped into natural hair for temporary wear. Clip-ins are the least damaging installation method since they don’t require braiding, sewing, bonding or heat. They can be put in and taken out daily. However, they don’t provide as secure of a hold as other methods. The clips can become visible or start to slip off throughout wear.
Tape-In
Tape-in hair extensions use double-sided adhesive tape bonded to wefts, which are then taped onto sections of natural hair near the roots. Tape-ins provide a quick install compared to sew-ins or fusion. But the adhesive can damage hair and strips used must be reapplied every 1-2 weeks as they start to lift. Tape-ins don’t last as long as other methods, typically 2-4 weeks at most.
Maintenance
Properly maintaining human hair weaves is crucial for keeping them looking their best. Here are some tips:
Washing: Only wash human hair weaves as needed, such as when they start to look greasy or feel product buildup. Use a sulfate-free shampoo made for extensions and gently wash in the direction of the hair. Rinse thoroughly.
Conditioning: Use a nourishing conditioner after every wash, focusing on the ends. Let the conditioner sit for a few minutes before rinsing out completely. Avoid getting conditioner on the roots as it can make them appear greasy.
Combing: Always comb human hair weaves gently, starting at the ends and working up to prevent excessive tangling. Use a wide-tooth comb or soft brush. Comb before washing as well.
Protective Styling: Keep human hair weaves in protective styles when not wearing them. Braids, buns and loose ponytails prevent tangling and damage. Use satin scrunchies and pillowcases too.
Heat Styling: Allow hair to air dry whenever possible instead of blowdrying. Always use a heat protectant before hot tools. Avoid over-styling and use lower heat settings to prevent damage over time.
Proper maintenance keeps human hair weaves looking beautiful, healthy and lasting longer. Follow these tips for washing, conditioning, combing and protective styling.
Costs
The costs of human hair weaves can vary greatly depending on the type, quality, and length of hair you choose. Here’s an overview of price ranges:
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Low-end synthetic hair weaves – Synthetic hair is the cheapest option, with prices starting around $10 to $30 for a basic weave. However, synthetic hair doesn’t have the same natural look and longevity of real human hair.
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Budget human hair weaves – For real human hair on a budget, expect to pay $50 to $150 or so. This can get you virgin or non-virgin hair in more common colors and textures. The quality may not be as consistent.
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Mid-range human hair – For better quality human hair, plan on spending $200 to $600. These weaves often use virgin hair with cuticles intact for a softer feel and more versatility in styling. You’ll get better consistency in the batches of hair as well.
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High-end and luxury hair – The highest quality hair with exotic origin and textures can cost $800 to $5,000 or even more. These may be highly limited batches of hair such as rare virgin temple hair that can be dyed to any color. Expect perfection in quality, feel, sheen and longevity.
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Custom or hand-tied wefts – On top of the hair costs, customized or hand-tied wefts rather than machine-made can add $100 to $500+ to the total price. The labor involved increases costs but provides a more seamless install.
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Hair extension installation – Getting your weave professionally installed can cost $100 to $300 on average depending on the stylist’s rates and experience. Luxury extensions and techniques may cost even more.
The cost reflects factors like quality, longevity, feel and appearance. Review your budget, hair needs and desired look when selecting a human hair weave. Proper maintenance also reduces costs over time.
Conclusion
Human hair weaves offer many benefits for individuals looking to change up their hairstyle. Here’s a summary of some of the key points:
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Versatility – Human hair weaves allow you to completely transform your look by adding length, volume, and different textures or colors. They offer much more versatility than wigs or extensions.
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Natural look and feel – High quality human hair blends seamlessly with your natural hair and moves naturally. The textures can be matched to your own hair for a seamless blend.
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Long lasting – With proper care and maintenance, human hair weaves can last 6 months or longer before needing to be re-installed. This makes them a cost-effective option in the long run.
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Protective styling – Weaves allow you to give your natural hair a break from heat styling, chemical processing, and environmental damage. They can be an excellent protective style.
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Confidence boost – A new look from a human hair weave can make you feel more confident and beautiful. It’s an easy way to change up your style and get the exact look you want.
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Low maintenance – Once installed properly, human hair weaves only require gentle washing, air drying, and occasional deep conditioning. They are lower maintenance than many other styling options.
So for individuals looking to switch up their style, add length or volume, or protect their natural hair, human hair weaves are a versatile and quality option. When properly cared for, they offer a natural look, feel, and movement that brings confidence and beauty.
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