Human hair

Where Does Peruvian Hair Come From?

Published By: Kennedy

Last Updated: February 15, 2022

There are many hair vendors that market their hair as “Peruvian” but many people don’t know exactly what that means. It is important to know how to test the authenticity of what you buy.

Where Does Peruvian Hair Come From?

True Peruvian

Natural Peruvian Hair comes from Peru, which is located in South America. Peruvian hair is usually sourced by women in remote villages. The hair tends to be expensive because the population in the country is not very high. 

Women in the remote villages will usually grow their hair out to sell to hair vendors. There are also women who collect the hair that falls from their head over time and sell it as well. This hair called, fallen hair, is sold as low quality and cheap bundles. 

Fake Peruvian

There is some hair that gets labeled as Peruvian but is actually not true Peruvian hair. Peru is also a country that has a substantial number of Spanish and Indian immigrants, some of which also donate their hair. 

So, although the hair comes from Peru, it does not come from Peruvian people. When buying Peruvian hair it is important to know what its characteristics are, so you know that the hair is coming from a Peruvian person. 

Is Peruvian real human hair?

Peruvian hair that is labeled as 100% human hair is usually human hair. However, not all human hair is of the same quality. The lowest quality of human hair is “standard” hair, which is usually fallen hair or comb waste that is processed to look healthier than it actually is. 

A step up from “standard” hair is “remy” hair.  Remy hair is also chemically processed to make the hair softer and sleeker. The hair is also made with the strands going all the same downward direction, unlike standard hair. 

Remy hair is taken from multiple different donors. A step up from remy hair is “virgin” hair. Virgin hair is human hair that has not been processed by chemicals or dying. The strands are healthier than remy and non-remy hair and last longer. 

Virgin hair is steamed processed, to ensure the hair texture is all the same pattern or to alter the curls. It is very unlikely that you are purchasing virgin Peruvian hair, unless the hair is a lot more expensive than remy hair. Virgin hair is cut from one donor.

The highest quality of hair is “raw” hair. It is cut from one donor and not processed in any way. Rarely, do people purchase raw Peruvian hair because it is very expensive. Raw hair is also the most difficult to style, and cut from a single donor.  

What type of hair do Peruvians have?

Peruvian hair is thicker hair that blends well with African American hair. It can come curly or straight, and either way has a lot of volume. Although it looks heavy and very thick, it is actually very lightweight. 

It is actually one of the most lightweight textures of hair. It has coarse consistency, which blends well with the African-American texture.

The durability of Peruvian hair is also an advantage because it lasts for a long time and is easy to maintain. This hair holds curls and withstands heat very well. It is also very dense and has a lot of volume.

How can you tell if Peruvian hair is synthetic?

There are several ways to tell if the hair is synthetic:

1. Smoke test

If you burn the hair and the smoke is white, then it is human hair. If you burn the hair and the smoke is black, the hair is synthetic. Also, the hair would be sticky after burning and can be shaped with your hands.

2. Burn Test 

If you cut and burn a strand of hair and it slowly melts into a ball, with a rubbery scent, it is synthetic. If the hair immediately catches fire and curls into a ball, it is human hair.

3. Length test

Human hair is not the same length all around, some strands are going to be shorter or longer than others. Also, if human hair is not the same texture all around, curls and waves are not going to all look the same. If the hair looks the same throughout, with the same pattern, it is most likely synthetic. 

4. Tangling test

Synthetic hair tangles excessively, especially the longer it is.The place that it happens the most is the hair behind your neck.

5. Price test

If your hair is very cheap then it is most likely synthetic. For example, many synthetic wigs are $50 or less, real human hair will cost $100 or more. 

What is the difference between Peruvian and Brazilian hair?

Brazilian hair is coarse and is also very dense. It is usually purchased as curly hair, and it is not uncommon for it to contain several curl patterns. Brazilian hair looks very natural and is more durable than most hair types. The hair is also silkier and shinier than Peruvian hair. 

There is usually a natural luster attributed to Brazilian hair, so if you want a more shiny hair, then that would be the route to go. Brazilian lasts for a long time, but not as long as Peruvian. 

Also, Brazilian hair requires slightly more maintenance than Peruvian. Peruvian hair is more heat resistant than Brazilian. Both kinds of hair can have different curl patterns, and both are around the same price.

Peruvian hair and Brazilian hair are both beautiful textures that blend well with African-American hair. The main differences between them lie in their texture and best hair care options.

If you need something more low maintenance, then Peruvian hair is the best option. If you want something with more shine, Brazilian hair is the best option. Peruvian hair tends to be a little coarser, while Brazilian hair tends to be silkier.

The Final Word

The characteristics of Peruvian hair make it high in demand. Real Peruvian hair is not easy to come by which is why it is important to know how to look for good quality. 

Kennedy

I have always had a love for writing and have been blogging for about 3 years now. I have a passion for teaching what I have learned over the years, especially about hair. I have had almost every hairstyle - typical of a cosmetologist’s daughter- including the big chop in 2015. With all the knowledge I have gained, I feel it is my duty to help others on their healthy hair journey. I believe education can be fun, and I strive to make it fun to learn about beautiful black hair.

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