Hair extensions are a flexible and highly practical solution to improving your appearance and adding volume and life to your tresses. From synthetic clip-ons to semi-permanent natural weaving and bonding, there are a range of options to fit every concern.
Not everyone is blessed with thick,
wavy locks, which makes hair extensions the perfect solution to creating the illusion of a generous mane. With a range of options from quick-fix clip-ons to bonding and weaving, sporting that celebrity coiffure is no more an unattainable dream.
Are Hair Extensions for You?
Hair extensions can be as diverse as short clip-ons to fully bonded long-lasting treatments that are virtually indistinguishable from one's natural tresses. Clip-ons are also reusable and require just a few centimeters of your natural hair to bind on to. While clip-ons are the perfect fit for individuals looking for a temporary fix, a bonded extension may be ideal for those seeking a more hassle-free solution.
In general synthetic fibers are appropriate for those seeking a low-cost solution that still offers good results. With a varied array of lengths, textures, and color palettes to choose from, a synthetic extension can actually look pretty natural. However, when it comes to your precious tresses, it pays to realize that pricing is not the most important thing. As with most things in life, you get what you pay for, which makes choosing extensions made from real human hair that much more sensible.
Weaving and Bonding Explained
Semi-permanent hair extension can be essentially sewn in place or bonded by hot fusion using an appropriate adhesive agent. Most stylists use a synthesized keratin protein that acts as the glue with which each strand is pre-tipped and then heated to help interconnect the extension to one's natural locks. While hot weaving and bonding uses hot glue to secure the extension in place, cold fusion techniques offer a gentler and judicious alternative since this ensures minimal damage to your tresses.
Another alternative is a sew-in extension that allows the stylist to sew the synthetic or natural weaves into the braid. Aside from bonding and weaves, micro links may sometimes be employed to help fasten the extension to your natural curls. Typically constructed as rounded coils that are selected in a color matching the individual's hair, micro links can be a sustainable and effective, not to mention safe for long-term use.
Why Choose Natural Weaves
There are several advantages to choosing natural fibers to synthetic weaves. In general, an extension that is woven from human hair has the normal cuticle, which means lesser reactions to the silicone coating on synthetic weaves. Artificial fibers can tangle and look worn down with time, making them less durable as compared with a natural extension.
A natural clip-on extension means more options in terms of picking the right texture appropriate for your needs, which can offer the most natural-looking, free-flowing style that synthetic fibers can never hope to match. Aside from looking and feeling like your own curls, these weaves can be styled with curlers and flat irons or even permed just like your own mane. While synthetic fibers cannot be color-treated, which means less experimentation with your look, natural hair extensions can be highlighted and colored thus making them more flexible.
