The Ultimate Guide to Choosing the Perfect Hair Length
When it comes to choosing the perfect hair length for your raw hair extensions, it's not just about picking a number off a chart. Various factors come into play, including your height, style preferences, and especially the texture of the hair. Understanding these elements will help you make an informed decision, ensuring you get the look you desire. Let’s dive into the ultimate guide to choosing the perfect hair length for your raw hair extensions.
Understanding Hair Lengths and Textures
First, let's talk about how different hair textures—straight, wavy, and curly—affect the perceived length. Straight hair displays its true length because it lies flat. However, wavy and curly hair textures have natural patterns that cause them to look shorter than they actually are. That's what we refer to as "the jump".
Straight Hair
Straight hair falls naturally without any bends or curls, showing its full length. If you opt for any of our raw straight hair extensions, you can confidently choose the length based on how long you want your hair to be.
Wavy Hair
Wavy hair has a gentle wave pattern, which makes it appear slightly shorter than straight hair. On average, wavy hair can look 1-2 inches shorter than its true length. For example a 16-inch of our Raw Indian Wavy Weft extensions might appear to be around 15 inches when worn, but once stretched will be exactly 16"
Curly Hair
Curly hair, depending on the Schwan Hair Collection, has tight curls and coils, creating the most significant difference in perceived length. This type of hair can appear 2-3 inches shorter than its actual length due to the shrinkage effect. A 16-inch curly hair extension could look around 13-14 inches when worn. Our Raw Burmese Curly hair extensions are a perfect example of tighter curls, which exhibit significant "shrinkage." This hair is also denser and coarser than our other curly extensions, causing it to sit higher on its curly cloud, making it appear shorter than it actually is.
What Experts Say About Choosing The Right Length For Your Height
Your height plays a crucial role in how different hair lengths will look on you. If you don't want people to suspect that you're wearing hair extensions, then experts recommend the below general guide to help you choose the perfect length according to your frame:
- Petite (under 5’4”): Hair lengths between 12-18 inches are ideal. These lengths will give you a natural look without overwhelming your frame.
- Average (5’4” to 5’7”): You can opt for lengths between 16-22 inches. This range will give you versatility for various styles, from shoulder-length to mid-back.
- Tall (over 5’7”): Longer lengths between 18-26 inches will complement your height well. These lengths will create a balanced, flowing look.
Reference: Model in this image is 5'5" and is wearing a 32" U-Part Wig, consisting of 4-5 bundles of our Raw Indian Straight Wefts, curled and styled by a professional hairstylist.
Considering Volume and Fullness
The desired volume and fullness of your hair will also influence how many bundles you need. Here’s a quick breakdown:
- Natural Look: For a natural, everyday look, 3-4 bundles are sufficient.
- Full Look: For a fuller, more voluminous look, 4 bundles are ideal.
- Extra Fullness: For maximum volume, especially with longer lengths, 5-6 bundles will give you the most coverage.
How Many Hair Wefts Do You Need?
Sew-In
For a full sew-in, the number of hair wefts you'll need depends on the desired volume and length. Typically, you will need 3 to 5 bundles of our 100g wefts. For shorter lengths (14-16 inches), 3 bundles should suffice, medium lengths (16-26 inches) usually require 3 to 4 bundles and longer lengths 26 inches and beyond require 4 to 6 bundles to achieve optimal fullness and coverage.
Closure or Frontal Wigs
When creating closure or frontal wigs, you'll generally need 3-5 bundles in addition to the closure or frontal piece. This combination ensures that your wig will have a natural, full look without being too heavy or sparse. A closure typically covers a smaller area at the crown, while a frontal spans ear to ear, providing more coverage and requiring slightly fewer bundles compared to a traditional sew-in.
Installation Methods and Their Impact
The installation method you choose can also affect how the hair length appears. Traditional sew-ins and weaves typically require more bundles for a fuller look, while methods like clip-ins or tape-ins might need fewer pieces but require precision in placement for a natural appearance.
Tips for Measuring Hair Length
To measure hair length accurately, especially for wavy and curly textures, always stretch the hair out to its full length. This will give you a true measurement and help you understand how the hair will look once installed.
Final Thoughts
Choosing the perfect hair length for your raw hair extensions involves considering multiple factors, including hair texture, your height, desired volume, and installation method. By understanding how each element affects the final look, you can make an informed decision that will leave you feeling confident and beautiful.
If you have any questions or need personalised advice, feel free to reach out. Our team is here to help you find the perfect hair extensions for your unique style and needs.
