Hair is a major part of our personal appearance, particularly for women. For some of us, it makes us feel feminine. Others use it to show off their personal style. At the very least, it helps us to feel like ourselves. It is back with even more on extensions. Find out everything you ever wanted to know on the different type of extensions and figure out which ones are right for you. And if you have questions at the end, just drop me a note in the comments sections, and we’ll get them answered for you. There are four main types of hair extensions available in the market. First, they can be loose. Hair is cut from a donor and then processed in the factory and sold in bulk. Second, a weft, also called a weave, is a long strip of hair which is sewed together on top. These wefts are approximately one metre long, depending on the quantity of hair. Hair extensions have come a long way in the last few years. Weaves are still commonly used, but there are plenty of other options to suit your desires and lifestyle. The hair used in extensions can be either synthetic or natural—for cosmetic purposes, natural is considered the most desirable, but synthetic hair is a more affordable option. Most types of extensions can use both kinds of hair.
Extensions can be fitted either pre-bonding each strand or applying glue on the tip of the strand and attaching it to the client’s hair. There are various ways of applying glue. Keratin glue can be sold as granules, glue-gun sticks or keratin tips. Granules are places in an electric keratin glue pot which melts them. A strand of hair is dipped in and then, while the glue is still liquid, the strand is attached to the client’s hair.
The easiest and most affordable type of hair extensions are temporary. Clip-ons offer great versatility: you can place them in different places depending on your mood and you can take them out whenever you want. You also don’t have to worry about washing clip-ons, since they’re removed before washing your hair. While they’re quite convenient, clip-on hair extensions aren’t a very rational solution for women with thinning hair because they need to be clipped into the hair everyday.
This is the latest and the greatest when it comes to hair extensions. This method lasts the longest (up to 8 months) and combines the benefits of several of the other techniques. The bond is made up primarily of keratin, as is your hair. Strands can be customized to different sizes for the most personalized fit. These are the smallest fusion points available and also the hardest, yet they are as flat as a piece of paper. This makes Heat-Free Protein Bonds ideal for fine hair, because they are the least likely to cause visible bumps or be felt when running a hand over the hair.
Weft (Weave) hair extensions As described earlier weft hair extensions comprise a long strip of hair which is sewed together using a machine. There are various ways to fit the wefts on the scalp. The first method is sewing. First, the client’s hair is braided, making either one spiral cornrow, which covers the whole head, or several straight ones which match the layering. After this has been done, the wefts are simply sewed into these cornrows. This type of extension is quick to perform and can last up to 3 months. However, it is best to have your hair re-done every month, as the cornrows become loose after a while.
Classic bonded hair extensions are the go-to for many women due to their balance of quality and price. Your stylist will use a heat-activated glue to attach the extensions to your natural hair. The downfall to bonded hair extensions is that they don’t fare well with any type of heat stylers, such as flat irons, curling irons, and even blow dryers. The heat from these tools can cause the glue to melt, resulting in tangling or loss of the extensions altogether.
A tiny iron is used to melt the bond as it lies against your hair, after which the stylist rolls it until it cools and hardens with your own hair locked inside. In a variation of Classic Bonded Extensions, loose hair is dipped in glue and then attached by the same method. The bonus to this is that many colors can be blended together without streakiness, but the drawback is that it takes longer and is therefore more expensive. Because this type of extensions is bonded using heat, accidental contact with a curling or flat iron could melt it quite easily, causing two to stick together or even to slip out of the hair. Removal requires application of a solvent, which softens the bond so the stylist can loosen it and slide it off.
Fusion hair extensions, also known as keratin or protein bonds, use melted keratin to attach the extensions to your natural hair. The tips of the extensions are made out of keratin, which is a naturally occurring protein in your hair, skin, and nails. The keratin is melted with either a hot iron or sonic waves, attaching the extension hair to your natural hair. Heat-free hair extensions are very heat-tolerant and a fine option if you heat style your hair on a regular basis.
Micro rings, also called loops, are small rings made of plastic and silicone. This is another way to attach hair wefts.A weft is located on a divided section of the client’s hair. Two strands (one from the scalp and another from the weft) are joined and pulled through a micro ring, which is then flattened. This way the weft is attached by fitting together several strands both from the weft and the scalp. The photo below shows three main steps of the process. The colour of the micro rings is light only for demonstration reasons. Normally, similar hair colour micro rings are applied. Applying weft hair extensions with bonds is a similar process to the micro rings. There is only one difference – strands from a scalp and a weft are attached to each other using keratin glue.
Before the bond hardens, the glue is formed into either a cylindrical or flat shape and the extension is attached to the hair. The same process can use ultrasonic or infrared connectors, which melt the bonds without the use of heat. This process is called Cold Fusion. We provide both hot and cold fusion hair extensions. Micro rings, as described above, are small rings made of plastic and silicone. I-tip extensions are used for this method. The client’s hair is put through a micro ring after which a pre-bonded I-tip is positioned into it. Then firm pressure is applied on the area of the micro ring, using pliers.
Don’t let the name mislead you—there are no types of hair extensions that attach directly to the scalp. Rather, skin wefts are larger sections are hair that are bonded to the uppermost part of the hair using tape or glue. They lie completely flat, and are nearly indiscernible from the natural hair growing out of your scalp. Since skin wefts come in long rows of hair, they’re quick and easy to apply. Many people apply their skin wefts at home.
