It gets a little tricky when it come to “Hair Grades”.
There is 5A, 6A, 7A, 8A and some even claim 9A!
The defining factors have to do with cuticle direction, number of donors, and the thickness or condition of hair.
The top of the line is usually called 7A, 8A or 9A. We call ours “Raw”. The hair is thick, healthy hair that has never been treated with dye or henna, chemicals or heat from one donor with all cuticles aligned.
Another high quality option is usually categorized as 6A or 7A. This what we generally refer to as “Virgin”. The qualities are similar, the hair is thick, healthy hair that has never been treated with dye or henna, chemicals with all cuticles aligned. However, curl patterns are perfected through a non-chemical steam process and hair is likely from multiple donors.
Lastly, we have what normally falls under 5A or 6A. This hair is still 100% human with with all cuticles aligned. And it is not treated with dye, henna or chemicals. However, it would come from multiple donors and some donors may have had hennas or dyes in their hair. The curl patterns are also perfected through a non-chemical steam process.
100% Raw Hair Extensions:
(Our BareTress)
- The Highest Quality Hair
- Most Expensive
- Best For the Experienced
Pros: Highest Quality, Completely Chemical and Process Free, Lasts Longest
Cons: Varies by bundle, Requires more pre-treatment (ex: color, co-wash, etc.), Frequent maintenance required.
Pure Virgin hair, also known as raw hair, is the highest quality and most expensive virgin hair extension you can find. This is because the hair is kept in its most natural state. It is not chemically treated, dyed, bleached or permed. Nor is it treated with heat or steam.
In fact, it is taken directly from the head of the hair donor, gently washed and then bundled for sale. All cuticles are intact and in the same direction. This is why pure virgin hair extensions are smooth and silky to the touch. The hair is also resistant to tangling and matting.
As awesome as the hair is, it requires frequent maintenance to keep it in it's ideal state. This why we recommend it for the experienced hairgoer. Daily attention, frequent co-washing and wrapping at night are are must for this do. Without it, you will be disappointed. However, with the proper maintenance, you will be pleased for years to come.
When ordering this hair it's important to keep in mind that it is REALLY human hair from an actual human's head. As a result there are slight variations in color and texture since each bundle is from a single donor. Expect to prewash and color your virgin hair before install.
(Yes! We do custom color upon request)
100% Virgin Hair Extensions:
(Our HauteTress)
- High Quality Hair
- Less Maintanance
Pros: High Quality, Consistent Textures, Easy to manage
Cons: Won't last quite as long as Raw Virgin Hair.
Posh Remy Hair extensions are a great alternative for women that desire the benefits of a superior grade virgin hair, but still want the convenience and ease of use as that of the hair from the beauty supply store.
Unlike 100% raw hair, Remy hair extensions go through a stringent cleaning process to remove impurities and ensure a consistent texture. This may include application of heat, steaming and/or the use of stronger cleansers.
Our Virgin Remy is a very high quality option that is preferred due to our hair texture's consistency. Just like raw hair, each bundle comes from a single donor with hair cuticles unprocessed, intact and laying in the same direction. But the curl patterns are more uniform and consistent as they were accomplised through a non-chemical steam process.
100% Remy Hair Extensions:
- Quality Hair
- Less Maintanance
Pros: High Quality, Consistent Textures, Easy to manage
Cons: Won't last as long as Raw or Virgin Hair. Will not dye or bleach prpoerly.
As we mentioned, remy refers to the way the hair is collected. However when hair is simply referred to as Remy hair wothout the mention of "virgin" or "raw", it usually refers to the following criteria:
Remy hair extensions go through a stringent cleaning process as well, each bundle comes from multiple donors with hair cuticles intact and laying in the same direction. The donors hair may or may not have been dyed or treated with chemical or dye. The cuticle is likely to be removed and treated with a silicone. The curl patterns are uniform and consistent as they too were accomplised through a heat or steam process. The hair is usually pre-dyed to standard industry colors. (1, 1B, 4 etc) This hair is usually found in the beauty supply. We at Posh Remy Hair do not carry this kind if hair.