Shade and texture decide whether extensions blend with your own hair or sit apart from it. This guide explains what each of our shades is, how to match it, and how to choose between Straight and Wavy.
Our shades and what each one is
Our shade range is short. Three of our four shades are raw donor shades: the color the donor grew, not a color applied afterwards. Here is what each name means.
-
Natural Virgin Black. The raw donor shade, never dyed. A deep natural black, closer to off-black than to a flat, inky black.
-
Soft Brown. Naturally lighter brown donor hair, never dyed. The brown is the color it grew.
-
Jet Black 1B. A dyed black. This hair has been color-processed to reach 1B. It is human hair, but it is not raw.
-
Dark Brown. The natural donor shade of The Halo, and only The Halo. It is not dyed.
Not every shade is offered on every product. Genius Wefts come in Natural Virgin Black and Soft Brown. Our traditional sewn-in wefts and Natural Wavy Clip-In Extensions come in Jet Black 1B, Natural Virgin Black and Soft Brown. Premium Tape-In Extensions are sold in the natural donor shade, which runs from natural black to dark brown. Premium Clip-In Extensions are made in natural black and brown tones. Neither product has a shade option to select: you receive the donor's natural shade. The Halo comes in Dark Brown only.
Why raw shades vary slightly
Raw single-donor hair is exactly that: hair from one person, cuticle intact, with no color applied. Two donors can both qualify as Natural Virgin Black and still not match exactly. One may lean slightly warmer, the other slightly cooler, and the wave pattern will differ a little as well. This is a natural characteristic of real single-donor hair, not a defect.
Jet Black 1B is different in one respect: its color was applied, not grown. It is still single-donor human hair, but the shade you see is the dye rather than the donor's natural color.
Match to your ends, not your roots
Extensions sit alongside the mid-lengths and ends of your own hair, not your roots. That is the hair they need to blend with, so that is the hair you match. If your ends are lighter than your roots, match the ends.
Use daylight photos
Daylight is the reference we use. Indoor lighting changes how hair looks, so a shade that looks right in a bathroom mirror can look different outside.
If you want us to confirm a match before you buy, send three photos taken in daylight: the front, the back, and a close view of your ends. We will recommend the shade, along with method, amount, length and texture. The consultation is free. Start on our contact page.
If you fall between two shades
Some people land squarely between Natural Virgin Black and Soft Brown. You have options.
-
Raw hair can be toned or lifted by a stylist. Natural Virgin Black and Soft Brown have never been chemically processed. A stylist can tone or lift them, so the extensions are matched to you rather than the other way around.
-
The Halo has a limit. It can be toned or color-deposited by a stylist, but do not lift it more than two levels.
-
Jet Black 1B has already been processed. If you think you will want to adjust the tone later, start with a raw shade instead.
-
When in doubt, ask. Send photos and we will tell you which shade is the closer starting point.
Straight or Wavy
We offer two standard textures across the store, plus one custom option.
Straight
On our traditional wefts, Straight is a true natural straight: smooth from root to tip with a soft bend at the ends. Because the raw options are unprocessed, the hair holds a set curl and returns to straight afterwards.
Wavy
On our wefts, Wavy is a loose, natural S-wave. It blends with most natural textures, can be worn straight, and can be air-dried for volume. On Natural Wavy Clip-In Extensions the pattern is a slight to medium natural wave. On the raw shades, expect slight variation in the wave from donor to donor. You may see it labeled "Natural Wavy" on some products. That is the older name for the same texture.
Deep Wavy
Deep Wavy is available only as a custom texture on Premium Clip-In Extensions. If you want it, ask us before you order so we can confirm the details.
Matching texture to your own hair
Choose the texture that matches how you wear your hair most days, not how it looks straight out of the shower.
- If you wear your hair straight or smooth most of the time, choose Straight. You can still curl it.
- If your hair has a natural bend or wave, or you prefer to air-dry, choose Wavy.
- If your hair is tightly textured, or you are unsure, send photos. We will recommend the texture that blends with your hair.
On our traditional wefts you also choose a luster level: Silky / Fine, Balanced / Medium or Dense / Coarse. Pick the one that matches the density and finish of your own hair. Premium Clip-In Extensions can be made from super fine and silky to coarse and low luster.
Clip-in lengths are measured pulled straight
Every length on our clip-in sets is measured with the hair pulled straight. Wavy hair will sit shorter than that number once the wave settles into place. If exact length matters to you and you are choosing Wavy, send us your photos and tell us the length you want to see, and we will confirm which size to order.
Order the full set at once
Clip-in sets are custom made to order as complete sets. Because raw hair varies from donor to donor, a set ordered in two parts may come back slightly off in shade or wave. Order the full set in one transaction so every piece comes from the same order, which keeps the set consistent. If you are ordering more than one weft and want them matched, ask us before you order. If you are not sure how much you need, start with how much hair do I need.
Still deciding?
If you have not settled on a method yet, our method guide walks through each option. Once you have a method in mind, send your daylight photos and we will confirm the match.
Choosing your shade and texture
Shade and texture decide whether extensions blend with your own hair or sit apart from it. This guide explains what each of our shades is, how to match it, and how to choose between Straight and Wavy.
Our shades and what each one is
Our shade range is short. Three of our four shades are raw donor shades: the color the donor grew, not a color applied afterwards. Here is what each name means.
Not every shade is offered on every product. Genius Wefts come in Natural Virgin Black and Soft Brown. Our traditional sewn-in wefts and Natural Wavy Clip-In Extensions come in Jet Black 1B, Natural Virgin Black and Soft Brown. Premium Tape-In Extensions are sold in the natural donor shade, which runs from natural black to dark brown. Premium Clip-In Extensions are made in natural black and brown tones. Neither product has a shade option to select: you receive the donor's natural shade. The Halo comes in Dark Brown only.
Why raw shades vary slightly
Raw single-donor hair is exactly that: hair from one person, cuticle intact, with no color applied. Two donors can both qualify as Natural Virgin Black and still not match exactly. One may lean slightly warmer, the other slightly cooler, and the wave pattern will differ a little as well. This is a natural characteristic of real single-donor hair, not a defect.
Jet Black 1B is different in one respect: its color was applied, not grown. It is still single-donor human hair, but the shade you see is the dye rather than the donor's natural color.
Match to your ends, not your roots
Extensions sit alongside the mid-lengths and ends of your own hair, not your roots. That is the hair they need to blend with, so that is the hair you match. If your ends are lighter than your roots, match the ends.
Use daylight photos
Daylight is the reference we use. Indoor lighting changes how hair looks, so a shade that looks right in a bathroom mirror can look different outside.
If you want us to confirm a match before you buy, send three photos taken in daylight: the front, the back, and a close view of your ends. We will recommend the shade, along with method, amount, length and texture. The consultation is free. Start on our contact page.
If you fall between two shades
Some people land squarely between Natural Virgin Black and Soft Brown. You have options.
Straight or Wavy
We offer two standard textures across the store, plus one custom option.
Straight
On our traditional wefts, Straight is a true natural straight: smooth from root to tip with a soft bend at the ends. Because the raw options are unprocessed, the hair holds a set curl and returns to straight afterwards.
Wavy
On our wefts, Wavy is a loose, natural S-wave. It blends with most natural textures, can be worn straight, and can be air-dried for volume. On Natural Wavy Clip-In Extensions the pattern is a slight to medium natural wave. On the raw shades, expect slight variation in the wave from donor to donor. You may see it labeled "Natural Wavy" on some products. That is the older name for the same texture.
Deep Wavy
Deep Wavy is available only as a custom texture on Premium Clip-In Extensions. If you want it, ask us before you order so we can confirm the details.
Matching texture to your own hair
Choose the texture that matches how you wear your hair most days, not how it looks straight out of the shower.
On our traditional wefts you also choose a luster level: Silky / Fine, Balanced / Medium or Dense / Coarse. Pick the one that matches the density and finish of your own hair. Premium Clip-In Extensions can be made from super fine and silky to coarse and low luster.
Clip-in lengths are measured pulled straight
Every length on our clip-in sets is measured with the hair pulled straight. Wavy hair will sit shorter than that number once the wave settles into place. If exact length matters to you and you are choosing Wavy, send us your photos and tell us the length you want to see, and we will confirm which size to order.
Order the full set at once
Clip-in sets are custom made to order as complete sets. Because raw hair varies from donor to donor, a set ordered in two parts may come back slightly off in shade or wave. Order the full set in one transaction so every piece comes from the same order, which keeps the set consistent. If you are ordering more than one weft and want them matched, ask us before you order. If you are not sure how much you need, start with how much hair do I need.
Still deciding?
If you have not settled on a method yet, our method guide walks through each option. Once you have a method in mind, send your daylight photos and we will confirm the match.