What Is the Highest Grade of Hair Extensions?
Hair extensions have become one of the most popular and profitable beauty services in the world. From everyday wearers to brides, celebrities, and influencers, extensions are now a mainstream beauty essential. They offer instant volume, length, color flexibility, and confidence—without waiting months or years for natural hair growth.
As demand increases, more stylists and salon owners are adding hair extensions to their service menus, and more entrepreneurs are building online hair brands. However, with thousands of suppliers and manufacturers selling extensions, it can be confusing and overwhelming to understand which hair is truly high quality.
One question is asked more than any other:
What is the highest grade of hair extensions?
You’ve probably seen labels like 7A, 9A, 10A, 12A, 15A or even 20A hair. Many companies use these numbers to market their products—but what do they really mean?
The truth is:
There is no official standard for the A-grading system.
Different factories and suppliers assign their own grades, which means one company’s “12A” could actually be lower quality than another company’s “8A.”
What truly matters is not the number of A’s, but the type, processing, cuticle integrity, origin, and donor method of the hair.
The highest grade of hair extensions available today is:
RAW Hair — completely unprocessed, single donor hair with intact cuticles
High-quality Virgin Remy Hair — lightly steam-processed with cuticle aligned
These types are superior to standard Remy, non-Remy, synthetic blends, and chemically treated hair.
This comprehensive guide breaks down everything you need to know about hair grading, how to evaluate real quality, and how to choose the best extensions for your clients or business.
Understanding the Hair Grading System
Hair grading was originally created in China to categorize factory sorting quality, but over time it became a marketing tool. Buyers often assume that higher numbers mean better hair—but numbers alone are meaningless without understanding the product behind them.
Common (Unofficial) Hair Grade Scale Used in Marketing
| Grade | Description | Best Use |
|---|---|---|
| 5A – 7A | Entry-level Remy hair | Beauty supply retail, clip-ins |
| 8A – 9A | Higher-quality Remy | Tape-ins, sew-ins, wigs |
| 10A – 12A | Virgin Remy hair | Salon professional services |
| 15A / 20A | Marketing terms (not official) | Branding & online advertising |
| RAW hair | Gold standard premium | Luxury extensions & wigs |
Important Reality:
Hair labeled “12A” or “15A” does not guarantee true premium hair. Many vendors use these terms loosely—even cheap hair can be called 15A.
The real highest grade depends on:
Whether cuticles are intact
Whether hair is collected directly from a donor
Whether processing is chemical or steam only
Hair’s performance over time
What Is the Actual Highest Grade of Hair Extensions?
1. RAW Hair — The Highest Quality Hair Available
Raw hair is widely recognized as the top tier of hair extensions.
What Makes Raw Hair the Best
Completely unprocessed—no dyes, no acid wash, no silicone
Collected from a single donor ponytail
Cuticle-aligned from root to tip
Natural movement and texture
Thick and full from top to bottom
Can be colored or bleached to 613 blonde
Can be curled, flat-ironed and styled repeatedly
Lifespan of 3–5+ years with proper care
Who Uses Raw Hair
Luxury extension specialists
Premium salons & celebrity stylists
High-ticket custom wig makers
Brides & hair loss clients needing durability
Why Raw Hair is Expensive
Because it is rare, high-demand and ethically sourced in small quantities.
2. High-Quality Virgin Remy Hair
Second only to raw hair, Virgin Remy hair is also highly valuable and widely used.
Virgin Remy Features
Cuticles aligned in the same direction
Light steam-processing only (no chemicals)
Soft natural feel and shine
Long-lasting and versatile
Lifespan 1–2 years with care
Best For
Tape-ins, sew-ins, K-tips & hand-tied extensions
Everyday wearers wanting professional results
How to Identify True High-Grade Hair
Quality Tests Experts Use
| Test | What You Should See |
|---|---|
| Wash test | No matting or tangling |
| Brush test | Minimal shedding |
| Bleach test | Lifts evenly without melting |
| Heat test | No burning smell or melting |
| Cuticle test | Smooth from root to tip |
| Curl test | Holds curls without frizz |
| Visual density check | Thick from weft to ends |
| Smell test | No chemical odor |
If hair melts, smells like plastic, or tangles when wet—it is not high grade.
Why Hair Quality Varies Between Suppliers
Even when selling the “same grade,” two suppliers can provide drastically different hair.
Factors affecting hair quality:
Region of origin
Donor method (single vs multi donor)
Processing level (steam vs chemical)
Chemical treatment (acid bath, silicone coating)
Factory standards and quality control
Storage and packaging
Cheap hair often looks great for the first week due to heavy silicone coating – then quickly mats, sheds, and tangles.
Red Flags of Fake “High Grade” Hair
Be cautious if:
Extensions are extremely shiny or slippery
Hair melts when heat is applied
Strong chemical smell when wet
No sample purchase option
No return or exchange policy
Fake influencer photos or stolen images
Price is unrealistically cheap
Real premium hair is an investment.
Which Companies Offer the Highest Grade Hair?
Here are brands widely recognized for premium quality hair:
| Company | Known For |
|---|---|
| Cooviphair | Raw & Virgin hair, wholesale, private label |
| Great Lengths | Italian keratin fusion, luxury salons |
| Covet & Mane | Premium hand-tied wefts |
| Bellami | Large professional distribution |
| HairDreams | European luxury hair |
These brands source ethically, maintain cuticle integrity and provide reliable standards.
Why Quality Matters
High-grade hair results in:
Better blend and natural look
Increased client satisfaction
Longer wear time
Stronger brand reputation
Higher pricing power
Repeat clients and referrals
Low-quality hair results in:
Complaints and refunds
Damage to brand credibility
Lost clients
Additional replacement costs
How to Choose the Best Hair for Your Clients or Brand
Ask yourself:
What is your clientele?
| Client type | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| Luxury | Raw hair |
| Mid-range | Virgin Remy |
| Budget | Standard Remy |
What installation methods do you use?
| Method | Best Hair Choice |
|---|---|
| Hand-tied | Raw or virgin |
| Tape-ins | Virgin Remy |
| K-tips | Raw or virgin |
| Clip-ins | Remy |
What lifespan do you need?
| Duration | Ideal Hair Type |
|---|---|
| 3–5+ years | Raw |
| 1–2 years | Virgin |
| 6–12 months | Remy |
Final Thoughts
So, what is the highest grade of hair extensions?
RAW Hair is the top-level premium option with 3–5+ year lifespan.
High-quality Virgin Remy Hair is the next best choice, lasting 1–2 years.
The “A-grading system” is mostly a marketing tool—not an official standard. What truly matters is:
Sourcing
Processing
Cuticle alignment
Donor quality
Testing and consistency
Premium hair is an investment that pays off in loyalty, results, referrals and revenue.
Looking for the Highest Grade Hair?
If you're looking for premium quality hair trusted by stylists worldwide, Cooviphair offers industry-leading extensions:
RAW & Virgin Human Hair
Hand-tied, Machine & Butterfly Wefts
Tape-ins, K-tips, I-tips, Micro-links
HD Lace Wigs, Closures & Frontals
Wholesale, Dropshipping & Private Label
Premium hair = premium profit + premium reputation.
Your clients deserve the best. Your business does too. Choose quality that lasts.
