12 Pros and Cons of Synthetic And Human Hair Braid Extensions

Believe it or not: Both synthetic and human hair braid extensions have their pros and cons.

Think about it— despite the fact that human hair is hyped for its high quality, women keep using synthetic extensions for their braids.

Even walk-in and eCommerce stores keep a variety of both extensions in stock for their clients to choose from.  

Why? This is because synthetic braid extensions are excellent alternatives to their counterparts.

So, choosing between both hair types will depend on your preferences and lifestyle.

Below, we will discuss the advantages and disadvantages of both synthetic and hair braid extensions in detail so you can choose the perfect option for your next hairstyle.

What are Synthetic Hair Braid Extensions?

 

Have you ever purchased an extension but noticed that it is a bit stiffer than human hair? That’s what a synthetic extension typically feels like.

These extensions are made from fibers but are processed to look like our hair.

When newly purchased, you might be unable to tell the difference between a good synthetic braid extension and a human hair extension.

However, synthetic hair doesn't last as long as human hair— after a while, they tangle and lose their quality.

Pros Of Synthetic Hair Braid Extensions

Synthetic hair extensions are a good alternative to human hair for several good reasons. Some of these reasons are:

● Affordability

With synthetic extensions, you save a lot of money on purchasing an extension for your braids. This is because they are made from easily accessible materials like nylon, acrylic and sometimes polyester.

So if you want to look amazing while on a budget, they are a great choice for your braids.

● Variety

Extensions made from fiber are mass-produced from artificial materials. Due to this, they also come in various colors, and textures which you can use on the go.

So, that way, you have several options that are easily accessible in both walk-in and eCommerce stores.

● Low Maintenance

Synthetic braid extensions don’t need as much touch-ups as human hair— most times, after they have been braided, they retain their look without needing oils, water or conditioners that human hair needs.

All that may be required is to keep them in a satin scarf or bonnet before going to bed.

Cons Of Synthetic Hair Braid Extensions

Despite being one of the major braid extension types in the industry, some people will pick human hair braid extensions over synthetic extensions. Here are some of the reasons for their choice:

• Tangling and Frizz
• 

Synthetic hair extensions inevitably tangle after a while. This doesn’t mean they tangle or lose their quality immediately.

If well managed, they can retain their quality for a limited time. Some of these extensions, especially the curly ones used for boho or goddess braids will tangle and lose their quality after just 2 weeks of installing them.

• Difficult to blend with Natural Hair

While the idea behind synthetic braid extensions is to create a replica of hair, they still don’t blend seamlessly when braided with our hair.

This is because they are made from artificial materials and no matter how much processing is done, they can’t just have the same texture, feel and look of real hair.

• Shorter Lifespan

Another feature of extensions made with fiber is that they don’t last for a very long time. Unfortunately, they will only feel harder in texture over time and cannot be revived once they start forming knots.

Synthetic extensions should be disposed of as soon as they begin to tangle.

What are Human Hair Extensions?

Just like their name suggests, human hair braid extensions are made with people’s hair. They are sourced from people with really long hair.

After, they are processed and thoroughly cleaned before being packaged into extensions. The most common types are Vietnamese, Chinese and Brazilian hair.

Pros Of Human Hair Braid Extensions

Some people prefer to use human hair extensions over synthetic ones for their braids. Here are some reasons for their choice:

● Natural Look and Feel

One of the biggest perks of installing human hair extensions is that they will blend seamlessly with your real hair.

 As long as you use the right color and a good stylist, people will hardly be able to tell the difference between your hair and the extension.

● Durable

Even after 3 weeks of installing them, human hair extensions will still retain their quality as long as you take care of them.

Boho and goddess braid extensions are the most difficult braid extensions to maintain because of the curls.

However, these curls won’t tangle if you use real hair for them—  just apply water and leave-in conditioner regularly to maintain them.

• More Styling options

Another perk of installing human hair extensions is that they can easily be styled and restyled. For instance, you can decide to change your extension from curly to straight without ruining it.

On the other hand, synthetic hair has limited styling options and can be ruined if altered from its original state much.

Cons Of Human Hair Braid Extensions

Here are some disadvantages of human hair braid extensions:

● Higher Costs

Human hair is significantly more expensive than synthetic hair and this is because the former is made with real hair, so sourcing it is not that easy.

So, you may find human hair braid extensions five times more expensive than synthetic ones.

● Requires More Maintenance

Unlike synthetic hair, human hair braid extensions require more maintenance. To retain their quality, you may need to detangle, apply leave-in conditioner and wash when appropriate.

● Limited Availability of Colors and Styles

Another issue with braid extensions sourced from people is that they have limited colors and textures compared to synthetic hair.

Because they are from real people, it is hard to get them in various textures, styles, and colors. Sometimes, they might need to be dyed to get them in colors and dying can reduce their quality.

Choosing Between Synthetic and Human Hair Braid Extensions—  Factors to Consider

Before deciding on the braid extension to use, you should consider your budget, hair quality and durability of the hair.

If you can afford to spend a lot and hair quality is important to you, then you can go ahead to use human hair extensions for your braids.

However, if you can’t afford to splurge, then you can use synthetic extensions instead. With as low as $50, you will be able to get a synthetic extension of good quality.

Also if your plan is to be able to reuse your extensions, you should invest in high quality extensions as you will definitely get a return on your investment in terms of durability.

Conclusion

Unfortunately, sometimes, regardless of if you can afford to buy expensive extensions, the suitable human hair extension just won’t be available for the hairstyle you want to make.

In such instances, you should definitely go for the synthetic extension alternatives as you would also enjoy them even if it is just once you can install them.

Most importantly, ensure that your hair is installed by a good stylist— a bad stylist can make expensive hair look worthless.