If you have been anywhere near an African-American beauty salon recently, you must have heard people talking about virgin hair. It’s a term that’s been on everyone’s lips lately — and for good reason. To help you keep up with the latest hair trends, we have gathered everything you need to know about virgin hair.
What Exactly Is Virgin Hair?
When we throw this term around, we are referring to hair that is as natural as possible. It has never been dyed, curled, permed, bleached, straightened, or in general, subjected to any other kind of high-heat or chemical treatment.
Moreover, high-quality virgin hair usually comes from the same donor. All of the hairs are of the same color, length, and texture.
If we look at individual hairs under a microscope, we should be able to see that the hair structure is smooth, with all of the cuticles pointing the same way. Chemical treatments and hair dyes can compromise the natural structure of hair, making the cuticles look frizzy or damaged.
The best donors of virgin hair typically come from Brazil, India, and Malaysia. You can find strands in all natural colors and textures, from straight to wavy and curly.
How Is It Different from Remy Hair?
Hair connoisseurs might recognize the term “Remy hair.” When it comes to hair extensions and full lace wigs, Remy hair is a popular choice.
Remy hair can come from different donors. It is assembled very carefully so that the cuticle directions of the individual hairs match. Remy hair is soft and silky, which explains why it’s so popular.
However, virgin hair is a type of Remy hair of superior quality. Typically, Remy hair might have been dyed or treated, though it retains an overall high degree of health. Virgin hair is Remy hair that has avoided all harsh chemical treatments and is thus extra shiny and soft.
In other words, virgin hair is of the highest quality among all Remy hair types. Because the donors have never treated their hair with harsh chemicals, bleach, or other coloring agents, this type of hair flows beautifully and looks stunning in full lace wigs and extensions. It does not matte or tangle easily and can last multiple weaves.
What You Need to Know if You’re Buying Virgin Hair
While virgin hair sounds and looks fantastic, there are a few things you need to know.
First off, there is the price. This hair is not cheap. But that is hardly surprising, considering how rare and unique it is. You are paying for quality and endurance here. If you are kind to your weave, it can last up to a year.
Nevertheless, virgin hair does require quite a bit of maintenance. Remember, this is real, premium-grade we are talking about. You need to look after it as if it is your own hair, and then some. We are talking proper washing, conditioning, masking, minimal exposure to heat and hair dyes, and so on. Learn how to care for your hair properly here.
How to Tell if the Hair You’re Buying Is 100% Virgin
Some ill-meaning virgin hair vendors might try to sell you a lower quality product at premium prices. But fear not, as there are ways to avoid such scams.
The most reliable way to tell if the hair you are looking at is the real deal is with a microscope. You can buy a pocket microscope that connects to your smartphone on Amazon for $10–$20. It’s a minor expense that will save you a lot of trouble.
Thanks to this little tool, we can look at the hair structure properly. Note the direction of the cuticles. If they seem smooth and all running in the same direction, that’s a good sign.
But if you’ve been paying attention, you will know that Remy hair also has healthy-looking cuticles. So, our next check is the sniff test. If the hair has been chemically treated or dyed, you will know.
The hair will either smell too perfumey to be natural (as salons often use heavily-scented products) or like actual chemicals. Natural, virgin hair should not have much of an odor at all.
Lastly, we should look at the color of the hair. Most virgin hair vendors sell dark hair. As we mentioned earlier, the best hair donors come from India, Malaysia, and Brazil — there aren’t too many blond or ginger-haired people there.
It is possible to find lighter shades of virgin hair too, but they are quite rare. So, if virgin hair vendors are trying to sell you blonde or red virgin hair, think twice and whip out that pocket microscope.
What Is the Best Hair for a Full Lace Wig?
If what you are looking for is a natural, easy to style hair, a full lace wig is the way to go.
As the name suggests, the entire wig cap is made up of lace, with hair sewn through it. Front lace wigs only have the lace go around the front of your scalp. They can create the appearance of a natural hairline at the front only.
However, full lace wigs are much more flexible. Because the entire cap is made up of lace, you can reveal your scalp anywhere you choose. This flexibility makes full lace wigs perfect if you want to style your hair, wear it up and down, experiment with your part, and so on.
A full lace wig means we are going for a natural look, so it is best to get a wig made with the highest quality hair. That is why virgin hair is best for full lace wigs. It will look healthy and beautiful, and you will be able to style it any way you want.
The Best Virgin Hair Vendors Out There
In the ideal case scenario, you should find virgin hair at a salon so that you can inspect it in person. Nevertheless, not all salons might have what you want. Plus, shopping online tends to be cheaper.
Here are some of the best online virgin hair vendors. You can find both extensions and full lace wigs in their shops.
- Beautiful Princess
- Ali Pearl
- Beaudiva
- Sapphire High-End Hair
- Queen Mary
- Ali Grace
- Luvin
- Bling Hair
- Cynosure
- ISEE
Conclusion: No Bad Hair Days Ahead
As the finest of the fine, virgin hair will definitely up your hair game. Whether you are in the market for extensions or a full lace wig, virgin hair offers an exceptional look and feel. With a virgin weave, others will be turning their heads to take a better look at you.