Raw vs. virgin
how can you tell?
How to Effortlessly Differentiate the Two
Hair extensions have become so popular among women lately. As more and more women are looking for ways of accessorizing their looks, it is important that they are fully aware of the options available to them, ranging from prices, quality and variety.
The hair market has become saturated with various types of wigs and extensions, not to mention that one can now choose between raw and virgin human hair. This makes it even harder for one to choose what perfectly meets their needs.
Listen, whether you’ve been using hair extensions for years or you’re just starting, it is important to understand the fundamentals associated with hair extensions. In this blog, we discuss the differences between raw hair and virgin hair. I know you could be thinking, “aren’t they the same thing?” Well, they are not. If you are hoping to get full satisfaction from your purchase, you better read on.
What is raw hair?
Interestingly, raw air is exactly that: raw, unprocessed human hair. What do I mean? Unprocessed hair has not undergone any form of chemical, steam or head treatment.
Raw hair is in its purest natural form. Its quality is top notch and if cared for appropriately, can last several years.
However, raw human hair is hard to find. By the time raw hair gets to the shelves, it has undergone a rigorous sanitization process. Finding raw hair donors is also not a walk in the park.
Raw hair donors mainly come from Cambodia, India, Burma and Vietnam. The hair from these donors does not have a defined curl pattern hence you will hardly find the body wave and curly type of extensions.
Raw human hair is silky, very straight and can only be available in the natural wave and straight style. They are close to the coarser textures as compared to virgin hair. Sometimes, raw hair can also be available in the curly pattern as well.
Something unique about raw hair is that no two bundles are the same. I am not saying that the difference will be so conspicuous, it is just that no two bundles will be identical. This is because the hair cannot be processed to achieve a uniform pattern.
Raw hair not only means that they hair has not been chemically or heat processed ut also that it has come from a single donor. This means that the whole bundle has been obtained from one donor.
The increase in demand for raw hair has made it increasingly difficult for hair companies to provide a full bundle that has been obtained from one donor. For this reason, sometimes raw hair can also be obtained from more than one donor, provided it is not processed in any way.
Legit hair companies will state whether the hair has been obtained from a single donor or not. The hair quality will still be high regardless of the number of donors provided the cuticles are aligned.
What are the Raw Hair Options Available?
The most popular raw hair types include:
Raw Indian hair: Mainly comes in the popular light brown colors. It is very popular with ladies that wish to blend their colored leave out with their hair extensions.
Raw Vietnamese hair: This is the queen of straight textured hair. If you are looking for a super smooth, silky look, then this is the hair for you. The Vietnamese hair extension also blends well with natural hair.
Raw Cambodian hair: This tends to be very full and has a wider variety of curly styles. If you are the type of girl that loves a “big-hair-don’t-care” look, then this is your plug!
What is Virgin Hair?
Phew! We are done with raw hair and can now learn more about virgin hair; the heavy hitter.
Virgin human hair is very popular in the hair extensions space.
Most hair companies claim to be selling virgin hair and if not properly informed, you might end up being scammed of your hard earned coin. No girl, we wouldn’t want to see that happen. Education is Key!
Virgin hair is natural hair that has not undergone any chemical processing and that includes dying, heat styling, coloring or perming. Chemical processing of hair leaves it looking more beautiful with a uniform curl pattern. Sometimes the strands are coated with silicone to make it shinier.
What the types of Virgin Hair Options Available?
The most popular ones are:
Peruvian: highly durable, thick and coarse
Brazilian: shiny, light and silky
Malaysian: softer, heavier and silkier
Please note that the naming does not indicate the county of origin. These are just terms within the industry that help in marketing and identification of hair quality within a hair company.
How Do I tell if it’s Genuine Raw Hair?
Honestly, there is no 100% fool proof method of telling weather a given bundle is real raw hair. The following tips should have you in a better position:
Check out for the word RAW in the product description
Find out from the company. A quick call or email is all you need
Read reviews. Don’t go buying without doing a background check.
Buy from a trusted company.
Try it out! Actually this is the best way to tell. When brushing, combing and touching, check out for any shedding or tangling. However, the true nature of a bundle comes out after a number of wears and washes.
Virgin hair vs Raw hair, which one should I go for?
It’s a matter of preference!
Do you love the trendy textures and patterns that come with virgin hair or would you prefer the coarser and more natural advantage that comes with raw hair?
Both types have their pros and cons but the overall experience should be a beautiful one if you purchase legit bundles.
Both virgin and raw hair are good!
