Human Hair Extensions vs. Synthetic Extensions: A Comparison

We often envy women with naturally long, voluminous, and thick hair. But not all women have this type of hair. Hair extensions are your best friend if your hair is short, thin, or lacks volume!

Extensions add length and volume to your hair, allowing you to style your hair into many different looks. In fact, hair extensions allow celebrities like Selena Gomez and Jennifer Lopez to rock unique hairstyles on different occasions.

While looking for hair extensions, you’ll come across two main types: human hair extensions and synthetic extensions. Knowing the differences between these extensions is important to choose the best option for your needs. Both types of extensions have their own pros and cons. Find out the key differences between the two before purchasing.

Looks


When you’re wearing hair extensions, they should resemble your natural hair for the best results. Otherwise, your extensions will look fake and overdone. Natural hair extensions are undoubtedly the winner in this aspect because they’re made of real human hair and have a natural appearance.

Since natural extensions are available in all shades, you can pick a color that matches your own hair’s original color. On the other hand, synthetic hair extensions aren’t as soft.

Although there is a wide range of synthetic extensions to pick from, they cannot beat the natural ones in terms of looks.

Styling


We all like styling our hair in different ways to suit the occasion. But styling your hair may become trickier when you have extensions. Natural hair extensions win here again!

You can style your natural hair extensions in different ways, just like your own hair.

The best part is that you can use heat styling tools, such as curlers and flat irons, on natural hair extensions. Whether you’ve got clip-in or tape-in extensions, if they’re made from 100% Human Remy hair, you can effortlessly wear them straight or curled. But, when it comes to synthetic extensions, they cannot bear the heating tools and different styling methods unless they’re proven to be heat-proof (which will cost you extra).

A perk of synthetic hair extensions is that you can use them in any weather. This is because these pre-styled extensions don’t get affected by humidity or heat, meaning you can wear them for long hours without having the style affected, even in muggy weather.

So, if you don’t want to stick to a fixed hairstyle, get natural extensions and experiment as much as you please. But synthetic ones might hold their style slightly better if the weather is humid and you need a long-lasting style. Of course, you can use plenty of extension-safe styling products to hold styles with natural human hair extensions, too.

Maintenance


Human hair extensions and their synthetic counterparts require different levels of care and maintenance. If you wear pre-styled artificial hair extensions, they’re simple to maintain, as it’s advisable to take them off before you shower. You can wash them every two to three weeks, or if you don’t apply any product to the extensions, you can skip washing them for over a month.

Natural hair extensions, however, need special care. You have to be extra careful with washing, brushing, and applying products to these extensions. As a general rule, you can wash them after every 15-20 wears. Avoid washing them too frequently.

Use a mild shampoo free of sulfates to clean your natural hair extensions, and then blow dry them for a fluffier look. Also, avoid applying too many products to these extensions because it can damage and decrease their lifespan.

Pricing


There is a considerable difference between the prices of human and synthetic hair extensions. The synthetic ones are pocket-friendly and easy to find. Human hair extensions are expensive because they are made of real human hair, which naturally costs more.

If you’re on a budget, synthetic extensions could be a quick fix to hold you over until you can afford authentic ones. But if you’re looking to make a beauty investment for your hair, you should always go for human hair extensions because they’re versatile and look entirely natural, which makes them worth every penny.

Longevity


Getting hair extensions is an investment, and you must see through the value you’ll receive. Synthetic extensions don’t cost a lot, but they have a shorter lifespan.

Conversely, human hair extensions cost more upfront but can last longer with proper care. Ultimately, this is why many shoppers view them as a more economical investment in the long run.

On average, synthetic extensions last for two to three months, while natural ones can stay intact for over a year with proper care. Natural hair extensions are worth the money if you’re looking for a hassle-free and long-term solution.

Final Words


Hair extensions can boost your confidence and open you up to new style opportunities. If you’re suffering from thin, short hair or want to be experimental with your looks, invest in quality hair extensions. We recommend authentic human hair as the best real hair clip-in extensions because they’re versatile, look natural, last longer, and are easy to apply and remove.
December 16, 2022
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