What Is Weft Hair Extension? All You Need To Know

Can you believe wearing wigs was the only way to add hair extensions to natural hair? Yes, it was. There was nothing like weft hair extensions before 1950.

If you want to add length and volume to your hair, you are left with the option of wearing a wig. Wigs were not as sophisticated as they are now; in those days, they easily slipped off the head.

In 1950, Christina Jerkins invented the weft hair. It was a genius solution to help black women add length and volume to their natural hair without resorting to chemicals or wigs.

We now enjoy weft hair extensions in different forms (clip-ins, tape-ins, microbeads, etc.).

Wait a minute! Are you unsure about getting a weft hair extension? Let’s help you understand everything you need to know about weft hair extensions and why they might be a great option for you.

What is Weft Hair Extension?

A weft hair extension is a type of hair extension that allows people to attach external hair to their natural hair by adding hair strips. These hair extensions are made by taking strands of real human hair or synthetic hair and knitting them into a strip-like base that can be attached to your natural hair.

Weft hair extensions are a great way to add length, color, and volume to your natural hair. They are quick to achieve and can last for weeks and even months.

How is a Weft Hair Extension Constructed?

From the definition of the weft hair, you may be curious about its construction. Well, let’s take you through the structure and construction of a weft hair, considering the different parts.

The Weft

The weft is the track to which the strands of hair are woven. The weft can be made from different materials like nylon, polyester, and even hair. The machine and the hand-tied are the most common types of wefts.

The beard

The beard is the hair that is folded under the weft before sewing. In some hair bundles, you can see them away from the weft. The beard keeps the weft from unraveling; however, it shouldn’t be too long.

Long beards are often uncomfortable and might prevent the weft from sitting flat on the head (especially if you want to achieve a sleek look).

The hair

This is the most important aspect of the weft hair extension. The weft can be made from human or synthetic hair. These days, the human hair weft is more common and expensive. They are more expensive because some of  them are made from natural human hair, plus they look more natural.

Synthetic weft hair is a great option if you are working on a budget or if you are going for a hairstyle like braided ponytail or kinky hair afro hair.

What are the Benefits of Weft Hair Extensions?

In case you were wondering, “What are the benefits of weft hair extensions?

The major benefit of weft hair extensions is their longevity. Weft hair extensions can last between 2-3 months without causing any hair damage. They are also less likely to fall off the head.

Here are more benefits of wearing weft hair extensions:

✅a. Weft hair extensions allow you to add length and volume to your hair in minutes.

✅b. Weft hair extensions are versatile because you can install them on your natural hair in a variety of ways (sew-in, clip-ins, tape-ins, and even bonding).

✅c. A great protective hairstyle option for people looking to grow out their natural hair.

✅d. Weft hair extensions can be made from human or synthetic hair.

✅e. Weft hair is a great way to add color, length, and volume to your natural hair.

Are there Different Types of Weft Hair Extensions?

Yes, there are different types of weft hair extensions. The preferred hair extension depends on the hairstyle you wish to achieve or your reason for installation. Whether you want the easy installation of a machine weft, the precision of hand-tied wefts, or beaded wefts for quick installation. There is a weft hair extension for you.

Let’s take a look at the different types of weft hair extensions:

1. Machine Made Weft Hair Extensions

Machine-made weft hair extensions, as the name implies, are created using a special weaving machine. This machine stitches the hair on a base material to form a track. Machine wefts are best for thick hair.

Machine wefts are either done with thread-like or beaded bases. The beaded base works best for people with fine/thin hair, as small chunks of hair are attached to a person’s head at a time.

Machine wefts are usually made into one long track. The cool thing about this is the length versatility. The long tracks can be cut into smaller sections that are easy to work with or help achieve your desired hairstyle without damaging the hair extension.

Machine-weft hair extensions can be sewn, glued, clipped, or taped. It all depends on your preferences and what you wish to achieve.

2. Hand-Tied Weft Extensions

Yes, you guessed right. For this kind of weft hair extension, hair strands are manually hand-tied onto a base material. The hand-tied weft hair extension differs from the machine weft in other ways aside from the manual hand-tying.

The tracks on hand-tied weft hair extensions are thinner and are a better option for people with thin/fine hair, as the wefts are lighter than machine wefts. Hand-tied weft comes in pre-cut pieces that should not be cut (because they can easily unravel).

Hand-tied weft, just like the machine weft, can be sewn, glued, or taped to the natural hair. Hand-tied weft also comes in different forms. They can come in sewn or beaded rows; the beaded rows are lighter and are better for fine hair.

3. Beaded Weft Hair Extensions

Beaded weft is quite similar to the fusion hair; the major difference is the weft. For a beaded weft, the weft is introduced to the natural hair through the beads. The beads are then clamped/pressed to keep the weft in place.

Beaded wefts also do not require so much time to install; however, they should be done by a professional hairstylist who has the right tools. Installing the beaded weft wrongly can result in hair damage (for both natural hair and extensions).

Unlike the machine or hand-tied weft, beaded weft often requires maintenance (every 3 - 4 weeks).

4. Genius Weft Hair Extensions

Genius weft hair extensions are a new type of hair extensions combining the benefits of both machine made wefts and hand-made wefts, durable but thin.

What are the Different Types of Weft Installation Methods?

The type of weft hair installation method depends on the hairstyle you wish to achieve and how long you want to wear it.

Once you have decided on the type of weft hair extension that is best for you, you can then choose your preferred method of installation. Let’s quickly run you through the options to give you an idea of the method to opt for.

1. Clip-in weft hair extension

Clip-in weft hair extensions are a great option for people who want to quickly add length and volume to their hair anytime. The type of weft hair allows you to easily add your hair extensions or take them out at any time.

They also last long. They can last for as long as you leave them in; however, you don’t want to leave them in for too long. Leaving them in throughout the day can result in damage from the weight of the hair extension.

2. Tape-in hair extension

Tape-ins are a semi-permanent weft hair attachment method. Here, a thin strip of glue is added to the weft hair. This glue strip attaches the weft hair extension to the natural hair instantly to give a natural look. The tape-in weft hair extension can last for up to 6 - 8 weeks.

3. Bonded weft hair extension

This weft hair extension is just like the tape-in, but requires a heat styling tool for installation. A heat styling tool is used to attach a small portion of weft hair extension to your natural hair at the root.

The attachment happens when a tool heats a special resin that fuses with the natural hair strands. This method can last for up to 4 - 6 months with proper care.

4. Microlinks weft hair extension

Microlinks are great options for those people who don’t want to use heat or glues on their hair. This method works by inserting the natural hair and the hair extension into a tiny bead, after which a plier is used to secure the natural hair and the extension in place.

This method is equally durable, as it can last between 3 - 4 months.

How Can I Get High-Quality Weft Human Hair Extensions?

Buying high-quality human weft human hair extensions can be quite confusing. These days, there are hundreds of hair vendors promising something new: durable, cheaper, or high-quality hair.

Before you say yes! To any hair vendor, make sure to do your research. Check if:

a. They source their hair ethically, just like Hermosa hair.

b. They are knowledgeable in the business and know what they are doing.

c. If the hair itself is Remy hair (hair sourced from real human hair with cuticles intact, which makes them last longer).

d. You can wash, color, or use heat-styling tools on the hair. You want to buy a hairstyle that allows you to express yourself in style.

If you don’t have the time to do all these checks, you can simply buy high-quality human weft hair from a trusted hair supplier. You can simply choose a weft hair extension in your preferred length, color, and style.