Hair Extensions Everywhere!
Several years ago hair extensions started to become very popular and that wasn’t too long ago. In 2018, hair extension sales exploded to 1.25 billion (insane) and now it’s expected to jump another 20% by the end of this year! However, just as it is with any any surge in popularity of a popular product, a flood of misinformation follows. Some companies even mislead consumers looking for quality hair extensions. So don’t go to amazon ladies or try to do them yourselves.
Everything You Need To Know About Hair Extensions
What Is Remy Hair?
Many companies will boast that their hair is 100% Remy hair, but what does that mean? Remy hair is authentic human hair that is very healthy and gathered with all the roots at the top and ends at the bottom.
You can treat Remy hair as if it were growing out of your scalp. You can wash it, color it, heat style it.
Non-Remy hair will tangle or shed over time, true Remy hair does not. To be sure your source has 100% Remy hair (and no synthetic hair mixed in at all) look for recent reviews from other consumers.
Hair Texture
Everyone has a different kind of hair texture. People can have curly hair, straight hair, wavy hair, thick, thin, and everything between. To make sure hair extensions blend in and look natural, the extensions should match the texture of the natural hair.
Hair Extension Methods
Hair extensions add length and thickness to your hair, making them perfect for those who aren’t able to grow their hair long or those who have thin hair or break off at the ends.
Most hair extensions are great and they are tailored to the persons hair needs, hair density, texture and length of hair. There is also no wrong method there is just a method that will work better for you than the other hair extension method. You may also like one more than the other. ain’t nothing wrong with that.
It is super important to brush the k-tips daily using a double bristle brush on the point of attachment. You will section out each row and brush, making sure none of the pieces are getting tangled together.
Sew -in Hair Extensions
There are different ways to sew in the hair extensions because different salons, hairstylists and hair extension companies have created their own techniques of doing it. Of course, there are the foundations in which we are taught, and from there emerge more ideas.
Some of the most popular sew-in extensions are called waterfall beaded row and invisible beaded which are extremely similar. The hair extensions used for this technique is called a hair weft and their are different types of hair wefts. This method is at times also called weaving in the hair. Or at least that’s what it was called back in the day and still used today.
However, know instead of creating a braid the more popular method is to to create a row of chained beads along the circumference of the head and then sew in the weft with a string and needle ( waterfall).
To the right is the waterfall beaded row. The beads are chained in a row thick enough for the hair to hold the weft and because they are placed flat along the head they are seamless when installed. When both sides meet at the back then we start sewing in the hair weft through the hair in the space in between the beads until we go all around and finish at the other side.
It is more often than not that a person head can hold 1 to 4 rows of hair depending on the density. Hence, the reason why price in getting your extensions done in the salon can vary.
This method allows for 360 movements and takes the least amount of time to install.
Quick tip: If you have short layers above the shoulders or by the ears it will be more work to hide the hair extensions. Products will be your best friend!
I-tip Hair Extensions
I-Tip extensions are installed with a strand-by-strand application, without using heat or glue, this is an especially great application for those with thinning hair around their hairline.
Application is achieve by threading each I-tip and a strand of the client’s hair into the looping tool, through a looping bead and then attached by clamping the bead to the clients hair. Bellami uses high quality copper beads with protective silicone lining which is the most gentle on hair.
Many girls are also wary of using heat for application and look for a good alternative.
I-tip hair extensions require no heat for application and that’s why this method is also known as cold fusion. There is also no glue used because you apply I-tip sticks with small beads. They are known as micro or Nano rings. The latter work the same, but the only difference is that the microbeads are slightly larger than the Nano beads.
Since I-tip extensions come as individual strands, you can combine different colors and create cool highlights. This is where extensions become fun and creative!
K-Tip Hair Extensions
AKA Fusions.
Keratin Tip (K-Tip) extensions are installed using a heating element which safely melts the Keratin Tips onto your own hair. This Keratin Tip is partially made of the same naturally occurring protein found in your hair.
A silicone additive on the K-tip helps to create a protective coating for your natural hair strands. The K-tips are bonded close to the roots of the hair.
These k-tip hair extensions have a natural look and feel to your hair. They are attached to the hair with keratin bonds in tiny sections. They blend into your natural hair well and cannot be detected. So if you’re out and about and there’s a breeze, you don’t have to worry about your hair extensions showing.
K-tip hair extensions allow for 360 degree movement, which means they can be styled any way you like. With other extension styles, you have to style them in a particular way to prevent the seams or beads from being visible. With K-tips you can confidently sport a sleek ponytail, half up dos, and other hair styles.
Since K-tip hair extensions have a natural look, their installation is very intricate. It takes a long time to carefully install these hair extensions, which might be a put off for certain clients. The application process can take a few hours, however, if you’re used to having your hair dyed at the salon, the waiting time isn’t much different.
To remove them the bond must me broken down and therefore cannot be used again. New hair will need to be ordered.
Tape- in Hair Extensions
The bonds lie completely flat against the head and are so comfortable you can often forget about them completely until they star to grow out. That’s the truth but keep in mind that not all hair is created equal. Matching hair density, texture, thickness, and color is critical to pulling off a seamless look. Thats with any hair extension method and hair. The stylist peels off the cover (just like a sticker), revealing the adhesive, and sandwiches small sections of natural hair between two of these strips. It sounds easy enough for DIY, but the placement is critical to the overall look, so leave it to a trained stylist.
These are the least expensive type of hair extensions. Truth be told they are also my least favorite due to the stickiness and residue it leaves on the hair and fingers. It comes off eventually. Therefore we don’t provide this service.
The Conclusion
Treat hair extensions the way you would your own hair because that what it is, hair and your bought it so it’s your hair! Using the right products for the extensions and your hair will make it even easier to maintain and hide.
Remember your hair is not an expense it’s an investment.