Which one to choose for braiding at summer, bulk human hair or synthetic hair? The two hair types give different effect and comfort. If you choose bulk human hair for braiding, you can get natural shinny, long-lasting and lighter braid styles. And if only need a short-term use, you can choose synthetic hair for braiding, you can get budget-friendly and still natural look.
Human Braiding Hair Vs Synthetic Braiding Hair
Look & Texture
Synthetic braiding hair can appear plastic-like, giving less natural shinny than human hair. Human braiding hair give natural hair texture and shinny, you can choose kinky curly, afro curly, colorful curly bulk human hair for blending well with your natural hair.
Shedding and tangles
Compared to synthetic braiding hair, Human Braiding Hair is less shedding and tangles.
Hold Curls
Human braiding hair holds curls together better, and the curl pattern can bounce back after being wet. Synthetic hair is more easily to lose shape and becomes frizzy when wet.
Reusable
Human braiding hair can be washed, colored and restyled, and can be reusable multiple times. Synthetic braiding hair is typically one-time use.
Natural Look & Lightweight Feel
Human braiding hair has natural shine and looks more natural than synthetic hair, and can blend with your natural hair seamlessly, give lighter feel than synthetic hair.
Scalp-Friendly
Human braiding hair has no irritation worries, good for sensitive scalp customers.
Styling Options
Human hair can be cut, colored, styled into various hairstyles, has more styling options. And synthetic hair can not be heated or restyled easily.
Longevity
Human braiding hair: Lighter and less sheding and tangling. Long-lasting with proper care.
Synthetic braiding hair: Easy to be tangled and can not be reusable. Short-term wear.
Cost
Human braiding hair: Higher price than synthetic hair but much cheaper than wigs. Can be reusable and last longer.
Synthetic braiding hair: cheap price, budget-friendly.
Why More People Are Choosing Human Braiding Hair
Braided styles come with high overall costs:
1. Braiding takes a long time, especially for complex styles like Boho or Bora Bora braids.
2. Going to a salon can be expensive.
3. Some styles can be uncomfortable due to the weight of the hair pulling on the scalp or tight braids causing tension and pain.
In short: Braided styles are time-consuming and costly.
Synthetic hair performs poorly for braiding:
1. The style doesn’t last, especially for Boho-style braids that require loose, wavy strands—synthetic fibers tangle and lose shape quickly and cannot be restored.
2. Poor texture—at normal social distances, the difference between synthetic and human hair is very noticeable, and synthetic hair often looks fake at a glance.
In short: Synthetic hair does not achieve a natural or long-lasting braided look.
Because of the high cost and poor results, more and more people have started using human hair for braiding. Since two years ago, this trend has been rising significantly—each summer, there’s been a noticeable increase in human hair braiding content on YouTube, showing growing demand and widespread approval.