I have fine hair. It stops growing at about two inches past my collar bone. If it does ever by some slim chance get longer, it doesn’t look great. When scrolling through Instagram or Pinterest it is easy to have some serious Hair Envy. Little do most people know, it is likely they are wearing hair extensions. Over the years there have been significant improvements in hair extensions, and I have tried them all. You may be wondering if hair extensions are right for you, and if so, which ones are best. If you have ever had trouble:
growing your hair past a certain length
getting your blonde bright enough
growing long hair that looks full enough
You may be the perfect candidate, and if so you can book today! Here are the most popular types of extensions and who they are best for.
Tape ins
Tape in extensions use a medical grade adhesive and sandwich your hair between two pieces of extensions that are about 1-1 ½ inches in width. They are quick and easy to apply and work well for most hair textures. They are good for people who just need a few spots filled (think making sides fuller for a bob), for people who like to wear their hair up a lot, or for people who are trying to fill in a spot really close to the part line. They lie flat to the head and if color is matched correctly, completely invisible. The hair itself can last between 6 months to 18 months if taken care of and maintenance is between 6-8 weeks depending on how fast the hair grows.
The downside? While applying them is quite easy, a move up or removal is quite sticky and If not done correctly, can be damage your hair.
Reusable hair
2–3-hour reinstallation
6–8-week maintenance
$$$
I-Tips
I-Tips use a metal bead with silicone inside to clamp to a small strand of hair. They are good for most hair types. They are great when you wear your hair up or wear a lot of braids. You can custom color these quite easily by having alternating colors. The hair can be reused and last between 6-18 months if taken care of efficiently and maintenance is needed every 4-6 weeks.
The downside? The sleeker your hair is the easier the bead can fall out and you will lose pieces of your extensions. You should expect to lose a few every installation.
Reusable hair
3–4-hour installation
4–6-week maintenance
$$$
K-Tips
K-Tips use a small section of hair, a keratin bond is heated up, and melted around a small section of hair. It is good for people who wear their hair up a lot, who dance or have a very active job, or for people who only want to come in every 4-6 months to maintain the hair. This hair has the longest wear in between visits and looks the most like your actual hair. The hair however cannot be reused.
The downside? While it is very unlikely to lose an extension in public, this security comes at a cost. You must have a professional remove it to avoid damage and it can take up to 2 hours depending on how many are put in.
Cannot reuse hair
4–6-hour installation
4–6-month maintenance
$$$$
Beaded Row
Beaded Row extensions use a row of silicone lined beads that you sew a row of hair onto. This method will give you the most volume and doesn’t run the risk of looking too “spaghetti” like. Perfect for people who love their length but want more all around fullness or people trying to dramatically increase overall length. There are two main types of beaded rows: machine weft or hand tied. Machine wefts are three wefts of hair sewn together by a machine. This makes them easier to measure to head shape and if you need to cut the weft you can. They have more volume and can be quite heavy on fine hair. Hand-Tied extensions are made by hand in a factory and are more lightweight. Great for people with super fine hair. The weft cannot be cut and needs to be folded onto the row to size weft to head shape. The hair can be reused between 6-12 months and will need to be moved up every 6-8 weeks.
The downside? If you accidently unravel and end of a hand tied by using too much heat or just unknowingly pulling the string, you will lose the weft hair. I am still looking for a downside to machine wefts. As someone who has used every method on this list, these are by far my favorite and I cannot imagine my life without them.
Can reuse hair
2–3-hour installation
6–8-week maintenance
$$$
At refleKTion Salon, we require a 30-minute complimentary consultation before scheduling services so your expert stylist can discuss your dream hair goals. The consultation gives your stylist the chance to examine and determine the health of your hair, the hair extension goals you want to achieve, and how feasible those goals are. The consultation will give the stylist the chance to discuss different options for extensions with the client. Not all types of extensions are ideal for everyone, and we want to make sure all of our clients get results that are far above their expectations.
We highly recommend using a professional for any extension service. Our stylists are trained to color match, seamlessly blend, teach you to care and maintain your investment, and remove them in a way that is safe to your hair. Although we must warn you, hair extensions are addictive. Book today to start your journey.