The FAB Beauty team recently got through to Sleek to help us with questions that are usually burning at the back of the minds of a lot of ladies. Hair is an important part of the female body and a lot of people pay more attention to their hair than even their face.
There seems to be a few difficulties in getting it right when it comes to hair though. From fake weave to badly fixed weave to treatment routines gone bad and more. The FAB Beauty team is using this avenue to inform and help educate ladies on the frequently asked questions on all that has to do with hair.
1. Does weight come into differentiating between real and fake hair?
Some companies often use synthetic hair to give packets of human hair a fuller, thicker appearance. As synthetic hair is heavier than human hair it will also increase the weight of the packet of hair . However weight is not always the most obvious way of detecting whether synthetic fibres have been mixed with human hair, as most products weigh on average 108 grams. The touch and feel of the hair are bigger indicators of whether the hair is genuine or not.
2. How can you tell whether real hair has been mixed with synthetic hair as can be the case with some bundles?
A detailed scan of the hair on close inspection will reveal whether there are strands of hair that are shinier than others. This is often a tell tale sign that the hair comprises of a mixture of human and synthetic hair. Human hair will also feel extremely soft when massaged between the fingers, strands of synthetic hair has a harder more rigid feel. If the hair is gathered in the palm and held upright a little way up from the ends the hair should flop over a little, synthetic strands will cause the hair to remain upright.
The most obvious way of detecting synthetic strands is to burn the ends of a few random strands of hair. The residue of burnt human hair will turn to ash, while the residue of synthetic hair will clump together. This is a sure fire way to test at home whether synthetic fibres are lurking in amongst human hair fibres. Hair that tangles and sheds is often not an indication that the packet contains synthetic fibres, as human hair is sometimes prone to dryness which causes and tangles.
3. What advice would you give to avoid being conned into buying mixed or fake hair? Based on touch/feel?
The price is often a dead give-away. This is not saying that good quality, affordable human hair cannot be found, however if hair is being retailed a lot cheaper than average market price, approach with extreme caution.
Also, become your own quality inspector! Look at the hair, rub the hair between your fingers, or even smell the hair. Human hair should smell like hair freshly done hair at the salon, a little bit like a blow-drier has been through it.
4. How can you maintain a combination of real mixed with synthetic to keep it looking natural and nourished?
Mixed hair can be a great investment. Synthetic hair can often act as reinforcement for human hair, which can sometimes be weak and prone to breakage. Mixing human hair with synthetic hair can prevent the hair from frizzing, or curly styles from losing their curls, so maintenance can sometimes be less intensive. The hair will still require a lot of moisture, so ensure a leave in conditioner is applied to the hair at night and a moisturizing lotion is used on the hair on a daily basis.
5. There are so many options for ‘real’ hair from Peruvian. Brazillian, Malaysian, in reality which one is the best and how can you differentiate between them?
When it comes to natural virgin hair, there really is no best- it all depends on the user’s personal preference. Brazilian hair is often from India and has a fine strand density. This hair is great as it is multi-functional and has the ability to go curly when wet.
Peruvian hair has a medium strand density and is a stronger, more resilient hair type. It is often poker straight and is ideal for women that subject their extensions to multiple washing and heat styling. The choice of product really does depend on the client’s use of their hair extensions.
6. What type of ‘real’ hair would you recommend for different hair types?
We offer a variety of products to suit differing hair needs. European women will benefit mostly from our European weave products as this hair type is processed to match Caucasian hair. For those with thicker hair textures (and Afro Caribbean clients), our Yaki products are a great match. We also offer one of the largest selections of curl patterns for women with curly hair types. Women who like to heat style and wash their extensions should invest in a product from our top tier Virgin Remy ranges and ladies that want a custom colour should go for any hair from our Virgin hair ranges.
7. Can mixing two different types of ‘real’ hair eg. Brazillian x Peruvian, be ideal or is it better to stick to one origin?
Ideally it is best to stick to one product type as different hair types give different performances. Our Brazilian hair for example comprises of fine hair with a soft, wavy texture. It also develops soft waves when moisturized. Our Peruvian hair on the other hand has a medium strand density and is comparatively thicker, the hair is relatively poker straight and does not have waves or become wavy when wet. If the two are mixed the result will be a style that is a mish-mash of conflicting textures.
8. What is the difference between ‘virgin’ and ‘non virgin’ hair?
The definition of Virgin hair varies from company to company as the industry offers no standardized definition. Sleek defines Virgin hair as hair in its purest form. This is hair has been left unprocessed and remains in the same condition as it was when removed from the donor’s head (the hair is simply washed and conditioned). Virgin Remy is the same as Virgin hair, but differs in that this unprocessed hair type still has its natural cuticle layer in tact and as a result is longer lasting than regular Virgin hair- it is the healthiest type of Virgin hair. We sometimes process Virgin hair by re-colouring it and adding a coated layer for optimum preservation and performance.
9. Why is human hair so expensive?
The cost of human hair is impacted upon in a similar way as other natural entities such as coal, oil and gas. As human hair is a non renewable item, supply is gradually becoming more and more scarce resulting in sellers charging higher prices as the hair becomes rarer and rarer (similar to precious metals such as Gold & Diamonds). The labour cost of producing hair has also been steadily on the increase, reflected in increased prices.
10. What hair care tip would you have for dying ‘virgin’ hair? Or would you not recommend use of dye? Why is it not possible to dye ‘non-virgin’ hair?
Our virgin remy hair products are perfect for dying as they contain live cuticles. This is the reason why non Virgin hair types are undyable as they do not contain live cuticles. We recommend that re-colouring of our hair is only undertaken by a professional hair stylist well versed in the technicalities of hair colouring. Our re-coloured Virgin Remy hairs will require more intensive re-colouring due to its protective layer, so while many customers have seen great at home results, we always recommend colouring is carried out by a professional.
11. Any particular hair care routine for wigs, weaves, extensions?
Keeping the hair moisturized is the key to securing optimum levels of performance, especially true for human hair extensions. Overall the best maintenance advise is;
1. Treat the hair with care. Extensions that are well looked after performs the best.
2. Keep washing and heat styling to a minimum as they impact greatly upon the lifespan of the extensions. Once per week is the ideal maximum, even less for human hair wigs.
3. Moisturize daily to keep the hair strands soft & supple. Invest in a good quality silicone based moisturizer that should be applied to the hair once daily, and apply a leave in conditioner at night.
12. Wearing hair extensions can sometimes damage or pull out our hair, how do we avoid this?
When hair extensions are professionally applied, any damage to the wearer’s hair is kept to a minimum. We always recommend that extensions are applied by a professional. To minimize damage post application, when combing the hair always comb through from the ends to the roots, taking care to hold the extensions near the root to minimize any excessive tugging, which can irritate the scalp. It is important to keep the hair tangle free in order to avoid having to constantly tug at the hair which might irritate the scalp. Also avoid applying extensions to the same parts of the head in order to reduce tension a build up of tension in the same spot.
13. Why do you think African-American women get more flack for wearing fake hair than women of other races do?
This is a touchy subject steeped in cultural issues. Majority of Afro-Caribbean women have naturally tight, kinky hair. Opting to wear long, flowing hair that is often bone straight can be seen by some as a mark of a woman’s rejection of her racial identity. As suppliers of hair extensions, we see no wrong in offering women a choice, as some women wear extensions for health reasons or because they find natural afro-Caribbean hair difficult to maintain.
14. In your opinion, do hair enhancements like wigs, weaves, and extensions play a misleading role in how we define beauty these days?
Sleek are here to give women the freedom to express themselves creatively through hair. As long as a woman is confident enough to know that extensions are simply an enhancement of her beauty and not the only source of her beauty, we are proud to be a part of her style evolution.
Do you have more questions or suggestions to ask and add? Drop your comments below and share your personal tips