Russian hair is extremely rare and difficult to source, with many suppliers selling Asian hair disguised as Russian hair. Due to this, many salons claim to work with Russian hair, and may believe that they are, but in fact are not. We believe that the only way to truly know what you are purchasing is to travel there directly…so that’s exactly what we did!

Russian hair is expensive and for the salons that don’t employ Russian speakers, it is easy to be mis-sold Asian hair cleverly disguised as Russian. With an abundance of counterfeit hair on the market, the only way to truly know is to collect the hair at the source, avoiding dishonest hair merchants and brokers.

With over 15 years experience, we know just what to look for when it comes to sourcing genuine Russian hair.

Asian and Chinese hair needs to be heavily processed in order to lift it to a lighter colour. In addition to this, chemicals are often used to change the texture to match western hair. This can leave the cuticle layer severely damaged and therefore affect the overall quality of hair extensions.

Our virgin Russian hair arrives in the form of bulk ponytails. We colour match all of our hair by hand to our client’s hair, ensuring damage to the extensions is minimal if processes such as lightening are required.

We are experts at spotting fake Russian hair to ensure that all of our clients receive the very best quality hair extensions. There are a number of giveaways such as price, imperfections and durability.

Price – Russian hair is rare. The population of Russian accounts for just 1.87% of the world’s overall population. Asia on the other hand accounts for over 50% of the world’s population. This, therefore, means that Russian hair is scarce in comparison to the amount of Asian hair available on the market. The recent demand for Russian hair extensions also means that supply cannot keep up, therefore, driving the price even higher.

Any salon that is selling ‘cheap Russian hair’ is unlikely to be the real deal. Russian hair should be seen as an investment, not a cheap fix.

Another quick giveaway is if the price increases between hair lengths are standardised. Longer lengths of Russian hair are even rarer and therefore demand a premium in terms of price. The longer the hair the more you can expect to pay.

Mass Production – The rarity of Russian hair means it is almost impossible to mass-produce hair extension product lines made entirely from Russian hair. If you see a site advertised next day delivery on Russian hair extensions in a wide variety of colours and lengths, it is likely fake.

Mass-produced hair extension lines must be consistent and exact. This is simply not possible with Russian hair. The hair would need to be chemically treated in order to ensure consistency across the product range. In addition to this, the cost to have the stock necessary to provide a wide product range and quick delivery is simply not feasible for most businesses.

Double Drawn Russian Hair as Standard – Double drawn Russian hair is the same thickness at the top as it is the bottom. In order to achieve this, the shorter lengths of hair must be removed. This means that more hair would be needed in order to create hair extensions and therefore the price would be higher. Whilst many salons do offer double drawn Russian hair, this is very rarely offered as standard.

If a salon claims that all of their Russian hair extensions are double drawn, they are likely not selling real Russian hair.

Hair Appearance – One of the biggest giveaways is the actual appearance of the hair. Whilst Russian hair is glossy by nature, it should not be unnaturally shiny. If this is the case, Asian hair has likely been coated in silicone to give the impression of Russian hair. This will wash off after a few days, leaving it dull and damaged.

The hair should also feel soft and fine, whilst Asian hair tends to have more of a coarse texture. In addition to this, you should actually look for imperfections. Hair that has been chemically treated often looks ‘perfect’ or a single block colour, however, it is likely damaged and low quality. Natural imperfections such as split ends, kinks, highlights can be a sign that the hair is really Russian.

Language – If you are attempting to buy Russian hair for your salon, language is a key signal to look out for. It is easy to be conned if you don’t know what you’re looking for. Try to buy from Russian speakers and businesses. You should also look out for all the other signs mentioned above to ensure the hair you’re buying is legitimate.

Durability – This can be a difficult one to ascertain however, if a salon is advertising Russian hair that only lasts a few months then it is highly likely to be fake. Russian hair extensions can last up to 5 years with proper aftercare and maintenance.

At The Hair Alchemist, we uphold a commitment to transparency and authenticity with our valued customers. We take pride in delivering genuine Russian hair extensions and readily demonstrate their authenticity, ensuring our customers always receive what they expect.

Slavic Russian hair extensions are those created from hair that originates in the Slavic and Russian regions. This includes the Ukraine, Belarus and Slovenia.

Slavic hair extensions are those created from hair originating in any of the Slavic countries (this includes Russia). Russian hair extensions on the other hand are created only from hair that originates in Russian.

In terms of differences between the hair, Russian hair is the highest quality available anywhere in the world. This is due to the traditional Russian diet. Slavic hair is also very high quality however, it cannot be guaranteed to the same standard that Russian and virgin Russian hair can.

Russian hair extensions can last up to 5 years if properly maintained. During that time you will need to attend regular in-salon maintenance appointments in order to have your hair extensions re-fitted to help avoid slippage and shampoo build-up. You will also have to follow a good aftercare routine however, it’s all worth it to keep your hair extensions looking amazing!

We like to think of it as an investment rather than an expense. Russian hair is expensive for salons to buy in so you can expect to pay a premium for Russian hair extensions but, remember you are also getting a premium product. Russian hair extensions will last much longer than other hair extensions so you won’t have to replace them as often. You might actually end up saving yourself money!

Russian hair extensions are high-quality human hair extensions made only from hair that originates in Russia. These hair extensions are known for being the best in the world due to the exceptional strength, shine and softness of Russian hair. At the Hair Alchemist, we’re proud to be one of the few salons in the country offering high-quality, ethically sourced Russian hair extensions.

The price of Russian hair extensions can vary depending on the type of installation, the length and the amount of hair extensions you require. For Russian hair extensions, our prices start from £370 (for 1/2 head and 12-14 inches of length) up to £1,290 (for limitless extensions and 22-24 inches of length). View our pricing page for more information. 

How the Russian hair is sourced will also factor into the price. Be wary of salons offering Russian hair extensions at ridiculously low prices – they’re likely not providing you with real, ethically sourced Russian hair. At the Hair Alchemist, you can trust that you’ll only receive the highest quality, authentic Russian hair in your extensions.

Russian hair extensions are vastly different from other, cheaper types of hair extensions. Many cheaper hair extensions use Asian hair, which has to be heavily processed to match European hair colour and texture. Russian hair extensions are famous across the world due to the natural softness and shine of Russian hair!

Russian hair is of exceptionally high quality and has not been overly processed, unlike cheaper hair extensions made from lower-quality hair. Our Russian hair extensions have not been harshly coloured or chemically treated, ensuring you get stunningly soft and natural-looking extensions. 

At The Hair Alchemist, we also offer exclusive raw virgin Russian hair extensions. This hair is collected from the most remote regions of Russia, ensuring it is completely damage-free and all the cuticles are fully intact. This is the gold standard of luxury hair extensions!

Russian hair extensions can be installed through a range of methods. At The Hair Alchemist, we only offer hair extension methods that won’t damage your natural hair, such as micro ring and miniature micro ring extensions. We also offer clip-in Russian hair extensions if you’re looking for a less permanent option. 

We also specialise in installing Russian hair extensions in short and fine hair. No matter the length or thickness of your hair, you can get your confidence back with our range of luxury Russian hair extensions!

We recommend that you wash your hair extensions 2-3 times per week. Before washing, we advise that you use a wide-toothed comb to gently detangle your extensions. When washing your hair, always keep your head upright to avoid tangling and be gentle with your hair when shampooing. Avoid conditioning your micro rings, as this can cause them to slip. Check out our Aftercare guide for more information. 

To keep your Russian hair extensions looking their best, you’ll also need regular maintenance appointments. Find out more about our maintenance appointments. 

We do not recommend colouring, tinting or perming your Russian hair extensions, especially by yourself. These products contain chemicals that can damage both your hair extensions and your natural hair. Our Russian hair extensions are made from 100% human hair, but they don’t receive nutrients from your scalp like your natural hair does, meaning they’re more likely to be negatively affected by hair dye. If you want to keep your hair extensions looking their best, we recommend steering clear of hair dye!