Are you ready for Hair Extensions?

Long, voluminous hair is seen across media platforms as “hair goals” that we can only dream of achieving. From celebrities, to influencers, to our favorite animated characters, luscious hair is all around us. But dream hair isn’t only for Disney Princesses. Extensions make that dream achievable, and they’re more accessible than ever. So, are extensions right for you? Let’s find out!

Types of extensions

There are many different types of extensions offered, each type benefiting different hair types and lifestyles.

Tape-In Extensions

Tape-in extensions are well known and well loved. Tape-ins, in simple terms, are sections of extensions taped together with your natural hair in between– like an extension sandwich.The section is less than two inches wide and they are placed in bricklayer fashion throughout your hair.

They are beginner friendly for anyone new to extensions. They are an excellent option for all hair types, but they require a bit of caution when styling to keep the adhesive holding strong. You have to keep conditioners and heat away from the adhesive to prevent slipping. Tape-ins are great for those who love a vivid color and are at the salon every 4-6 weeks for touch ups. There are no restrictions for hair styles– they’re ponytail friendly! But, around the time you need to come back in to move up the extensions, certain updos may cause the bonding point to be exposed. Your stylist can offer you styling tips and tricks to blend the tape-ins in with the rest of your hair to keep the adhesive hidden.

Weft Extensions

Weft extensions are taking over the industry. Wefts are rows of hair extensions that are sewn into your hair. This method doesn’t use any glue or adhesive. There are two (soon to be three!) types of wefts: volume/machine wefts and hand-tied. If you have a simple color and want lots of volume with your extensions, then a volume weft or machine weft is your match made in heaven. If you need multiple colors to match your dimensional ‘do and don’t want as much volume, hand-tied are the right fit for you. With these extensions, you must dry all the wefts to prevent moisture from sitting at the root. Wefts may not be a good choice if you regularly do hot yoga and don’t dry your hair.

Individual Bonded Extensions

Individual bonded extensions give a very natural look. They do take the longest to install because they are adhered to individual strands of hair, which helps achieve the natural look of the extensions. There are two types of individual bonded extensions: K-Tip and I-Tip.

K-Tip

K-Tip, or keratin tip, use a keratin bond to adhere to your hair. Keratin is the protein that makes up your hair, skin, and nails. They are the most natural option for extensions, and they look nearly invisible near the hairline. They are the best option for fine hair and are an excellent choice to fill in the sides or top of hair that is thinning. They last 12-16 weeks, but they cannot be reused; you must buy new hair each time.

I-Tip

I-Tips are a single strand attached to your hair with a bead. Because they use a bead to attach to your hair, they require a gentler touch to style and brush through to prevent pulling at the bead.They can be reused and must be moved up every 4-6 weeks.

Maintenance

Extensions require maintenance appointments, or a “move up”, every 4-6 weeks. Because your natural hair continues to grow while you have extensions in, move ups are required to maintain the cohesive look that allows the extensions to blend in with the rest of your hair. During maintenance appointments, the extensions are removed and replaced back at the top of the hair. In total, the life span of hair extensions ranged between 6-8 months before a new set of hair needs to be purchased.

K-Tip extensions are the only extension type that cannot be reused. K-tip extensions use a bonding process that can only be used once during the initial installation. While the wear lasts the longest at 12-16 weeks, they cannot be rebonded and require a new purchase of the hair when they need to be replaced.

Extension wearers typically wash their hair 1-2 times per week– it helps the hair last longer and it decreases your blowdry and styling time. Extension hair holds a curl very well and is easy to braid and wear wavy– the styling options are endless!

Because extension hair is not living hair, it’s essential to properly care for the hair using appropriate products. We recommend the following:

• Sulfate-free shampoo and conditioner and a weekly hair mask. Sulfates can dry out extensions, so it’s recommended to avoid products that contain sulfates. Sulfate-free products will help the hair maintain moisture and properly protect it, while also ensuring the bonds are strong.
• Dry shampoo. This will help extend the period of time between washes while still providing nourishment to the hair.
• Hair oil. Extension hair tends to be dry, so we highly recommend using a hair oil to maintain moisture and keep the hair looking and feeling strong and nourished. We recommend using an oil on the ends of your hair once a day.
• A brush intended to work with extensions. Extensions need to be brushed at least twice a day, and using an extension-friendly brush will reduce the risk of snagging or weakening the bond.

At A Perfect Hue, we use Bellami hair which is the best quality and the best extension hair on the market. It’s 100% human hair and will enhance your natural hair by providing length and volume.

Are you ready to achieve your hair goals? Schedule a consultation today to get color matched for your new long, luscious locks. And soon enough you’ll be singing right along with Ariana Grande: “You like my hair? Gee, thanks, just bought it.”