Types and Techniques

There are a few different types of hair that are used for extensions. There is human hair, synthetic hair and non-remy hair or ‘fallen’ hair. Human hair is used for obvious reasons. the way it is collected can be different though, the best techniques involve cutting the hair off in pony-tail sections so the cuticle or root of the hair is all on one side. non-remy hair the opposite where the hair is just collected and the cuticle can be on either side. Because hair has a certain ‘grain’ to it if the grains are opposite each other there can be a lot of tangling involved not only in the extension, but with your actual hair as well. Most human hair comes from the asian side of the world. Indian hair specifically is naturally thin but very strong making it a great candidate. Because of this non-remy hair is cheaper than virgin or cuticle hair. Synthetic hair is available in the same types of extensions as real hair but it is not as versatile and does not have the durability that real human hair has either. Synthetic is more susceptible to heat and friction than normal hair as well.

There are a lot of different ways that hair extensions are ‘installed’ these days. There is bonding, fusion, tracking, netting, clip-on, lace, nobraidsnoglue, and micro braiding. These all have different ways to attach the extension to the hair. Some are newer and harm the scalp and hair less and some are for specialized uses. There are risks with any technique, but as long as you take good care of your hair and the extensions the risk is minimal. Proper maintenance is key if you do not want to damage your hair or scalp.

Bonding
This is a temporary method where accents or flashes of volume and color can be added to your natural hair. The extensions is glued to the roots of your own hair. These extensions should not be left in more than a week or so or they can really damage your hair and scalp. There are 2 different types of bonding although hard bonding is only used as a last resort if soft bonding does not work correctly, it should be left up to the professional putting them in which type of bonding to use.

Clip On
This is another temporary solution to hair extensions, it is where the extensions are clipped in with toupee clips in order to achieve similar results as with bonding or braiding in the extension. These types can not be left in while you sleep or it can harm your hair and scalp. they can be worn all day long and are great alternatives to more permanent additions, and can be put in and taken out a lot more quickly than the other types as well.

Fusion
If you are looking for a more natural look, then fusion is the way to go. The way the extensions are added to your natural hair it makes a great compliment to it. In this technique a tool that looks a bit like a glue gun is used to affix small individual extensions to individual strands of your natural hair. It is important that the person doing this type of extension is experienced and certified because it is the most tricky procedure and one of the most time consuming. These 2 factors lead to one of the highest costs for this procedure, compared to others.

Lace Extensions
This type of extensions is one of the newest techniques available. It comes in the form of a nylon cap that is attached by tying natural hair into gaps in the cap. this gives the extensions a more realistic flow that other techniques cannot match. The cap must be tailored to individuals because fit is important for proper installation.

Micro Braiding
This type of technique is quickly becoming very trendy these days. Making sure the hair is strong and clean is important for this style because of the length of time they are able to be left in. This procedure involves separating the hair into small parts and weaving in the extensions creating a braid. It can take a very long time, up to 15 hours to get this done, however the extensions can be left in up to 6 months with proper care and maintenance.

Netting
There is a small netting that is performed by braiding natural tresses onto the thin netting and serves as more of a flat surface that can make it easier and faster for a stylist to make you look great. This can last up to 3 months if properly cared for but you must make sure your hair is completely dry in order to prevent complications on your scalp.

NoBraidsNoGlue
This technique is sort of a revolutionary system that gets rid of the terrible glue and pesky braids that can cause problems and look unnatural. If you are familiar with a suspension bridge then you have the general idea of this technique. The technique is so natural that the wearer can even wear their hair in ponytails and other styles because it is so easy to work with and blended well. Because of of the even nature of this style the process moves quickly and an entire head can be finished in about an hour. You can wash this style of extensions a little more like your own hair because there are no bumps or lumps or braids or clips to mess with.

Tracking
A track is used to connect the weave to your head. This track is made up of cornrows that are first braided into your hair and then the weave can have a solid foundation to rest on. this is an older technique yet is still a technique that many salons are implementing depending on what type of extensions you are looking for.

Tree Braiding
This techniques is a whole hair technique involving cornrows and hair that is about 2 feet in length. This gives a great base in order to perform some very interesting changes to the hair. Cornrows are used to hair from the front of the head all the way to the back of the neck all the way down the middle of your head, pulling the artificial extensions out of the braid and integrating it with the natural hair.