Single Drawn vs Double Drawn Hair: What's the Difference and Which Should You Buy?

The difference between single drawn and double drawn hair comes down to how many strands run the full length of the bundle. In single drawn hair, roughly half the strands reach the stated length while the rest are shorter, giving a natural taper toward the ends. In double drawn hair, the shorter strands have been removed by hand and replaced with full-length ones, so the bundle stays thick from weft to tip. Double drawn costs more because the sorting is labor-intensive and consumes more raw material — but for many buyers the fuller finish is worth it. At Arrow Exim, a raw Indian temple hair factory operating in Chennai since 2011 and shipping to more than 30 countries, we produce both from the same ethically sourced temple hair, so the choice is purely about the look, the budget, and the use case.

What single drawn hair actually is

Human hair collected from a donor never grows to one uniform length — a natural head of hair contains strands at every stage of growth. When a bundle is made without removing those shorter strands, it is called single drawn. A single drawn 20 inch bundle contains strands of roughly 16 to 20 inches, with about half reaching the full length. The result mirrors how hair naturally falls: full at the roots and mid-lengths, tapering toward the ends.

That taper is not a defect. It blends seamlessly with a client's own hair, layers naturally without cutting, and reads as believably real — which is exactly why many stylists prefer single drawn for natural-looking installs. It is also the most economical option, since nothing is discarded in production.

What double drawn hair actually is

Double drawn hair goes through a second sorting stage. Workers hand-pull the shorter strands out of the collected hair and rebuild the bundle so that most strands — typically 70 to 80 percent or more, depending on the factory's standard — run the full stated length. The finished bundle looks dense and blunt from top to bottom, similar to freshly cut healthy hair.

This process takes significant skilled labor and consumes more raw hair per finished bundle, which is why genuine double drawn hair always carries a meaningful premium over single drawn of the same length. If a vendor offers 'double drawn' at nearly the same price as single drawn, treat that as a red flag — the sorting cost is real and cannot be skipped.

Single vs double drawn: how to choose

Neither type is better in the absolute — they serve different looks and budgets:

• Choose single drawn for natural, layered, everyday looks, for blending with a client's own hair, and for budget-conscious retail clients — especially at 18 inches and under, where the taper is barely noticeable

• Choose double drawn for blunt-cut styles, maximum visible thickness, and longer lengths of 20 inches and up, where a single drawn taper becomes more obvious at the ends

• For wigs and toppers, double drawn produces a fuller, more luxurious finish and can reduce how much hair the construction needs

• For salons, stocking single drawn as the default and offering double drawn as a premium upgrade keeps the price ladder simple for clients

How bundle counts change the math

Because double drawn hair keeps its density to the ends, a full install often needs fewer bundles — two double drawn bundles can achieve what three single drawn bundles do at longer lengths. When comparing quotes, always compare the cost of the finished look, not the cost per bundle. The per-bundle premium of double drawn partly pays for itself in reduced quantity.

Watch out for 'super double drawn' claims

Some vendors market 'super double drawn' hair, implying nearly every strand reaches full length. The term has no industry-wide standard, so ask the factory what percentage of strands actually run the full length and request photos or video of the bundle ends of the actual batch. A trustworthy supplier will show you the ends without hesitation — the ends are where drawn quality is visible.

Does raw temple hair come single or double drawn?

All raw Indian temple hair starts the same way: donated at South Indian temples, collected as full ponytails, and sorted by length. Whether a bundle ends up single or double drawn is a production decision, not a difference in the hair itself. The cuticle alignment, the absence of chemical processing, and the donor origin are identical. That means you can safely mix both in one order — for example, double drawn for a wig unit and single drawn for weft bundles — and the color and texture will still match, because it is the same hair.

Frequently asked questions

Is double drawn hair better quality than single drawn?

No — drawn type describes strand-length sorting, not quality. A single drawn bundle of raw, cuticle-aligned temple hair is higher quality than a double drawn bundle of chemically processed hair. Judge quality by origin, processing, and cuticle condition first; choose drawn type second, based on the look you want and your budget.

How much more expensive is double drawn hair?

It varies by length and market, but double drawn typically wholesales at a noticeable premium over single drawn of the same length — often somewhere in the range of 30 to 60 percent more, and higher at very long lengths where full-length strands are scarce. Exact pricing depends on the batch and current raw material supply, so request a current quote rather than relying on published figures.

Can you tell single from double drawn just by looking?

Yes, at the ends. Hold the bundle up and look at the last few inches: single drawn tapers visibly, like naturally grown hair, while double drawn stays nearly as thick at the tips as at the weft. When buying remotely, ask the vendor for an unedited video panning from weft to ends — it is the quickest honest test of what you are actually getting.

Arrow Exim is a factory-direct manufacturer and exporter of 100% raw Indian temple human hair — weft bundles, lace wigs, closures, frontals, tape-ins, keratin-tip extensions, and bulk braiding hair — operating from Chennai, India since 2011 and serving wholesale and retail customers in more than 30 countries. We produce both single drawn and double drawn ranges from the same ethically sourced temple hair, so you can build a mixed order that fits your clients and your margins. Message us on WhatsApp at +91 98841 11108 or email sales@arrowexim.com for current factory-direct pricing, batch videos, and samples.