With mentioning hair grade or hair extension classes, there are many customers really confused about what are the best grade hair extensions, or what is the best grade of hair to buy? In fact, there has been a lot of talk about different hair grades, since human hair extensions have become more and more popular in recent years and the human hair market was getting bigger with all kinds of extensions.

In order to distinguish the different qualities of virgin hair, the suppliers have come up with a hair grading system. A special reminder is hair grade system is only for real human hair, not including other materials.

With knowing the natural hair grade chart or system, it will be much easier to tell whether the hair is high, medium, or low quality. For example, you’ve got 5A, 6A, 8A, or even 9A 10A grade hair and that number determines the quality of your extensions. Below we will explain all the differences in simple and easy-to-understand terms.

9a hair

You will read in this post:

The Difference Between Hair Grades

Hair Extension Types

What Grade Of Human Hair Is The Best?

Let us first understand the evolutionary history of human hair weave grade.

The Difference Between Hair Grades

The hair grade system sounds pretty simple, but there is a lot of confusion! With the constantly changing markets, the grading system has changed over the years. What has once considered high-quality hair a couple of years ago (5A, 6A) has since become medium-quality hair. 

There are many hair companies that are not honest about hair quality. They may use top hair grades to sell you low-quality hair for a high price.

No one regulates the grading system. You can mark synthetic hair as 10A and sell it. However, you should still get a basic understanding of the whole thing. Just to avoid confusion and save some money in the long run.

It’s also important to learn about the different types of hair extensions. This ensures that you do know exactly what is going to come with your order.

Just like sheets with thousands of threads, these numbers are less relevant nowadays. Anything above 250 is a marketing sham, as proven by scientific studies.

10a hair

Hair Extension Types

Let’s quickly go over the most important hair extension types. There is 100% virgin hair, Remy hair, 100% human hair, and synthetic hair.

1. 100% Virgin Hair

This is the most expensive hair you can buy, and it has the highest quality. It is human hair with all the cuticles going in the same direction which hasn’t gone through any chemical or mechanical processing.

2. Remy Hair

Remy hair is also 100% human hair with all the cuticles going in the same direction, but it has been chemically or mechanically processed. It is also high-quality hair that will last you for a long time.

3. 100% Human Hair

100% human hair has not been mixed with synthetic hair, but it has been stripped of its cuticles and might be chemically processed. It will not last as long as 100% virgin or Remi hair.

4.Synthetic Hair

Synthetic hair has no human hair whatsoever and it’s completely synthetic this would be considered low-quality hair that won’t last for a long time.

body wave virgin hair

What Grade Of Human Hair Is The Best?

With learning different hair types, we will introduce what are 3A, 4A, 5A, 6A, 7A,8A,9A, and 10A human hair one by one.

1. 3A Grade Hair

This is low-quality hair that was not properly maintained by the donor and is very thin. Sometimes suppliers might add synthetic fibers or animal hair to the mix.

Grade 3A hair is chemically processed, could have an unpleasant chemical smell, has very thin, tapered ends that are often split. Such hair will shed, tangle, mat, and won’t last you more than a few washes. Please be aware that even high-quality hair might smell funky right after opening.

2. 4A and 5A Grade hair

This is a lower to medium hair grade that is great for hairstylist schools. Most of the time you can expect 100% human hair that is not Remy. The cuticles are stripped or do not go in the same direction.

what does grade 5a hair mean? 4A and 5A grade hair is on a thin side. Has a probability of tangling, matting and will last up to a month if taken care of properly. Lengths greater than 12 inches are not recommended. Otherwise, hair might fuse with your own locks and it will hard to get them out of your head. Grade 4A and 5A hair is of high maintenance and requires various detangling methods.

3. 6A Grade Hair

This is a budget-friendly option that is suitable for most women.

What is grade 6a hair? Grade 6A hair is Remy hair which means all the cuticles go in the same direction. Such hair has medium thickness and can be dyed to medium blond color. It’s recommended to let hair professional color your extensions. Grade 6A hair extensions work on straight hair up to 18 inches and last for up to 8 months.

If you take proper care, such extensions will work just fine as a high-quality budget hair. However, if you want curly hair or hair that’s longer than 18 inches, higher-grade hair is necessary.

4. 7A Grade Hair

A great option to reach the wow factor on budget.

what is 7a grade hair? Grade 7A is a high-quality Remy hair that has all the cuticles intact, often referred to as “Double Drawn”. Such extensions are thick, strong, and they will last for up to 12 months. Grade 7a virgin hair will shed and tangle much less than the other types and can be dyed on your own. A detangling shampoo is still recommended at least once every three months. You can reach a color that is as light as platinum blonde without causing much damage or dryness.

5. 8A Grade Hair And 9A Grade Hair

what is 8a grade hair? Grade 8a virgin hair and 9A is 100% virgin hair, which is pure human hair from a single donor. The hair was never processed in any way and has all cuticles intact. The price of 8A and 9A extensions is high with a lifetime of 1.5 to 2 years.

Please note: if you dye or curl virgin hair, it will no longer be virgin. Any processing will decrease the life expectancy of your hair extensions and is only recommended for women with #1B (black) color hair. Theoretically, you can dye grade 8a hair and 9A hair to a completely white color. It is much thicker than lower grade hair and has fewer short hairs mixed in the hair bundles. Will not tangle as much and is easier to maintain.

6. 10A Grade Hair

Grade 10A is the highest quality hair that you can buy, and it’s also the most expensive. It’s 100% unprocessed virgin hair from one donor with thick ends and strong structure. You can dye hair up to white color without much damage. Grade 10A hair will tangle and mat less than your own hair and does not require much maintenance.

Grade 10A extensions will last you for a very long time unless you process them. Some companies might sell 8A hair 10A. The difference? While both come from the same donor, one might have much thinner and not so healthy hair. Such extensions can cost thousands of dollars. Grade 10A is very thick and durable hair, the best grade of virgin hair you can buy at the moment.

lace front wig

Conclusion

With all the information in detail, If you want to use the best grade hair extensions, try to find 10A hair and identify them. If possible, you’d better ask for some samples before you place the order. And we advise you to check the brand history, the customer reviews on their site or the social channels, the hair price, shipping time, and other factors. If you have any queries, you can leave your message below or call us directly.