Hair extensions: everything you need to know

Natural hair can now easily be styled, volumized, and lengthened with the help of hair extensions. There are numerous kinds of extensions that can be used to meet your needs, whether you’re looking for a short-term solution or something more permanent.

Every technique, such as sew-ins, tape-ins, fusion extensions, and clip-ins, has pros and cons of its own. Knowing the various kinds and which ones suit your hair type and lifestyle the best is essential.

To assist you in selecting the best option for you, we’ll go over the fundamentals of hair extensions in this post.

Without having to wait for your hair to naturally grow out, hair extensions are a great way to add length, volume, or even color. They are available in various forms, such as bonded extensions, tape-ins, and clip-ins, each suitable for a particular set of requirements and way of life. Maintaining healthy, beautiful hair with extensions requires knowledge of your options and proper care, whether you’re looking for a more permanent solution or a temporary style boost.

What is hair extensions?

Who among us girls has not dreamed of at least briefly acquiring a gorgeous head of hair? However, most are faced with the fact that growing long and thick curls is not an easy task, taking a lot of time, attention and effort. I myself constantly intend to grow a “mane”, but every time I break down and cut off either a bob or a bob. The fact is that hair in principle grow quite slowly — an increase of one centimeter per month will not make you the owner of a luxurious head of hair any time soon. In addition, the longer the hair, the more prone it is to hair loss, thinning and split ends. What should impatient people like me do if they want a Disney Rapunzel hairstyle right now? In this case, hair extensions from a salon will be a real salvation.

The process of lengthening your own hair by affixing donor, synthetic, or natural hair is known as hair extensions. The dependable strand fixation and long-term outcome are the primary distinctions between extensions and wigs, hairpieces, and removable false hair; without correction, extensions are worn for two to four months. For the bravest among you! With the help of extensions, you can experiment with your hair’s length as well as color. To achieve this, you can add artificial or recolored strands to your natural hair to make your hairstyle appear as unique as possible.

Who should get hair extensions?

• dandruff, dermatitis and other scalp diseases;

• hair loss;

• hypersensitive scalp;

• poor hair condition – brittleness, fragility, thinning of hair strands;

• vascular diseases and pressure problems;

• propensity to headaches and migraines;

• chronic diseases requiring hormonal therapy or antibiotics;

• age under 16;

• pregnancy and breastfeeding.

One could refer to several points as insurance. Ultimately, from a scientific perspective, there are no dangerous substances injected into the bloodstream during the procedure. However, the skin can become more sensitive to certain medical conditions, so hair extensions and the fasteners used to secure them can still trigger allergies. It is best to wait a bit because the risk cannot be completely eliminated.

Hair extensions: their pros and cons

It is crucial to consider all the advantages and disadvantages before choosing hair extensions. The primary benefit lies in its ability to promptly address the issue of short and sparse curls, allowing you to alter your appearance with minimal harm to your hair. However, there are a number of things about this procedure that many people find to be major drawbacks.

1. Contraindications to extensions can become an obstacle for some girls to quickly acquire the hair of their dreams.
2. Many are scared off by the high cost of the first procedure and the need for regular hairstyle correction.
3. Unscrupulous masters sin by using low-quality donor strands, as a result of which the extended hair quickly loses its original appearance, begins to get tangled and even falls out.
4. Owners of hair extensions can experience discomfort while wearing them, especially during sleep.
5. With some types of extension, hair cannot be heated above 100 degrees, since donor strands can simply fall off.
6. For weakened hair, extensions can have a negative effect and significantly worsen the already poor condition of the curls. Fortunately, this problem can be solved on your own: just add professional strengthening products to your care a few months before the procedure.

• The Instacure range from Matrix will provide intensive restoration of hair with mechanical damage. A spray from this range can significantly reduce breakage.

• Shampoo, conditioner and mask Inforcer from L"Oréal Professionnel combine the power of biotin and vitamin B6 – a proven duo against thinning and breakage.

• Concentrated mask Recovery from Biolage is designed for hair damaged by chemical means. Its reconstructive action has a cumulative effect.

Types of hair extensions

Which technique the master decides to use to attach the donor strands will directly affect the outcome and the final appearance of the hairstyle following a visit to the salon. Below, we’ll explain the various methods for applying women’s hair extensions, their characteristics, the tools needed, and the duration of wear.

Capsule

It is obvious from the method’s name that capsules are used in the extension procedure. They assist in the attachment of donor curls to the hair in the root zone, where they are separated into thin strands. The capsules are tiny, invisible, and may be made of glue, keratin, gel, or resin. Furthermore, even more weightless are microcapsules. There are two categories for all capsule extension techniques: hot and cold attachment methods.

Here, the master melts the capsule that joins the donor hair to the native hair by using tongs that have been heated to between 90 and 180 degrees. There are two widely used variations of the hot method: the Italian technique and the English technique. The connecting capsule’s composition, the strands’ thickness, and the shape they take on after heating all vary from one another.

When Italian extensions are used, the keratin capsule resembles a nearly undetectable flat plate after hardening. Keratin resin is used as a "glue" in the English technique; it takes on the shape of a round grain after being heated with tongs.

The inability of the capsules to be exposed to heat is a major drawback of hot extensions. You cannot use a curling iron, sauna, or extremely hot water to wash your hair, nor can you use a bath or sauna to steam your hair. All of these activities run the risk of melting the capsules and losing the extended strands.

Since cold extensions don’t cause heat damage to the hair, they are regarded as safer for the curls’ wellbeing. You may choose from the following varieties of cold technique in the salon:

• Spanish extension (surgical glue is used to attach the strands);

• ultrasonic or Hollywood extension (donor strands are fixed with keratin capsules and an ultrasonic device);

• Japanese extensions (to extend hair, metal clips measuring 2–3 mm are used to attach artificial hair to natural hair);

• Brazilian extensions (strands are attached to the hair by weaving donor hair into a braid with natural curls and fixing the connection with a synthetic thread, which is technically similar to dreadlocks and weaving with kanekalons);

• gel extensions (the master attaches false strands with a special gel and forms a fixing capsule himself).

Capsule-free

Capsule-free extensions differ from the previous type of hair extensions in that they do not require the use of glue and capsules – the strands are fixed with the help of heat-sensitive sleeves, into which both natural hair and extensions are placed, and then the sleeves are clamped with tongs heated to 120 degrees. What is attractive about this method: the attachment points are located on the back of the head and are completely invisible in appearance and to the touch. However, there is also a drawback: you cannot heat your hair above 100 degrees, as high temperatures can melt the sleeves.

Tape

With tape extensions, which are made of artificial hair strands stuck between two adhesive tapes, you can lengthen your hair in a gentle way. Because the tapes are incredibly light, they can also be used to strengthen and lengthen bangs and very short strands of hair.Tape extensions are frequently used to thicken thin and sparse hair. Tape extension correction is required once every five to six weeks and doesn’t take much time.

Tress

Using tresses for hair extensions is another delicate method of achieving the desired length. Tresses are tightly stitched bundles of hair joined by a single strip of cloth. They can be non-removable (the tresses are fixed to braids or strands with special glue or sewing threads) or removable (attached with micro-clips and removed at any time at will).

The most popular range for hair extensions is 40 to 70 centimeters.

What kind of hair can be extended?

Because there are so many different ways to attach strands, extensions can fit hair of different lengths and textures. Which subtleties need to be considered?

Long

Long locks don’t seem to require the same process as extensions. Nevertheless, using donor strands can help you not only overcome the issue of short hair but also thicken and volumize your hair if your natural strands are too thin, camouflage bald spots, and grow out your hair without cutting it short.

Medium

One of the most sought-after salon services is the application of hair extensions for medium hair. Girls with 15–20 cm of hair frequently consult extension experts because they are either sick of growing out their curls or just want to avoid wasting time and energy on something other than length and thickness temporarily. Hair extensions are especially suitable before special occasions, when the hairstyle should become an accent of the image.

The most common extension techniques can be applied to elongated bobs, bobs, cascade, shaggy, and other haircuts from the collarbone and slightly below because medium length readily meets the requirements of the procedure.

Short

Extensions are a fantastic way for girls with short hair to drastically alter their appearance. Remember that not all kinds of extensions work well with short hair; you should still be able to conceal the area where your real hair ends and the fake hair begins at the crown. For instance, you can work with hair as short as 5 cm using the microcapsule technique, but you need at least 15 cm of your natural hair to use English hot extensions.

Curly

Extensions work well with both straight and curly hair; curly false locks, typically of the Slavic variety, are attached to them. Depending on the state of the hair, the master selects the technology; however, the Spanish cold method, in which the strands are secured with specialized glue, or the tape method of attachment are most frequently used.

How hair extensions are done?

We will use the keratin capsule method as an example to explain how hair extensions are applied. The duration of this process varies from 3 to 5 hours, contingent on the quantity of extensions.

1. First of all, the client"s hair and scalp are thoroughly washed, and then the hair is dried with a hairdryer.
2. The master determines the line of attachment of the extensions and divides the entire mass of curls into thin strands.
3. A donor strand is applied to the natural hair and the bonding keratin capsule is heated with tongs.
4. Using hands or tongs, the master gives the capsule a spherical shape.
5. After attaching all the donor strands, the hair is straightened with an iron.
6. Using a hot razor, the master aligns the transition from the natural hair to the extensions.
7. At the end, the final length and shape of the hairstyle is adjusted.

The process of extending is labor-intensive and needs specific expertise. Only a skilled expert can accurately choose the kind of false hair, its length, and its attachment technique to the hair, perform the surgery correctly, and secure the false hair. It’s unnecessary to discuss superior hair extensions at home because most attempts at doing so result in visible attachments, tangled donor strands, and loss of the strands.

Myths about hair extensions

Many myths about extensions exist today, which discourage girls from choosing this procedure and making a final decision. We made the decision to refute the most widely held one.

• Myth 1. Extended hair is very different from natural strands

Actually, donor strands are used to create extensions that closely resemble the client’s hair in terms of both structure and shade. They use premium natural hair of the Slavic, Asian, or European types for this.

• Myth 2. Extended hair is attached with household glue

First and foremost, avoid contacting artisans! High-quality hair extensions are applied using surgical glue or keratin resin, which are safe and hypoallergenic fixing materials used in salons that value both their reputation and the health of their customers.

• Myth 3. Hair extensions spoil the condition of your natural hair

Untimely corrections, improper care of the extensions, and noncompliance with technology during the extension process all cause damage to hair. There’s no chance of hair damage if the extension is applied by a skilled professional and the client follows the care instructions to the letter.

Features of caring for extensions

You can ruin even the most exquisite hair extensions by not following the guidelines for maintaining fake hair. These are the key suggestions that will enable you to maintain the finest condition for an extended period of time with your hair extensions.

Washing your hair

After getting extensions, it’s crucial to wash your hair very carefully and with warm, comfortable water only. Applying shampoo heavily and rubbing it into the hair roots can also damage the fixing capsules, so it’s important to apply the cleanser evenly throughout the length of the hair and give it a gentle wash.

It’s also best to do this in the shower because you can’t move the curls up and down while washing because it could tangle the strands.

Strong detergent bases and high oil concentrations are not appropriate for hair extension shampoo. The L’Oréal Professionnel Metal Detox is a gentle product designed for colored hair care that might be a good fit for you.

After washing, a mask or conditioner will undoubtedly be required. However, keep in mind that oil-based nourishing care products should only be used on the lower portion of the curls’ length and ends because they weaken the connections between the strands and can lead to the loss of hair extensions.

Drying

The hair should be gently blotted with a towel after washing and left to air dry. Only in dire circumstances and only in the softest setting with the least amount of power is using a hair dryer permitted.

Donor strands have now been added to the hair, but it still needs to be protected from split ends and extreme heat. Miracle Creator by Matrix is a light-textured, transformative multifunctional care product that can help.

However, once the hair is dry, styling won’t present any issues. Try any kind of intricacy of hairstyle on your own or with a stylist’s assistance.

Combing

You must give special attention to daily combing in order to prevent tangles and curls from becoming tangled; experts recommend combing hair extensions at least three times a day! Furthermore, not all combs work well with false strands.

• Firstly, the material from which the comb is made is important – it should be silicone, wood or natural bristles. Metal or plastic is not suitable, as it causes cracks in the capsules that connect the hair.

• Secondly, the teeth on the comb should be wide and sparse, and if we are talking about a brush, then choose a product with widely spaced bristles.

• Thirdly, the ends of the teeth should not have tips in the form of metal balls that can damage the capsules and lead to separation of the strands.

What is the right way to comb hair extensions?

• Use your hand to gather your hair into a ponytail and hold it at the base of your head.
• Start combing from the ends, smoothly moving to the middle and lastly to the root zone.
• If tangles form during the process, use conditioner to facilitate combing or leave-in products: for example, coconut fluid Biolage All-in-One or oil from the range Oil Wonders by Matrix.

Type of Hair Extensions	Description
Clip-in Extensions	Temporary extensions that can be easily clipped into natural hair and removed daily.
Tape-in Extensions	Pre-taped extensions that are applied to the hair by sandwiching natural strands between two strips.
Fusion Extensions	Individual strands bonded to natural hair using a keratin-based adhesive for a long-lasting result.
Micro-link Extensions	Attached using tiny metal beads that clamp the extensions to small sections of natural hair.
Weave (Sew-in) Extensions	Hair extensions sewn into tightly braided natural hair, typically used for thicker hair types.

Adding length, volume, or a completely different look to your hairstyle can all be achieved with hair extensions. They are available in an array of varieties, so you can select the one that best suits your needs and way of life.

Considerations such as the hair’s quality, application technique, and maintenance needs should be made. Hair extensions can last longer and blend in naturally with your own hair if you take proper care of them.

Make sure you speak with a professional who can help you through the process and help you make the best decision for your needs before committing to extensions. To make sure they look fantastic and preserve your natural hair, proper application and maintenance are essential.

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