Our resident expert on all things Brazilian Blowout and extensions, Jordana Lorraine from The Dino-Clark Salon in Santa Monica, is back with even more on extensions. Find out everything you ever wanted to know on the different type of extensions and figure out which ones are right for you. And if you have questions at the end, just drop me a note in the comments sections, and we’ll get them answered for you.
As you all know, extensions aren’t just for celebs and exotic dancers anymore. Extensions are everywhere! But if you decide to pay for your hair, how do ensure that you don’t wind up with a messed up weave ala Britney Spears or Kate Gosselin and instead get gorgeous, undetectable extensions like Kim Kardashian and Blake Lively? Certainly, these ladies all have the money to get fantastic work done, but some extensions seem to “hang out” in plain sight. So what’s the key? The answer is finding the type of extensions that are right for your hair and, of course, having them done by a skilled stylist. Here you will find the newest and most popular types of hair extensions, see photos, and hopefully find the key to your long, lovely locks!
Heat-Free Protein Bonds - This is the latest and the greatest when it comes to hair extensions. This method lasts the longest (up to 8 months) and combines the benefits of several of the other techniques. The bond is made up primarily of keratin, as is your hair. Strands can be customized to different sizes for the most personalized fit. These are the smallest fusion points available and also the hardest, yet they are as flat as a piece of paper. This makes Heat-Free Protein Bonds ideal for fine hair, because they are the least likely to cause visible bumps or be felt when running a hand over the hair.
What sets them apart from the classic protein bond is that they are applied using ultra-sonic vibration to soften them as they are attached.
This means that there is no heat applied to the hair at any time, and that it would require a much higher degree of heat to melt or damage these bonds. Blow-drying and irons are of little or no concern. (And check out that before & after! Pretty amazing. I think if I was ever to do extensions, I would go with this method.)
Classic Bonded Extensions - Brand names are Hair Dreams or Great Lengths. These individual extensions boast the advantage of coming in different sizes, so multiple sizes can be used to blend with your own hair’s patterns. They are safe for any hair color and most textures.
A tiny iron is used to melt the bond as it lies against your hair, after which the stylist rolls it until it cools and hardens with your own hair locked inside. In a variation of Classic Bonded Extensions, loose hair is dipped in glue and then attached by the same method. The bonus to this is that many colors can be blended together without streakiness, but the drawback is that it takes longer and is therefore more expensive. Because this type of extensions is bonded using heat, accidental contact with a curling or flat iron could melt it quite easily, causing two to stick together or even to slip out of the hair. Removal requires application of a solvent, which softens the bond so the stylist can loosen it and slide it off. (The accidental melting thing scares me with this one, but again that before & after knocks my socks off.)
Microtubes, Shrink Tubes, Swing Wefts, Temporary Extensions and lots more after the break!
Microtubes - This process is also called flat-tubes, i.e., Hair Locs. These type of extensions are ideal if you have black or brown hair of medium texture, which is straight or wavy, and you like to do a light to moderate amount of heat-styling.
The tubes are threaded onto your hair, an extension is inserted and then the tube is flattened, holding the two together.
Removal is quick and easy with Microtubes. The now-flat tubes are popped back to their original shape and slipped right off. However, blondes must be very careful if pursuing this method of extension, because hard water combined with metal can leave a green mark which is visible if your hair is light.
Shrink Tubes - These type of extensions are also called “Shrinkies”. This newer technology uses a clear plastic tube to attach your new hair, and is the option which allows the most hair to be added. Your hair is threaded through the tube just like it is with the microtube option, but in this case the plastic tube is heated until it shrinks to half its original size, tightly gripping the extension and your hair together.
There is room for two extensions to be sealed into each tube, if your own hair’s root is thick and strong enough to anchor that. These are great for creating a “lion’s mane” type of look, or for curly hair.
Swing Wefts - Swing weft extensions use the same quality hair as the longer-term extensions, but are more economical because they are faster to apply. They swing in a more natural way than sewn-in wefts, because they are attached a bit off the scalp, allowing for natural movement. Swing wefts are applied quickly in the salon, but need to be maintained or “tightened” every 6-8 weeks, and can also be difficult to blend with layered looks. This maintenance appointment is quick and painless. The same set of hair can be used for 6-8 months.
Temporary Extensions - These are made of natural hair are ideal if you want to have an alter-ego with glamorous hair. You can clip them in and take them back out on a whim, with no commitment.
They are less than half the price of the real deal and are also made of high-quality hair. They can be blow-dried, curled or flat-ironed, and will look and feel like your own.
But beware pre-packaged direct-sale hair extensions. You will always have better results if you let a professional match your color and texture, and cut the extensions to blend with your hairstyle. A set of these extensions can last years if well-cared for.
Taped Wefts - Also called Nordic Hair Contrast or SkinWeft, these ultra-thin strips of hair are quickly applied using tape and an iron. They are particularly popular with fine-hair ladies because they lay very flat against the head and can fill in naturally long but thin hair. Different colors can be layered for a dimensional look without any visible streaks.
Chemical-Free Highlights – Another way to use extensions? Adding flashes of color to your hair, without dying it. Let’s say you’d like some blonde chunks, but don’t want to bleach it, or some funky color, but don’t want to fully commit. Have a few extensions popped in as an accent.
This can be done using heat-free protein bonds, classic bonded extensions, microtubes, shrink tubes or clip-ins. The clip-ins are perfect for teens who aren’t allowed to color their hair, or wear funky colors to school. They just snap in when you want them, snap out when you don’t. (A great option for this is Clix Professional Clip-in 100% Human Hair Extensions and we curently have a 20% discount code through the month of April!)
Sewn-In Wefts - This is also called a “weave”. Tried and true, sewn-in extensions have been done longer than any of the methods above. They are often more cost-effective, but can be heavy and even painful when first applied. Like the swing wefts, sewn-in wefts will need to be maintained regularly. The hair can be re-used for many cycles, but can be difficult to blend with layered looks.
So! Now that you know about all of the different types of extensions, have you decided which kind is right for you? It’s always a good idea to schedule consultations with a few salons before choosing a stylist and extension method. This consultation should be free and take 15-30 minutes. You should be shown hair samples, color choices, and examples of the stylist’s work. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, like how long has the stylist been doing extensions, why do they recommend this particular method for your hair, etc.
For those of you in the Los Angeles area, you’re in luck! Mention this Hair On The Brain post when booking your extensions with Jordana Lorraine, and she will comp you a shampoo and style visit within one month of having your extensions done–a $100 value! This will help you learn some styling tricks, and get you all for a big night out.
Jordana Lorraine
(310) 922-2645
www.jordanalorraine.com
ok. so how much are the protein bond extentions? Do they do them at Dino Clark (that’s my normal salon)? And…what happens after 8 months? Do they come out easy? Do you have to cut off all your hair?
This is a big thing for me, because I can not get my freaking hair to grow. It’s medium length, has been shoulder length for, oh, 4 years. I can not get this stuff down my back.
need more info!
xo
i am sorry, i had to come back. the girl with the protein bond extensions– her hair looks so so so good. I want this. if only i can have my questions answered…i think i want this. Val, are you gonna do any of these? If so, which one?
Hey Lisa, Let me check with Jordana about your questions and report back!!
Hi Lisa, yes I am at Dino Clark and I do the heat-free keratin bonds. I am the only one here who does them, and I would be happy to meet with you for a free consultation to give a price quote. It’s difficult to give a blind estimate because there are many factors, including length, thickness, texture and color.
As far as maintenance…after a few months, you will want to come in to have some replaced. Depending on hair growth, this could be done once or twice to extend the life of a “full set” to as long as 8 months. If they are not maintained, you will begin to lose some of the extensions (they slip out), they will become too sparse to fill-in and will have to be removed. In any case, when you are finished with your cycle, they are removed in the salon using a special solution and can be replaced at your convenience.
You will definitely NOT have to them out of your hair! Please contact me for a free consultation, where we an discuss price, maintenance and home care as well as view colros and hair samples.
Thanks for responding to all of Lisa’s questions, Jordana!
Lisa: If you get this done you must must must report back to me and supply pictures. Pretty please?? That would be so great. And to answer your earlier question, I do kinda want the Heat-Free Protein Bonds. I think if I ever got extensions, I would go with this type because I have fine hair and I like the idea of no heat application… The only thing holding me back really is that I know I would get hooked forever and end up spending a lot of $$. So I guess I want to wait until I have more $$ to spend regularly?
Hey guys- sorry for the delay here!
Yes, my concern is that, at 35, I am already racking up too many $$$ things I have to do often (highlight, botox, ahem). But I would really really like to try the heat free extensions. I am so over my hair not growing at all.
But like…is it $400 or $1000– I’d love to know the range. Jordana, I’ll call you to do a consult, but tell Kristen I am not cheating on her!
Valerie, have you covered sulfate vs non-sulfate hair care? I spoke with a girl (long luscious black hair) who swears by non-sulfate stuff. I looked, and all my shampoos had the laurel sulfate. Today I bought the L’Oreal Every Pure.
But I thought…if this is potentially why my hair is so freaking dry/brittle…why aren’t hairstylists telling their clients to change their shampoo? Just a thought…
Jordana, thank you for the info! Call you!
oh my other question is this— for the heat free bods…can you use a straightener.
My normal hair is kind of wavy-ish. I have to blow dry and lightly flat iron it to be straight. If you have the extensions, do I have to wear it straight every day?
Lisa: I will email Jordana and have her answer this for sure, but I am pretty sure you can flat iron heat-free bonds. Um, also, you can get a Brazilian Blowout, but that’s even more $$$. (Note Lisa: @e need to start a business where we make a shit-ton of $$. ok?) Anyway… with the heat free bonds, I think you can treat it like your normal hair–straighten it, curl it, blowdry it, etc. You should just go into Jordana and do a consultation to get an idea of how much money it would be. And, um, report back! I am curious.
Ok, and about sulfates. There is a lot of conflicting information out there about sulfates… People saying it strips your color or that it causes cancer (!) As far as I can gather, sulfates are used in hair products because they’re super good at dissolving dirt and oil and they foam up really well. (And we love lather!)
Sulfate free products work too. They are typically more expensive, lather less, and are less harsh on the skin/hair. But they also won’t cut through the “cones” (silicones) that you put in your hair with hair products and conditioners and you may get buildup, which can weight it down. But it might work perfectly for you! Some people love it. you kind of just have to try stuff and find what works for you when it comes to hair products, though… Try the sulfate-free line and see what you think.
@Lisa You have a great questions! The pricing for any high-quality long-lasting extensions (meaning, not the clip-ins) is going to be 4 figures. How long you want to go, and how thick your natural hair is, are the main factors, although blonde hair does cost a bit more than brown (because it is less common and you don’t want dark hair that has been bleached). Please do come in for a consultation; it’s free! Kristen only works with us Thurs-Sat now, if you’d like to avoid any awkwardness when you come in, but with speciality services we help each others’ clients all the time. I send Kristen prom+wedding clients, other stylists send me a Brazilian Blowout client, it’s all good. BTW she does do the tape-in kind, if you would like to consider those as well. I think they are pricey the first time, when you buy the hair, but the same hair can be used through several lower-cost maintenance sessions. BUT–these are definitely heat-sensitive, because that’s how they are applied.
As for the heat-free bonds, they are definitely the most heat-resistant, but you wouldn’t want to hold an iron on them for more than a few seconds, as they would begin to soften (then again, hopefully you aren’t holding the iron on any one section of your hair for that long anyway, that would definitely be drying/damaging).
The extensions I use have a slight wave to them (unless I specifically order them curly), so they can be air-dried for a beachy-natural-wave look, though at least drying the bonded area at the root will help them last longer. They can be blown-out straight, styled witha round brush, etc. just as your natural hair is.
As Valerie suggested, a Brazilian Blowout would be great for controlling your frizz and to help keep your natural hair smooth. It can be done (carefully) in combination with the heat-free extensions…but of course, that is another expense. We can definitely create a package deal for you if you decide to do both!
If I may pop in on the sulfate topic, too: my understanding is that we have been commercially trained to want lots of lather, but that it isn’t really necessary. You may need to wrk a little harder to distribute the product throughout your hair, but it is definitely better to avoid sulfates for both the color reason and the potential health risk. We have several sulfate-free lines at the salon, which I would be happy to show you. One of my favorites is http://www.sudzzfx.com, they are free of all sorts of bad junk that is in some products
Hi! Regarding the taped wefts, can the hair still be styled in updos? I’m a model and would love the added fullness ( I have long but fine hair) however, some shoots require updos, etc and I certainly wouldn’t want the extensions to show when my hair was pulled up. Also, as far as the bonding taped areas, how much care needs to be taken when applying heat? I frequently blow dry my hair and use a straightening iron almost daily.
Thanks for your help!
Your posts have entertained for awhile now, and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the information that can be found here. Thank you
Grow your own healthy long hair and don’t use hair extensions
i have the same problem hair.i also want these extension…what is the price of these extension n how many extention use at a time…
thank u
Do you know where the woman with the red hair got her extensions?
I live in Tampa and would love to try the heat free bonds. What brand name do I search under? IE..great lengths. platinum seamless, etc. Thanks:)
OR…can you recommend a salon in Tampa?
hey i have a simple question i want to buy hair extensions on eBay and most say clip on i want to know if i can remove the clips without damaging the hair extensions so that i can weave them in?
I live in MD and am interested in the heat free bonds….how do I find a salon in my area that does them? I tried googling but nothing really came up. Thanks!