Hair FAQ

What are Hand-Tied Hair Extensions and Hand-Tied Weaves? If you have done some in-depth research on hair extensions and lace wigs then you have most likely heard the terms “Hand-Tied Hair Extensions”, “Hand-Tied Weave”, or “Hand-Tied Wigs”. If you ran across these terms, you probably also noticed that hair extension products that use hand-tied hair are sold at a premium price. Nevertheless, what is not apparent is why they cost so much and why you should want hand-tied hair extension products.  What is Hand-Tied Hair?  Hand-tied hair extensions and hand-tied wigs are based on the same wefting method. A hair weft is essentially a seam that holds all of the base ends of the hair together. Machine-wefted hair is fed into a machine and weaved tightly into the seam. This happens in a manner similar to that of the sewing machine. Hand-tied hair is actually manually woven into the weave by a human and custom attention is given to each weave. The difference in the end products is similar to the differences between hand-sewn seams and machine sewn seams.  Slimmer is Better  The hand-tied hair weft is usually significantly smaller or slimmer than the “normal” more common machine-wefted hair. Hair that is machine-wefted tends to be bulkier because the weave itself needs to be hefty enough to get a good hold on the hair and also because it is being done by a machine. So why would you care? The hair extension weave or weft is the only part of the extension that NO ONE wants anyone to see or feel. It is the tell-tell sign of hair extensions. The slimmer the weft then the easier it will be to hide and the less-likely that someone will detect it if they touch your head. Additionally reduced bulkiness permits a more natural free-flowing solution. It can provide a lot more natural appearing body and volume as well. These characteristics make it an excellent choice for building Lace Wigs as well.  Don’t Mistake Slimness for Weakness  The hair on a hand-tied hair weft is also much more securely attached to the weft. This is important because it means that each strand of hair will remain attached to the weft much longer than their counterparts who are machine-sewn into the weft. Hand-tied hair extensions therefore last longer. They don’t thin out near as quickly as machine-wefted hair extensions. Hand-tied hair wefts dramatically reduce shedding and therefore allow for much longer wear.  Options and Limits  Hand-tied hair wefts are available in various lengths and textures. The wefts are usually sold in 10-inch widths (from one end of the weft to the other end). Given the nature and value of the hand-tied hair extension you won’t want to compromise the hand-tied hair’s integrity by cutting it into shorter widths. It is suggested instead that you use the whole piece without cutting it. If the weft exceeds the needed length of the targeted track, then merely fold over the end and double-up the weft to the length that is needed. Stagger these if you expect need to fold subsequent wefts.  Limited Installation Methods  Hair-tied hair wefts are intended primarily for weaving (sewing to tracks formed from the clients hair) or for hand sewing, such as to Lace Wigs. Some adventurous experimenters have attempted to bond the hand-tied weaves; however, most find this rather difficult given the slimness of the weft. This makes it quite difficult to apply the bonding glue to the track without getting it on the extension’s hair. This can get quite messy. And of course, you definitely won’t want to try fusion installation methods because they would generally be a waste of the premium characteristics of hand-tied hair extensions.