Extensions 101: Get In On The Magic

Do you ever wonder how celebrities go from short to long hair overnight? Dark to bleached (*cough cough* Kim K)? Well it’s all with the power of extensions and wigs. Luckily, extensions are so mainstream now that anyone can wear them, but with all the types on the market it can sure get confusing. So let’s break it down so everyone understands and can benefit from the magic of extensions.

There are two types of hair on the market, synthetic and human hair. There are benefits to both, but if you are wanting to be able to style your extensions like your own hair, you’ll want to go with human hair. There is a dark side to the extension industry, so you’ll want to make sure your hair is ethically sourced. Pony Hair Extensions uses hair from Russia and Mongolia where the donors are paid fair wages in exchange for their hair donations. Ask your stylist where their hair comes from the next time you have yours done, you may be surprised where some hair is sourced from. You’ll also want to look for Remy hair, which means the cuticle of all the hair in the extension lay in the same direction. This prevents bunching and tangling within the extension.

The types of installations vary depending on the needs of the client as well.

Clip ins and wigs are a great option for anyone who is looking for a temporary change. Clips in are commonly used for brides looking to fill in the updo or add length and volume just for the day.

• How Long They Last: removed at the end of the day

• Benefits: No commitment, can be installed by client daily

• Cons: hard to wear hair up and conceal, does not move around head like natural hair

Tape Ins are extensions that are applied using tape or glue and usually come in 1” pieces that are applied around the head. These can also be used to fill in around the face to create density in weak areas.

• How Long They Last: Need to be removed and re-installed about every 6-8 weeks. Pieces are removed, re-taped and re-applied.

• Benefits: can be customizable to weak areas of the hair

• Cons: can be visible and difficult to style if not installed well

Beaded Rows are my favourite method as they are easy for the client to wear, install and maintenance are quite quick and they don’t use any heat or glue to install.

• How Long They Last: push ups can be done every 4 weeks in a quick 30 minute appointment, hair will last 10-12 months depending on hair quality.

• Benefits: thicker, denser results, very little stress on the scalp

• Cons: higher investment upfront