European hair texture and colour range: a buyer's reference

Texture: what "fine" really means

European hair sits at the fine end of the trade. Suppliers commonly quote it at about 50–90 µm in diameter, where coarser origins run nearer 90–120 µm. A finer strand bends and lies flat more easily, takes a lighter colour with less lift, and holds that colour more evenly from the first order to the repeat. That is the commercial case for it, and it is measurable: ask for the diameter on the specification rather than accepting the word "fine".

Colour: the codes and the scale

The numbering follows the standard tone scale, 1 for black through 10 for the lightest blonde. A slash joins the tones blended into one strand, so 4/6/8/16 is a multi-tone mix rather than a single flat colour. This catalogue publishes nine codes — 8D/60, 4/6/8/16, 2/6/500, 6/500C/60C, 100A/GRAY, 6/8/18, 2/6/10, 1B/8C and Natural. A code is a specification; "light brown" is a description. Ask which codes your chosen length is available in, because colour availability by length is confirmed on quotation.

Texture across the three constructions

One straight European hair runs across three builds. Seamless lace is an HD lace front, size 4*5*8.5, quoted in five lengths from 14 to 22 inches, at 155 g rising to 235 g. Hand-tied and machine-back medical caps run 12 to 18 inches, at 125–170 g and 115–165 g. The texture is constant; construction and weight are what change.

Reading a range as a buyer

A colour range is only useful if it repeats, and that is the second reason the light base matters: a strand that starts pale needs less processing to reach a pale shade, and less processing means less drift between production runs. When you compare two suppliers, compare the code list and the diameter, not the photographs. If a supplier cannot state both in writing, the texture claim has nothing behind it.

Test the range with one piece

One piece is quoted at the lowest listed price for its model with the freight at your cost, and wholesale starts at 3 pieces per model. Order the lightest shade you plan to sell — it is the hardest to hit and the quickest to expose a texture that is too coarse — and hold it against hair you already stock.

European hair: texture and colour reference

Texture	Straight, fine; suppliers commonly quote about 50–90 µm
Colour scale	Standard tone scale: 1 black to 10 lightest blonde
Codes published here	Nine codes, e.g. 8D/60, 4/6/8/16, 6/8/18, Natural
Lace front size	4*5*8.5 on the seamless lace line
Lengths	14–22 in (lace); 12–18 in (medical caps)
Weights	155–235 g (lace); 125–170 g (hand-tied)

Questions buyers ask

How fine is European hair compared with Brazilian?

Generally finer and lighter in base, which is why it takes pale shades with less processing and repeats colour more reliably. Compare a sample strand side by side rather than trusting a description.

Does the colour code tell me the tone?

Yes. The numbers map to the standard 1–10 tone scale, and a slash shows the tones blended in one strand. The code, not the colour name, is what a supplier can be held to.

Can I order one piece to check the texture?

Yes. A single piece is quoted at the lowest listed price for its model with the freight at your cost; wholesale then starts at 3 pieces per model.

Keep reading

• Verifying European hair
• Wigs for thin hair
• European virgin hair
• Caucasian wigs
• Colour and texture matching
• Hair origin

Sources and further reading

• CAMEO Materials Database (Museum of Fine Arts, Boston): Human hair
• NHS: Hair loss — real-hair and synthetic wigs compared

Match the range to your customers

Tell us the shades and lengths you sell and we will confirm the codes, the weights and the diameters on the specification, in writing.

Last reviewed 11 October 2026. This guide was drafted with AI assistance, then checked against our own published specifications and the sources above.