Extensions
Hair extensions can be amazing. They can also be scary. There are many many different varieties and companies out there. Most are great when used correctly and for the right type of hair and person. Learn the facts and find out what options you may have.
Human Hair vs Synthetic Hair
When choosing your hair it’s important to remember you get what you pay for. Synthetic hair may be cheaper and feel softer and shinier at first (because it’s coated with wax) but it will melt. This means no curling. After a bit of wear with synthetic hair, the coating breaks down and styling becomes difficult (think Barbie dolls)
Human hair is more costly but has all the qualities of your own hair in that you can style as normal and even color. It will also blend better with your natural.
Clip Ins
Clip ins are great for events. These can be worn multiple times and are quick to put in and take out. Human hair is still recommended for the best blend.
Start with a good blowout on your natural hair and from the nape working up tease a base section of the hair, add a little spray for texture and then clip in a row of hair. Drop your next section and repeat. The teasing helps the clips have something to hold onto and to balance the fullness of your own hair with the addition of the extension wefts.
Beaded Weft
Another weft option is a beaded weft. This is more suitable for smoother textures and finer hair who still want a full weft extension. There are two options both using small metal beads or locks with silicone linings that the hair is thread through and clamped.
Standard beaded weft takes a piece of your hair and a piece of the extension hair and locks it together every 2 inches or so. In a Malaysian sew in the natural hair is beaded into a base for the weft to be sewn onto.
Tape Weft
Tape is a weft option with more flexibility. Here the wefts are only 2 inches wide and placed in rows and brick lay patterns to create a very flat full coverage extension.
Two pieces of very thin wefts are sandwiched together with your own hair and last 6-8 weeks before needing to be removed and re-taped. This hair is reusable up to a year.
I Tip Individuals
I-tips are a way to have individuals and reusable hair. Each individual extension is attached to your own hair with a small silicone lined ring that is clamped closed around the tip of the extension.
Keratin Tip Individuals
Individuals offer the most flexibility in styling with extensions. KeraTip bonded extensions are small and mimic the most natural blend and fall of extensions. They can be worn in any length and work great for spot filling length or growing out a style. The bonds are about the size of a grain of rice or even smaller. The hair is not reusable but lasts an average of 3-4 months, with no additional salon maintenance. Since there is no need in preserving the hair for reuse it can be perfectly cut and texturized to blend seamlessly.
What’s right for you ?
Short or Long, Color matching, Care and Styling are all important and vary from person to person and by technique and application. Ask your specialist what’s best for you. Just because you read one thing or have a friend that tells you something else doesn’t mean it’s right or wrong for you. There are endless options and we will find the perfect fit for you and or tell you the reality of what’s possible and what’s not.
Multiple colors are usually chosen and blended together for the best blend followed by a detailed cut.