The Difference Between Raw Hair and Virgin Hair

The popularity of hair extensions, add-ons, and installations continue to grow in 2021. Whether you’re new to hair or not, it’s important to understand the different qualities and options that you have at your disposal. With all kinds of hair extension types on the market, it’s not always simple either.

Today, we’re talking about the difference between raw hair and virgin hair. At first, they may seem like an identical quality type. But the two hair types have significant differences that may cost you more or less money after you get your hair done.

What is Raw Hair?

Raw hair is as authentic as it gets. It’s 100% unprocessed hair collected from a single donor. The hair is removed from a donor and instantly bundled to preserve the natural direction. The raw hair that you receive is pretty much right from a donor. Raw hair is pure to the point where it hasn’t even been steamed before.

No chemicals are added to raw hair including anything that colors, relaxes, or perms it. Ultimately, raw hair is the best quality extension you can ever possibly have. You can still find raw hair with straight, wavy, or curly textures just like other types of extensions.


What is Virgin Hair?

Virgin hair hasn’t been processed at all with chemicals. That means the virgin hair had no previous coloring, bleach, perm, or dye. Sometimes a hair manufacturer adds chemicals to the hair if it’s not in great condition. In other instances, the manufacturer may add color to the hair to suit the needs of consumers. Since virgin hair doesn’t have any of these chemicals, it’s also authentic just like raw hair. However, there’s a key difference between the two.

It’s not uncommon for manufacturers to steam press the hair. Raw hair that is steam pressed falls into the virgin hair quality type. So why would a manufacturer steam press the hair? It creates personalized and unique styles. Textures such as curly and wavy are possible from the process of steam pressing.


Raw Hair Vs Virgin Hair

Raw hair and virgin hair are both top quality choices for consumers. The priciest hair extensions available are going to be raw hair due to its limited availability. On the other hand, virgin hair is also fairly expensive because of its authenticity. However, virgin hair is going to cost you less than raw hair would because it’s slightly less pure.

Virgin hair is a more popular choice because of its versatility thanks to steam press. It has a bunch of textures available such as deep wave, body wave, or kinky curly.
Raw hair is so natural it can only be used for one of the three textures that it’s bundled with: straight, natural wave, and curly.

If you make the investment towards raw hair, you should expect a longer lifespan out of it than virgin hair. Raw hair could last around 4 years with proper maintenance. Virgin hair on the other hand, should last up to 2 years with great care.

Whether you choose raw hair or virgin hair, you’ll be receiving a premium extension. The choice is yours to make, so go with what suits you best more than anything!

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