Double Drawn vs. Single Drawn Hair: Which Should You Buy?

You’ve fallen for a gorgeous set of extensions online — then you hit the words “single drawn” and “double drawn” and suddenly you’re second-guessing the whole thing. Here’s exactly what those terms mean, and how to pick the right one for your hair.

“Drawn” is one of those insider words that quietly tells you how full your extensions will look from root to tip. It’s not about texture, colour, or origin — it’s about how the lengths inside a bundle are sorted. Once you understand it, you’ll never overpay for the wrong volume again.

What does “drawn” actually mean?

When hair is collected from a single donor as a ponytail, the strands are naturally a mix of lengths — some long, some shorter, just like the layers on your own head. “Drawing” is the sorting process that decides how many of those shorter strands stay in the final bundle. The more shorter hairs that are removed by hand, the fuller and more uniform the ends look — and the more labour-intensive (and premium) the bundle becomes.

Single drawn hair

Single drawn is the everyday standard, and for good reason — it looks beautifully natural. In a single drawn bundle, roughly half the strands are full length and the rest are shorter. So in an 18″ bundle, about 50% of the hair reaches 18″ while the remaining strands sit closer to 14″ and 16″.

The result: thick at the top, gently tapering toward the ends — a soft, V-shaped finish that mimics how most women’s hair naturally falls.

• Looks effortlessly natural — the taper reads like real, lived-in hair.
• Lighter and more flexible — easy to blend into fine and medium hair.
• More accessible price — less hand-sorting means a lower cost.

The trade-off: slightly less volume through the very ends, and shorter strands can show a little more over time. If you love a layered, lived-in look — or you’re working with finer hair that you don’t want to overwhelm — single drawn is often the smarter pick.

Double drawn hair

Double drawn is the luxe option. Here, most of the shorter strands are removed by hand and replaced with full-length hair, so the bundle stays thick and even from root to tip. In an 18″ double drawn bundle, around 80% of the hair reaches the full 18″, with only about 20% in the 14″–16″ range.

That uniformity gives you a fuller, U-shaped finish — the same lush density at the ends as at the top.

• Maximum volume — equally full at the root and the ends.
• Thick, blunt-friendly ends — ideal for a sleek, U-shaped silhouette.
• Premium hand-sorted quality — meticulous processing, fewer stray short hairs.

The trade-off: all that hand-work makes double drawn more expensive. It’s the go-to when you want dramatic thickness, a glamorous blunt cut, or extensions that photograph full from every angle.

Single drawn vs. double drawn: the quick comparison

• Shape: single drawn tapers to a soft V; double drawn stays full for a fuller U.
• Volume: double drawn delivers more density through the ends.
• Look: single drawn reads more naturally layered; double drawn reads thick and uniform.
• Best for: single drawn for fine-to-medium hair and natural layers; double drawn for thick, blunt, high-volume styles.
• Price: single drawn is more accessible; double drawn is the luxury tier.

So which is better for you?

Neither is “better” in a vacuum — the right choice depends on your hair type and the look you’re after. If your own hair is fine or you love a soft, lived-in layer, single drawn blends seamlessly and won’t feel heavy. If you have thicker hair or you’re chasing maximum, blunt-cut volume, double drawn is worth the splurge.

Whichever you choose, the quality of the source hair matters just as much as the draw. At PRARVI, both our single drawn and double drawn extensions are 100% human Indian Remy hair — cuticles intact and aligned in one direction so your set stays smooth, tangle-free, and easy to style. Our hair is truthfully Indian in origin (never mislabelled Brazilian or Peruvian), and our natural virgin collection is single-donor with no permanent dye.

Still deciding on length, texture, or shade before you commit to a draw? Order a hair sample first and match your shade and texture in your own light — it’s the easiest way to buy with confidence.

Frequently asked questions

Is double drawn hair always higher quality? Double drawn means more uniform thickness from root to tip, which many shoppers experience as more premium. But a beautifully sourced single drawn set in genuine Remy hair will look far more natural than poorly processed double drawn. Quality of the hair itself comes first.

Does single drawn hair shed or thin faster? Single drawn simply contains more short strands by design, so the ends look a touch wispier — that’s the natural taper, not damage. With gentle handling and proper care, quality Remy single drawn hair lasts beautifully.

Which is better for fine or thin hair? Single drawn is often the friendlier match for finer hair because it’s lighter and blends with a natural taper. For more on adding volume to fine hair, see our guide on extensions for thin hair.

Can I get single or double drawn in any texture? Yes. Both draws are available across our textures and lengths. Remember that only three of our textures are natural — straight, natural wave, and natural curl — while other textures are steam-set, so they’re styled rather than raw.

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References & further reading

• Indian Remy Hair: All You Should Know
• Hair Extensions for Thin Hair