When most people hear "weft extensions" they picture one thing — a long, flat strip of hair that gets sewn, glued, or clipped into place. But there are two very distinct types of weft: hand tied and machine made. And the difference between them goes far deeper than just how they're constructed.

The type of weft you choose affects how the extensions sit against your scalp, how natural they look and feel, which installation methods work, how much hair you need, and ultimately how long the install lasts and how your natural hair holds up underneath. These are not small differences. They're foundational to getting the result you actually want.

This blog breaks down everything — clearly, honestly, and practically — so you can walk into any appointment knowing exactly what to ask for.

Part One

What Is a Hand Tied Weft?

A hand tied weft is exactly what it sounds like — hair that has been tied by hand onto a very thin, flat thread base. The hair is gathered in small sections and individually knotted onto the weft thread, strand by strand, by a skilled craftsperson. There is no machine involved. No glue. No thick backing material. Just hair tied to thread.

The result is one of the thinnest, flattest, most flexible wefts available. A hand tied weft sits almost invisibly against the scalp. It is so flat that it can be installed with beaded rows, invisible bead methods, and single row installations without creating any bulk at the attachment point — which is exactly what makes them ideal for seamless, natural-looking installs.

Hand tied wefts are also highly customizable. Because they're made by hand, they can be created in virtually any texture, color combination, weight, and length. At Blonc, we offer hand tied wefts in 25-gram and 50-gram options, in single drawn and double drawn, across a wide range of textures — and we can do custom orders for colors and textures not currently listed online.

Part Two

What Is a Machine Weft?

A machine weft is produced by a machine that stitches hair onto a fabric or thread backing at high speed. The backing is thicker and stiffer than a hand tied weft thread — it provides structure and durability, but also adds bulk at the top of the weft.

Machine wefts are the most widely available weft type in the extension market. They are durable, consistent in quality when made well, and excellent for traditional sew-in installations where the weft is sewn directly onto braided cornrows. They're also the preferred choice for wig making — the sturdier backing holds up well to being cut, sewn, and manipulated during construction.

One important note: machine wefts can be cut into smaller sections without unraveling because the machine stitching creates a secure edge. Hand tied wefts, because they're tied by hand, require more care when cutting — cuts must be made at specific points to avoid the weft coming apart. Always have a professional cut hand tied wefts if resizing is needed.

Side by Side

Hand Tied vs. Machine: The Full Comparison

Part Three

Installation Methods: Which Weft Works Where

The installation method is usually the deciding factor between hand tied and machine wefts. Here's how each method maps to each weft type:

"Hand tied for the most seamless, invisible install. Machine weft for structure, sew-ins, and wig building. Know your method — then choose your weft."

Part Four

The Blonc Weft Difference: Thousands of Combinations

Most extension retailers give you a limited menu — a few colors, a couple of textures, one weight option. At Blonc, that's not how we work. Because we are a distribution company with direct factory relationships, we can offer an extraordinary range of hand tied weft options that most retailers simply can't match.

Our hand tied wefts are available in 25-gram and 50-gram weights, in single drawn and double drawn, across textures including natural straight, natural wavy, Jackson Wave body wave, natural curly, kinky curly, coily curls, water waves, deep wavy, textured straight, kinky straight, and afro kinky curly. And with the weight and texture combinations available, you can build thousands of different color and texture packs.

Our online store carries our most popular ready-to-ship options — currently featuring our beautiful platinum blonde (613) and dirty blonde (613/18) hand tied wefts in lengths from 18" to 32". But our inventory is much larger than what's listed online, and it changes every single day.

The Bottom Line

Which One Is Right for You?

If you're doing beaded rows, invisible bead, or single row installations and want the flattest, most seamless, most natural-looking result — hand tied is your answer. It will sit invisibly against the scalp and move like natural hair in any style.

If you're doing traditional sew-ins, building wigs, or working with a stylist who prefers the structure of a machine backing — machine wefts deliver the durability and ease of handling you need.

And if you're not sure? Come in. We'll look at your natural hair, talk through your lifestyle and install goals, and make sure you walk out with exactly what you need.

Shop Wefts

Browse Our Weft Collections

Hand tied and machine wefts — single drawn and double drawn — 25g and 50g — lengths from 18" to 32". Ready to ship or custom order.