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What Is Remy Hair? Meaning, Quality and How It Differs from Non-Remy
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What is Remy hair? Remy hair is 100% human hair that's collected so every cuticle (the hair's thin outer layer) runs in the same direction from root to tip. That keeps it smooth, shiny and much less likely to tangle than other human hair.
Shopping for extensions? You'll see "100% Remy" on almost every product page. Knowing what Remy human hair really is helps you spot hair that stays looking good.
What Is Remy Hair?
Remy hair meaning, in plain words
"Remy" describes how hair is collected and kept, not where it comes from or what colour it is. So, what does Remy hair mean in practice? Every strand keeps its cuticle and lies root to tip, exactly the same way it grew on the donor's head (as it would on yours or mine).
Think of how stroking your own hair downwards feels sleek and smooth, whereas if you go the other way it ruffles up. Remy hair is a whole bundle of strands all lying the right way – no wonder it stays less tangled!
What are hair cuticles?
The cuticle is the outer layer of each hair. It's made of tiny overlapping scales, a bit like roof tiles. When all the scales point the same way, they lie flat, reflect light and slide past each other. When they don't, they catch and snag.
So, what is cuticle Remy hair? It's hair with those scales kept intact and all facing the same way. Find out more in The Essential Role Of Hair Cuticles In Hair Extensions Quality.
How Remy hair is collected
Before it's cut, the donor's hair is tied into a ponytail, so roots stay with roots and ends stay with ends. It's then sorted and cleaned.
As for what Remy hair is made of, it's just human hair. At Cliphair, our hair is voluntarily donated and ethically sourced, and we know where it comes from.
Is Remy Hair Real Human Hair?
Yes, Remy hair is 100% human hair
Yes, Remy hair is real human hair. Here's the key point, though: all Remy hair is human hair, but not all human hair is Remy. A "human hair" label only tells you the hair isn't synthetic. It says nothing about how it was collected or whether the cuticles line up.
That's the honest answer to the Remy hair vs human hair question, it's not as complicated as it sounds – in a nutshell, Remy is a higher standard within human hair, not a different material.
What "100% Remy" means on a label
"100% Remy" means every strand is Remy, with no non-Remy or synthetic hair mixed in. There's no official standard for the term, though, so any brand can print it on a pack. That's why it pays to know what to look for, which we cover in the "How to Tell If Hair Is Really Remy" section below.
Remy hair vs synthetic hair
Synthetic hair is made from man-made fibres, and most of it can't be heat styled or coloured like human hair. For the full comparison, read Battle Of The Hair Extensions: Synthetic vs Human Hair.
Remy vs Non-Remy Hair
What is non-Remy hair?
Non-Remy hair is human hair that's been gathered loose or mixed from different sources. So, the cuticles end up pointing in different directions – this is the biggest difference in Remy vs non-Remy hair.
Why non-Remy hair tangles
When cuticles face opposite ways, their scales grip each other like Velcro. You can imagine then, that leads to tangling and matting, especially after washing!
The silicone coating problem
To hide this, non-Remy hair is often stripped of its cuticle in an acid bath and coated in silicone. One thing that can be slightly misleading is that – yes, it looks glossy at first, but as the coating washes off, the hair often turns dry, dull and tangly. That's why we don't sell non-Remy hair.
Remy vs non-Remy at a glance
| Remy hair | Non-Remy hair | |
|---|---|---|
| Cuticles | Kept, all running one way | Mixed directions, often stripped off |
| How it feels | Soft and smooth | Silky at first (silicone), then rough |
| Tangling | Low | High, especially after washing |
| After a few washes | Stays soft and shiny with good care | Turns dull and dry as the coating washes out |
Remy vs Virgin Hair: What's the Difference?
What is virgin hair?
Virgin hair is hair that has never been dyed, bleached, permed or chemically treated. It usually comes from a single donor, so it keeps its natural colour and texture.
Can hair be Remy and virgin?
Yes. Remy is about cuticle direction, while virgin is about processing. The dilemma of Remy vs virgin hair isn't exactly right, as virgin hair can also be Remy, often sold as "virgin Remy hair". And Remy hair can be coloured and still be Remy, as long as the cuticles stay aligned.
Is virgin hair better than Remy hair?
Not necessarily. Virgin hair only comes in the donor's natural shade and texture, and it's rarer. Remy hair can be carefully coloured, which is how extensions come in so many shades, from soft blondes to balayage. For most people, good Remy hair is the practical choice. Our guide to what hair is best for extensions compares the main hair types in more detail.
What Makes Remy Hair Extensions High Quality?
What are Remy hair extensions?
Remy hair extensions are made from Remy human hair. They include clip-ins, halos, ponytails, tape-ins, wefts (strips of hair stitched together at the top) and bonds. They blend in because their cuticles run the same way as yours.
You can put clip-ins and halos in yourself. Tape-ins, wefts and bonds are permanent hair extensions, fitted and removed by a qualified hair extension specialist.
Single drawn vs double drawn Remy hair
The term "drawn" describes how the length of the hair is sorted. Single drawn hair has strands of mixed lengths, so it tapers towards the ends like your own hair. Double drawn Remy hair has the shorter hairs taken out, so it's as thick at the ends as at the top. Both can be Remy. See Single Drawn vs Double Drawn Hair Extensions for a side-by-side look.
Our single drawn, 100% Remy human hair is used for our Classic, Double Weft, Ultra Volume and Curly clip-ins, the One Piece Top Up and Classic tape-ins.
Our Remy Royale range is all double drawn hair extensions, so it's thick from root to tip. You'll find it in our Seamless clip-ins, Halos and professional range: Remy Royale tape-ins, wefts, nano rings, nano bonds, I-tips and flat tips.
How to Tell If Hair Is Really Remy
Try the finger test
Hold a strand near the root and run your fingers down to the tip. It should feel smooth. Run them back up and it feels slightly rougher. With real Remy hair, every strand feels the same but with non-Remy hair, it can feel patchy.
Watch how it washes
What is real Remy hair and what does it feel like? Remy hair stays soft after washing, as long as you care for it properly. Hair that's silky out of the packet but turns dull, dry or tangled after a few washes is a sign of a silicone coating on non-Remy hair.
Questions to ask before you buy
Are Remy hair extensions good quality? Genuine ones are, but it's worth checking first.
Ask the brand:
- Is it 100% Remy, with the cuticles aligned?
- Is it single or double drawn?
- What does your grade mean?
- Where does the hair come from?
And if the price looks too good to be true, it usually is.
Why Remy Hair Matters for Extensions
It blends and moves like your own hair
Aligned cuticles reflect light like your natural hair, so extensions don't look plasticky or frizzy at the ends. To get the shade right, try our free colour matching service.
You can style and colour it
You can heat style Remy hair like your own, using a heat protection spray first. Remy human hair can also be coloured, ideally by a professional colourist. We would, however, advise you not to lighten the hair (regardless of the shade) because of the process it's already been through. Some products can't be coloured or heat styled, such as our Curly Clip-Ins, because they are pre-styles and set to stay as they are. Our guide on how to dye hair extensions explains more.
It's reusable with the right care
Because Remy hair stays smoother and easier to manage, you can wear clip-ins again and again, and if it is professional, permanent hair, it will be reused at each refit. From our 19 years of experience, we can tell that is one of the biggest differences you'll notice with this quality of hair.
Conclusion
Remy hair is 100% human hair with every cuticle kept intact and running in the same direction from root to tip, which is why it stays smooth, shiny and far less likely to tangle. Non-Remy hair, by contrast, has mixed or stripped cuticles that are often hidden under a silicone coating that washes out over time.
Remy and virgin hair aren't opposites either: Remy is about cuticle direction, while virgin is about processing, so hair can be both. When you shop, try the finger test, watch how the hair washes and ask the brand the right questions before you buy. Genuine Remy hair extensions blend and move like your own hair, can be heat styled and coloured, and can be reused again and again with the right care. To find your perfect shade, try our free colour matching service.
