Where Do Hair Extensions Come From?

Hair extensions have become increasingly more popular in the last decade or so. With extensions, you can add length and volume to your hair in a tiny fraction of the time that it takes to grow your hair long. They are perfect when you want to temporarily change your look without the commitment. But have you ever wondered where hair extensions came from?

First off, there are two different types of hair used in extensions: real human hair, or synthetic hair…

Synthetic Hair Extensions:

Synthetic hair is basically Barbie doll hair. I would never recommend using synthetic hair, unless it is extremely temporary. These types of extensions don’t blend with your real hair and will look really fake. You also can’t style them with any heat. I bought a synthetic clip in zebra striped piece, and tried to flat-iron it with low heat, but that was a fail. Now it is fried and looks horrible. I think these work best if you buy crazy, punky colors and wear them sparingly. Synthetic hair is used a lot in runway fashion, for that reason.

Back to where synthetic hair comes from… Synthetic hair is made of fine thread, designed to resemble human hair. Acrylic and polyester are the most common fibers used to make synthetic hair. These extensions are generally less expensive but won’t last nearly as long. Remember, you get what you pay for.

Human Hair Extensions:

Nobody really takes the time to wonder where human hair extensions generally come from. With hair extensions becoming so common these days, people care more about acquiring them than their origin. Don’t worry, they don’t come from dead people, hair salons, or anything along those lines. They come from people who specifically grow their hair out to sell it.

The three major regions that human hair extensions originate from are China, Russia and India. The Chinese and Russian women generally come from small villages and sell their hair to collectors for a lot of money. Sometimes the money they make can support them for a month or so.

In India, the women only cut their hair after a life changing event like a wedding or funeral. They generally donate their hair to a temple, which then sells their hair to collectors. After the hair is collected, it is cleaned, and most likely permed or colored. After the hair is arranged in bulk, it is packaged and sent to stores.

To read more about this, check out “Where do Human Hair Extensions Come From?”

Now you know where hair extensions come from!

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