You Must Know Before Putting On Hair Extensions

Have you ever wondered how some stars change their “look” from short hair to lengthy hair overnight? For ordinary mortals, bringing a bob cut means getting that for months they won’t be able to sport a ponytail or updo with dignity.

But they can get it from one red carpet to another. How do they do it? As you can already guess, the answer to those powerful overnight makeovers is in hair extensions.

Have you ever wondered how some celebrities transform their “look” from short hair to long hair overnight? For ordinary mortals, bringing a bob cut means accepting that for months they won’t be able to sport a ponytail or updo with dignity.

But they are able to get it from one red rug to another. How do hair extensions are used both to give height to the mane and to add volume to the hair? Although they also help to add nuances of paint to the mane.

They are ideal for women with fine hair or low viscosity in the mane, as well as for those who have cut their hair and need to regain a specific length.

But facing hair extensions for the first time can raise many doubts in relation to what type of extensions to choose, how to take care of them, and what effects they will carry on the health of our hair.

Here we try to solve them. ey do it? As you can already guess, the answer to those powerful overnight makeovers is in hair extensions.

Types Of Hair Extensions

First of all, it should be remembered that you will find synthetic and natural hair extensions, with obvious price differences. But the first decision you will have to make is whether you want fixed extensions or temporary ones.

Depending on this, you can find removable, semi-permanent, or permanent extensions. These are the most common types:

Clip extensions

They are temporary hair extensions, which are often used to improve hairstyles and get them to reach the necessary volume. That is why numerous women resort to this type of removable hair extension that allows you to gain height and density in the hair at specific moments and instantly.

Thus, they are set before styling and are removed at the end of the day, when you go to bed. That is why it is common for numerous to go to the hairdresser with their hairpiece or keep it at home to put it on themselves.

Clip extensions are a kind of hair curtains that contain clips or hairpins for placement. Thus, it is enough to divide the hair into two sections, drawing a horizontal bar at the middle of the head, to fix them.

The advantage of this type of removable extension is that they do not require the help of a professional for their placement. That is precisely why they are very comfortable since you do not have to sleep or wash your hair in the shower with them.

In return, the volume or length of hair that is performed with them disappears once you undo the hairstyle.

Adhesive extensions

Also known as “tape”, they are a type of semi-permanent and sticky extensions whose ranking is quite simple. With a duration of up to three months and the possibility of reuse (up to three times), they are made up of flat and thin sections of hair.

They have the advantage that the adhesive tape they include to fix them to the hair does not interfere with the hair and allows the sections to blend in perfectly.

They are also very comfortable to apply, even by non-professional hands. The key is to position them horizontally and parallel so that they stick well to the hair and never obliquely.

In addition, they usually include replacement adhesives in case you have to duplicate a job that has not turned out well. Of course, when removing them, it is required to apply a special solvent liquid to undo the glue.

Keratin extensions

When you talk about fixed extensions, we refer to this technique in which keratin is used as an adhesive to place strands as close as possible to the hairline.

For this, a sufficient amount of hair is set so that they are able to withstand the importance of the hairpiece without damaging the hair. That is why it is important that these types of fixed extensions are provided by an experienced professional.

To place the keratin extensions, a heat gun is used that melts the adhesive of each strand on the natural hair. That is why you can add as numerous strands as necessary to reach the desired volume.

It is a very durable type of hair extension since it can remain in the hair for up to four months, as long as the maintenance is adequate.

Stapled extensions

They are those that are set with small metal pieces that have each strand. These staples are fixed and released from the hair with the help of special pliers.

There are also techniques such as the “micro ring” or “micro loop” that are set on the lock of hair with the help of a plastic loop that lets the hair be “threaded”.

The advantage of this type of extension is that they do not need the application of any type of adhesive on the hair. Although you will have to touch up the extensions every month to upload them at the rate that natural hair grows.

The other disadvantage of these types of extensions is that the staples can be uncomfortable and are not as invisible as the other methods.

Stitched extensions

This variety of extensions is characterized by the fact that it is placed in the mane by means of a horizontal braid that is made with the natural hair itself.

Thus, a kind of curtain is configured that is incorporated into the natural hair by means of this plat that acts as a support. This type of extension should be touched up approximately every 15 days.

Which Are The Most Suitable?

For women with fine hair, it is advisable to opt for keratin or adhesive extensions. If instead, you are talking about thick hair, it is best to choose “micro ring” or sewn extensions.

And if it is an African type of hair, you can choose the knot extensions without fear of damaging them or stitching them.

If this is the first time that you are going to use extensions, you can use the clip-on, removable, as an introduction. If you decide on a more durable solution, you can try the adhesive extensions for their comfort and ease when placing them.

And, if you are looking for durable and quality extensions, it is best to opt for keratin ones, which are placed in professional salons.

In general, the extensions are appropriate for all types of hair, except for patients with loss problems. Therefore, when it comes to the professional standing of hair extensions, a prior counseling session will still be necessary.

In it, the expert will advise you on whether or not it is appropriate to use extensions, the most appropriate type in each case, and the amount necessary to obtain the desired result.

How To Care For Extensions

If you are talking about semi-permanent and permanent extensions, it will be necessary to visit the beauty salon every two months (at least) to check their condition and perform maintenance.

Each type of extension needs different care, but, in general, brushing the hair double a day is recommended to remove tangles and keep the roots clean. It is important to avoid brushing wet hair as much as potential and wait for it to dry to detangle it.

This daily brushing of the extensions should be done with a soft brush that does not break the hair or the joints. It is important that brushing is from bottom to top: first to the ends, then to the middle, and then to the roots.

To wash the hair, before doing so, it is advisable to untangle the extensions. Also, the idea is to use a special shampoo (especially if they are made of keratin) and massage the hair from top to bottom, never in the opposite direction.

In addition, softening them with each show wash to facilitate detangling will be essential. In fact, it is advisable to use a mask without rinsing on damp and neat hair.

At bedtime, it is advised to do it with the hair in a not too tight ponytail or plait and never with wet hair.

If you want to shape your hair with extensions, you must make sure that they are suitable for the use of this type of tool (those with natural hair are the most suitable for this).

Can They Damage Hair?

Although it always depends a lot on the quality of the extensions and the professional’s hand, in general, the extensions that involve the least risks are clip-on and adhesive.

But that is where the expert’s assessment must enter based on the type of hair and the conditions in which it is found.

If the extensions are placed incorrectly or in hair that is inappropriate for the type of technique used, it is likely that they damage and weaken the root of the hair, causing it to fall.

Likewise, poor maintenance of the extensions can have dire consequences on the health of our hair. Therefore, before committing ourselves to a certain technique, it is convenient to assess the maintenance costs to assess whether it really compensates you or not.