How do hair extensions work?

Question

How do they stay on your hair?

Answer 1

There are so many types of hair extensions, your choice depends on how much you would like to spend and how long you want to wear the extensions.

Weaving hair is manufactured with and without the weft. Wefted hair extensions are held together with a band of fine threads. Wefted hair comes in two types, machine wefted and hand tied. Due to the high cost of hand made products, most extension hair is machine wefted in fine, medium or heavy wefts. Medium wefts are used for the majority of wefted extension hair. Hand tied wefted hair is more expensive but is often preferred due to its light weight. Hand tied hair also resist shedding better. Wefted hair may be used for strand bonding and braiding and is preferred by stylist as it allow the stylist to use only what is needed greatly reducing the amount of waste.
Basic Cord Tracking Technique (also called pinch weaving, micro weaving, track locking). With this method, thin tracks of hair are positioned horizontally on the scalp and reinforced with weaving threads in a lock stitch. The tracks are positioned to follow the clients natural hair pattern. The tracks go in close to the scalp to support the weave piece. The weave piece is then attached with weaving thread and the clients natural hair is combed to cover the tracks. This technique results in long lasting great looking extensions, however, it can place stress on the scalp and hair if not done properly. Cord weaving can be used with natural, permed or relaxed hair. Again, care should be taken to limit the amount of stress on the hair and scalp.

Cornrow Tracking - This is the oldest and most widely used weaving technique. The technique is the same as with tracking only cornrow braids are used instead of weaving cord to form the tracks.

Invisible Braiding (also called Tree Braiding) - This popular cornrowed technique allows weaving hair to be put in without threads or glues. Weaved hair is braided in with the clients hair in cornrowed braid layers close to the scalp. At the braid goes in place, the weave hair is separated from the natural hair in small sections and pulled away from the braid in a close pattern. The natural hair ends up fully braided and serves as a support for the weaved hair.

Invisible braids are a great choice for anyone wanting to give their natural hair a break from chemicals. Invisible braids go in fast but do not last as long as more traditional braids. This particular type of braid will need to be redone more frequently. For this reason we recommend that synthetic hair be used for this type of braiding.

Strand Bond Weaving


Strands of hair are attached to the clients existing hair with specially formulated hair adhesives. This method is used for long wearing extensions which can be worn up to 6 months.

Adhesive Bonding - Bonded hair additions use specially formulated adhesives to attach the hair. Adhesive bonding products are usually wax based or Keratin based. The Keratin based products are harder and come in medium or hard hold. The wax based product (Fusion) come in regular hold (Pro Fusion) and in medium hard hold (French Fusion). Fusion adhesives do not require acetone to remover and tend to be easier on the hair. With proper care, the French Fusion product can hold up to 3 months. Keratin adhesives are harder and can last up to 6 months.

Liquid Bonding (also called cold bonding) - This is a liquid adhesive and comes in two types. Liquid Gold (for lasting hold) and rubberized products which may be found in local beuaty supply stores. The rubberized adhesive is meant for temporary extension lasting only a few days. It breaks down easily with oils and shampoos.

Thermal Head Bonding (also called Fusion or Modulation) - This technique is used to apply strand bonded extensions. extensions. The bonding material is a wax-like material formulated to withstand mild heat. A thermal heat appliance is used to melt the material. The adhesive quickly hardens into a firm but flexible bond. The adhesive is safe for all hair types. The bond is removed with a heating appliance.

Thermal bonding adhesives resist softening from shampooing, conditioners and oils. Strand bonding is an industry favorite. There is no bulk at the scalp leaving the hair to flow freely.

Answer 2

Extensions may stay attached to your scalp (granted that a crazed broad at some bar doesn't rip them out), but your own hair won't!
Hair extensions are attached by the aforementioned methods, all of which involve your existing hair. Since the extensions put extra tension/weight on your hair, breakage and unnecessary shedding occurs, leaving you with split ends and thinner hair. Damage begets damage: as these split ends rub against your other hair, they do more damage. So in essense, extensions aren't worth it since you end up with very damaged hair in the end :) And if you only knew where the real hair came from. Heck, I wouldn't be able to look myself in the face knowing that I was wearing 7 years worth of work for which an impoverished women from, say, China was paid a mere pittance.
There's nothing like your own, long, healthy hair and it's a damn shame that so many people can't scrape up the patience to grow their own.

Answer 3

There are a few different methods.....

One way is to do individual strands that are melded with heat onto your hair at the root.

Another way is to braid a section or the hair and have a whole section sewn in.

I think there is a gluing method too but I am not sure.

I have never had any myself so I dont know any further details but hopefully someone will and maybe this did help a little bit!

Answer 4

Each strand is 'pre-tipped' with a synthesized keratin protein that acts as a glue to bond the strands onto your hair. Heat may be used to bond, or 'melt' the glue, or some stylists use FastFusion technology, which uses air pressure to bond the hairs in faster time.

Answer 5

Hi,

hair extension is the proceed we stick fake hair to our original hair. It's using melt glue. firstly the fake hair is bundle into 1 small bundle and deep it into melt glue and stick it your original hair. and wait until the glue get cold and it's will be remain in your hair. there is some point that the glue will not stick again, it's around 6 month. and the fake hair will just drop. during that period you can wash and do many thing.

Cheers ~MS