Hair extensions have transformed the beauty industry, giving people the freedom to enhance their hair length, volume, and texture with ease. But have you ever wondered how hair extensions are created? From sourcing human hair ethically to crafting beautiful clip-in hair extensions and permanent extensions, the process is fascinating and worth exploring. Here, we’ll unravel the story behind hair extensions, from collection to the final product, and even show you how to create your own bespoke set!
Where Do Human Hair Extensions Come From?
The journey of human hair extensions begins with the hair itself, often collected through donations or voluntary sales. One of the most sought-after hair types comes from regions such as India, China, and Eastern Europe. Another sought-after type is ‘Virgin Hair’ which is unprocessed and undyed and therefore has not been exposed to any damage. This hair is meticulously gathered and sorted to ensure it meets the high-quality standards required for extensions both in the UK and on a global scale.
The Magic of Remy Hair Extensions
One term you’ll often hear when discussing human hair extensions is “Remy.” Remy hair extensions are made from hair strands that are kept aligned with their cuticles intact and running in the same direction. This ensures the extensions remain soft, shiny, silky, and tangle-free. If you’re wondering whether a set of hair extensions are made from Remy hair or not, you can normally tell by a few simple visual cues. If the cuticles are broken, unaligned, or the hair appears dry, dull and is difficult to manage, then you are most definitely in the company of non-human hair extensions, meaning they are likely to be synthetic.
All our of hair extensions at Cliphair are made from Remy human hair, the gold standard for extensions – providing a natural look and feel that blends seamlessly with your own locks.
How Are Hair Extensions Created?
Every wondered ‘how are hair extensions made?’ – well, the process of transforming raw hair into clip in hair extensions and professional hair extensions involves several steps, each requiring precision and care.
Sorting and Cleaning
Once collected, the hair undergoes a rigorous sorting process. Hair is separated by length, texture, and quality. It is then thoroughly cleaned to remove impurities, leaving behind strong and healthy strands ready for transformation.
The Colouring Process
To create the wide range of shades you see in hair extensions, from Jet Black to Ice Blonde. the hair is carefully dyed. This process is meticulous, ensuring vibrant and consistent colour while preserving the hair’s health. For light shades, the hair is gently lightened, a process that can be taxing on the strands.
This is why it’s crucial not to bleach or lighten your hair extensions at home. The hair has already been processed, and further chemical treatments can weaken it, causing damage. Instead, we recommend selecting extensions in your desired shade from our extensive range of colours, a choice that can be guided by our Free Express Colour Match Service. For everything you need to know about dying hair extensions and when it’s appropriate to do so, you can read our extensive hair dying guide.
Double Drawn Perfection
One of the key distinctions in high-quality extensions is whether they are single-drawn or double-drawn. Double-drawn hair extensions are carefully trimmed to ensure that most strands are the same length from top to bottom, creating thick, luscious extensions with no wispy ends. At Cliphair, all of the hair extensions found in our Remy Royale collection are made from AAAAA grade, double-drawn hair, favoured by professionals for their unparalleled fullness and durability.
Creating Different Types of Hair Extensions
Creating Curly Hair Extensions
For our curly haired extension lovers, curly extensions add a touch of glamour and fun to any hairstyle. These extensions are crafted by treating the hair with a curling process that locks in waves or curls while preserving the strand’s integrity. The extensions are usually permed or steamed, and because they are set during manufacturing, they maintain their bounce and definition over time. However, permed curly hair extensions hold the curl for longer, while steamed extensions lose their shape much faster. Perming the hair can be quite harsh, so it’s not advised to heat or dye on pre styled extensions to preserve the quality and shape of the curl.
Clip-In vs. Permanent Hair Extensions
When it comes to choosing extensions, the options can seem endless. Clip in extensions are a versatile and non-committal choice, perfect for anyone looking to switch up their look for a special occasion or a night out. These extensions are easy to apply, remove, and style, making them a must-have for beginners and hair enthusiasts alike. Permanent hair extensions, such as tape-ins, nano rings or wefts, are ideal for those seeking long-term results. These extensions are applied by professional hairstylists and can last for months with proper care. They blend seamlessly with your natural hair and are perfect for adding volume and length with minimal effort.
Creating Bespoke Hair Extensions
Why settle for off-the-shelf when you can create your own personalised clip-in hair extensions? Crafting bespoke extensions is a fun and creative way to customise your locks and achieve the exact look you want. All you or your hairstylist needs is a high-quality hair weft, some snap clips, a needle, and thread.
Start by measuring and cutting the weft into sections that fit the width of your head where you’d like to apply them. Once you have your weft pieces ready, simply sew the snap clips onto the upper edge of each section. Be sure to securely stitch each clip so it holds firmly in place. And voilà – your very own clip-in hair extensions, made to perfectly suit your needs and style!
This DIY approach allows you to choose the exact type of human hair extensions and texture you love. With a little effort, you can create custom extensions that blend seamlessly with your natural hair, giving you endless styling possibilities.
Our Story and Ethical Approach
At Cliphair, we pride ourselves on sourcing hair ethically, working only with trusted suppliers to ensure the hair we use respects both donors and the environment. We ethically source the purest human hair where hair is voluntarily donated, and we work closely with our hair processing factory to ensure adherence to strict and fair ethical principles. We visit our suppliers and factories regularly, meaning we know exactly where our human hair extensions have come from and how they have been processed.
All of our hair extensions go through a rigorous quality control check before leaving the factories by renowned quality control experts SGS-CSTC Standards Technical Services Co., Ltd. Our extensions then go through a secondary quality check when they arrive with us in the UK. We actively go beyond the norm so we can deliver 100% human hair that is 100% ethically sourced.
Sustainability is at the core of what we do, and this ethos drives our commitment to crafting long-lasting, reusable hair extensions that minimise waste. You can read our full story and pledge to the environment here.
Conclusion:
The creation of hair extensions is nothing short of a masterpiece. From sourcing ethically collected human hair to crafting flawless Remy hair extensions that look and feel natural, every step of the process is carefully executed to ensure you look and feel your best. Whether you’re opting for easy-to-use clip-in hair extensions or committing to permanent extensions, the result is the same: a confidence-boosting, head-turning transformation!
