Double Drawn and Single Drawn Describe One Thing: Whether Every Strand Is the Same Length
Two bundles of "100% virgin hair" can look identical on the shelf and behave completely differently in a client's hair, because one is double drawn and the other is single drawn. The grade tells you the hair quality. The draw ratio tells you whether the bundle is full from root to tip or tapers toward the ends. As we cover in our guide to human hair grades, grade and draw are separate specifications, and buyers who only ask for one of them get surprised at the invoice.
This guide explains what each term means, why double drawn costs 20–45% more, and a 30-second weight test you can run on any sample bundle before you commit to a container.
What "Drawn" Actually Means
Hair does not grow to one uniform length. When it is collected, a bundle contains strands from roughly 14 inches up to the cut length, say 22 inches. "Drawing" is the factory step where shorter strands are pulled out so the bundle matches a target length.
The draw ratio is how completely that sorting is done:
- Single drawn: sorted once. The bundle contains a spread of lengths, so it is naturally thicker at the top and tapers toward the bottom.
- Double drawn: sorted two or more times. Short strands are removed until almost every hair reaches close to the full length. The bundle is full end to end.
- Super double drawn / triple drawn: sorted three times. Near-uniform thickness, and the most expensive to produce.
None of this changes the hair quality. A single-drawn bundle can still be virgin and cuticle aligned. It is simply less dense at the tips.
The Practical Difference a Buyer Feels
| Property | Single drawn | Double drawn | Super double drawn |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thickness at tip | Tapers, thinner ends | Near-full to ends | Uniform root to tip |
| Hair used per 100g | Baseline | +20–35% | +40–60% |
| Typical price premium | Baseline | +20–45% | +50–80% |
| Best use | Layered cuts, volume weft | Straight, long, blunt styles | High-end salon, photo shoots |
The premium is not a markup for better hair. It is the cost of discarding the short strands that were removed during drawing. Every strand thrown away is paid for once and then thrown away, which is why doubling the draw ratio does not double the price but does raise it significantly.
The 30-Second Weight Test
You do not need a lab to tell single from double drawn. You need a scale and the supplier's own weight claim.
- Weigh one bundle. A 100g double-drawn bundle at 20 inches should feel noticeably heavier in the hand than a 100g single-drawn bundle, because the mass is packed into full-length strands rather than spread across a length range.
- Compare equal weights side by side. Lay a 100g double-drawn and a 100g single-drawn bundle of the same length next to each other. The double-drawn one looks shorter and denser; the single-drawn one looks longer and looser because of the taper.
- Run the pinch test. Pinch the bundle one inch from the tip. On double drawn, the pinch still feels full. On single drawn, it thins out sharply.
- Check the claim against the invoice. If a quote says "double drawn" but the bundle fails the pinch test, you are paying the premium for the word, not the construction.
Our virgin hair weave and virgin machine weft list the draw ratio on the specification so the weight test matches the paperwork.
Where the Draw Ratio Matters Most
Not every product needs double drawn. Spending on it where it is invisible is a margin leak; skipping it where it is visible is a return risk.
- Straight, long, blunt styles: double drawn is worth it. The tip taper on single drawn shows as thin, wispy ends that clients photograph and complain about.
- Wavy and curly textures: the curl hides the taper, so single drawn is usually fine and saves real money.
- Wefts and sew-ins: draw ratio affects how the weft lies and how much volume a row delivers. See our machine vs hand tied weft comparison for how construction and draw interact.
- Pre-bonded and micro ring: strand uniformity matters for a clean bond, so double drawn earns its cost on these lines.
How to Write It in Your Specification
One line removes most disputes: "Draw ratio: double drawn (or single drawn). State it explicitly. Do not let it default."
Buyers who leave draw ratio unstated almost always receive single drawn, because it is the cheaper default and the difference is hard to see in a product photo. State it, weigh a sample, and the rest of the quotation becomes comparable across suppliers.
Common Mistakes When Specifying Draw Ratio
- Assuming "double drawn" is the factory default. It is the exception, not the rule.
- Comparing a double-drawn quote to a single-drawn quote by price alone, then picking the cheaper one without realising the spec differs.
- Ordering double drawn for curly hair where the curl hides the taper and the premium is wasted.
- Trusting the photo. A bundle photographed fanned out looks full at the tip regardless of draw ratio.
- Forgetting to weigh the sample. The weight test is the only check that survives a supplier's retouched listing.
Summary
Double drawn and single drawn are not quality grades. They are how completely short strands were removed, and they decide whether a bundle is full to the tip or tapers off. Double drawn costs 20–80% more because the discarded hair is still paid for. The 30-second weight and pinch test tells you what you actually received before the container ships.
Send us your target lengths and draw ratio and we will quote virgin and remy options from our hair extensions range with the specification written on the invoice, not assumed.