Most braiding hair sold today is made from synthetic plastic fibers, primarily a type called Kanekalon. This is a modacrylic fiber, essentially a soft, heat-resistant plastic engineered to mimic the look and feel of natural hair. Human hair, animal fibers, and newer plant-based options also exist, but synthetic fiber dominates the market by a wide margin due to its low cost and versatility.
Kanekalon and Other Synthetic Fibers
Kanekalon is the most recognized name in braiding hair. Manufactured by Kaneka Corporation, it’s a modacrylic fiber, which means it’s made from a type of acrylic plastic polymer. The company operates manufacturing and development facilities worldwide, and Kanekalon fibers are used across the United States, Africa, Asia, Europe, and Latin America. When a pack of braiding hair says “100% Kanekalon,” it’s telling you the strands are entirely plastic-based.
Toyokalon is another common synthetic fiber you’ll see on packaging. It tends to have a slightly silkier, shinier finish than Kanekalon and is often used in pre-stretched braiding hair. Both fibers are flame retardant, meaning they resist catching fire easily, which is a safety feature built into the manufacturing process. Beyond these two brand names, many budget braiding hair packs simply list “synthetic fiber” without specifying the exact polymer. These are typically polyester or acrylic blends.
The practical difference between these synthetics comes down to texture, shine, and heat tolerance. Kanekalon generally has a more matte, natural appearance and holds up better to hot water setting (the method used to seal braid ends). Toyokalon is lighter and smoother but can look more obviously artificial. Polyester-based fibers are the cheapest option and tend to tangle more quickly.
Chemical Coatings on Synthetic Hair
The fiber itself is only part of the story. Synthetic braiding hair is often coated with chemicals during manufacturing, and these coatings are a major source of the itching and irritation many people experience after getting braids installed. The coatings can include pesticides, plastics, acrylics, and alkaline-based substances. When these come into contact with your scalp, your immune system can react to them as allergens, causing contact dermatitis: redness, swelling, itching, or burning.
This is why many braiders recommend soaking synthetic hair in an apple cider vinegar and water bath before installation. The goal is to strip off some of the alkaline coating. If you’ve ever noticed a slightly waxy or chemical feel on new braiding hair straight out of the package, that’s the coating. A 2025 Consumer Reports investigation detected potentially dangerous chemicals in braiding hair products, reinforcing that what’s on the fiber matters as much as what the fiber is made of.
Human Hair for Braiding
Human braiding hair is exactly what it sounds like: real hair, collected and bundled for use in extensions. Like all human hair, it’s made of keratin, a fibrous protein. Your body produces 54 different types of keratin, and hair specifically contains a combination of type I keratins (acidic, lightweight proteins) and type II keratins (basic-neutral, heavier proteins). These keratin proteins arrange themselves in a helical, screw-thread-like structure that gives hair its strength and flexibility.
Human hair braiding extensions are significantly more expensive than synthetic options, sometimes five to ten times the price. The tradeoff is that they look more natural, last longer, and can be heat-styled, colored, and washed just like your own hair. Most human hair extensions come from Asia, particularly India and China, where long hair is collected through temple donations or purchased from individuals.
One thing to watch for: some products labeled “human hair blend” mix a small percentage of real hair with synthetic fibers to keep costs down while technically qualifying for the label. If you’re specifically looking for 100% human hair, check the packaging carefully.
How to Tell the Difference: The Burn Test
If you’re unsure whether braiding hair is synthetic or real, a simple burn test can tell you. Snip a small strand and hold it to a flame. Human hair (like all animal fibers) doesn’t ignite easily. It curls away from the flame, smells like burning hair, and leaves behind a hard, bead-like ash that crumbles to powder when you crush it between your fingers.
Synthetic fibers behave differently. They melt under high heat rather than burning, produce a chemical or plasticky smell, and leave behind a hard, shiny bead that stays solid. Polyester specifically gives off a sweet chemical odor, while nylon smells more acrid. If you’re testing a “human hair” product and it melts into a plastic bead, you know it’s at least partly synthetic.
Animal Fiber Options
Animal fibers beyond human hair occasionally appear in braiding products, though they’re far less common. Mohair, which comes from Angora goats, has a naturally wiry texture that lends itself well to braiding. It’s sometimes used in specialty or theatrical braiding applications rather than everyday protective styles. Yak hair is another animal fiber that shows up in some high-end wig and extension products, prized for its coarse texture that can resemble certain natural hair types.
Plant-Based Braiding Hair
A newer category of braiding hair skips both plastic and animal products entirely. Rebundle, one of the more visible companies in this space, uses patented technology to repurpose discarded banana stems into braiding fiber. Their product, called ReGen Hair Fiber, is designed to be non-toxic and biodegradable, addressing both the chemical irritation problem and the environmental impact of plastic-based hair ending up in landfills.
Plant-based braiding hair is still a small slice of the market, and it costs more than standard synthetic packs. But for people who react to the chemical coatings on traditional synthetic hair, or who want to avoid petroleum-based plastics, it fills a real gap. The texture and weight of banana fiber braiding hair differ slightly from Kanekalon, so there’s a learning curve for stylists used to working with conventional materials.