6 Easy Ways to Test If Your Hair Is Truly Raw Hair 2025

When shopping for high-quality human hair extensions or wigs, you may come across the term raw hair. But how can you tell if the hair you’re purchasing is truly raw? Since raw hair is the most natural and unprocessed form of hair available, it’s important to know what to look for to ensure you’re getting the real deal. Let’s break it down!

What is Raw Hair?

Raw hair is 100% natural, unprocessed human hair that has been cut directly from a donor. It has not been exposed to chemicals, steam processing, or artificial treatments. This means that the hair remains in its purest form, with all cuticles intact and aligned in the same direction.

How to Identify Raw Hair

1. Natural Texture Variations

Raw hair comes in its natural state, which means it will not have a perfectly uniform wave, curl, or straight texture across all bundles. Since it comes from real donors, no two bundles will be identical in texture.

How to test:

• If all bundles look exactly the same, with identical curl or wave patterns, the hair has likely been processed and is not raw.
• True raw hair will have slight variations, just like natural human hair.

2. No Synthetic Shine or Coating

Raw hair has a natural, healthy luster, but it should not be overly shiny or coated with a silicon-like finish.

How to test:

• If the hair appears unnaturally glossy or has a plastic-like shine, it may have been coated with silicone or other chemicals.
• Raw hair should have a soft, natural sheen similar to healthy, unprocessed hair.

3. Cuticle Alignment Test

One of the main qualities of raw hair is that the cuticles are intact and aligned in the same direction, which prevents tangling and matting.

How to test:

• Run your fingers from the top to the ends of the hair—it should feel smooth.
• Now, run your fingers in the opposite direction (from ends to top)—if you feel resistance or roughness, the cuticles are intact and properly aligned.
• If the hair feels the same in both directions, it may have been processed to remove the cuticles, meaning it’s not raw hair.

4. Water Test for Texture

Since raw hair has not been chemically altered, it should revert to its natural state when wet.

How to test:

• Wet a small section of the hair and let it air dry.
• If it maintains a natural wave, curl, or straight pattern without looking limp or frizzy, it is raw.
• If it loses its texture or looks processed, it has likely been chemically altered.

5. Heat Test for Authenticity

Raw hair should react just like natural hair when exposed to heat.

How to test:

• Use a flat iron or curling wand to style the hair.
• If it straightens or curls effortlessly and reverts back after washing, it is raw.
• If it burns, melts, or emits a strong chemical smell, it is either synthetic or has been overly processed.

6. Longevity and Durability

Raw hair lasts significantly longer than processed hair when properly cared for—up to 3+ years.

How to test:

• Raw hair should withstand multiple washes, coloring, and styling without excessive shedding or tangling.
• If the hair becomes dry, brittle, or sheds excessively after a few weeks, it may not be raw hair.

Why Does It Matter?

Buying true raw hair ensures that you’re investing in quality, longevity, and versatility. Unlike processed hair, raw hair blends seamlessly, lasts longer, and maintains its natural beauty over time.

At Flowywig, we specialize in premium raw Indian and Vietnamese hair, ethically sourced to provide the highest quality hair extensions and wigs. Whether you’re a stylist or an individual looking for the most natural and long-lasting hair, we’ve got you covered!

📩 Have questions? Contact us at info@flowywig.com or visit www.flowywig.com to shop now!