Professionals who use human hair for hair extensions and wigs classify it as grade 10A or grade 12A. Read on to learn more about the differences between grade 10A and 12A hair, why it matters, and how to determine which is best for you.
What Is Grade 10A Hair?
Grade 10A hair is a standard quality human hair beauticians use in hair extensions and wigs. It’s one of the best grades of human hair on the market.
Manufacturers typically make grade 10A hair from a combination of synthetic fibers and human hair. It can include hair collected from multiple donors, which creates a mix of textures and colors. Since professionals blend the hair without aligning the cuticles, it’s more prone to tangling, matting, and shedding.
This type of hair is generally less durable than higher-grade human hair. Grade 10A hair won’t withstand as much styling or treatment before it’s damaged. Additionally, 10A hair often has a shorter lifespan and may not last as long as a higher-quality type of hair.
Grade 10A hair is generally less expensive than higher-quality human hair, making it a more budget-friendly option. However, since it doesn’t look as natural or last as long as higher-grade hair, you might not appreciate the overall style or how often you need to replace it.
What Is Grade 12A Hair?
Higher-quality human hair, known as grade 12A hair, makes high-quality wigs and extensions. It’s the finest grade of human hair available today.
The majority of grade 12A hair uses 100% virgin hair, meaning it’s never had chemical processing and is still in its original condition. The hair comes from a single donor, giving it a uniform cuticle orientation. This factor makes it more resilient and less likely to tangle and mat.
Grade 12A hair is full-drawn, which means manufacturers don’t blend it with synthetic fibers or hair from other donors. Because of this, this hair type is the most durable and natural-looking, making it ideal for any haircut. You can clean, straighten, curl, and color this type of hair. It lasts for a very long time, even with frequent styling.
Grade 12A hair typically costs more than lesser-grade human hair, but it’s worthwhile for people seeking durable, realistic-looking hair extensions or wigs.
Major Differences Between Grade 10A and 12A Hair
Human hair used in hair extensions and wigs is either grade 10A or grade 12A. Both are excellent choices, although there are some significant distinctions between them.
Hair Type
The majority of grade 12A hair is 100% virgin hair, meaning it has never undergone chemical processing and is still in its original state.
In contrast, grade 10A hair might use a blend of virgin and Remy hair, which means it might have undergone minimal processing.
Weft
Wefting is the process of sewing hair onto a piece of fabric to make a hair extension or wig. Grade 12A hair uses reinforced stitching in wefting, which increases its durability and decreases the likelihood of shedding.
Stylists use standard stitching techniques to sew grade 10A hair, which could make it more prone to shedding.
Quality
Stylists find that grade 12A hair is the best available for human hair extensions since it’s the most enduring and versatile. Although people regard grade 10A hair as good quality, it’s not as resilient as 12A hair.
Usage
You can color, curl, straighten, and wash grade 12A hair without causing any harm. It’s excellent for all hairstyles.
Although it may not be able to take as much heat or chemical treatment as 12A hair, grade 10A hair is still suitable for many hairstyles.
Cost
Due to its superior quality and longevity, grade 12A hair is often more expensive than grade 10A hair.
Drawn Bundles
Grade 12A hair comes in full-drawn bundles, which means that all the cuticles face the same direction. Since the hair comes from a single donor, it’s less likely to tangle and mat.
Given that grade 10A hair may come from various donors and have a mixed cuticle direction, it may be more prone to tangling and matting.
| 10A Hair | 12A Hair |
| Synthetic Fiber | Virgin hair |
| Multiple Donors | No Chemical Process |
| Less Durable | Single Donor |
| Cheap | Long Lifespan |
Is There Any Similarity Between Grade 10A and Grade 12A Hair?
Grade 10A and grade 12A hair have numerous variances, however, stylists use both to make wigs and hair extensions. Both grade 10A and 12A come from human hair and can give your natural hair more length, volume, and color.
You can style both varieties of hair to some degree, which is another commonality. You can wash, curl, straighten, dye, and style grade 10A and 12A hair. However, each hair grade has a different lifespan and tolerance for certain treatments. When compared to grade 10A hair, grade 12A hair is more resilient and can handle more intense styling and treatment.
You can buy either type of hair online, at beauty supply stores, or from your hair stylist. They have similar packaging for easy transportation, and you or your stylist can integrate them into your hair without issue.
So, Grade 11A or Grade 12A Hair – Which One To Choose?
Generally speaking, grade 12A hair is the ideal choice for people seeking a durable, realistic-looking hair extension or wig, although grade 10A hair is also a high-quality alternative that may be more cost-effective.