With Hair extensions becoming more and more popular and easy to use we thought it was a good idea to put together an Ultimate Buying Guide to help both beginners and existing users make the right choice when it comes to picking your perfect set. Choosing the correct product for you will not only save you precious pennies but it will reduce any unnecessary damage to your own hair which is super important. In this guide were going back to basics and explaining what Hair Extensions are and what they should be used for as well as simplifying some of the technical lingo you tend to hear surrounding hair extensions. We have refined the guide into specific areas so you can skip straight to what you are looking for and your personal hair type or concern.
Already bought hair extensions or looking for more information on how to maintain and care for them, then look no further than our ultimate hair extension care guide.
Hair extensions are used to enhance the length, volume, thickness and colour in your hair. There are many different variations including semi-permanent options and temporary DIY solutions. Hair extensions are mostly made from either Human or Synthetic hair with Human being the highest quality on the market and are attached using various techniques. They are usually applied by either clipping, sewing, gluing or clamping the extension onto the hair.
There are 3 golden factors to consider when starting your hair extensions journey, knowing these will steer you or your stylist in the right direction to choose the correct products. These 3 factors are:
Your hair type is the most important thing to consider when you are choosing your hair extensions. There are some sets or methods that are not suitable for thick hair as they are lightweight, small and designed for thinner haired customers and some that are too heavy for thin hair that could cause damage.
Your reason for wanting hair extensions can have a huge impact on the choice you will make. For example, if you have fine hair and you are just wanting to thicken your hair up, it is not necessary to use a large amount of hair or a long length, you can get the effect you are after from only a small amount of hair extensions which in turn is kinder to your hair, and your wallet.
All extension types have there advantages and disadvantages but It is important to establish how much effort your willing to put in and how often you will use them before committing to a set. Ask yourself these questions before committing to any permanent hair extensions: Are you happy and have time to attend maintenance appointments every 6-8 weeks? Do you have time to care correctly for permanent hair extensions? Can you afford to have regular maintenance and repositioning appointments every 6-8 weeks?
We’ve collected all of our best information on each hair type to help you find your perfect match in hair extensions. Below you will find guides and information relating to thick, thin, fine, short and curly hair (click on each title to visit the content).
We’ve collected all of our best information on each hair concern and reason for wanting hair extensions to help you find your perfect pair. Below you will find guides and information on hair extensions for adding colour, volume, thickness and length (click on the titles to view each article).
There are 2 types of hair extensions: Temporary or Permanent. Temporary extensions or hair pieces are removed daily and before washing/sleeping. Permanent extensions are attached semi-permanently to the hair for several weeks-months before being removed. You can find detailed information for all the specific items below in the product guides.
Looking after hair extensions is just as important as choosing the correct set. Caring for them correctly will save you money, protect your hair and ensure that you and your extensions have a long and happy life together. We have combined all the FAQS surrounding hair extensions into handy guides below to settle all of your hair related worries!
Its not uncommon to come across intimidating and difficult wording for products or methods within the hair and beauty industry. For professional stylists this will not be a problem however for most of us this technical jargon can be quite daunting and off putting. The good news is the actual meanings of these terms are not that scary at all, we’ve translated them into easy-to-understand definitions to help you.
A Grades – the quality of the hair.
AAAAAA is the highest quality of hair possible for hair extensions.
AAA is the most common standard quality of hair.
AAAAA is luxury quality hair.
Body – another word for fullness and volume in the hair
Bangs – an American term for a fringe or another term for long, parted fringe
Backcomb – when the hair is teased backwards at the roots to create more volume or a nest for clips to grip too.
Clip-Ins – wefts of hair that are sewn together at the tops with small metal clips at the seams to attach to your hair. They come in a variety of lengths, widths, weights and styles.
Clip-In Pony Tail - individual pony tail hair piece that clips on to the back of the head.
Clip-In Fringe - individual clip in fringe hair piece with three clips that can be clipped into the front of the head.
Double Drawn – means the hair is as thick at the ends as it is at the top. All or most of the shorter hairs have been drawn out. Almost like a one length cut (no layers)
Extensions – made from either human or synthetic hair and attached to the natural hair to add length, volume, thickness or colour.
Fringe – hair that covers the forehead usually above the eyebrows.
Fringe – hair that covers the forehead usually above the eyebrows.
Heat protection spray – a product sprayed onto the hair before applying heat to prevent the hair from drying out
Halo – a very discreet hair piece that has a extremely thin wire attached which is hung on the head and blends seamlessly with the rest of the hair
Individual Extensions – small, thin permanent hair extensions that are applied strand by strand usually not weighing more than 1.2g.
I-Tip – sometimes referred to as stick tips or micro rings. This is a permanent hair extension type that is clamped to the hair with a small ring or copper tube. No heat or glue is required in this method.
Invisitapes – a new innovation of tapes that have hair on top of the tab to provide more discretion and easier to hide.
Keratin – a protein that makes up 90% of your hair. Its very strong and resilient which is why it is found in many hair treatments.
Life span – how long the product is likely to last.
Maintenance – keeping your hair extensions healthy by caring correctly for them and attending appointments to refresh and refit them.
Micro Rings/Beads – the rings that are used to attach i-tips/stick tips to the hair.
Matting – Extreme knotting in the hair
Nano Tip - A permanent hair extension method/type. Small, keratin bonded individual hair extensions, tipped with a tiny metal wire that is clamped to the hair with a miniature metal ring. Applied without the use of any heat or glue.
Pre-styled - means the hair is permanently set into a style e.g. curled or waved. These extension types are not designed to be styled by the customer as they are already set.
Pre-bonded – small, individual hair extensions that are applied strand by strand. Already bonded at the tip for easy application.
Permanent Extensions – means the hair is semi permanently attached to the hair for several weeks before needing any maintenance or removal.
Quiff – a smaller version of the bouffant hairstyle that is made at the front of the hair. Where the hair has volume and is swept backwards and pinned into place.
Seamless Hair Extensions - almost invisible extensions that feature seamless lace and silicone-lined clips. Sometimes known as 'secret extensions' due to their discreet nature.
Snap Clips – small metal, silicone lined clips that are placed at the top of hair wefts to turn the weft into a Clip-in set.
Shedding – hair loss in the hair extensions, falling out from the actual weft or tip (this is not hair breakage)
Sulphate – a cleansing ingredient used in hair products that removes dirt and grease. This ingredient is not suitable for hair extensions.
Temporary Extensions – means the hair can be applied and removed as the customer likes, it is not attached permanently to the hair.
Tapes – a permanent hair extension method/type. Consists of a small 4cm wide weft of hair secured at the top with a sticky tab that is stuck to the hair. The glue is medical grade adhesive which is kind to the hair.
Tip – refers to the very top of a individual hair extension, this is normally made from keratin.
Threader – a tool used to thread and loop hair through when applying i-tips and nanos.
Thickness – how much hair you have, how dense the hair is. You can still have very thick hair with no volume. Thickness and Volume are 2 different things.
U-Tip – sometimes referred to as Nail tips. This is a permanent hair extension type that’s attached to the hair using a heat connector to melt the tip and fuse to the hair. The method is also referred to as micro fusion bonding.
Volume – how much body/lift you have at the top of your hair and in the roots.
Weft – usually referring to a wide strip of hair. Clip-ins are made from these by cutting them to size and adding clips.
Here at Cliphair we have a team of dedicated hair experts that are ready and waiting to help you along your hair extensions journey! If after reading this Guide you still have questions feel free to get in touch.
Email – Advice@Cliphair.co.uk
Phone – 03450 211 311 (9.30am - 4.30pm)
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