Routes Premium Gold hair is the highest quality virgin (never before chemically processed) temple hair from Southern India. The Remy (hair cut from a pony tail ensuring all hairs fall in the same direction with cuticles in tact and undamaged) hair is processed very slowly with delicate products ensuring that the cuticles of the hair are not damaged, dried or compromised in any way. The lifespan averages at 12 months (9 months for light blondes) and in many cases longer lifespans are reported.