Extensions on yourself: choice of material and extension technology

Without having to wait for your hair to grow, hair extensions have become a popular way to give your hair instant length and volume. Learning how to apply extensions on oneself is a great option for people who are interested in do-it-yourself beauty techniques. It’s less expensive than going to a salon and gives you the freedom to style your appearance at home.

Selecting the appropriate kind of extension material is necessary to achieve the best outcomes. Every material, including synthetic and natural human hair, has advantages and disadvantages. Making the best decision for your hair type and styling objectives will be made easier if you are aware of these distinctions.

Choosing the appropriate extension technique is equally important. Extensions can be attached using a variety of methods, such as microbeading, tape-ins, and clip-ins. Decide which method works best for you is important because each one has varying requirements in terms of tools and skill level. Anyone can become an expert at hair extension with the correct instruction.

Extension technologies

As a matter of fact, two groups can be formed out of all the different kinds of extensions.

• Bunch – artificial hairs are pre-collected in ready-made bundles, which are glued to the eyelash edge. The shape, length and thickness of the eyelashes are selected at your discretion. Bunch technology is much simpler and faster: in a salon, such a procedure takes no more than an hour. Beginners are advised to start with attaching bundles.

The solution’s speed of transformation and range of possibilities are its pluses. Minus: Because bundles are heavier and hold less firmly than individual hairs, a correction will be needed after two weeks. However, no one will notice the loss of one eyelash if it vanishes from view; however, if an entire bundle vanishes, prompt action must be taken.

• Eyelash – individual artificial hair is glued to each eyelash. It is much more difficult to do such work: it requires pinpoint accuracy when fixing the hair, because it must not only take the correct position, but also the correct direction. However, eyelash extensions provide a much more durable and much longer-lasting result.

Furthermore, not every lash needs to be extended. You can achieve interesting results by alternating short artificial hairs with longer or sharply curved ones placed in the corners of the eyes. This can give the appearance of doll eyelashes, a fox, or a squirrel.

This is a two-hour procedure that needs precision and extreme caution. Young women who lack patience won’t be able to handle this.

• Volume extensions are essentially a type of eyelash extensions, but with variations: 2, 3, or even more are attached to one natural hair – Hollywood volume. The length and thickness of the eyelashes changes very significantly, so this option is more suitable for especially special occasions or special events – stage premieres, filming.

In a salon, this process takes three to five hours. It is very hard to do at home because it involves constant tension and precise finger movements. However, doing it by yourself requires you to hold your hands up, which makes the task much more difficult.

The effect of extension

This process involves the attachment of individual hairs—decoration, for instance—as well as a substantial change in volume. Even in the absence of patience and experience, you can manage the latter yourself.

• Attaching individual eyelashes – this is a decorative type of decoration: hairs of unnatural length, color, decorated with rhinestones or sparkles. To create an interesting image, a few pieces in the corners of the eyes or along the lash line are quite enough. This option allows you to quickly change your look for 1 party.

• Fox eyes – long hairs or bunches are attached only in the corners. Thus, the shape of the eye visually changes: they become elongated and seem slightly raised to the temples. A more complex option involves attaching hairs along the entire lash line – long ones at the outer corner, and short ones at the inner.

• Squirrel effect – bunches of long eyelashes are fixed, slightly retreating from the outer corner, the bunch forms a kind of "squirrel tail".

• Doll effect – a complex technology, not recommended for beginners: it is difficult to do it correctly. Firstly, only eyelash extensions are assumed, secondly, only long hairs are used, including when attaching to the inner corner.

• Sparse eyelashes – this means alternating short and long eyelashes from the inner to the outer corner. The technology is no less complex and requires taking into account the shape of the eye: if long eyelashes are incorrectly positioned, you can visually emphasize a disadvantage instead of an advantage.

• Natural – also a very difficult technique. Eyelash extensions are performed in compliance with the natural length: short near the inner corner, long near the outer.

Choice of material

Artificial eyelashes come in a wide variety of styles. Some let you grow your eyelashes longer, some let you grow them fuller, and still others let you create an unexpected decorative effect. A lot of subtleties will need to be considered when making your choice.

Thickness of the hair

This parameter determines the potential of future eyelashes as well as their density, though not to the same extent.

• Silk – the thinnest and most delicate hairs, with a diameter of 0.05 mm. Ideal for volume extensions, but due to their thinness, they require jewelry work with tweezers.
• Kolinka – thicker, with a diameter of 0.10 to 0.15 mm. Kolinka holds its shape better, so if you need curved tips, this option is preferable.
• Mink – up to 0.20 mm in diameter, suitable for many experiments with length and shape. They are easier to fix, so if you have little experience in extensions yourself, it is better to start with mink.
• Sable – the thickest and strongest hairs – up to 0.25 mm, last up to 3 months. They are most often used to create natural makeup and partial extensions. 3D, and especially Hollywood volume cannot be built up with their help: they create too much weight for natural eyelashes.

Here are some pointers to help you grow longer eyelashes at home:

Length and shape

The hairs range in length from 4 to 25 mm. Longer eyelashes are preferred if only the corner is supposed to be fixed. Products of various lengths will be required if extensions are applied across the whole volume, with the exception of the doll effect.

You must consider the extension’s intended use when making your selection. Extra long eyelashes are only appropriate for special occasions and look unnatural.

Hair bend: The eyes appear larger and the lashes longer when the tips are elegantly bent. Bending can occur to very different degrees. Options for bending in the picture.

• B – minimum bend. This option is for owners of straight eyelashes, since too much difference between natural and extended hairs is unacceptable.
• C – the curl is greater, creates the effect of curling mascara.
• D – this is how the eyelashes look for those who like to use tweezers. In addition, with a large length of hairs, the curl should also be greater.
• CC – extremely strong curl, necessary for volume extensions.
• U – an option for a doll look.
• L – a relatively straight hair with a strongly bent tip. This model is suitable for those who constantly wear glasses.

Tools

Aside from the material, what else is required for eyelash extensions? Naturally, specialized tools and fixing compounds. A beginner do-it-yourselfer can purchase a ready-made kit that comes with everything they need. Typically, a more seasoned individual would rather find the information on their own.

• tweezers, or rather, 2 tweezers: one with straight tips, the other with curved. When choosing a tool, you need to pay attention to the lips: they should close tightly to a width of at least 3 mm, otherwise neither the hair nor the bunch will be able to be held by them;
• degreaser – special compounds that do not irritate the eyes, remove the remains of decorative cosmetics, most importantly, natural fatty grease;
• glue for artificial eyelashes – again, this should be a special compound that does not irritate the mucous membranes. Beginners are advised to choose a slow-fixing glue so that it is possible to adjust the position of the hairs;
• if desired, the extension kit can be supplemented with a fixative – this product increases the strength of the attachment.

Depending on your budget and preferred style, it’s critical to select the appropriate material—such as synthetic or natural hair—when getting hair extensions done on yourself. The ease of maintenance and natural appearance of the finished product are also significantly influenced by the technology used to apply extensions, such as tape-ins or clip-ins. You can achieve a professional look at home by knowing the differences between materials and extension methods.

Independent execution

For eyelash extensions, which are used in salons, step-by-step instructions are not entirely appropriate. The master can act with much greater convenience because he can see the "front of work" from above and is holding his hands in the proper position, which is below his elbows. Indeed, his view is superior.

It is challenging to evaluate the intermediate outcome when working alone, and the hands are in an awkward position most of the time. The home master is forced to use a variety of strategies as a result.

If we’re talking about a special set, eyelashes are applied on a palette; otherwise, they are applied on a foam strip. Here, the gluing sequence is followed. If not, you’ll need to search for hairs all the time. It is crucial to have adequate lighting.

• Remove makeup from the eyelids and skin around the eyes. Then the eyelashes are treated with a special degreaser.
• The lower row is fixed by the substrate.
• A drop of special glue is placed on a strip of glass or cardboard.
• With tweezers, the hair is removed from the palette and dipped with a blunt tip in glue – about the middle. Excess glue, if they appear, are removed by a swab.
• Then, with one tweezers, the cilia from the main one is pushed aside, and an artificial hair is brought in the second. They carry them out in a natural eyelash to lubricate with glue, and attach, without trying to press.
• It is very important to observe the correct gap between the edge of the century and the glued hair – 0.5–1 mm. If the distance is too small – 0.3 mm, the glue will tighten the skin of the eyelid and create discomfort. The hair should be attached from the beginning of the eyelash to the middle.
• Then, step by step, all operations are repeated on the other eyelash.

It is advised to switch it up: apply glue to ten to fifteen hairs in one eye, then the other, before going back to the first. The laborious task is made easier by the hands’ slight displacement.

• If necessary, fix the result with a fixative.

For the best results, selecting the appropriate material for hair extensions is essential. Real human hair offers a more natural look and feel, even though synthetic hair might be less expensive. It can be styled similarly to your natural hair and blends in seamlessly with it.

When applying the extensions on your own, it’s crucial to take your time and adhere to the directions provided for the selected technique. Whether you apply keratin bonds, tape-ins, or clip-ins, correct application guarantees the extensions remain in place and look fantastic.

Self-application is a practical and affordable solution, but you must be aware of the state of your natural hair. Do not overstress or harm it while doing this. You can improve your appearance with a longer, fuller hairstyle if you use the proper products and care.

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