kimmy
Well-known member
i've been doing hair extensions for a while, and i see alot of ladies asking about them here on Specktra, so i thought i'd post a little basic information in the hopes that it will help you ladies with any questions you may have
what are they used for?
extensions are used to build length and/or thickness to one's hair. they also are often used on people who either don't want to dye their hair, or like to change their hair colours frequently.
what are the pros and cons?
the pros of hair extensions vary person to person. really, the one pro is the boost in self esteem it can give the client. many clients seek extensions because they are unhappy with the current length and/or density of their hair. and we all know, feeling good about your appearance translates into a higher, healthier self esteem
for clients who like to change their hair colours often, extensions can provide the benefit of keeping your hair in better shape, whereas frequent dying can severely damage hair.
however, hair extensions also have their cons. among these cons is damage. extensions that are done improperly can cause severe, irrepairable damage to the client's hair (this is why it's extremely important to find a stylist who knows what he or she is doing
) extensions that are installed too tightly may pull out the client's own natural hair or cause breakage of the natural hair shaft.
what are all the different types of extensions?
extensions come in both real human hair and in synthetic hair. human hair, obviously will look more natural and costs more whereas synthetic extensions can be attained for pretty cheap and are very high in shine.
how are they installed?
this depends on what type of installation method you choose.
how much do they cost?
it all depends on what kind of extensions you want and how many you require. the cheapest way to get extensions is to do them yourself (which i wouldn't suggest, they can be very difficult
), these are often the track extensions that are glued in. you can find the supplies to do this at most beauty supply stores for under $50USD. for extensions done by professionals and using the pre-tipped, shrinkie or micro-ring installation method can cost anywhere from $300USD to $3,000USD; and in some cases, even more.
how do i take care of them?
you should never leave your extensions in for longer than three months, this is the most important care tip! after getting the extensions, you should wait 48 hours before washing or using styling products on your hair. you should avoid using heat styling products on your hair once you have had extensions installed as the heat can melt the bonds that keep the extension bundles to your hair. when you get your hair wet, you should towel dry it immediately and get it as dry as possible. prolonged exposure to water or moisture can also damage the bonds.
HTH! if you have any other questions about extensions that you think should be here, don't hesitate to ask
what are they used for?
extensions are used to build length and/or thickness to one's hair. they also are often used on people who either don't want to dye their hair, or like to change their hair colours frequently.
what are the pros and cons?
the pros of hair extensions vary person to person. really, the one pro is the boost in self esteem it can give the client. many clients seek extensions because they are unhappy with the current length and/or density of their hair. and we all know, feeling good about your appearance translates into a higher, healthier self esteem
however, hair extensions also have their cons. among these cons is damage. extensions that are done improperly can cause severe, irrepairable damage to the client's hair (this is why it's extremely important to find a stylist who knows what he or she is doing
what are all the different types of extensions?
extensions come in both real human hair and in synthetic hair. human hair, obviously will look more natural and costs more whereas synthetic extensions can be attained for pretty cheap and are very high in shine.
how are they installed?
this depends on what type of installation method you choose.
- pre-tipped bundles are installed with a heat device. they are small bunches of hair with keratin or fusion tips at the ends, these keratin or fusion tips are bonded to the client's natural hair by using a heated device (similar to a straightening or curling iron) and the bonds are melted to the hair, they are then rolled between the stylist's fingers (which are protected by rubber finger guards) until they are cooled.
- shrinkie bundles are similar to the pre-tipped bundles in their application methods. they are bundles of stick hair that is pulled through a small shrinkie on the client's hair and then heated with the same tool at the pre-tipped bonds are melted with, the shrinkies are then cooled down the same way as in the method for installing pre-tipped hair.
- micro-ring bundles are bundles of hair that have small rings at the top of the bundle. the client's natural hair is pulled through these small rings and the rings are then flattened with a ring flattener.
- track hair can be either glued in or woven in. when the tracks are glued in, the stylist will seperate the client's hair into several sections (this portion of the method varies from client to client based on the look the client is trying to achieve) and the tracks are glued in with extension glue. they can also be woven in, which usually requires braiding the client's natural hair into the extension track.
how much do they cost?
it all depends on what kind of extensions you want and how many you require. the cheapest way to get extensions is to do them yourself (which i wouldn't suggest, they can be very difficult
how do i take care of them?
you should never leave your extensions in for longer than three months, this is the most important care tip! after getting the extensions, you should wait 48 hours before washing or using styling products on your hair. you should avoid using heat styling products on your hair once you have had extensions installed as the heat can melt the bonds that keep the extension bundles to your hair. when you get your hair wet, you should towel dry it immediately and get it as dry as possible. prolonged exposure to water or moisture can also damage the bonds.
HTH! if you have any other questions about extensions that you think should be here, don't hesitate to ask
