Hand Tied Wefts vs Machine Wefts- The Basics

There are many factors to consider when deciding between machine-tied and hand-tied wefts. Some of these factors focus on how the wefts are made, while others focus on the needs of your clients. (Please note that the machine weft in the photo above is NOT from Hair & Compounds.)

Wefts have been in the market for 50 years or longer and were used for hair loss before they became a beauty trend. We've been making hand-tied wefts for more than 20 years, and this was the first extension line we offered.

The difference between the two tying methods all comes down to process.

Cuticle Vs. Non-cuticle

Machine-tied hair is often more cuticle processed. While our hand-tied wefts at Hair & Compounds are made of remy cuticle hair, the hair in machine-tied wefts has been acid washed to remove the cuticles so no assurance of the cuticles being aligned is needed, nor is it required to trim the folded over roots.

Remy hair extensions are made of human hair, in which the cuticles of the hair are still intact and are all facing the same direction. This keeps the cuticles from interlocking and the hair from matting. When the track is being weaved, the roots of the hair face downward, also known as the return hair or mustache, and must be trimmed short to avoid matting at the top of the weft.

Hair with intact cuticles is generally more expensive. However, hair extensions without cuticles usually need to be changed every three months, while the cuticle hair at Hair & Compounds should last six months to a year, depending on care.

Density

Machine wefts are normally offered in only one density, while hand-tied wefts can be offered in multiple densities. Our stock wefts come in two densities depending on length.

At Hair & Compounds, we also offer custom density options through custom orders. Our custom orders allow customers to choose:

• Density
• Color
• Length up to 30"
• Texture, knot pattern
• Weft track width
• Finish (layered or premium)
• Fade length for Rooted colors

Take a look at this video to see how our hand-tied wefts are made:

Pricing and Affordability

When looking into which kind of wefts you want to use for your clients, you should ask yourself about price points. Who is your customer? What is their budget? What neighborhood are you working in, and what are people willing to spend in that area?  

You should also take into consideration what you know how to work with and whether your client wants the extensions for fashion or because of hair loss.