Virgin hair refers to the hair that has not been processed in any way and is completely intact. Its origins date to the ancient Egyptians. Having a long, elegant hair was reserved only for those of high birth whereas the slaves and other folks had short cut hair. So when an aristocrat was bald or had a hair growing problem he would buy virgin hair. It was very popular in eighteenth century when it was used by men and women as was the fashion at the time.

To qualify as virgin hair, it must satisfy numerous requirements including the following: the hair must never have been dyed, bleached, colored, permed or chemically processed in any way. Also, the hair should not be exposed to certain harsh agents such as cigarette smoke, drugs or any other harmful vapors. It is implied that the hair comes from a single donor, usually a woman; all the cuticles are intact and are running in the same direction. This is very important as the cuticles protect the hair from the elements and give the hair a healthy vibrant look. Since the cuticles are running in the same direction the hair is very resistant to tangling. It is collected by tying off the hair to maintain the direction of the cuticle and then cut. After the hair is cut and collected it can be sewn on a weft, pre-bonded, made into wigs or left in bulk form. The whole process is meticulous and time consuming. Such requirements are quite strict and hard to satisfy, but result in the most premium kind of hair extensions. Some examples of virgin hair have been selling for up to 100,000$.

In recent years there has been a boom on the human hair extension market and virgin hair is in high demand. That is best seen in the variety of products that are being offered. You can buy Indian, Peruvian, Mongolian, Malaysian, Brazilian and even Russian virgin hair. However, due to the strict and demanding requirements that are needed for hair to be called virgin on one hand, and high demand on the other, one must be cautious while purchasing, as the market is often overwhelmed with cheap non genuine virgin hair. The bulk of the hair on the market is coming from India or China, although Southeast Asian countries are emerging on the extension scene.

While Indian tends to be the more cultivated premium hair, it’s not so much about where the hair comes from as it’s about how it’s processed and the end results. Look for reputable vendors that have minimal complaints of shedding and bulky wefts. The hair needs to be evenly distributed on the weft for a good install. Take note of luster, as shiny hair is harder to blend, and understand that ‘low luster’ is most definitely processed and it’s not a bad thing. Low luster hair blends better for women with highly textured kinky hair. And lastly, you want hair that feels like real hair and is soft to the touch. These are all things you can find out with a little bit of research.

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