Hair extensions are a popular way to add length, volume, and style to your natural hair. Two common types of hair extensions are flex wefts and volume wefts. But what is the difference between these two products and which one is right for you?
This comprehensive guide examines the pros, cons, features, and differences between flex wefts and volume wefts.
Flex Weft Vs. Volume Weft Comparison
| Factor | Flex Weft | Volume Weft |
| Thickness | Thin, sheer | Very thick and dense |
| Purpose | Length, subtle volume | Maximum fullness and volume |
| Comfort | Lightweight, ultra-comfortable for prolonged wear | Can feel heavy when worn all day |
| Styling | Blends and styles well with natural hair | Holds style extremely well |
| Price | Less expensive per pack | More expensive due to raw hair needed |
What Is A Flex Weft?
A flex weft, also sometimes called a flat weft, is a thin, flexible strip of luxury human hair extensions. Flex wefts have the hair machine sewn onto an ultra lightweight, comfortable fabric backing. This allows them to lay smoothly and seamlessly blend with natural hair.
Some key features and benefits of flex wefts include:
- Thin and flexible – Molds to the shape of your head for seamless blending
- Lightweight – More comfortable to wear than bulky extensions
- Reusable – Can be re-installed multiple times if cared for properly
- Easy to style – Can be curled, straighted, and styled just like real hair
- Available in multiple lengths and colors – Ranging from 16” to 28” and all natural hair shades
Overall, flex wefts create beautiful, natural-looking length and volume while remaining comfortable and easy to work with.
What Is A Volume Weft?
Volume wefts, sometimes called volumizer wefts, are thicker hair extension strips designed specifically to add extra body and fullness to hair. They have more hair densely packed and sewn onto the weft backing to create maximum thickness.
Some key features and benefits of volume wefts include:
- Very thick and dense – Packed with extra hair for added volume
- Lightweight backing – Allows the wefts to lay flat against the head
- Reusable – Can be re-installed if properly maintained
- Adds noticeable fullness – Great for creating bombshell, glamorous locks
- Perfect for increasing volume at the crown or ends of hair
- Also available in multiple lengths and colors
So in summary, volume wefts excel at dramatically boosting the body and bounce of fine or thinning locks. The dense hair pieces create an ultra-voluminous look and work best for height at the roots or added thickness from mid-length to ends.
Flex Wefts Vs. Volume Wefts: Key Differences
Now that we’ve covered the basics of each type of weft, let’s compare them across some key factors:
Thickness/Density
The most noticeable difference is that volume wefts are much thicker and denser than flex wefts. Volume wefts pack extra hair onto each strip, making them excellent for boosting volume. Meanwhile, flex wefts have hair sewn thinly onto lightweight backing, allowing them to lay very flat and seamless against natural hair.
Purpose
Flex wefts are ideal for seamlessly extending length and fullness, similar to clip-in hair extensions. Their sheer, lightweight construction allows them to blend perfectly with natural hair. Volume wefts excel at adding extreme volume and density, especially at the crown or bottom of hair. The dense strips add instant extra body that is harder to achieve with flex wefts.
Comfort
Flex wefts tend to provide more long-term wearing comfort. Their ultra-fine strips and lightweight fabric contour well to the shape of the head. Volume wefts can feel bulky and heavy when worn for prolonged periods. But volume wefts provide unbeatable volume, fullness and thickness for short-term wear.
Styling
Both flex and volume wefts can hold curls fairly well and be heat styled without damage. Though volume wefts tend to hold a pronounced style and bounce a bit better thanks to their denser packs of hair. The flexibility of flex wefts allows them to smoothly blend with any style.
Price
Volume wefts tend to cost a good bit more per pack compared to flex wefts. Creating an ultra-thick weft requires using more raw hair, driving up production costs. But both types generally provide good value for reuse potential when cared for properly.
In summary, those prioritizing a seamless blend with natural density should opt for flex wefts. While those wanting extreme volume, especially at the crown, cannot beat volume wefts.
Pros And Cons Of Flex Wefts
Pros
- Seamlessly blend with natural hair
- Lightweight and comfortable for prolonged wear
- Reusable if cared for correctly
- Mimics the movement and feel of biological hair
- Allows for heat styling without damage
- Easy to add length and layers gradually
- Less expensive than volume wefts
Cons
- Need multiple wefts for added density
- Delicate – can shred if brushed aggressively
- Not as thick as volume wefts for instant volume
- Can appear too flat for some styles
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Pros And Cons Of Volume Wefts
Pros
- Instantly boost volume from roots to ends
- Create sexy, bombshell body and bounce
- Hold curls extremely well
- Add cool two-toned underlayers or highlights
- Reusable if gently handled
- Perfect for special occasions requiring glam hair
Cons
- Not as natural looking as flex wefts
- Can feel heavy when worn all day
- Trickier to blend seamlessly
- Much more expensive per pack
- Shedding can occur if overused
- Difficult to gradually increase fullness
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
The main types besides flex and volume are machine wefts, hand-tied wefts, clip-in wefts, tape-in wefts, and fusion wefts. But flex and volume wefts are two of the most popular options.
It’s possible but inadvisable to cut across a flex weft. It can damage the fine stretch of hair and cause early shedding or tangling. Instead, ask your stylist to trim any excess length from the bottom of the weft neatly and parallel to the top stitching.
Volume wefts are extra thick, densely-packed hair extension strips perfect for boosting volume. The dense hair pieces instantly increase fullness and body for glamorous bombshell locks. They excel at adding lift at the crown and thickness through the ends.
Hand tied extensions utilize small clusters of hair individually knotted onto ultrafine fabric. This allows for excellent blending but is extremely labor intensive. Volume wefts machine-sew thick portions of hair onto strips for faster application and massive volume at a lower cost than hand tied methods.
Also Read: Is JZ Styles Better Than Bellami?
Conclusion
In conclusion, both flex and volume wefts have unique strengths making them useful solutions for different hair extension needs. Flex wefts deliver seamless blending, subtle volume boosting, and lightweight comfort.
Meanwhile volume wefts specialize in over-the-top thickness and fullness unmatched by other methods. Assess your personal hair goals and priorities to decide which option makes the most sense for achieving your dream mane. With proper selection, application, and care either weft solution can deliver beautiful results.