How to check hair extension quality before you pay

Photos and promises do not tell you much. A sample and four simple tests tell you a lot.

1. Cuticle test

Run a strand between your fingers from root to tip, then tip to root. Remy hair feels smooth one way and slightly rough the other.

2. Wash test

Wash the sample 5 to 10 times. Silicone-coated hair feels perfect at first and then turns dry and tangly.

3. Stretch test

Wet a strand and stretch it gently. Healthy hair stretches and returns; over-bleached hair snaps.

4. Colour bleed test

Soak a strand in warm water. The water should stay clear.

Ask for paperwork

Ask for a written specification (length, weight, drawn level, shade) and a batch number before you pay.

Buyer Questions

Do you sell sample kits?

Yes. The sample cost can be taken off your first order.

Keep reading.

Remy Fundamentals

What is real Remy hair?

Remy hair means every strand runs root-to-tip in the same direction with the cuticle intact. A hair manufacturer explains what qualifies, what does not, and how to verify it.

Comparison

Remy vs non-Remy hair

The technical and commercial differences between Remy and non-Remy human hair, how non-Remy is made to behave like Remy, and what happens to each after ten washes.

Specification

Machine Remy vs virgin Remy

Machine Remy and virgin Remy are two different products at two different price points. What separates them technically, and which one your order actually needs.