Difference between hand-tied wefts and machine wefts

As previously stated Hair2inspire will be using our blog as a medium to answer our customers frequently asked questions.

We get a lot of enquiries about our hair extension products but one of the most frequently asked questions is "what is the difference between hand-tied wefts and machine-tied wefts?" This question is very popular; we have lost count of the number of customers that has asked us this, this is mainly due to the fact that  hair extensions with hand-tied wefts are sold at a premium price. What puzzles so many people is why they cost so much and what the benefits are.

First, let us describe the process to you:

A hand-tied weft is essentially a seam that holds all of the base ends of the hair together and is manually woven into the weave by a human and custom attention is given to each weave whereas a machine weft is hair that is fed into a machine and weaved tightly into the seam, this happens in a manner similar to that of the sewing machine.

Machine and hand-tied wefts

So what are the benefits of a hand-tied weft you ask?

Firstly, the hand-tied weft is usually significantly slimmer than the standard machine-tied weft and the slimmer the weft the easier it is to hide and less-likely for someone to detect if they touch your head. Hair that is machine-wefted tends to be bulkier because the weave itself needs to be hefty so the machine can get a good enough hold of the hair. This is an important factor because no-one wants anyone to see or feel their weave; it is the horrid tell sign of hair extensions.

Secondly, another great benefit of hand-tied hair extensions is that the hair on a hand-tied weft is much more securely attached to the weft. This means that each strand of hair will remain attached to the weft much longer than their counterparts which are machine-sewn. Hair from hand-tied wefts does not shred because of this and therefore the hair extensions last longer. They don't thin out like machine-wefted hair extensions therefore have a much longer life span.

The Limitations of hand-tied wefts are that it is recommended that the weft is not cut; you have to use the whole piece without cutting it. If the weft exceeds the needed length of the targeted track, then merely fold over the end and double-up the weft to the length that is needed. If the hand-tied weft gets cut, the weft will unravel. To save the hair you will have to try and seal the cut weft with some sort of clear liquid super glue or try and create a new knot which is a very intricate process and usually a step that requires the skill of an expert.

Our hand-tied wefts come in strips which are not usually more than in 10-inch widths (from one end of the weft to the other end), so there is not usually a need to double up, but if you do have to do so the end result is still a fairly flat finish.

Another limitation of hand-tied wefts are that due to the slimness of the weft, you can only really sew in the tracks, bonding the glue to the slim weft without getting any on the hair is quite a challenge and can be quite messy. Despite these limitations we highly recommend hand-tied wefts, our suppliers are specialists in hand-tying and knotting and have taken the craft to a whole new level. Anyone who sees our beautifully made wefts agree that they are truly an art form. Our wefts are strong, secure, and don't shed or become hard and sticky.

Hand-tied Russian wefts

Hand-tied Peruvian wefts

Ok, you ask "  If handwefts are so great, why are machine wefts so popular and the best seller on the market?". Machine wefts are more sturdy and can be cut without un raveling and so is very popular with stylists who are not skilled to deal with hand wefts, also the ability to cut the weft allows for more flexibility with the hair style. The negative side to machine wefts usually is the shredding of the hair, however our suppliers re-inforce the weft and so the shredding of our hair is kept to a bare minimum meaning that the lifespan of the hair is longer. Both our machine-wefted and hand-wefted hair can be re-used over and over again.

The machine wefting process

Machine -wefted Brazilian hair

Hope we had been able to answer your questions about the differences between Hand Tied weft and Machine weft. Look out for more blog posts that address our customers frequently asked questions.

Don’t forget to visit our Face book shop to purchase  your hair,(go to the shop now icon on our page) we are currently offering a 20% discount of all hair types.