A common question asked by many customers is,
what grade of hair do we use in our wigs? Our answer is always "REMY"
or "NON-REMY". When labels like AAA and AAAA+ are seen on websites
and packs of hair extensions and other similar products, people wonder what
these grades mean. They are meant to be hair grades; but the reality is, no such
grades exist. There are basically, two categories of hair on the market, “REMY”
which consist of 100% human hair with cuticles that are aligned in the same direction. “REMY” hair can also be processed hair, but
it is still 100% human without fillers.
“FILLERS” can be made up of animal (horse, or yak hair)
and (plastic) synthetic fibers.
These fillers are used to expand hair supplies and keep cost low, also
to allow hair manufactures to supply the heavy demand for hair. “NON-REMY” hair is primarily scattered hair
with the cuticles removed. “NON-REMY”
hair can be 100% human hair also with the main distinction being the absence of
cuticles, but many times it is blended with non-human hair fillers as well. Scattered hair is hair that was collected
with cuticles going in different directions, cuticles are removed to prevent
tangling and matting. Consumers should also be aware that the chemical used to flatten or remove cuticles can be damaging and shortens the lifespan of the hair.
This also goes to say
that the labels or grades used by companies are just marketing strategies.
The second most common question is why is your hair so
expensive?
The answer is because we use 100% “REMY” real human hair
without fillers. We test our hair
products to insure it’s quality and the reality is you get what you pay
for. A “REMY” human hair ponytail cut
from a donors head can cost from $500 on up and it can take up to 8 ponytails
to make one human hair wig.
It’s therefore important to educate yourself as regards to the
different hair types and the rationale behind the grades to avoid falling
victim to these marketing pranks used by manufacturers. This might involve you
trying to find out more about the source of hair you are about to buy.
One of the major sources of human hair is India and
ironically, the hair types they have are “REMY” and
“NON-REMY”, substantiating the claim that those hair-grading systems are only a
marketing strategy. The increasing growth in the hair industry is a commendable
and encouraging development; However this growth has not been met with
corresponding growth in the quality of hair products as the percentage of true
hair sold in the market is very low compared to the size of the market and the
fraction taken by chemically processed hair.
Since China is the primary user of the hair grading system,
and the law only requires just 20 percent of the product to be human hair for
the label to read 100% human hair, you can be sure that the hair
extension you have on is worth less than a quarter of the price you paid for
it.
Reputable hair companies that have stood their ground through
the years have been able to establish a name by staying away from the grading
system that has been perfectly used to fool unsuspecting consumers. Such
companies either label their products “REMY” or “NON-REMY” as the case may be.
It is not uncommon to see labels that read “VIRGIN REMY HAIR”.
This normally should reflect the hair quality without fillers and any permanent
processing. However many companies are labelling “VIRGIN REMY HAIR” when the
hair has been dyed or permed processed and blended with fillers. Remy hair as
explained above indicates that all the cuticles are intact, while virgin means
there have been no chemical additions that could alter the features of the hair
during the processing. So basically a product with such description indicates
these features.
The term “European Virgin Hair” is also used on
labels describing whom the hair is made for, not for where the hair comes from.
European hair sold in China is not from Russia or Europe.
Hair with fillers can look and feel just like
100% pure human hair fresh out the pack, however it will change after several
washes when the silicone and other softening chemical agents are rinsed away.
