Let’s just admit it, we all dream of being the girl that gets to flick her hair in those shampoo ads. Sadly though, not all of us are blessed with long locks that allow us the privilege to do so. But in an attempt to get closer to hair perfection, you’ve probably found yourself considering getting hair extensions, to give your hair that extra bounce and shine. Well, we know we have thought over it!
 
And because we have been there and felt that way, we decided to put together everything you need to know about hair extensions before taking the final call. Read on...
 
It all comes down to the type of attachment—the main decision you will have to make is whether you want the hair bonded strand-by-strand, or whether you want to go for weft extensions. Once you’ve made a choice, we can get down to the nitty-gritties of the matter.
 
Here is a list of all the specific types of extensions divided into the two main categories; weft extensions or hair bonded strand-by-strand extensions:
 

Strand-by-strand method

Strand-by-strand method

Hot fusion or keratin

This method involves keratin U-tip bonds that act as attachment points for your extensions. After they have been attached to the roots of your hair, a heating tool is used to melt the keratin glue and fasten the extension piece into your hair.   Natural texture is of the essence when it comes to hair extensions, and this method will surely give you the volume you’re looking for while staying true to your genuine hair. If you’re the type of person that’s gymming two-three times a week, this is a great option for you—it is known  for its durability and is the best for those of you that have thick hair.   The main issue with this method is the use of heat. Even with the silicone protection factor in the keratin bonds, there is still the potential that you may damage your hair severely.  

Cold fusion, micro-links or I-tip

A method comprised of using a material—either a small cylinder, bead or lock – to loop your hair, after which it is clamped down with a pair of hair extension pliers.  

A great benefit of this method is that it complies with the world effort to strive towards sustainability—these strands are reusable, and can easily be reattached to your hair if they shift out of place. You also get to avoid the possible damage of using heat on your hair!  

If you have hair that is quite fine, you may want to consider another hair extension technique because you may find that you can see the beads or locks through your natural hair. The strands are also prone to moving out of place.

 

Weft extensions

Weft extensions

Tape-in The most common method out there, you’ll never go wrong with the tape-in. The extensions get attached with polyurethane (PU) tape, involving no high-tech tools and having no long-lasting impact on your hair. It is also extremely fast – while some extension methods can take up to 6 hours to attach, this takes a maximum of an hour to apply. You might find yourself booking a quick appointment during your lunch hour at work!   The main disadvantage to this is that you can’t use any silicone or oil-based products on your hair without the threat of the wefts slipping.   Weave Another perfectly natural option for you, the weave method involves braiding your hair to allow for wefts to be sewn into the braids using a needle and thread. While it’ll be quite difficult for the extensions to slip, you might find that the tight braids put stress on your head. If you’re constantly experimenting with your hair, this isn’t the right way to go as your ability to style your hair is quite limited.