There are many suppliers of hair extensions on the market, so it can sometimes be a hard decision working out who to buy from. What makes things more complicated is that many sellers claim they are providing a product of a certain standard (for instance, Remy hair) when in fact they aren't, and are using an inferior cheaper quality hair in production.
So what exactly is Remy hair, and why is it such an advertised and sought after quality in the hair industry? Put simply, Remy hair is hair that has been obtained from a single donor, and is the full length of the strands, from the root to the end. Because it is from a single donor obtained all at once, all the cuticle will run in the same direction. Remy hair differs from Virgin hair in that it is often permed or colored, but retains the cuticle. The cuticle is the outer layer of the hair made up of overlapping layers of long cells, all aligned in the same direction like the tiles on a roof. Their free edges are directed towards the tip, and protects the hair from outside elements as well as locking in necessary moisture. As such, there is no substitute for 100% authentic Remy hair.
Non-Remy hair is hair that hasn't been obtained from a single donor - it may be collected off numerous people or fell onto the ground and swept up, without ensuring that all the cuticles are running in the same direction. As you can imagine, this is cheaper hair that won't have the glossy smooth appearance of Remy hair - a dead giveaway is that the hair will start tangling often (as the cuticles aren't running in the same direction), and is much cheaper to buy as well: with respect to hair, you pay for what you get. To try and reduce tangling, they descale the cuticle with chemicals and then coat the hair in silicone to make it appear soft and shiny again. However, this is a temporary fix as at this point the hair is very damaged with a destroyed cuticle, and when the silicone comes off the hair becomes a tangled mess.
Unfortunately, many manufacturers mix Remy and non-Remy hair together to maximise profit - they sell it as 'Remy hair' when in fact it isn't. The only way you would ever know is by comparing it to genuine Remy hair, which will feel so much softer, look better, and last much longer (without the tangling). So how can you ensure you buy genuine Remy hair? Firstly, because of the strict quality control and superior product, be prepared to pay a little more - as a result, it will last so much longer and look so much better (and you will save time not having to constantly brush and maintain the hair, and having to untangle it!).
At LAhair, we ONLY stock Remy hair - we source the highest quality hair and ensure we manufacture it to the highest standards possible. We pride ourselves on selling the best quality clip-in hair extensions available, so if you want to look like you have just rolled off the red carpet and live in the Hollywood Hills, then look no further!