Our goal in this virgin hair extensions guide today is to make sure you never get scammed by people on the internet selling fake hair. So, make sure you read up because we’ve got all the best-kept secrets in here.
One of the many terms that get thrown around a lot in the hair extensions space is the term “virgin hair.” This isn’t something that should confuse anyone because, well, we’re all born with it.
In simple words, virgin hair is hair that has never been touched. That is, the hair you came into the world with that has not seen any chemical or color treatment at all. To qualify as virgin hair, the strands must be completely free from bleaches, perms, and dyes. Highlights and ombre hair do not qualify as virgin hair. This niche is a pretty tight, narrow space.
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Qualities of Virgin Hair Extensions
Once virgin hair has come in contact with dye in color treatment, it can never go back to its virgin state. Virgin hair is, therefore, typically strong because it has never seen chemical damage. This is why virgin hair extensions are always high-end.
Another thing about virgin hair is that all the strands must be sourced from a single door. The cuticles must be intact, and they must all be running in the same direction. This is why they hardly get matted or tangled.
Virgin hair weaves are a popular and attractive choice among many weave users. This is mostly because virgin weave bundles are typically identical to one another. So, they make installation (for sew-in weave styles and wigs) quite effortless. And as long as you get your virgin hair from the right source, the hair can last you a very long time, remaining in the same style and pattern as when you bought it.
Virgin hair weaves come in a myriad of hair textures, what you know as Brazilian hair, Peruvian hair, Malaysian hair, Indian hair, European hair, and the likes. Now, when it comes to virgin hair (as well as remy and non-remy hair), don’t get fooled by the name of the country attached to the name of the hair.
Virgin hair is not usually sourced from the country attached to their name. They are typically sourced from China and then marketed under different names to denote their different textures. You could call them industry created names.
So, Peruvian hair is typically coarser, and thicker. Brazilian hair is usually light, shiny, silky, while Malaysian hair is typically heavier, softer, and silkier.
Benefits of Virgin Hair Weaves
1. With high quality virgin hair, you get more options when it comes to hairstyle options. You can get something that’s understated for everyday use and you can also make your virgin hair into an elaborate style for a wedding, for example.
2. Besides that, virgin hair is also low maintenance. So, although they cost a lot to purchase initially, since they are low-maintenance, they are worth it in the end.
3. Something most weave users fear about human hair is the shedding, it’s messy and it reduces the lifespan of the weave. Fortunately, because virgin hair has not been chemically treated at all, and is therefore undamaged, virgin hair strands are usually thick and strong. So, they don’t break easily and so shedding won’t be possible.
These benefits only apply to authentic virgin hair. At Spreadit, we shop directly from the manufacturers. That’s why we can always assure you of genuine virgin hair extensions.
Frequently Asked Questions about Virgin Hair
1. Is Virgin Hair Great for Hair Extensions and Weaves?
Well, the answer to that would be that it depends. Virgin hair typically lasts longer and is also pretty healthy too since it has never been treated. Now, here’s the thing about virgin hair. They have never been color treated and so chances are the virgin hair you get will not blend with the color of your natural hair. So, if your hair is not naturally dark colored, chances are virgin hair extensions might not be best for you.
However, if your hair is natural, it might be best to go with virgin hair weaves and extensions. They are a better choice for you as they would, most likely match your naturally curly hair much better than non-virgin hair. Plus, they last longer.
2. Is Virgin Hair Same as Human Hair?
Of course. All virgin hair extensions are human hair. However, not all human hair extensions you find are virgin hair. If the human hair has gone through treatment (perming, dyeing, etc), then they are not virgin hair. Click here to learn the difference between virgin hair and raw hair.
3. How Long Does Virgin Hair Last?
Virgin hair lasts longer than other kinds of weaves because it gets to you undamaged. You can expect your virgin hair extension to last for about 1 to 2 years if you take care of the hair properly. We already covered that in our last post. So, if you need help with that, check out our comprehensive guide on caring for weaves and wigs.
4. Can Virgin Hair Be Dyed/Bleached?
Well, yes you can bleach or dye your virgin hair weave. The good thing is that they get to you untouched. So, any chemical processing the hair has to go through, you hardly tamper with the structural integrity of the hair. But be careful though, it’s okay to use chemicals on your hair but avoid chemicals that are overly harsh. Once you take note of that, bleaching or darkening your hair shouldn’t be difficult.
5. Does Virgin Hair Tangle/Matte/Shed?
This is an area where virgin hair shines. Except you’re really careless with your hair, virgin hair does not matte, neither does it tangle.
As for shedding, it’s unavoidable. No matter how high quality a weave is, it is going to shed at some point. Shedding is normal but with virgin hair, shedding is minimal as long as the weft is still intact. That is, as long as the weft has never been cut. If you want to reduce chances of shedding even more, then we advise that you seal your wefts.
6. Can I Color My Virgin Hair Weave?
Again, yes. But be very careful. Generally, it’s much easier to darken the color of your weave than it is to lighten the color. If you’re not a hair professional, we advise that you leave the color treatment to a professional. Things can go south really quick if you’re an amateur.
Do not use your virgin hair weave as a DIY project. Virgin hair weaves are way too expensive for that. And if you must dye your hair yourself, then run a sample test with a small quantity of hair first. And use good quality dye only.
7. Can I Straighten or Curl My Virgin Hair Weave?
Again, yes. Virgin hair is like your own hair. It’s human hair and so it can be curled and straightened as you like. Nonetheless, we always advise that you resist the temptation to heat-style your hair.
Like your natural hair, excessive use of heat-styling is not great for your virgin hair extensions. You can damage the hair. It’s best to use a rod set or bendy rollers rather than use heat. Also, if you can’t avoid heat-styling, then, at least, apply a heat protectant to the hair first. Also make sure that you co-wash and protect your hair when you go to bed.
How to Know Real Virgin Hair
Virgin hair is pretty expensive, so it’s only commonsensical to be sure you’re getting the real deal before investing hard-earned money into it. We invite you to test your hairs using the methods we’re going to list below when you buy from us. We stand solidly behind our products and are, in fact, offering you a 100% money-back guarantee if what you purchased from our store was anything short of authentic virgin hair.
1. The Burn Test
When you burn virgin hair, it’s supposed to give off a burnt fragrance. Also, just like real hair, virgin hair burns pretty fast and turns into ash but leaves only a little residue.
If the hair you have smells like burning plastic, feels gooey, and leaves a lot of ashes, it’s most likely synthetic hair and not virgin hair. Synthetic hair also slowly melts into a ball when burned and gives off an elastic smell with dark smoke.
2. The Chemical Test
Virgin hair should contain no chemical at all. So, first off, give the hair a good sniff. If it smells of chemicals, then it most likely contains chemicals and, as such, is not virgin hair.
Another thing you can do is to test for chemicals using neutralizing shampoo. First, wet the hair bundle, then put a few drops of neutralizing shampoo and massage the shampoo into the hair. If the shampoo turns pink, then there are chemicals in the hair.
3. The Cuticle Test
Chemical treatment damages the cuticles of natural hair. Because virgin hair has never been treated, it usually has all its cuticles intact. So, another thing to look out for in virgin hair is the presence of cuticles. Cuticles should be present and running in the same direction.
Carry out this test by running your fingers down the length of the hair strands. As you go down the length of the hair, the hair should feel smooth, because the cuticles are all traveling the same direction — downward.
When going up though, you should feel some kind of resistance.
Any hair that does not respond to the cuticle test in the ways described above is not virgin hair and has had its cuticles stripped, most likely in an acid bath. For instance, for synthetic hair, running your hair up and down, the hair still feels smooth.
4. The Shedding Test
Comb the hair with a wide-toothed comb, if there’s too much shedding, you’re dealing with a fake. Yes, one or two strands are not out of place. But if you think it’s shedding too much, then it’s probably shedding too much and the hair is most likely fake.
5. Is It Too Perfect?
You’ve probably heard it said before, “if something seems too good to be true, it probably is.” The same goes for your virgin hair. Yeah, we understand. You want hair that is smooth and silky and bouncy with every step. But you may want to tone your expectations down a notch. If your hair gets to you and looks too perfect, get suspicious.
No matter how well cared for virgin hair is, it is going to be flawed in some way. In fact, that’s why you can trust that it is not chemically synthesized somewhere. That it is actually obtained from someone’s head as virgin hair is known to be.
So, expect a few split ends, some mild discoloration, maybe even one or two strands of grey hair. When you see these things, you can be sure that you’re dealing with some of the highest quality hairs in the market.
Still, on the quality of the strands, the ends/tips of virgin hair are usually lighter than the roots of the hair. If you don’t see that in your virgin hair, it might not be a deal-breaker as this varies from donor to donor. You could consider this a bonus tip.
6. The Price Test
This one is pretty straightforward. Virgin hair is not cheap. Think about it, why would any business person sell you honest-to-goodness virgin human hair for cheap? Doesn’t add up, does it? So, if the prices are too good, then know you’re probably forgoing on quality. You can’t have quality and cheap in the same sentence when we talk about virgin hair.
Nonetheless, this does not mean that you should go on the market for the most expensive hair you can find. There are many unscrupulous hair vendors out there, so you must be careful so you don’t get ripped off.
Don’t forget that at Spreadit, our virgin hair weaves are reasonably-priced and yet, high quality. This is possible because we source our weaves directly from the manufacturers in China and Dubai.
Plus, our staff in China also personally inspect your orders before they get to you so that you can rest assured that the hair getting to you is nothing short of original.
Finally, How Many Virgin Hair Bundles Should You Buy?
Of course, this would depend on the style you want to achieve. But here’s a general rule of thumb.
1. You’d need about 200 grams to 300 grams of virgin hair to make a full weave.
2. For a full and bouncy look, you’d be needing about 300 grams to 400 grams of virgin hair.
3. If you’re going for a length that’s longer than 18 to 20 inches, and you don’t want scanty hair, you should be thinking 400 grams to 500 grams.
If you don’t understand why we’re referring to hair in grams, then you haven’t taken our hair extensions crash course yet. Please, catch that here. And if you have more questions about virgin hair weaves and extensions, do let us know in the comment section. We’d be happy to help.
