Getting our Hands on Hand Tied Wefts - The Hair Standard
Hair Extensions

Getting our Hands on Hand Tied Wefts

Updated November 15, 2022

What Makes Hand Tied Wefts Special?

The hand tied hair extensions method has been around for a while. They may seem new but it’s just getting trendy. A big reason for their lack of popularity is how difficult they are to install. While there are some pros to this method, there are certainly some cons. Let’s go over why hand tied wefts exist, what the benefits are, and what to watch out for.

First, why do these exist? We get along with the trandtional beaded weft method just fine! Totally. And, really, the beaded weft method is likely still best for you. Hand tied wefts are bound by hand and thin by design. Thin wefts are perfect for people with fine hair who want to avoid the heat or glue of tape-ins. Hand tied wefts, like tape-ins, lay flat without bulk. They can be more comfortable to wear and touch.

So what’s the downside? The installation. They are not only difficult and time-consuming to install, but the wefts can’t be cut. If you attempt to cut them, the thin wefts quickly shed and become worthless.

Sewing hand-tied weft hair extensions
Threading hand tied weft extensions

Hand-Tied vs Beaded Wefts Installation

Both hand-tied and beaded wefts have the benefit of voluminous hair that looks and feels natural without need for heat and glue in the installation process. Both installations are time intensive and require an experienced stylist. Hand tied wefts, however, require additional consideration.

Installing Beaded Wefts

Traditional beaded wefts are the most common type of hair extensions in our Las Vegas based salon. They are also our most requested service. And, for most people beaded wefts are still our recommendation.

Beaded wefts are stronger and have versatility. Unlike hand tied, you can cut beaded wefts. Often, you need smaller pieces to fill sections of your head where there is less hair. Think sides and the lower back of your head. With traditional machined beaded wefts, this is easy.

So for installation, beaded wefts are faster and have more options.

Installing Hand-Tied Wefts

Hand tied extensions still use beads. The difference is the beads are used to create rows across your head using your natural hair. Hand tied wefts are then sewn onto the rows. Some people do two rows with two to four wefts on each row.

Hand-tied wefts cannot be cut and must stay bound as a single solid piece. Being unable to cut a weft into smaller sections makes the installation process…trickier. Instead of customizing (cutting) filler pieces where needed, you have to carefully plan placement with the row created by your natural hair.

If you have fine hair, the planning and forethought may be worth the effort.

If you have fine hair, the planning and forethought may be worth the effort. Hand tied wefts offer natural looking extensions without the bulk that durable beaded wefts offer. If you have medium to thick hair, however, traditionally beaded wefts are stronger and easier to install.

Heather McBride at The Hair Standard clamping hand tied weft hair extensions
Heather McBride from The Hair Standard attaching hair extensions

Hand Tied Wefts vs Beaded Wefts Maintenance

We recommend 4-6 weeks between tightenings for beaded wefts and 4-8 weeks for hand tied wefts. The range depends mostly on how rough or gentle you are with hair extensions. (Most of you are straight up savage.) You might be thinking well that’s less maintenance, that’s great! Well, not so fast.

Tightening Hand Tied Wefts is Like Redoing Your Service

To tighten hand tied wefts, you cut the string initially sewn in and completely re-sew it. In essence, it’s like redoing your installation. The bead or guide row is still in place which makes things quicker, but on average, hand tied tightenings are 45 minutes to an hour and a half.

Beaded Wefts Have an Easier Time with Maintenance

On the flip side, beaded wefts take half the time. Beaded weft tightening sessions are 20 – 30 minutes.

We only recommend longer intervals between tightenings with hand tied wefts because of the long process. With proper installation, you will have less slippage with hand tied wefts. That said, beaded wefts shed less and are easier to maintain.

For the Experienced Extensions Wearer

One stylist recently had hand tied wefts installed and instantly felt she needed more hair. However, she actually had the same amount of hair installed as usual (100 grams.) The reason hand tied wefts felt lighter is because they are! The wefts are much thinner with less weight pulling on your natural hair. This gave the illusion of less hair when it was actually the same.

Hand tied weft extensions

Cost of Hand Tied Wefts

Hand tieds are getting trendier lately. Habit Salon made their own brand and marketed them on Instagram. They are still a niche product. Being a niche product, expect to pay premium prices.

We can go on and on about how you need to find a quality hair brand. The fact is, there are too many promoting true remy human hair when 90% of it isn’t.

There are just too many these days promoting true remy human hair when 90% of it isn’t.

Spoiler alert, you cannot buy 120 grams of remy human hair with the cuticle intact for less than $300 in 2018. Most hair $150-250, is put through a silicone bath to simulate a cuticle, and tangles and mattes after a month. We have scoured the earth to find a brand we believe in.

Once you do find a brand you know is high quality. Hand tied wefts cost more than other methods. If a 100 grams cost around $300 for traditional beaded wefts, expect to pay $400 or more for hand tieds.

Hand tieds are more time consuming to manufacture. Each binding of hair is handmade. Some brands report it takes days to make a single pack of hair. Whether that’s true or not, you’re surely paying for it.

Are Hand Tied Weft Extensions Right For You?

This is a tough one to answer. For almost everyone, we still recommend traditional beaded wefts. There are more options for good hair brands, there are more options when installing, they are less expensive, and they hold up longer.

That said, hand tied wefts do have a place. If you have thin hair, limitless time, and the cost is no option, hand tied wefts might be better than tape-ins for some people.

If you have thin hair, limitless time, and the cost is no option, hand tied wefts might be better than tape-ins for some people.

No matter what, you really need to find an installation pro. Hand tied wefts can are not easy to install and even more difficult to maintain. Don’t watch a hand tied video, buy some hair, and ask your stylist to do them unless they’ve done them before.

What do you think? Do you have experience with hand tied extensions? We would love to hear about it. Leave us a comment below.