Extensions are a great way to switch up your look but spotting fake hair extensions can be tricky. Real human hair is very versatile when it comes to styling; getting a good bundle is a great investment. A lot of hair vendors lie about the quality of their extensions.
Human hair extensions are softer, shinier and longer lasting than synthetic hair, this is because they are made from actual human hair. Virgin hair is hair that has not been processed (dyed or permed) and have their cuticles intact.
A lot of time the cheap companies put silicones on the hair to make it look silky and then once you wash it, you realize that the hair is not all human and there are other fibers in it.
Here are a few tips to know how good your hair is.
- Research as much as you can. Go to your most trusted sources to find out all the information you need to decide on whether you should purchase or not. I have had three major experiences with purchasing human hair. I did a lot of research before purchase and I have had good luck with two purchases. The first hair though coated with silicones remained soft and held curls well. I recall buying the three bundles of 18 inches for N10,000 in 2014. The second was nothing to write home about, but I only bought one bundle to try it out. The third is my favourite and most expensive, and I was lucky to have known two friends who had bought from her. I advice you do as much research as you can, so you know what to expect. If you can, contact some of the previous customers that left reviews and make your own judgment.
- When you get the hair, check it for excessive shedding and tangling. When the wefts are combed, a couple of strands can fall out, but if they fall out in clumps or more than expected, then the wefts were poorly sown. Also, tangling and matting can occur with real hair but this happens if the hair cuticles are not well aligned. Run fingers through the hair to check for tangles, if the tangles are too much, it’s not good hair. Curly hair can be tricky, comb the hair thoroughly and you can add water to see if the curls would come back fully, the curls should return easily like any real human hair should.
- When you get the hair, check the fibres well. The best hair test is the “burn test”. Take a couple of hair strands and light it. Real hair burns, while synthetic hair melts.
- Also, the bleach test is a good way to know. Real human hair gets light really fast when bleached, depending on the grade while synthetic hair will probably burn.
One about purchasing human hair is that you probably may never know how good the hair is till you install it. After installation, you decide whether to stick to that hair vendor or not.
