Synthetic Hair VS Human Remy Hair: Which One Should You Get?

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#1 What is synthetic hair? 

Let’s first talk in detail about synthetic hair before we weigh its pros and cons as well as compare it to human hair. In simple words, synthetic hair is made of man-made fibers which are formed from polymers into very thin threads to imitate human hair. A few good examples of the materials used to make synthetic hair are acrylonitrile, silicon, PVC, silk, and other similar polymers. We’d always suggest finding out the material of the synthetic hair before you buy any so that you know how to care for it and what to avoid. There are many advantages to buying synthetic hair extensions, especially the fact that they’re much more affordable as compared to human hair extensions. Plus, synthetic hair extensions are known to retain their style even after they’ve been washed. However, it’s important to also note that you won’t see much variety while shopping for synthetic hair extensions, since they’re only available in clip-in, invisible wire extensions, and ponytail extensions. 

#2 What is human Remy hair?

Human hair extensions are exactly what the name entails. They are simply extensions made from 100% real human hair, originating from many different countries and available in many different classes. Although harder to maintain as compared to synthetic hair, human hair gives off an impeccably natural that blends in with your own hair perfectly. The way that human Remy hair differs from non-Remy hair is that its cuticles only go in one direction and only gets chemically processed for color or texture. This uniform placement of the cuticles in human Remy hair prevents the tangling of hair extensions and create a perfectly natural look. Human Remy hair is the most high-quality form of human hair, if not all extensions entirely, that you can get. Although this grade of hair achieves a most natural hair and lasts much longer than any kind of hair, human Remy hair is, well, human hair after all. It has to be taken care of as you would take care of your own hair; plus, it’s more costly too. However, this investment will always prove to be endlessly advantageous, so don’t let these facts scare you. 

Human Remy hair extensions can be divided into their own subcategories based on their origins and their type. The most commonly available ones are Chinese, Indian, and European hair, each of which have their own pros and cons depending on the buyer’s needs and budget. Chinese hair is the most affordable of the bunch and specifically preferred when going for sleek and straight hairstyles. Then comes Indian hair, which has the best quality and a reasonable price to pay for it. Indian Remy hair is mostly preferred for wavy or curly textures because of the thickness of the hair. European Remy hair has a quality just as high and sought-after as Indian Remy hair, but it tends to be quite pricier. 

#3 Quality Of Synthetic Hair:

When it comes to the quality of synthetic hair, there are a lot of conflicting statements out there. Let’s talk about the positive aspects of synthetic hair’s quality first. Synthetic hair extensions are especially great for first time buyers who don’t have much experience with using and caring for hair extensions. Since they’re not made from human hair, they don’t require the same level of attention and care and actually hold their shape and style even after being washed. This is convenient considering the fact that most synthetic hair extensions aren’t heat-friendly since they are made of plastic and will melt when you try to heat style them. Although there are some heat-friendly synthetic hair extensions available on the market, their quality isn’t too trustworthy and they also have a much shorter lifetime. On the bright side, synthetic hair is much more affordable and budget friendly in comparison and is ideal for those that just need it for a one-time use. However, it’s quite common for synthetic hair extensions to give a fake appearance due to the extra shine of the plastic, so we wouldn’t recommend it to anyone who’s trying to achieve a realistic look. Plus, synthetic hair isn’t available in many different types of extensions so you’re pretty confined when it comes to variety. They can last up to a few months.

#4 Quality Of Human Remy Hair:

Human Remy hair is popular mainly for its high quality, realistic look, and soft feel. Although they are considerably more expensive as compared to synthetic hair extensions, human Remy is considered to be the highest grade of quality hair available on the market and creates the most realistic result out of all. It’s available in a wide range of types of hair extensions and is safe for heat-styling, which creates more versatility for hairstyles as well. However, since it is made of real human hair, you have to care for it and treat it like you would your own hair, meaning you have to wash it and style it every time. This also means that human Remy hair doesn’t hold its shape or style after being washed. We would recommend human Remy hair only to those who are willing to invest their time and money for a completely healthy and realistic look. The pros of buying human Remy hair definitely outweigh the cons, which is why this investment is always worth it and will give you irrefutably impressive results. Human Remy hair extensions can last anywhere between 1 to 3 years. 

#5 Are they heat-friendly?

One of the most common mistakes made while using synthetic hair extensions is heat styling the hair. As we mentioned earlier, synthetic hair isn’t heat friendly at all and bleaching or coloring it is completely out of the question. Not only is the hair made of plastic and will melt when heat is applied to it, it’s also already gone through many chemical treatments. Heat styling will worsen the hair’s quality and make it brittle and unrealistic. Of course, there are heat-friendly synthetic hair extensions out there for you to shop, but they normally have unreasonable prices and don’t last longer than a few weeks. 

Human hair extensions are always heat friendly, and since human Remy hair is extremely healthy and thick, it’s safe to heat style whenever you want. However, just as you would protect your real hair, we would recommend either using heat protectant before heat styling or keeping your human Remy hair extensions healthy and hydrated to make sure the frequent heat styling doesn’t dry them out. High quality human Remy hair is safe to bleach and color, but we wouldn’t recommend it if you want to retain the softness of the hair and make sure it lasts a long time. Human Remy hair extensions are ideal for those that wear it long term and heat style in different ways and often. 

#6 Installing Synthetic Hair:

Synthetic hair isn’t available in many different types of hair extensions; some of the more easily accessible ones are clip-in, invisible wire extensions, and ponytail extensions, all three of which are fairly easy to install. We’ll start with a short guide to clip-in synthetic hair extensions, which are quite stable and resilient if you’re looking for something that stays in place all day. You can start at the nape of your neck, attaching the small given clips near the roots of your hair and working your way to the top. Make sure to attach the hair extensions in a u-shape so that they blend well into your hair and create a realistic result. 

invisible wire hair extensions are exactly what the name entails; they are shaped in a U or V and wrap around your head and are held in place with a discreet string that works as a headband that blends in with the rest of your hair. Installing invisible wire hair extensions is unbelievably easy; all you have to do is part your hair at the crown of your head, tie it into a bun, place the hair extensions’ band or string on your head like a headband, let down your bun, and you’re good to go! You can add a few pins and accessories to make the result more secure and realistic, but it’s completely essential. 

Ponytail hair extensions are wrap-around wefts that are used to add more volume to ponytails. These extensions are great for those women that are always on the go and need their hairstyles to be quick but chic. All you have to do is wrap them around your ponytail and hide the roots of the wefts with a strand of your real hair and wrapping it around the base of your ponytail. Secure it all with a few discreet bobby pins and you have a chic and quick hairstyle at your hands. As easy these synthetic hair extensions are to install, they are just as simple to detach since most women don’t prefer to wear synthetic hair for long periods of time.

#7 Installing Human Remy Hair:

Human Remy hair is sold in all the hair extensions types we mentioned above, but since it has more variety and demand as compared to synthetic hair, you can also find human Remy hair in hair toppers, weave-in hair extensions, tape-in hair extensions, micro link hair extensions, and many more. Hair toppers are the quickest and easiest solution to the problem of hair loss or simply wanting more volume in your look, all you have to do is attach the given clips at the crown of your head and brushing it to make sure it all blends in with your hair. Weave-in hair extensions, on the other hand, are a much longer commitment, since they are weaved into your hair individually with the use of threads. This method is stable, long-lasting, realistic, and resilient, which is why it’s important that you hire a professional hair stylist to perform the installation process for you and don’t attempt doing it yourself at home.

Tape-in hair extensions also have a name which is pretty self-explanatory and a method which is quite easy to follow by yourself at home. Simply section your hair, separate small wefts of it, attach it to the human Remy hair using the given tapes at the roots of the extensions, and repeat the process until you’re done. The result will be a well-bonded, realistic, and voluminous look. Micro-link hair extensions are another type that are best installed by professionals since they require each individual strand to be attached to the micro-link, which is a long and detailed but durable process. A few other examples are nano-rings, hair wefts, and fusion hair extensions.

#8 Care Instructions for Synthetic Hair:

Caring for synthetic hair extensions isn’t as time-taking and detailed as it is for human Remy hair, but this also means these extensions won’t last as long and won’t feel as soft and healthy. The first step to taking care of your synthetic hair extensions and preserving their quality is making they’re tangle free by brushing them often and thoroughly. Since it’s made from plastic, synthetic hair doesn’t need to be washed as frequently; once every few weeks is enough. When it’s time to wash your synthetic hair extensions, only use cold water and make sure to let them air dry after instead of using a blow dryer or rubbing it with a towel. Make sure your styling products are safe for synthetic hair and avoid heat styling at all times since it will deteriorate the quality of the hair rapidly and reduce its lifetime drastically. To prevent tangling after you’ve brushed the extensions out, hang the hair somewhere safe in a vertical position. 

#9 Care Instructions for Human Remy Hair:

Since human Remy hair is made from 100% real human hair, it requires the same amount of attention and care that you give to your own hair. Washing it every few days is an absolute must, and while doing so, make sure you’re using extra hydrating and sulphate-free shampoos, hair masks, and conditioners. Slowly massage the product into the hair and always avoid handling the extensions roughly or carelessly. Avoid using blow dryers and heat styling unless necessary, to retain the softness and healthy feel of the human Remy hair extensions. Keep the hair detangled and away from direct sunlight and you’ll be good to go. 

#10 Which one should you get?

There is no single and explicit answer to the question: which hair extensions should I get? It all depends solely on the needs, time, and budget. Both synthetic and human Remy hair extensions have their own pros and cons and serve the user in different ways. If you’re someone who’s a beginner in the world of hair extensions and wigs and doesn’t know the right way to care for them yet, synthetic hair is a good place to start since they’re available only in simple installation types and they’re quite low maintenance. They’re great for those that don’t have too much time in their routine to spend on their hairstyles or care for their extensions, for someone who doesn’t want to spend too much money on hair extensions, and someone who doesn’t plan on wearing hair extensions as more than a few times or for long periods of time. If that sounds like you, then you’ve got your answer. If you’re willing to invest your time and money into a long-term solution and impeccable quality and durability, then human Remy hair is your answer. 

Like we’ve mentioned earlier, the type of hair extensions you should buy are based solely on your preferences, such as what type of look you’re trying to achieve, how much you’re willing to pay, and how much time you can invest in taking care of the hair extensions and installing them. With our detailed pros and cons about both synthetic hair and human hair, we hope you can narrow your options down and come to an easier conclusion about which one you want to invest in.