How Much Hair Do I Need When Buying Hair Extensions?

Hair types vary in hundreds of ways, from length, to thickness, to texture, to color. Women have a huge task set out for them when it comes to caring for their hair. Knowing how to care for an individual hair type can be difficult and confusing, as there are so many options and products to choose from. This holds especially true for women who are interested in applying hair extensions, as all aspects of this process depend on the individual’s hair type. Women who are trying to determine how much hair they need to buy should first familiarize themselves with the extension basics, such as the types of hair extensions and the numerous methods of application.

Once buyers are familiar with the different hair extension options and comfortable with the hair extension type that is right for them, they can then assess how much hair to purchase based on their own hair features and desired look. You can purchase hair extensions from their local beauty supply shops or from certain salons that carry them, where hair stylists and specialists can assist in choosing the correct type and amount. Alternatively, buyers can shop online at Amazon for endless brands and types, all with pictures and clear descriptions for comprehensive evaluation.

Hair Extension Description

Hair extensions are pieces of synthetic or human hair that come in a variety of lengths and colors and can be attached to the scalp to give the wearer the appearance of longer, fuller hair. They come prepared in several different ways and can be applied in even more ways, including glue bonding, clip-in, and braiding. Women who are considering applying hair extensions should first be aware of all their options involving application and hair quality before making a purchase.

Types of Hair Extensions

The first step in understanding hair extensions is learning about the difference between the hair types available. Each type has specific benefits and can be used in specific ways according to the needs of the wearer. Determining the type of hair needed will depend on the your’s budget, available time, and desired look.

Human Hair

One hundred percent human hair extensions usually generate from Asian countries like Vietnam, China or India, but can come from European donors as well. They are by far the most natural-looking extensions, as they are the closest to the wearer’s real hair. Maintenance is also easier with human hair, as it can be washed and styled normally.

Synthetic Hair

Synthetic, or non-human hair extensions are generally made from a kind of plastic and are not as high quality as 100 percent human hair. Maintenance must be applied carefully, as the plastic will not wash and style the same way as regular hair will. However, synthetic hair extensions are considerably cheaper to buy than human hair extensions.

Mixed Blends

Some hair extensions can contain a blend of both human hair and synthetic hair, which allows for a cheaper, middle quality extension that should be tended to carefully. The human hair blend also offers a slightly more natural look than the purely synthetic extensions.

Remy vs. Cuticle

There are two ways for hair extensions to come prepared. The first is Remy hair, which means that the cuticles of the hair all lay in the same direction. This type of hair mimics the way natural hair falls on the head, and keeps the hair from having a matted look. Hair extensions may also come with the cuticles still attached, but laying in all different directions. If this is the case, the wearer may have to take extra care that the extensions lay flat on the head with hair products and styling. Lastly, hair extensions may also come with the cuticle of the hair removed. This allows for a silkier, smoother feel, but it also means there is less overall hair to be had, and these extensions will not last quite as long as ones with the cuticle still attached.

Weft vs. Single Strand

Another aspect to think about when purchasing hair extensions is whether to purchase weft hair or single strand hair. Weft hair is hair that comes attached to a track in long pieces. It can be machine sewn or sewn by hand and is applied to the scalp on this same track instead of piece by piece. This type of extension is usually cheaper and faster to apply; however, it tends to give a matted, unnatural look.

On the other hand, single strand extensions are extensions that come piece by piece and attach at the scalp in small amounts as needed. These are usually more expensive and time-consuming to apply, but they also give a more natural appearance and can be styled to the wearer’s taste.

How to Determine How Much Hair is Needed

Once women understand the different types of hair extensions and their many methods of application, they can then move on to determining how much hair they actually need to purchase. As a general rule, the average head needs about 100 to 120 strands of hair extensions to complete the process; however, different brands come packaged with different strand amounts, and weft hair is determined differently, which further complicates matters. Overall, the hair amount will depend on a number of things, such as the wearer’s natural hair features, as well as the type of hair she plans to purchase.

Hair Length

Women should first consider their desired hair length when trying to assess how much hair to buy for extensions. Buyers may purchase longer strands of hair, but they should be aware that the longer the strand, the smaller the width, which makes for thin hair. A buyer wishing to purchase longer hair extensions will need more strands than a buyer wishing to purchase shorter ones.

Hair Thickness

Next, women need to consider their own hair’s natural thickness before buying extensions. If the buyer’s hair is thin, she will need to purchase more strands or thicker wefts in order to get their desired look.

Strand or Weft

Lastly, women will need to decide whether they want single strand or weft hair before deciding how much hair to buy. If they wish to purchase weft hair, they will need to assess its weight, which should average anywhere between 75 to 250 grams, based on hair length. If they wish to purchase single strands, the average is about 100-120 strands per head.

How to Buy Hair Extensions on Amazon.com

Buyers can find their desired hair extension type and amount by shopping online at Amazon.com where they may browse hundreds of options, all of which include a photo and a description of the hair. Vnvirginhair.com also offers competitive prices and various styles and colors in order to provide the buyer with the most choices available.

Searching on Amazon.com

Searching on Amazon.com for hair extensions is an easy process and can be done a few different ways. The first way is by simply typing in the keywords "Raw Hair”, “Weft hair”, where you can then browse through your choices and narrow them down by selecting options like price and condition.

Another way to narrow down your search is by selecting specific categories, such as “Machine Weft Hair”. From there, choose “Straight machine weft hair”, and then choose Item. This will open up a number of additional options, such as hair length, color, and style.