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Human vs. Synthetic Hair: What's the difference?

October 21, 2017

Many people have a hard time deciding between purchasing Human hair extensions or Synthetic hair, and then others probably never even knew there was a difference! Well this is where I come into play, I'm going to let you in on the secrets of each and show you the pros and cons of both types of hair.  

One of the first questions many people ask is which one will last longer? With proper care and protection, the Human Hair extensions will last around a year where as the Synthetic will only last a few months. With knowing how long they'll last, many people wonder which is easier to care for to keep them in prime shape for the length of their life. Synthetic hair is definitely the easier type to maintain because you don't have to frequently wash them but when you do all you need is a little wash, dry, and shake them out. We love the 5 PC Care System for Synthetic Hair by BeautiMark, it has everything you need to upkeep your synthetic extensions!

If you're wanting to style your hair using hot tools, you'll definitely want to make sure you get the right type of hair. Unless it is stated that the piece is "Heat Friendly," most Synthetic hair extensions will melt when hot tools are used on them. Only heat-friendly synthetic can be styled with heat, but all Human hair can because they function like our own hair! If you want a synthetic set that is heat-friendly, we suggest trying the  23" Grand Extensions by hairdo! Although many synthetic hair extensions can't be styled with heat, they maintain the style better and will not fall in rain or humidity like human hair does. This is definitely one of the biggest pros of synthetic extensions, it's a dream come true to be able to go out in the humidity and have your hair stay perfectly curled! 

A major difference between synthetic and human hair is the feel and quality of the hair itself! I'll be honest, human hair has an amazing feel and looks so natural people will mistake it for your own hair. It also has so many textures and shades in each piece that there is always a color to match perfectly to your bio hair. This is a huge advantage when purchasing human hair extensions! Now I'm not saying synthetic extensions don't look natural, because with the right shade and installation, they will blend seamlessly too. These extensions just have a different feel and look to them, synthetic hair is known to have more of a shine and a fiber feel. 

I'm sure before purchasing you're probably wondering how much you will spend if you purchase Human vs. Synthetic. Well, it depends on the brand and the kit itself, but Human hair can range from $76 - around $400 where as synthetic usually stay between $50 - $85. The human hair is much more expensive because of the higher quality and natural look as described earlier. Human hair extensions are definitely an investment, but the longer lasting high quality pieces are definitely worth the cost. Now, this is not to say Synthetic aren't great too, because they will still look very natural if you choose the right color and will give you the added length you've been dreaming of. 

There's pros and cons to both, but each serve the purpose of adding gorgeous length to your hair. Find which features you are most interested in, whether it be perfect permanent style or a natural feel, and that will help you decide between purchasing a human or synthetic set of extensions. Hopefully these pros and cons help you make your decision easier, but I can promise you this...whichever type of extensions you get on our site you won't be disappointed.