1. Why Cheap Vendors Misuse “100% Human Hair”

1.1. The Term Is Not Regulated Globally

In most countries, there is no legal requirement or government body checking whether hair is truly human.
This means vendors can print “100% Human Hair” even when the product is:

• Mixed with synthetic fibers

• Acid-washed floor hair

• Blended with animal hair

• Coated with silicone to hide imperfections

For buyers, especially those importing from Asia, this creates massive risk.

1.2. The Global Price Gap Encourages Cheating

A factory buying hair from donors pays 10–30× more than a factory buying:

• Collected hair

• Used hair

• Barber shop hair

• Animal fibers

• Synthetic fibers

Cheap vendors cannot profit if they sell true, healthy, remy hair at low prices — so they cut corners.

Real raw Vietnamese hair has a global floor price.
If someone sells $100 per kg cheaper, you should immediately question the source.

1.3. Buyers Often Rely Only on Videos

Low-tier factories exploit this by:

• Filming high-quality hair but shipping different batches

• Using ring lights to make synthetic shine look “silky”

• Coating poor-quality hair with silicone so it feels smooth in videos

• Showing “raw bundles” but delivering processed hair

This is why testing hair yourself is essential.

2. The Most Common Tricks Used by Fake or Low-Quality Vendors

2.1. Mixing Synthetic Fibers into Human Hair

This is the most common form of fraud.

Factories buy synthetic fiber for 1–5 USD/kg, blend it with low-quality human hair, and coat everything with silicone.

At first, the hair feels soft and silky.
But after 1–2 washes:

• Hair becomes stiff

• Ends melt under heat

• Fibers tangle uncontrollably

• Texture looks unnaturally shiny

This destroys your reputation if you're a salon or reseller.

2.2. Acid-Washing Floor Hair & Calling It “Virgin Remy”

Cheap vendors collect hair from:

• Salon floors

• Waste bins

• Mixed donor hair

• Barber shops

This hair has cuticles facing different directions, so it tangles immediately.

To hide this, factories soak it in acid to strip the cuticle.
Then they coat the hair in silicone, making it feel smooth — but only temporarily.

After several washes:

• Hair dries out

• Tangling becomes severe

• Color becomes dull

• Hair snaps easily

This is why hair from cheap vendors “lasts only 1–2 months”.

2.3. Mixing Animal Fibers (Goat, Yak, Horse)

Animal hair resembles coarse human hair. Vendors sometimes mix:

• Goat hair for thickness

• Horse hair for long “straight” textures

• Yak hair for curly textures

These fibers look real but behave differently under:

• Heat

• Bleach

• Chemical dye

Animal hair also has a different protein structure, making it incompatible with salon services.

2.4. Selling Non-Remy Hair as “Remy Cuticle Aligned”

True remy hair is collected from one donor, cut in one direction.

Fake remy:

• Is mixed

• Sorted

• Acid-processed

• Coated

Cuticles still face opposite directions → guaranteed tangling after 1–3 uses.

2.5. Selling Steam-Processed Synthetic Curls as “Raw Natural Curly”

Raw Vietnamese natural curly is extremely rare and expensive.

Cheap vendors instead:

• Use synthetic fibers

• Steam them in curl molds

• Coat them with silicone

After washing, curls collapse into frizz.
This is the biggest scam in curly hair for EU/US customers.

3. The Only 5 Tests You Need to Verify Real Human Hair

These tests are widely used by hair professionals, factories, and QC teams.

3.1. Burn Test — The Fastest & Most Reliable

Take a few strands and burn them.

Real human hair:

• Burns slowly

• Smells like burned protein

• Turns into soft ash

Synthetic fibers:

• Melt into hard plastic

• Smell like chemicals or plastic

• Curl up into hard beads

This test instantly reveals fake blends.

3.2. Bleach Test — Essential for EU/US Blonde Buyers

Apply 6–9% bleach to a small section.

Real human hair:

• Lifts steadily (brown → orange → yellow → blonde)

• Stays soft

• Does not melt

Fake hair:

• Doesn’t lift

• Melts within 20–30 minutes

• Turns red, green, or uneven colors

• Has a sticky texture

This is the best test for salons specializing in blonde shades.

3.3. Water Absorption Test

Human hair is naturally porous.

Real human hair:

• Absorbs water quickly

• Becomes heavier

• Sinks in water

Synthetic fibers:

• Repel water

• Float on top

• Dry unnaturally fast

3.4. Heat Tool Test

Use a straightener at 180–200°C.

Real hair:

• Styles smoothly

• Has no melting

• Responds to heat naturally

Synthetic:

• Melts

• Sticks to the iron

• Emits a plastic smell

3.5. Cuticle Test — The Professional’s Method

Slide your fingers upward along the hair.

Real remy hair:

• Slight resistance

• Texture feels natural

Non-remy or coated hair:

• Feels too smooth

• Coated with silicone

• No natural “texture”

This test helps you identify real cuticle-aligned bundles.

4. Why Working With a Trusted Supplier Protects Your Business

When you buy hair, you're not just buying a product — you're protecting:

• Your brand reputation

• Your customer retention

• Your salon’s reviews

• Your wholesale reorder rate

A reliable factory should provide:

• Clear sourcing transparency

• Real raw ponytail videos

• Unedited QC footage

• Sample policies

• Consistent batch quality

• Professional guidance on textures & bleaching

This is the foundation of a long-term partnership.

Final Thoughts

“100% Human Hair” is one of the most misleading labels in the industry.
But when you understand:

• How vendors cheat

• How to perform quality tests

• How to verify authenticity

You can protect your business and invest confidently in premium-quality hair.