How do I differentiate between processed and unprocessed hair? By Gael Farjon

                       Source @Chandra_Hair

This is a question that I get asked alot. As a hair manufacturer and distributor, I will try to answer it as best as I can as many
manufacturers are clearly not honest about this particular subject. Real unprocessed hair has been directly cut from a donor, wrapped in order to preserve the cuticle direction and untreated in anyway. Its luster will be low and the hair will feel harsh/rough. Its wave pattern will remain intact after multiple washes as there is no steam process to create a curl, the waves/curls are 100% natural.

 For example, my wife who is of indian origin, has long thick black wavy hair. When she wakes up, her hair is bushy and tangly and very wavy. After a slight brush or conditionning, her hair becomes silky and smooth, she can straighten it and the waves will always come back to their natural state. If I were to cut her hair in a ponytail, this would be a single donor 100% unprocessed bundle.

Source @Chandra_Hair

Processed hair is hair that has been altered. As manufacturers, there are many reasons to alter the hair:

- using certain products will make the hair look better and feel softer which is more presentable for resale.

- certain textures such as curly, S shape bodywave, deepwave are made using steam. These processed curls will hold a couple washes then lose their textures
 This is the first sign your bundle is processed : is the curl pattern identical throughout the hair?

- to transform low quality hair into nice looking hair. I will go into details on a next post but basically, this is the main reason we process hair. Lower quality hair costs less to produce and can be resold at a more affordable price. Such process involves products that prevents the hair from tangling and softeners to make the hair silky.

                       Source @Chandra_Hair

Unprocessed hair looks dry and harsh before a good condition treatment. Such hair can last 3 years if well maintained. Indian temples are the biggest source of real raw unprocessed hair. Russia, Ukraine and other countries also have  unprocessed hair industries.

                       Source @Chandra_Hair

Processed hair will last anywhere from 3 months to a year or more depending on the process applied  and the type of hair utilised to make a hair extension piece:   is it good quality cuticle hair? Was it fallen hair? Did the process involved acid or just steam pressure to texturize the hair?) Some processed hair extensions are very high quality such as remy processed hair where the cuticle is intact and just steam is used to create textures whereas some processed hair weaves are made from fallen hair (non remy) where acids are used to remove the cuticles. These extensions are usually very shiny because of the acid process and extremely soft and untangly as there are no more cuticles. They will tangle after a couple washes and last less than 4 months.

                       Source @Chandra_Hair

In general, most hair out there is processed simply because single donor bundles are rare and expensive. One factor that will never lie is the price: there is no way to find real cuticle intact unprocessed hair in the 30$ range such as grade hair from chinese factories. I hope this article will help you, hair lovers, to make a better more informed decision when purchasing hair extensions, wigs ect. In my next article I will explain more about the different processes used in manufacturing as well on how to tell between cheap processed hair and high quality processed hair.

                            About The Author

 My name is Gael Farjon. I am an entrepreneur in the hair business. I have been involved with selling hair since 2011. I initially started with a retail brand then moved to wholesale then manufacturing. 

I am the co-owner of Chandra Hair Manufacturers, a production unit located in Shimoga, India. Our brand Chandra Hair sells to professionals world wide and our main distribution point is located in Canada. We sell B2B.

 I have a business background university and I am an international person. My mother is from Cote d'ivoire and father Swiss/French national. I grew up living in 4 countries which really helps me to get along with people world wide. Also due to my african heritage, i was always around hair/braids since a child

Source: Team Flourishairdo Blog