Hair Extensions Attachment Methods and Types

 

Hair extensions are a wonderful way of providing instant length, fullness, and color to your own hair.  The first thing you must consider before delving into permanent extensions is if your hair is healthy enough to be able to support the hair extensions.  If your hair is dry, brittle or breaking, your hair will definitely not fare well with handling the additional stress imposed on your hair by permanent hair extensions, no matter what some of these stylists say.  So, please be honest with yourself, and take the proper steps to get your hair back to health before you pursue this further.  You will save yourself a lot of grief, and hair loss, and will thank me later!

 

If you do not believe your hair is healthy enough to withstand permanent extensions, you’re not at a loss of being able to have the long, beautiful hair you are hoping for.  You just have to try a different method.  Temporary extensions are available in both Clip-in and Halo methods and are put on and taken off on a daily basis.  This allows little to no damage on the natural hair at all, depending on the method.

 

Before confusing yourself comparing all the hair extension brands that are on the market, just be aware that all hair extensions generally can be classified in two categories: by their attachment method and by hair type.  From there, they can be broken down even further by type of material used.  Within the materials used category, all brands are basically the same.  Some claim they use superior hair, others say they have superior advantages, but only a few companies may offer some truly unique qualities.  Glam Rock Couture Extensions only sells double drawn, remy human hair in an effort to provide the highest quality extensions on the market.  So, now, let us tell you what all of that really means! 

 

 

Strand by Strand

 

Small sectional pieces of hair are attached one by one to small sections of your own hair by using bonding (warm or cold), clamping, shrink tubing, and micro tubes.  Weaving or glue were and still are practiced but are older inferior methods of practice.  These methods provide too much risk to your hair and will not be mentioned here.

 

Cold Fusion – Basically identical to Warm Fusion but the keratin bond is not warmed, but rather ultrasonic waves melt the Keratin to form the bond during installation.  Cold Fusion, as with Warm Fusion, bonds are removed with a special solvent and tool.

 

PROS:

• Lightest of all extensions

• Virtually undetectable.

• Longest lasting method 3-6 months +

• New inventive installation technique

 

CONS:

• Most costly of all methods

• Virtually the same as Warm Fusion but for greater cost

• Time intensive installation

 

Warm Fusion - A small amount of Keratin or other organic material is pre-attached or utilized on the ends of a strand. The extension strands are then attached to small sections of your hair near the scalp by warming the Keratin and forming a small bond to your hair. The site of attachment is so that the extensions can move naturally with your own hair. These extensions last 3 – 6 months or more and should be removed or replaced at that time.

 

PROS:

• Same as Cold Fusion except for the installation technique

• A few systems are re-useable

 

CONS:

• Most costly of all methods with the exception of Cold Fusion

• Time intensive installation

 

Links, Micro links, Beads, Tubes, Rings, or Locks - Strand by Strand technique where the extension hair strand and your hair is pulled through a small silicone-lined tube/bead which is then squeezed shut with a special tool in order to attach the extension to your hair.

 

PROS:

• Less expensive than Fusion techniques

• Slightly less time consuming installation compared to the Fusion method.

• Micro-beads can be moved up when they slip down the hair shaft.

• Longer lasting method than Weft methods since they are individual pieces vs full wefts

 

CONS:

• Slightly heavier and more readily seen when compared to the other Fusion methods.

• Micro Links can be more uncomfortable against the scalp for some especially when lying down.

• Beads can slip down the hair shaft and need readjustment.

 

Wefted Hair Extensions

 

A weft is a track several inches long on which the hair is attached (a swathe of hair is attached together at the top and freely hanging at the bottom). A weft can be man-made or created by machine.  The extensions are then applied by using one row (track) at the time instead of strand by strand.  Methods of attachment of Wefts consist of Beaded Weft, Tape, Glue, and Sew-ins.

 

Beaded Weft – A weft is attached to a divided section of the client’s hair. Two strands (one from the scalp and another from the weft) are joined and pulled through a micro ring, which is then flattened. This way the weft is attached by fitting together several strands both from the weft and the scalp.

 

Taped – also available in a more exepensive type called skin weft, both are a relatively newer technique. Hair is sandwiched between 2 pieces of tape hair which attaches to the hair using a double transparent sided polyurethane tape.  

 

Glued Weft - Glue is simply applied to the sewed part of the weft and then attached to the client’s hair in rows.

 

Braidless Sewin - The natural hair is beaded into small sections throughout the extension coverage area. After this has been done, the wefts are sewn onto these beaded sections.  There are no braids which means less headaches and breakage of your natural hair.

         

PROS:

• Installation time is much faster than the Strand by Strand method.

• Weft Attachment methods consist of gluing or sewing to natural hair, taping, beads, clips etc.

• Less costly than Strand by Strand

 

CONS:

• More weight per weft than strand by strand method.  Please consult with your stylist to find out which method is best for your hair type.  This is the most important step in wearing hair extensions and maintaining healthy hair.  All hair types cannot successfully wear all extension methods.

• Weft extensions utilizing tape can create residue, and makes it difficult to remove extensions.  It is important to make sure that your hair provider uses a high quality tape that does not leave high residue or stickiness when removed.

• Glue and braids are pretty much old-school applications, and these applications, as we have experienced, can cause the most damage to your hair.

 

Clip-in Extensions – A well-known temporary extension solution in which wefted hair is attached to clips and attached piece by piece to your natural hair adding instant length, volume or color.  Clip-in extensions are available in Human or Synthetic hair types.  However, Glam Rock Couture Luxury Extensions are only available in the highest quality Remy Brazilian hair.

 

PROS:

• Installation time is only minutes and can be done yourself

• Financial investment is only the initial cost of the hair

• Least costly of all extension methods

 

CONS:

• Hair must be taken out and put in each time you want to wear it

• Minor damage can be caused over time from the clips

 

                                                   

Halo Extensions – Another method of temporary daily wear extensions in which the wefted hair is not “attached” to your natural hair in any way.  The Halo is a one piece hair extension that is suspended from your head from an invisible wire.  It will sit on your hair like a Halo or crown and you pull your natural hair over the top of the hair piece. This is the newest and most revolutionary method of hair extensions on the market.  Because they are not attached, there is 100% NO DAMAGE to your own hair.  Glam Rock Couture Luxury Extensions are only available in the highest quality Remy Brazilian hair.

 

 

PROS:

• Installation time is only minutes and can be done yourself

• Financial investment is only the initial cost of the hair

• Less costly than permanent extension methods

• The ONLY 100% DAMAGE FREE extension method on the market

 

CONS:

• Hair must be taken out and put in each day when you want to wear it

 

 

Hair Types

 

Human - Remy Human Hair is the highest grade of real, human hair that is a preferred choice for hair extensions, hairpieces and wigs because it achieves the most natural look.

 

Synthetic - Synthetic hair is made of a wide array of different synthetic fibers. Synthetic hair, just like human hair, comes in weave (weft) and single strands (bulk) for braids. Synthetic hair does not last as long as human hair because it gets quickly damaged by friction and heat. The quality of hair varies greatly. Depending on quality, it may never look like human hair, as it can be stiff and move differently than human hair. Synthetic hair is much less expensive than human hair. Heating appliances such as curling irons and straighteners generally should never be used on most types of synthetic hair. There are some newer versions of synthetic hair that are more resistant, human-like hair that can be heat processed allowing for heat styling.

 

So what does Remy Human Hair mean?

 

Remy Hair is considered to be the finest quality of human hair because the cuticles are kept intact and not stripped, like in most other non-Remy hair extensions. Preserving the hairs’ cuticles and aligning them in a unidirectional fashion creates extensions that are completely natural in appearance. This process ensures that the hair remains super soft, shiny, silky and completely tangle-free throughout its lifetime.

Glam Rock Couture Luxury Clip-In Extensions use only the finest quality Remy Human Hair, which means that the hair has been carefully sorted after collecting from the hair donor to ensure all of the cuticles are of the same length. It is by far the best quality of hair extensions on the market because of the care that is required and the time it takes to sort the hair so meticulously.

 

What is the difference between single and double drawn hair?

 

If you want the best of what hair has to offer, double drawn is the way to go! But first let us explain what the difference is and how it will effect you long term.  Single drawn is hair that has a combination of lengths. For example, you purchase 16 inches of hair, and notice there are 10, 12, 14, and 16 inches (which is 16 inches is hanging by a thread and it’s super thin).  The hair appears as if the hair has split ends or it seems as if someone took a razor to the hair. Single drawn hair is the less desirable and lasts for a short period of time. 

 

Double drawn virgin human hair is considered to be of a higher quality and is more expensive than single drawn. This is because double drawn virgin human hair is made up of hair locks that are all of equal lengths. This is because they are arranged by human hands, are of higher quality and are more time consuming than those done by machine.  

 

What is the difference between synthetic and human hair extensions?

 

Hair extensions made from human hair can be cut, colored, permed and heat styled like your own natural hair. Hair extensions made from synthetic hair are sensitive to the sun, don’t last as long as human hair, are difficult, usually impossible, to heat style, and cannot blend in as well with your real hair. Expect to pay anywhere from $60-$85 for synthetic hair extensions, and anywhere from $100-$1000 for human hair extensions (application is additional to hair cost).

 

Don’t skimp on the Consultation!

 

If you are interested in getting hair extensions, I recommend checking your local salons and see which methods they specialize in.  Hair extensions, as mentioned previously, may not be the most timely solution for everyone. An anticipated hair extension appointment should start with a thorough consultation.  If your stylist is pressuring you in getting started right away without giving you a detailed consultation encompassing your hair’s health, your expectations, maintenance and upkeep required, and other factors surrounding hair extensions, then it might be time to start to look for another salon. Remember, the consultation is an opportunity for you to interview your stylist and gain trust before you have work done.  So ask away!!