How to test raw hair burn test

👑 How to Test Raw Hair Before Your Install: 4 Must-Do Authenticity Checks

Posted by SB Boutique | Hair Education Series

The quest for that flawless, long-lasting look starts long before the install appointment: it starts with rigorous quality control. As experts in the hair industry, we've seen it all—from the rise of synthetic fibers to the dominance of true raw human hair.

At SB Boutique, we believe in transparency and empowering you to make the smartest investment. When you invest in authentic raw hair extensions, you're buying longevity and pure, unprocessed quality. But how do you know you've received the real deal?

Based on decades of industry best practices, here are the 4 Must-Do Authenticity Checks for your raw hair bundles before they ever meet your scalp.

1. The Critical Cuticle (or "Strand") Test

The hallmark of true unprocessed hair is its perfectly aligned cuticles. This is what prevents excessive tangling and keeps the hair healthy for years.

  • The Check: Hold a few strands of hair between your thumb and forefinger. Gently slide your fingers down the strand (from weft/root to end). It should feel relatively smooth. Now, slide your fingers up the strand (from end to weft/root).

  • The Result: If the hair is authentic raw hair, you will feel a slight, natural resistance, almost like tiny bumps. This resistance is the intact, upward-facing cuticles. If the strand feels completely smooth in both directions, the cuticles have likely been stripped and covered in a temporary silicone coating—a sure sign of processed or "virgin" (not truly raw) hair.

  • SEO-ant Tip: Use a high-quality image of this test with a descriptive alt-tag: Close-up of a hand performing a cuticle test on raw hair extensions to check for intact cuticles.

2. The Bleach Test: Revealing True Integrity

Processed hair or hair mixed with synthetic fibers will often fail dramatically when exposed to a strong developer, leading to a gummy texture or refusal to lift evenly.

  • The Check: Snip a small, inconspicuous piece of hair (a few strands from the weft). Apply a 30 Volume Developer and high-quality bleach powder mixture. Leave it on for 45–60 minutes, checking every 15 minutes.

  • The Result: Authentic raw human hair will lift to a beautiful, light blonde (around a level 613 or lighter) without significant damage, maintaining its integrity, softness, and elasticity. If the hair turns orange, red, or brassy and becomes brittle, or if you notice darker strands that won't lift (a sign of mixed fillers), you have chemically altered or non-human hair.

  • Expert Insight: True raw hair is the only type of extension that can reliably be colored to light blondes and still revert to its healthy state with proper conditioning.

3. The Burn Test: Separating Human from Synthetic

This classic test is the fastest way to detect synthetic or heavily plastic-coated hair.

  • The Check: Snip a tiny strand and hold the end to a small flame (like a lighter).

  • The Result:

    • Authentic Raw Hair: It will immediately ignite, burn quickly, and smell exactly like burnt human hair (sulfur/singed hair smell). It will instantly crumble into a fine, black ash.

    • Synthetic/Plastic Hair: It will often resist catching fire, curl or melt into a hard, plastic bead, and smell like burnt rubber or plastic. The residue will be sticky and hard.

4. The Taper and Inconsistency Check

True raw hair bundles are ethically sourced from a single donor, meaning they are cut from one head. This natural origin results in subtle, beautiful inconsistencies you won't find in mass-produced hair.

  • The Check: Inspect the bundle closely for uniformity and fullness from the weft to the ends.

  • The Result:

    • Authentic Raw Hair: The hair will have a natural taper towards the end (like your own hair), but the tips will still look healthy and reasonably full. Crucially, you will see very subtle variations in color (a strand or two slightly lighter/darker) and a slight texture variation (some strands a little wavier). This is the organic signature of a single donor.

    • Processed/Low-Grade Hair: This hair is often severely "stringy" and thin at the ends (meaning short filler hair was added), and the color and texture will be unnaturally uniform from end to end due to chemical processing.

📚 Relatable Reads from SB Boutique 

🔗 Beyond the Boutique

We encourage you to always seek knowledge and use professional products. Check out our YouTube channel that shows the results of SB Boutique’s raw hair burn test here.

🛍️ Your Next Step: Invest in Proven Quality 

Don't compromise your style with extensions that won't last. At SB Boutique, every bundle of raw hair extensions is hand-selected and undergoes our own rigorous multi-point inspection to ensure you receive 100% genuine, single-donor hair.

Ready for the luxury of true, authentic raw hair?

👉 Shop SB Boutique's Premium Raw Hair Bundles Collection Here 

I hope this advice helps you feel confident and protected in your next Raw hair extensions purchase.

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