Hand-Tied VS Machine Weft Extensions

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Hand-tied vs machine weft hair extensions - what’s the difference and what type of extension is better? We are often asked this question by customers and beginner hair stylists who only started mastering this popular extension technique.

Both types of wefts are designed for sew-in hair extensions technique. They are often confused with each other, as they are very similar. Despite the great similarities, there are some differences.

After reading our article, you will better understand the difference between machine wefts vs hand-tied wefts, which will allow you to get exactly the hairstyle you want!

What Are Hand-tied Weft Extensions

So, what are hand-tied extensions? This is a hand-made natural hair weft, with a special sewing base.

The manufacturing process is as follows:

Making the single line out of the bulk hair bundle first.
Cutting the line to the specified width and quantity of pieces.
Sewing the ends of the lines
Stitching single lines between each other into a weft (if specified by the customer).

At I Love Slavic Hair you can order custom-made wefts, made taking into account all the features of your hair (you have options such as length, color, density of hair texture, structure (straight, light wave, curly) as well as the thickness of the hair in the weft and the required number of rows depending on the head circumference. To correctly calculate the width and weight you need, consult the hair stylist who will apply the weft.

Also, when choosing the right hair length you need to take into account that in the process of making a hand-made weft from bulk hair, about 1-1.5 inches of hair length is spent on the formation of the weft itself. So, if you need a certain length, always take a little longer bundle than you need.

What do hand-tied extensions look like? During the manufacturing process, the hair tech ensures that the weft is made smooth, thin, and neat, and the strands are carefully laid by hand, hair to hair.

Thanks to this you get a weft with the finest base for sew-in fixation, which will be unnoticeable in wear and perfectly blend with natural locks.

Since hand-tied extensions are designed for sew-ins, it is time to know the process of their application:

First, you need to order the manufacturing of the weft. As you’ve already understood, it must be customized as much as possible to your needs.
Once you have received the parcel with ready-made weft, you can book your hair extensions appointment. Keep in mind that such a beauty routine takes quite a lot of time: at least 3 hours.
Fine neat braids are made around your head, and the wefts you’ve ordered are then sewn into them.
The hair tech must control how the extensions are fixed: the fixation points must be covered by natural hair.
During the reapplication procedure, the hair tech removes the weft and unbraids the hair. Then the braid is made again and the weft is resewn into it. So you can use it as long as you’re satisfied with the hair quality in the weft.

Are Hand-tied Wefts Damaging?

Much depends on the professionalism of the hairstylist. During the application procedure, they should make sure that the braid is not too tight, otherwise, it can provoke headaches. It can lead to hair damage, weakening, and even loss.

It is also important that the braid is not too loose. Otherwise, a row of hair will not be fixed properly and the locks will tangle at the roots.

With proper installation hand-tied wefts are considered the least damaging type of hair extensions. Many clients who have tried such extensions note that it is the best that has ever happened to their hair!

What Are Machine-Weft Hair Extensions

Now it’s time to talk about what are machine wefts. Like the hand-tied ones, machine-tied wefts are designed for sew-in hair extensions technique. They are applied in the same way as we described above.

So what is machine weft hair? These are wefts made with special equipment. In order for the machine to tie hair in a single row, there must be enough hair. Due to these features, machine-tied hair extensions are made quite durable and dense.

The manufacturing process is as follows:

Making the single line out of the bulk hair
A hairstylist can cut the ready-made machine weft into pieces by themselves or request to make a machine wefts to certain specifications (the number of pieces and the width of each weft) from a supplier.

Some of our customers (hairstylists) prefer to cut our machine wefts by themselves, and some of them ask to make them to certain measurements from the very beginning.

It is safe to cut the machine-wefted single line into pieces if you follow the following instructions:

Apply a drop of superglue in the place of a supposed cut
Wait a little bit to let the glue dry
Cut the machine weft in this place.

By following these two simple 3 steps a hairstylist be confident that there won't be any hair shedding in the place of the cut.

Are Machine-tied Wefts Damaging?

Like hand-tied wefts, if improperly installed machine wefts can damage hair.

But that is not all: the wefts are heavier and larger at the base than hand-tied wefts. Therefore, such extensions can overload hair roots.

However, this does not mean that machine wefts are inappropriate material. All depends on your natural hair type:

If natural strands are thick and dense, then, if properly installed, there should not be a problem.
If you have fine hair, I Love Slavic Hair recommends proceeding with hand-tied wefts made of virgin Slavic hair which features the thinnest hair texture.

What is the Difference Between Hand-tied Extensions and Machine Weft

To understand what is the difference between hand-tied and machine weft, let’s focus on the main features of these products, such as durability, flexibility, density, quality of the hair, and price.

Durability

What to choose in terms of service life: machine tied vs hand-tied extensions?

The term of wearing a hairstyle depends on:

Hair quality

As a rule, for producing hand-tied wefts, they use expensive premium quality hair: Slavic or Russian hair.

Slavic hair is natural hair, which is optimal for clients with fine hair, and for those who prefer natural undyed hair shades.

Russian hair has a denser structure, with an excellent choice of shades and textures (sleek, curly, wavy).

European hair is commonly used for machine wefts manufacturing. These are the densest, thickest, and longest strands, which are ideal for sewing them into a single row with special equipment.

All these raw materials are carefully disinfected: we use delicate agents without aggressive chemicals. All this allows you to preserve hair cuticles and extend the service life of extensions.

In addition, there are wefts on the market, made of cheap Asian hair. As a rule, such hair has a too dense structure (so it can not blend well with natural hair and is noticeable in the hairstyle).

Moreover, the harsh treatment almost completely destroys hair cuticles, so such extensions will serve you till the first wash of the head.

Once the silicone is washed off (a remedy that is applied to such bundles to hide all the damage made during the disinfection), the hair will be impossible to comb or style.

Regularity of reapplication procedures

Do you want your styling to last longer and always look natural and well-groomed?

Then do not forget that every 6-9 weeks you need to remove the weft, unbraid hair, and re-apply your weft. This will help to avoid tangling and extend the period of wearing the extensions.

Hair care

It includes correct washing, drying, and combing of your curls.

If you install high-quality extensions, regularly make reapplication procedures, and properly care for your hair, you can use the same weft for more than a year!

Learn more about how long do hair extensions last in this article.

Flexibility

If we talk about flexibility, in the competition hand-tied vs machine weft wigs definitely win machine weft! It is more flexible because the hair tech cuts it just before the application procedure.

The hand-tied weft must never be cut, otherwise, it will simply fall apart and you will not be able to use it! Here you need to take into account all the nuances at the stage of manufacturing: provide the right size, density, and the desired number of wefts (for most clients one row is enough, but sometimes you may need two or three). If the size of the hand-tied weft does not suit you, then there may be problems with its application.

Density

As for density, when choosing between hand-tied extensions vs machine weft the first option is more convenient.

While hand-tied weft manufacturing you can adjust the density of the hair. Machine wefts, as a rule, come with a standard density (which may not be suitable for all, especially for clients with thin soft strands).

Price and Affordability

Hand-tied wefts cost more, as they are completely handmade according to the customers specification.

Thus, for 100 grams of Russian hand-tied weft extensions 18 inches long (45 cm) you need to pay $476-521.

The longer the strands, the more expensive they are. For similar products with a length of 24 inches (60 cm), you need to spend $566-611.

Also, the price of the order is influenced by the type of hair. Wefts from Russian dyed hair are cheaper than from virgin Slavic hair. The latter option is the rarest on the market. Since it is an exclusive product collected from one donor, the length and weight of the hair can vary. The bundle weighing 117 grams and 18 inches (45 cm) long will cost at least $626. On average, you will pay $800-1000.

Machine wefts cost less than hand-tied wefts. As we said, they are often made of European hair - the raw material costs a little less than Russian hair.

For 100 grams of hair 18 inches (45 cm) long you pay $360-405. The cost of production is also affected by the length of the hair. The price for similar products with a length of 24 inches (60 cm) is $390-435.

Which Is Better Hand-tied or Machine Weft?

Before we figure out what type of wefts is best to use for the extensions, let’s talk about the advantages and disadvantages of both hand-tied and machine wefts.

Let’s start with the pros:

Comfort in wearing
Unlike tapes, micro rings, or clip-ins, sew-in hair extensions are barely felt when worn.
Strong fixation
Since the wefts are attached to your hair and are fixed without high temperatures, you do not have to worry about them slipping if you blow dry your hair or use a hair iron.
Natural look
The fixation method makes any changes in hairstyle unnoticeable to others.
Safety
If the hair technician knows all the nuances of the technique, the styling will not damage your natural hair.
No length loss during reapplication procedures

Perhaps this is the main advantage of this extension technique. All other techniques feature some length loss when the hair stylist removes the bonds or tapes. The hair tech just undoes the braid, makes a new one, and installs the same weft in it!

A few words about the disadvantages:

The application procedure takes quite a lot of time: you should allocate at least 3 hours to your beauty routine.
Improperly made extensions can damage your natural locks.
It is quite expensive, especially when we talk about hand-tied weft extensions.

Well, to choose a suitable option for yourself, let’s dwell in detail on the advantages and disadvantages of each type of weft.

Let Us Help You Find A Perfect Match

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Hand-tied Weft Extensions Pros and Cons

Let’s start with the hand-tied weft, as this product is one of the most comfortable to wear and gives the hairstyle a natural look.

Do not forget that the result largely depends on the choice of the hair stylist, weight, and color of the hair extensions.

Hand-tied Wefts

Hand-tied Wefts Pros

Neat manual work makes the attachment point almost unnoticeable.
Due to its light weight, the extensions do not overload hair roots, making it an ideal option for clients with thin or weakened hair.
Hold the hair in a weft firmly. If you're planning to buy expensive hair for extensions, such as virgin Slavic hair, we recommend choosing hand-tied wefts. They are thinner and hold the hair much better, so you won't have to worry about hair shedding.
A more personalized approach to the production of a weft allows you to take into account all client's requests. With hand-tied weft, you can choose a perfect length in accordance with the size of your head, as well as adjust the thickness of the hair.

Hand-tied Wefts Cons

Cost more than machine wefts.
You can not cut the hand-tied weft, otherwise, it falls apart. Therefore, it is important to provide all the parameters of the future weft before sewing.
Since hand-tied wefts are much thinner than machine ones at the attachment point, this option is not suitable for clients with thick hair or for those who dream of heavy volume.

Machine-tied Weft Extensions Pros and Cons

Machine tied weft

Machine wefts also have many fans around the world who appreciate them for their versatility and more affordable price.

Machine-tied Wefts Pros

The perfect option for thick hair with dense structure.
Flexibility: you can cut the weft as you need it.
Lower cost, because these are machine-made products and the manufacturing takes less time.

Machine-tied Wefts Cons

Heavier and more noticeable at the attachment point, making them unsuitable for those with fine or thin hair. The wrong weight can provoke hair loss.
Since the weft is not made in accordance with all your features, it provides fewer possible styling options.
If you're considering getting hair extensions, it's important to know that machine-weft hair extensions may not be the best option for longevity. Although machine wefts are initially stitched with a machine and then glued, the glue can weaken over time from contact with water. This can cause the weft to slowly lose hair, especially after washing it multiple times.
Machine wefts were originally designed for temporary use, like clip-ins, which can be removed easily.
Therefore, if you want your hair extensions to last more than a year, we recommend choosing hand-tied wefts.

Are Hand-tied Extensions Better?

Generally, seamless hand-tied extensions are really better than machine-made ones. The hand-tied method eliminates the risk of hair shedding from the weave. It can be said that it is of higher quality and safer for the health of your natural hair.

Who Should Choose Hand-tied Extensions

Unlike machine wefts, hand-tied extensions fit for clients with thin soft locks, as well as for those who care that the weft is customized according to the all customers wishes.

Who Should Choose Machine Weft Extensions

Machine Weft is great for customers with dense thick strands, as well as for those who do not want to pay more for handmade products.

SHOP HAIR EXTENSIONS >>

If you are still not sure what type of extension is best for your hair, feel free to contact us at I Love Slavic Hair.

We will be more than happy when we find a perfect option that will fit you for the price and desired appearance!

Tags: Sew-in Extensions

About the author:

Kate Soloshenko: Hair expert at I Love Slavic Hair

Kate is a lead consultant with over 10 years of experience in the hair extensions industry. She helps clients find the perfect match — whether it’s their first time or they’ve been wearing extensions for years. With a practical approach and strong attention to detail, Kate makes sure every step of the process feels smooth, clear, and comfortable.

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Hand-Tied VS Machine Weft Extensions: What’s the Difference