Yaki Hair 101: Everything You Need To Know About Yaki Hair

Yaki hair is a type of hair commonly used in hair weaves, extensions, wigs and various hairpieces. In comparison to other weaves, it tends to look, feel and resemble natural/Afro hair texture, and it tends to be dark in color and shade. Some professionals refer to yaki hair as ‘virgin’ and ‘unprocessed’ hair because unlike other types of hair pieces, yaki hair isn’t synthetic and it has a natural feel and look. For people who want to add weaves to their hair but desire the natural – and less synthetic – look, Yaki hair is definitely the right choice. Best of all, there are different types of Yaki hair to select from, depending on texture you want. Yaki hair is also a good choice if you are looking for hair that blends well with your real hair.

Types of Yaki Hair

There are four types of Yaki hair. Here they are in much more detail.

Also known as light Yaki or Yaki straight. This is the type of Yaki hair that “does what it says on the tin” so to speak. This is the type of hair that looks like Black hair that’s been chemically straightened, texturized or straightened with a flat iron.

Kinky Yaki – also know as Kinky Straight Yaki – is the type of Yaki hair that looks kinky, but the curls are not too tight. This Yaki looks like natural/Afro hair once it’s been blow dried. It’s kind of in-between: it’s not too straight but it’s not tightly curled either.

This type is of Yaki hair looks like hair that’s just been relaxed, but it differs slightly from silky yaki, light Yaki and Yaki straight hair, as Yaki hair is not ‘poker’ straight in comparison to those types.

This is the type of Yaki hair that looks the closest to natural/Afro hair (types 4a, 4bc and 4c). It looks like hair that is tightly curled and hasn’t been straightened or chemically processed. For women who are looking to maintain the natural hair look as well as giving their hair a bit of a boost, this is the ideal choice and it is becoming much more common for women to purchase this type of Yaki hair without having to resort to purchasing an afro wig.

Remy hair is one of the most popular weave choices for Black women, and it is most commonly sold in many Afro hair shops. Remy hair is lightly processed, and it has specific characteristics and qualities. Remy hair has a uni-lateral cuticle direction, meaning that the hair follicles go in one single direction and the cuticles are kept intact.

In comparison to Remy hair, Yaki hair tends to look a lot more natural and it tends to be a lot thicker, whereas Remy hair tends to have a finest texture. Like Yaki hair, Remy hair tends to come in different grades but Yaki hair types are much more clearly defined. Plus, while Remy hair tends to be lightly processed, some companies over process Remy hair, whereas Yaki hair doesn’t require processing.

Variety is the spice of life, as they say, but sometimes it’s hard to choose despite knowing the facts from this comprehensive guide! It’s up to you and one is not necessarily ‘better’ than the other. However, it depends on what you are trying to achieve and what your desired look is. Remy hair is a great hairpiece for style and it looks pretty after application, but if you are more interested in the natural look and a weave that is more adaptable, ‘blendable’ and closely related to your own hair texture, then Yaki hair is your best bet.

If Yaki hair isn’t for you, then there are other types of hair that you can try out and each type has its own properties.

Brazilian hair

Brazilian hair styles (weaves, blowouts and extensions) are some of the most popular choices for celebrities and African-American women. Brazilian hair has a very thick and full texture, which is great as it adds definition and volume to many hair types.

Peruvian hair

Peruvian hair has a multi-purpose texture and it blends well with all types of Black hair. Plus, it’s lightweight and easy to manage and maintain.

Indian hair

Like Yaki hair, Indian hair has a very thick and natural texture, and is suitable for most hair types. It can be perfectly styled with straight, wavy and tightly curled hair.

Malaysian hair

Like silky Yaki hair and Remy hair, Malaysian hair is perfect for ladies who have relaxed hair and want silky straight hair. Malaysian hair is soft, smooth and easily manageable.

All in all, there are different types of hairpieces available, but the right one for your hair depends on your requirements and the way you want your hair to look. Yaki hair is fantastic because it’s great for boosting the look of your natural hair, and it comes available in four different types and textures. Plus, it’s becoming a much more popular hair piece for Black women with natural/Afro textured hair who want to use weaves and extensions that suit their hair texture, without having to resort to wigs and straight weaves. So Yaki hair is definitely the go-to hair piece for boosting your hair and making it look ultra fabulous and glamourous!

Have you ever heard of Yaki hair? If so, do you use it? If you’ve never heard of Yaki hair before, would you consider trying it out? Why or why not?