what types of hair extensions are there ?
Real Human Hair Extensions vs Synthetic Hair Extensions
Before getting into the different types of hair extension application methods, the first thing you need to to know about hair extensions is that they come in real human hair extensions and synthetic hair extensions. So, what is the difference between them?
HOW HAIR EXTENSIONS ARE MADE
Human hair extensions are exactly what they sound like. They are made out of real, human hair from top to bottom, collected from a donor. Remy hair means all the cuticles (the outer layer of the hair) are intact, running in the same direction at the time of collection. This allows for almost no tangling and ensures that the extensions remain smooth and silky throughout their lifetime.
Synthetic hair, on the other hand, is made out of various synthetic, blended fibres, and contains no human hair. These fibres are usually very fine, plastic fibres that are manufactured to imitate real human hair.
LOOK & FEEL
Both real and synthetic extensions come in many styles, colours, and different forms of application. The quality of synthetic fibres can vary, but they are generally stiff and move differently from human hair, so they don’t blend as well with your natural hair.
They sometimes have a wiry or coarse feel to the touch. Real hair looks and feels real (because it is!) and therefore blends more naturally with your hair.
COLORING & STYLING
Human hair extensions can be treated just like your own natural hair. You can straighten, curl, blow dry, color them, and apply hair products. With synthetic hair, you cannot color the hair as most dyes contain ammonia or bleach, which would destroy the synthetic hair.
Additionally, you cannot style synthetic hair the same way as your real hair because heat can damage them so curling irons, straighteners and blow dryers are a no go, as they will melt or severely damage the hair.
Other factors such as sun, friction, or harsh hair products can also damage synthetic hair extensions.
QUALITY & HOW LONG HAIR EXTENSIONS LAST
Synthetic hair is cheaper than real hair, but of course with that, comes a trade-off. Because they’re made out of synthetic fibres, they do not last as long as human hair as they can easily be damaged by the above-mentioned factors (sun, heat, etc.) Generally, synthetic hair extensions last for a few months, whereas human hair extensions can last upwards of one year if they are well taken care of.
Teehair's hair extensions take an average of about a year to preserve.
In summary, human hair can be treated and styled just like your own hair, and will look and feel the most natural. It will blend easily with your hair and last much longer than synthetic hair. Although they are cheaper than real hair, synthetic hair does not look as natural, cannot be styled with heating tools and do not last as long as real hair.
Now that we’ve gotten real vs. synthetic out of the way, let’s get into the different types of extension applications!
1. Clip-in Hair Extensions
Clip-in wefts, also known as clip-in hair extensions, come in a strand of contoured pieces, attached at the base with either fabric or silicone. Clips are attached to this base and come ready to use. All you have to do is clip the pieces to your natural hair all on your own! Each clip snaps open and close with ease—see here for how to clip them in.
Clip-in hair extensions are the least permanent style of extensions because you can quickly remove them and put them back on whenever you want. Unlike some of the other hair extension applications mentioned above, clip-ins usually take 5 – 15 minutes to apply at home.
Clip-in hair extensions are also the least damaging because they don’t involve any chemicals, heat, pressure, or other installation methods mentioned above—they simply clip onto your hair with ease so there is zero damage to your natural hair. This is one of the many reasons why it’s one of the most popular hair extension types.
2. Tape-In Hair Extensions
Tape in hair extensions are exactly what they sound like. The extensions are pre-taped and then taped/glued together on either side of your own hair. Typically a hairdresser would apply tape-ins for you because you need to align them with the roots and they are applied with a heated tool that heats up the glue.
Additionally, you would need to have them removed (with glue remover) and then reinstalled. Naturally, when you apply heat to your roots and any adhesive product such as tape or glue, this can damage your hair. This process usually takes approximately 40 minutes – 1 hour to apply and if the extensions are in good condition, they can be re-used.
3. BULK Hair Extension
Bulk hair is the most simple and fundamental hair product of all time. It is basically tied with elastic bands in the top of the hair without any attachments. The hair has all the main features like your real hair, which makes it so beautiful and suitable. Since it is very simple with little processing, bulk hair is the cheapest hair in our company
4. WEFT HAIR EXTENSION
A hair weft is a collection of hair strands which have been woven on to a fine strip of cloth to create a "weft". Wefts will differ in width dependent on their length, but are generally referred to by their weight EG; 120gm
Technically hair wefts are manufactured for salon professionals who use various semi-permanent fitting methods to apply a partial or full head of hair extensions to salon salon clients. Clip In hair extensions are traditionally purchased by consumers who fit them for temporary use at home.
The "weft" was originally designed by afro hair stylists who create cornrows around the scalp and then sew the weft to the cornrows. This ingenious fitting method is gathering popularity with European hair extension salons because it is an extremely natural and sustainable fitting method which requires no glue or heat.
5. TIP IN HAIR EXTENSION
tips in hair extension are a type of hair extension that latches onto natural hair using flattened microbeads or metal cylinders. While they’re sometimes synonymous with micro links, technically they are different.
“I-tips differ because they are individual pieces of hair that are used with a cylinder piece that all interloop around a person’s natural hair,” explains Pitre. Comparatively, microlinks are created with a wefted track.
6. CLOSURE/FRONTAL/WIGS
Lace frontals are the recent rave. This is because of their versatility and the flawless way it looks like it's growing from your own scalp. One way to identify frontals is that they are used to recreate the hairline from ear to ear while closures are used to recreate the natural parting of the hairline.
Both lace frontals and lace closure hair pieces help to complete your look and are great for styling your wigs, weaves, and natural hair extensions. However, making the best choice for which option to go for can sometimes be a tough nut to crack.
So if you're looking to invest in a great wig and yet to decide whether to go for a lace frontal or closure, we have got you covered. We've put together everything you need to know about lace frontals and closures, the pros and cons too.
7. Sew-In Hair Extension Methods
What are they?
Sewn-in hair extensions or ‘Weaves’ are typically applied using the L.A. Weave or Micro-ring method.
Weaves are a long weft of hair, similar to a clip-in extension, sewn to layers of your natural hair. The hair is either braided and sewn using a needle and thread or it involves a micro-ring method of application.
This hair extension method is only suitable for those with thicker hair; weaves can often cause too much tension to hair that is fine or previously damaged. If you have thick or heavily textured hair, weaves are a great option for your extension choice.
Application and Aftercare
Weaves take around 1-2 hours to apply, depending on the number of rows you require. A full head of weft hair extensions will generally require 3 rows. Depending on your natural hair growth, you will need to have your weave re-positioned every 8-10 weeks.
You must have a trained professional stylist to remove your weave to avoid cutting or damaging your own hair. Without matting, it takes around 30 minutes to remove a weave from the hair.
Post-application, a weave can feel the most uncomfortable hair extension method as it requires your natural hairs to be strained at the scalp; the pain and discomfort should subside within 24 hours and will soon feel like your natural hair.
8. FUSION HAIR EXTENSIONS
5. FUSION HAIR EXTENSIONS
Also known as pre-bonded hair, fusion hair extensions are a type of semi-permanent hair extension that is applied to your strands using heat and keratin glue. The process can take up to 5 hours in total since the adhesive has to be thoroughly dried first.
Keep in mind that once you get these extensions uninstalled from your hair, they can’t be reused anymore. So you’d have to buy new extensions every time you want them “reapplied”. Depending on how quickly your hair grows or how worn out your extensions are, this cycle can get really vicious, really quickly.
But if you love hair extensions, getting fusion hair extensions installed to your hair is something that you simply should do. Luckily, these babies can last up to 6 months if taken care of properly.
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