Hair extensions are a simple and instant way to get the hairstyle you’ve always dreamt of whether it’s longer or just thicker than your own natural hair. With all the different types and methods you can be left feeling a little overwhelmed. This guide simplifies the process helping you to find the right type of hair extensions for you.
There are two different types of extensions that you can get, real or synthetic hair. This is then further broken down into methods – strand by strand, weft, and clip in. You can either have it done professionally in a salon or do it yourself, however salon extensions usually are of higher quality and will look better and last longer.
Different hair types
Synthetic hair is produced in a laboratory and will obviously never look exactly like your natural hair whereas 100% human hair will look more natural, last longer and you can care for it as you would your own. You cannot colour or style synthetic hair extensions, just think of them as plastic and what would happen if you went at them with a blow dryer.
There are different categories of human hair on the market ranging from super cheap to ridiculously expensive. Asian hair is the cheapest as unless you are Asian it will never look quite right. The hair is thicker and courser than Caucasian or European hair and is most always dark brown to black. If you bleach or colour this hair it will not produce the best results. Indian hair is second on the list which is basically a better version of Asian hair. It’s still difficult to colour and will not last as long as hair that is the same as your natural hair.
European hair is the most used hair for hair extensions. It mainly comes from Spain, France, and Italy and is usually quite dark. They look the most natural on most people, feel good to the touch and last longer than the other types.
All of these are chemically stripped of their natural colour and re-coloured to match your hair. Therefore, it is a bad idea to colour your hair with extensions already in as they have already gone through a harsh chemical process.
The fourth type and the most expensive is known as Russian hair. It is naturally blonde and has not undergone any processing or chemical treatments which makes it perfect to colour or treat. To obtain true Russian hair is very difficult and many hair sellers often are unable to prove the origin; therefore it is better to use caution when purchasing this type as it is extremely expensive and often is high quality European hair under a different label.
Strand by strand method
A small number of strands are connected to different sections of your natural hair using either a glue, a weave or clamped. Depending on what look you are trying to achieve will depend on how many extensions you use, how long it will take and of course the cost. For a full head you will usually need 100-130 extensions which takes approximately 3 hours to complete.
Strand by strand extensions will need to be removed and reapplied or tightened every 10-12 weeks yet if you are using 100% human hair the extensions can last 10-12 months. It is important to go to a salon to remove these extensions with the correct chemical process as if you take them out at home there is a 99% chance of damaging or breaking your natural hair.
The main problem with this type of extension is that it will invariably damage your natural hair. The extra weight of the extensions can cause your hair to fall out or break and the glue used to fix them to your scalp can damage the hair strands and follicles.
Weft method
The weft is a number of individual extensions that have been woven at the top to create a small row of hair that can range from a couple of centremetres to a couple of inches wide. Your hairdresser will make some small braids out of your hair horizontally throughout your scalp and the weft is sewn into the braid on your scalp.
Weft’s can be made both by hand and by machine and I’m sure that it comes as no surprise that handwoven wefts are of a higher standard. Machine produced wefts are cheaper, however often lack the thickness and quality of their handwoven counterpart.
Every 6-8 weeks you will need to visit your salon and have them remove the wefts and re-do the horizontal braids to reinsert them. These extensions can last anywhere from 6-12 months depending on how much you look after them. It is also important to not try to remove them yourself as doing so will damage your natural hair.
Clip in method
Clip ins are fast becoming a favourite method of hair extensions. They are easy to apply and as you can take them out at night they can last longer as they are not subjected to your pillow. They can also be used for special occasions or as often as you like, simply taking a section of your own hair and clipping the extension close to your scalp. This can take between 5 and 15 minutes as opposed to the hours you would be sitting in a salon chair for the permanent extensions.
Hair extension care
It can be tempting to forget that you have extensions and not really look after them but proper aftercare is vital to how good they look, how long they’ll last and how much they’ll damage your natural hair. When brushing your new hair always use a soft bristled brush and softly brush rather than harshly trying to remove knots. If you are too violent with your extensions they can pull your natural hair out.
Hair extensions get a buildup of styling products and need to be washed just like your normal hair. Brush your hair before washing it to minimise tangles and when shampooing do not bunch all of your hair on your head. Simply run the products through your hair leaving it flat against your back. A moisturising treatment at least once a week is also necessary as the extensions are not able to get natural oils from your scalp leaving them dry and brittle.
Before you go to sleep make sure that your hair is completely dry and put into a loose ponytail or braid to stop it from tangling.
It can be tempting to get cheap synthetic hair extensions which is fine as long as you realise that they will not look and behave the same as 100% human hair. When it comes to hair extensions it is very much a case of ‘you get what you pay for’. It is up to you to decide if your budget can cope with what will always be a very costly procedure. Extensions can give you instantly what takes others years to achieve, long and gorgeous hair.
Sources:
beautyandlace.com.au “Hair Extensions” (accessed 18 January 2010)
cheap-ghd-hair-straighteners.co.uk “Clip in Hair Extensions” (accessed 18 January 2010)
hairboutique.com “Hair Extensions - The Good, The Bad & The Ugly” (accessed 18 January 2010)
latest-hairstyles.com “Human Hair Extensions” (accessed 18 January 2010)
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