What different Kinds of Hair Extensions Are There?

What Other Kinds of Hair Extensions AreThere?:

• Weft Hair:  Hair that has been crafted into weft that can be sewn, glued or alternatively attached to the natural hair in a single strip, usually the measuring circumference of the human head.  Weft hair is a single sting of pre-attached extension hair in comparison to tape in hair extensions that are single tabs placed in a bricklayer pattern to allow for more free-flowing natural movement.

• Weaved Hair:  Wefts or pre-bonded hair that is hand woven into the hair by needle and thread or other means of hand weaving.  Weaved hair is a single string of hair that is hand sewn in comparison to tape in hair extensions which are single tabs placed in a bricklayer pattern to allow for more free-flowing natural movement.

• Braided Hair Extensions:  Wefts or weaved hair that is attached to the head using a pre-braided technique.  Technicians braid the hair in small rows horizontally on the head and then use various kinds of application methods to attached a weft or weaved extension.  The most common way of applying the extension is with a needle and thread through the braided row.  These extensions have less natural movement when compared to tape in hair extensions.

• Keratin Bonded Hair Extensions:  A type of hair extension that attaches to a small pinch of hair.  The extension is attached to the hair with a keratin bond that cannot be removed without using a tool to crack the bond.  These extensions are attached to the head in small sections.  You will typically have 300+ keratin bonds in the human head to make a full set of extensions.  They can last anywhere from 2-5 months, and cannot be reused.  They are not meant for fine or thin hair, and can easily damage even the healthiest of hair.  For damage-free extensions wear, tape in hair extensions are your best bet.

• Microbead / iTip Hair Extensions:  Microbead extensions are a two piece extension method where a pinch of hair is taken and a small copper ring with (or without) a silicone lining is placed at the base of the hair shaft up near the head.  Then a show lace like iTip is inserted in the copper ring and a clamp is used to clamp flat the copper ring which now holds the extension hair with a small pinch of natural hair.  upwards of 300+ Microbeads could be needed to achieve both length and volume.  They are generally uncomfortable to sleep on and cannot be brushed through at the base.  The maintenance on Microbead tip extensions is approximately every 3 weeks.  This hair can usually be removed and replaced several times before needing to purchase new hair, but does not have the same natural looks or damage free wear as tape in hair extensions. 

• Micro Loop extensions:  Similar to Microbead / iTip extensions, Micro Loops extensions are applied in the same manner accept there is no maintenance service, the hair cannot be reused or moved up.  They were not designed for thinner hair as they can be extremely damaging to the hair shaft.  If you are looking for a damage-free alternative, tape in hair extensions are the industry's leading form.

• uTip, Nail Tip, vTip:  These pre bonded hair extensions are made to be glued or keratin bonded to the natural hair.  They are longer-lasting but considerably damaging.  Due to the fact that the hair is over-directed to the center, during natural movement, the hair is repeatedly tossed in the opposite directions, creating weak points forcing the natural hair to break at the bond.  Typically when removing these extensions, you will see a noticeable amount of natural hair falling out due to breakage from the bonded extension.  If you are looking for damage free extension wear? Tape in hair extensions have corned the market in damage free wear.

• Fusion Extensions:  Fusion extensions is a keratin bond that is used to connect the client's natural hair to the extension hair.  This s is an extremely long process and in some cases, could take an entire day.  Fusion extensions last anywhere from 3-6 months without maintenance in between.  However, you must be extremely careful with these keratin bonded fusion extensions as they can cause extreme damage due to the inflexibility of the keratin bond at the connection site.  Fusion extensions are applied in strands and the keratin bond is about the size of a grain of white rice.   Many consumers leave fusion extensions for tape in hair extensions due to the extreme damages caused at the application site of fusion extensions.

• Glue in Hair Extensions:  Glue in hair extensions can consist of any form of weft, weave or keratin fusion/keratin bond that requires a form of "glue" to adhere the extension hair to the natural hair.  Glue in hair extensions more specifically refers to a two-step method where the installer must apply the glue by hand - it is not made ready for installation.  A medical grade adhesive, which is also a form of glue is used in tape in hair extensions tape tabs.

• Clip in Hair Extensions:  These extensions are not considered professional hair extensions.  In contrast to tape in hair extensions, clip in hair extensions can be removed and reapplied with ease by the user.  Care should be taken however making sure that not too much or too little natural hair is taken to hold the extensions.  Your salon professional can help you blend your clip in extensions to match your natural hair.  

• Sew in Hair Extensions:   Sew in Hair Extensions are typically worn on clients with more corse, curly or unruly hair.  The clients' natural hair is sectioned horizontally in a horseshoe section to follow the circumference of the head.  A row of braids is created parallel to that sectioning.  You will need a row of braids for each weft of hair extensions.  Once the natural hair is prepared, a weft of extension hair is placed on the braid and using a needle and thread, the weft of hair extensions is sewn into the braided rows of natural hair.   Tape in hair extensions can also be worn on more course, curly or unruly hair once smoothed at the root.