Origin and Types of Virgin Hair
Where is the best virgin hair from?
What is Brazilian hair?
What is Malaysian hair?
What is Peruvian hair?
What is Mongolian hair?
What is Russian hair or Russian Federation hair?
What is Cambodian hair?
What is machine-wefted hair?
What is hand-tied hair?
What is Yaki hair?
Authentic Virgin Hair
How do I choose the best authentic virgin hair?
Why is my authentic virgin hair dull—shouldn’t it be silky and shiny?
Are all authentic virgin hair extension pieces different?
How can I check if I’ve purchased authentic virgin hair extensions?
Other/Fake Virgin Hair
What is fake virgin hair?
If fake virgin hair can be dyed and washed, why should I buy authentic virgin hair?
What is the difference between beauty supply store extensions and fake virgin extensions you can buy online or from other retailers?
Why are beauty supply store extensions and fake virgin extensions so smooth and silky when I first buy them?
Why does my fake virgin hair smell like corn chips?
Why did my fake virgin hair begin to melt when I tried to bleach it?
Why is there a red string in my fake virgin hair?
Why is there synthetic hair in my fake virgin extensions?
Why are my hair extensions light brown or multi-colored?
Why can I buy virgin hair for $50 per bundle from international trade websites?
Remy and Non-Remy Human Hair
What is Remy versus Non-Remy human hair?
What is the source of Non-Remy human hair?
What is the source of Remy human hair?
What is Southeast Asian Remy human hair?
What is virgin Remy hair?
Where is the best virgin hair from?
Hair from India is usually fine, silky, and wavy. Hair from Southeast Asia is thicker and straighter. No matter which texture you prefer, make sure the company is selling authentic virgin hair and offers you a replacement if the hair is defective.
Brazilian hair is very popular, and many companies are selling Brazilian virgin hair. Yet there is no hair-collecting culture in Brazil. Brazilian manufacturers actually import large quantities of Non-Remy hair from India, process it, and export it as high-grade Brazilian hair. None of the hair actually comes from Brazilian women.
Malaysian hair is either Indian or Chinese Non-Remy human hair that has been acid-washed and coated with silicone. This hair does not come from Malaysian women.
Peruvian hair is either Indian or Chinese Non-Remy hair that has been acid-washed, coated with silicone, and labeled Peruvian hair. Peru does not have a hair-collecting culture.
Mongolian hair can only be purchased from China. It’s Indian or Chinese Non-Remy hair that has been acid washed, coated with silicone, and labeled Mongolian hair.
What is Russian hair or Russian Federation hair?
- If the Russian hair is a natural color and priced below $100 per 18-inch piece, then the hair is actually Indian Non-Remy Hair.
- If the Russian hair is a lighter shade, then it’s Indian Remy hair that has been bleached or dyed to replicate Caucasian hair. While there is some virgin hair collected in Russia, the supply is very limited.
Authentic virgin Cambodian hair exists, but it’s very rare and expensive. Cambodian hair is thicker and darker than Indian hair and usually has a slight wave. Like Indian hair, it has split ends. If you purchase the hair directly from Cambodia, expect to pay no less than $150 for an 18-inch piece. If you pay cheaper retail prices, you are not purchasing authentic virgin Cambodian hair.
Machine-wefted hair is commonly known as hair on “tracks,” or a weave. Hair is stitched together with a sewing machine. There are many different methods of sewing. Diva Divine uses the strongest, most shed-resistant method.
Hand-tied hair is a method to bind hair together through hand sewing. The advantage of hand-tied wefts is that they are very thin compared to machine-wefted hair.
Yaki hair mimics relaxed or pressed African-American hair. Manufacturers sometimes use a chemical process to make the coarse texture of yaki hair. This is the cheapest and most damaging way to produce it. A more expensive method is to secure the hair in big perm rods, wrap a textured cloth around it, and steam it. This gives the hair a coarse texture with much less damage. Here at Diva Divine, our yaki hair is known as relaxed straight hair, and it is produced through steam-perming.
How do I choose the best authentic virgin hair?
Find a company that sells Remy human hair and not fake virgin hair. If the hair is being marketed as virgin hair but costs less than $100 for 20 inches, it is actually Non-Remy fake virgin hair. If you buy it, you may as well go to the beauty supply store down the street and purchase the same quality hair for $20 a pack. It’s best to go to a store selling authentic Remy virgin hair and choose from a range of pieces. You’ll need to match the pieces. The customer service representatives should know where the hair is from, how it is processed, and what maintenance is required to keep it looking great. If you’re buying online, call the company and ask if they can match the pieces for you.
Why is my authentic virgin hair dull—shouldn’t it be silky and shiny?
Remy human hair is usually not silky and shiny in its natural state. If there are no heavy conditioners applied, then it’s just virgin human hair.
Are all authentic virgin hair extension pieces different?
Yes! Just as all women are unique, no two pieces are identical. Our extensions have natural variations in color and texture.
How can I check if I’ve purchased authentic virgin hair extensions?
There are six ways to see if the hair you purchased is virgin:
- There must be split ends. If the hair does not have split ends, this means the hair has been acid-washed and the cuticles have been stripped.
- You can feel the cuticles. Hold a strand of hair near the top between your thumb and index finger, and slide your fingers down the entire length of the hair. The hair should feel smooth. If you reverse the motion and slide your fingers up the strand, the hair should have ridges—these are the cuticles. If the hair is smooth both ways, the cuticles were stripped by an acid wash and you’ve purchased fake virgin hair.
- The ends of the hair will generally be lighter than the roots. This is more prominent in Indian Remy virgin hair because many women work outside in India. This won’t be as common in hair from Southeast Asia and China, where the sun is not as strong.
- The moustache/beard at the weft is short. The moustache/beard is the hair that has been stitched to the track and reversed so the hair does not shed. In virgin hair, the moustache/beard must be very short to avoid tangling. If the moustache or beard is long, the cuticles will catch on the long flowing hair.
- The hair is not coated with silicone. If the hair has a shiny residue on it, then it is silicone-coated Non-Remy hair. Remy virgin hair doesn’t have this coating.
- The hair does not smell like corn chips. Authentic virgin hair will not contain chemical residue, and it hasn’t been overly processed.
Many international suppliers call their extensions virgin Remy hair. In reality, they’re selling Non-Remy hair that has been acid-washed and blended with synthetic hairs. These extensions contain many short hairs that add bulk near the roots. We call this fake virgin hair—it’s cheaper because it’s lower quality. When you buy it, you’re buying the equivalent of a knockoff purse.
If fake virgin hair can be dyed and washed, why should I buy authentic virgin hair?
- Authentic virgin Remy hair has not been damaged or overprocessed, so it lasts longer. When fake virgin hair is acid-washed, the hair is damaged. The acid wash also reduces the thickness of the hair, and it becomes more prone to shedding. The silicone coating only creates the illusion that the hair is healthy.
- Virgin Remy hair can be washed frequently to remove oils and product buildup without affecting its quality.
What is the difference between beauty supply store extensions and fake virgin extensions you can buy online or from other retailers?
Beauty supply stores, websites, and other low-quality retailers essentially sell the same hair. The only difference is how the hair is processed. Beauty supply store extensions are made of Non-Remy hair that has been acid-washed, bleached, dyed, and bathed in silicone. “Fake virgin” hair is Non-Remy hair that has been acid-washed and bathed in silicone, but not bleached or dyed.
Why are beauty supply store extensions and fake virgin extensions so smooth and silky when I first buy them?
Beauty supply store extensions and fake virgin extensions are silky and smooth because of their silicone coating, which reduces tangling at first. This hair will always feel very smooth in the store, and when you touch it there will be a greasy residue left on your fingers. Once the silicone is washed off, the hair will dry out and become a tangled knot.
Why does my fake virgin hair smell like corn chips?
This is the smell of cheap acid and cheap silicone mixed together.
Why did my fake virgin hair begin to melt when I tried to bleach it?
Fake virgin hair will melt if it contains synthetic hair fillers, which are cheaper than human hair. Synthetic fillers will melt when heat is applied.
Why is there a red string in my fake virgin hair?
The red string is a filler used by Indian collectors of Non-Remy hair to add weight to their hair. The quality assurance process for Non-Remy hair is minimal, and they are cheating their customers.
Why is there synthetic hair in my fake virgin extensions?
Synthetic hair is mixed with Non-Remy human hair to reduce the price of the extensions.
Why are my hair extensions light brown or multi-colored?
Remy virgin human hair from India will never be completely the same color throughout an extension. It will usually be lighter near the ends. Remy human hair from Southeast Asia will be more consistent in color but still not uniform. Fake virgin extensions are generally lighter brown than authentic virgin hair because they have been acid-washed, a process that removes some pigment. If synthetic or animal hairs are mixed in, the hair will be multi-colored.
Why can I buy virgin hair for $50 per bundle from international trade websites?
These websites are selling fake virgin hair that is actually Indian Non-Remy hair. Because there are no regulations, Chinese manufacturers can market their hair with false labels. Their extensions are cheap because: 1) they are using the cheapest hair possible, 2) they are using the lowest quality chemicals, 3) they blend synthetic fibers into the hair, 4) they put many short hairs into each piece, and 5) each bundle has less hair. If you receive poor-quality hair, these companies won’t offer a replacement.
What is Remy versus Non-Remy human hair?
- Remy human hair is natural. When you examine Remy hair through a microscope, you’ll see that the cuticles look like little scales. When all the scales flow in the same direction from the roots to the ends, the hair won’t tangle easily. At Diva Divine, we pride ourselves on using only Remy hair.
- Non-Remy human hair tangles easily because the cuticles are flowing in opposite directions. Unfortunately, 98% percent of all extensions are made from Non-Remy hair.
What is the source of Non-Remy human hair?
- The vast majority of Non-Remy hair is sourced from India.
- Most women in India have very long hair. When they brush it, strands get caught in their brushes. Some women collect their fallen hair and sell it to local collectors, who then sell it to manufacturers. Every strand is used—including grey hairs, dyed hairs, and hairs with lice, dirt, and oil.
What is the source of Remy human hair?
- Only 2% of hair extensions in the world are Remy human hair. Most of this hair is sourced from the temples of South India, where devotees shave their heads as a sign of devotion. When the barbers at the temples shave the heads of women with long hair, they carefully tie the hair in a knot to keep all the strands flowing in the same direction. This one simple act creates the difference between Remy and Non-Remy hair. Unprocessed Remy human hair is more expensive than processed Non-Remy hair extensions from China and Brazil.
- Once the manufacturers receive the Remy human hair, they wash it and sort it to remove grey hairs and impurities. Only 50% of the hair purchased from the temple actually ends up in the extensions. The rejected hairs are then exported as Non-Remy hair to China.
What is Southeast Asian Remy human hair?
Southeast Asian countries are another source of Remy human hair. This hair is privately sourced from villages throughout the region.
At Diva Divine, we use the “virgin” label to distinguish our authentic Remy hair extensions from what you find at the beauty supply store and other retailers. Diva Divine was one of the first companies in the US to sell authentic virgin Remy hair. Diva Divine hair extensions are the industry standard.