Extension process from consultation to removal
Get the long luscious locks you have always dreamt of at a fraction of the prices salons charge! You will look and feel 100% sexy with your new extensions and wonder why you hadn't had them done sooner!
I am always available if you have any questions and I promise you the service I provide is amongst the best available. My service includes exactly the same as the service salons charge £300+ for..
I have clients who travel from London, Wales, Cumbria, Birmingham, Southend, Cornwall, and many other places. A few of my clients even fly down from Scotland and get a ferry across from Ireland!
Nearly all of my clients return to me as they prefer my service to salon services as the quality is the same or better and A LOT cheaper! Most of my clients also prefer my extensions to well know brands such as Raccoon and Great Lengths. I also have a full photo portfolio and comments book available if you require to see my work and what clients thought to their extensions, and further comments can be seen on my facebook group ‘Rapunzel hair extensions’
The materials, hair and method I use are all the best I have been able to provide in over four years of experience for a reasonable price.
I will now run you through the process of hair extensions from consultation to removal.
1. Consultation
Your consultation is totally free (unless a travel cost applies) and will consist of a colour match and general chat on how the extensions are to be applied, the colour match will be done using a colour ring. If you live too far away to come for a consultation you can send a sample of hair to me instead (send a good pinch from as high up your head as possible as this is the hair which covers the extensions, many people's hair is naturally darker underneath due to exposure etc.. (Sample must be at least 2" long) A decision will be made on the amount of colours, if any effects are required eg streaking, highlighting and the length of hair which is to be applied. A £30 deposit will also be taken at this time if you decide to book a fitting, the remaining balance can be paid on the day. You may also ask any questions you have during this time. Remember you can always contact me afterwards if you have any other questions.
To give yourself an idea of the length you may require - get a tape measure and measure from the top of your neck where your hairline begins down to the required length. Then add 1" to this length. I will of course show the different lengths during the consultation.
2. Colours and length
I specialise in mixing colours and can create ANY colour or look that is required. Many colours can be used, they can be mixed to create a colour, added in certain places to create a block of colour, added as highlights or streaks and many other possibilities. I can even create colours which
are not supplied!' A range of lengths from 15-24" are available I will not fit extensions to hair which is very short. Beware of salons which will do this as although it is easily possible it does not look at all natural. I am only happy when my clients hair looks perfect and this is not possible with short hair. Ideally hair needs to be long enough to put in a pony tail, even if its a short stubby one. If hair is bluntly cut at the bottom or bobbed it helps if the hair is layered beforehand to create a totally natural finish.
You may have colours added your hair which you do not have in your own hair, I often have black underneath and my own hair is all blonde. Streaks of colour can also be added but bear in mind that if this is the case some streaks may need to be put in higher up to show through your existing hair colour. Extensions are also often added just to thicken hair and add volume.
3. Hair Type
The hair I use is 100%, human hair and cuticle correct (remi). It is of excellent quality, the best I have been able to get in over four years experience. Feel free to ask for a sample of my hair before deciding so you can see for yourself, a lot of salons use cheap, wire like asian hair which is of very bad quality and costs them next to nothing and will dry out after one wash as it is silicone coated to improve the feel of it when bought, once the silicone washes off the hair will go dry and will easily knot up.
The people whom the hair is from are not in any way exploited or cheated. Asian hair grows up to 4 times faster than our own and so is not such a hardship to grow, the hair is then given to temples and places of worship The temples etc sell the hair to people such as ourselves and the proceeds are put back in to the religion, Jamelia once did a documentary on this fact.
The hair I use normally has a natural wave to it once washed for the first time which a lot of people choose to leave, it can however be straightened out easily.
4. Preparation
Please come to me with your hair in its usual parting, washed and straightened if possible, even if your own hair has a natural wave as the hair is applied straight and it helps me to see where extensions are needed. Also try to wear a t-shirt or similar, not a hoodie or anything which will not allow extensions to hang straight down your back. You can use conditioner on your hair the morning before you have extensions fitted as long as it is washed out properly and no other after products (greasy serums etc) are used.
Layers cut into your hair before fitting can make the extensions look, and blend better, avoid having extensions put into hair which has a blunt cut finish as mentioned above as a softer, layered cut will enable better blending, although I can create a totally natural look with any style it is more difficult with bobbed, bluntly cut hair . It is also good to have any split ends cut as it will enable your own hair to lay better over the extensions. Ensure that your hair is the same colour from root to tip as some people have a lighter tone to the ends of their hair due to past dying and damage, streaks etc are fine but it is fairly important that the extension hair matches the ends of your hair as this is the hair which lays over the extensions so if the root of your hair is different to the tip then it is very hard to match colours correctly.
5. Fitting
There are many ways of fitting extensions, the method I use is most commonly used and seems to be the best and most popular method of attachment.
Firstly I'll run you through a method I don't use. I will do this as when people see advertisements for cheap hair extensions they think it is a bargain. The method involves fitting hair in on a weft. Extension hair often comes in a bag sewn on a weft, in this case instead of cutting it from the weft and applying it bond by bond the hair is glued in on the weft using either a latex glue or a glue called 'liquid gold'. It looks fine at first but it will start to fall out after one wash, the reason it is so cheap is that it only takes around half an hour to apply and the salons make double their money back re-applying every time the hair is washed. This method is great for a quick fix occasion such as a wedding or similar but don't expect it to last!
My Method:
The fitting of 'hot bonded' extensions can take between 3 and 7 hours in a salon as they take un-necessary measures to make it seem like it is worth the money you are paying. I do not drag it out over 7 hours. As this is my only occupation and I can do up to 2 full heads per day I am a lot faster than salons who will maybe only fit extensions once a week. My extensions take between 3 and 4 hours, depending on the thickness of your own hair. They should last between 3-4 months depending on how often they are maintained and how well they are looked after.
The extensions are applied using hot melted glue with a specially designed hair extension glue gun which forms a small bond around your own hair and the extension hair, each bond is around 1cm long and 2mm wide (see photos) this is a very important factor when having extensions done because if the bonds are bigger than this they will be seen and they will make the extensions bumpy and heavy instead of laying flat (extension bonds should rarely be seen once fitted), they will also put too much strain on your own root.
Hair is left around the hairline as when hair is put in a ponytail this hair covers the bonds around the edge, if you are having extensions fitted for your wedding please show me a picture of the style you will have on the day as the bonds may need fitting in different places so that they wont be seen. There can be up to 500 bonds applied in a full head. The only way bonds may be seen is if the hair is given an un natural parting.
I also use the colour glue which best matches your own hair. eg black glue for black hair and clear glue for blonde hair (most salons use an amber glue for any colour which can often show up)
When extensions are completed in some cases depending on the style of your own hair it helps to razor the ends to blend better, this just consists of using a razor comb to snip the last couple of cm of your own hair. if you do not wish for this to be done then just let me know as I always ask first! Bear in mind by the time you come to remove your extensions that couple of cm will have grown back, many people find that the extensions actually help their hair to grow! I will also feather down the front of the extensions if required to blend so you don't look like Morticia Adams or Cher with a block style hair cut!
6. Maintenance
You may require one or two maintenance sessions during the time your extensions are in depending on how long you choose to keep them in and how well extensions are looked after. You should not lose many bonds at all although hair will thin over a while due to brushing, washing etc. I will always use new hair during maintenance and will cover the ins and outs in the maintenance sheets. Maintenance is usually needed after 6-8 weeks and generally takes between 1-2 hours at the very most depending on how well they have been looked after and how long they are left before maintenance. Most people only have one maintenance session and then remove the extensions after 3-4 months.
7. Removal
Bonds are removed using a bond removing solution which is sprayed on each individual bond and crushed with salon pliers until it breaks up and falls out, when all bonds are out the hair is combed through to get rid of any residue. Your hair will need washing after to completely wash out any bits of glue. I can remove and fit hair on the same day if required, many clients who travel a long distance find this a good option.
8. General
Hair can be straightened, curled, blow dried, cut, dyed ( ask me for some some spare hair and do a strand test first) Basically anything you do to your own hair you can do to your extensions!
Please note - The less stress put on the bonds through all of the above the better.
Half a head can be applied but this only looks good if your own hair is very very fine or has a mullet style cut, it only consists of 3-4 rows along the bottom and 3 rows up the sides. It is not literally half of your head which many people think, a full head tends to be between 1" and 2" from your middle parting so half a head would be approx half of this. I do not like doing half heads as often it does not look right so be sure that this is definitely going to be enough before going ahead.
I will advise you upon consultation whether it is suitable but if I do not see you before fitting please be 100% sure it will be sufficient as I don't like my clients hair to look less than perfect! In some cases to lengthen a fringe extensions will need to be put in very high up and far forward on your head as this is the part of your hair which your fringe grows from, it is not always possible to lengthen a whole fringe. Most salons wont even attempt to lengthen a fringe at all.
It is not advisable to fit hair to women in late pregnancy or straight after birth due to hormonal hair loss so please be aware of this, also if you have had or are having any treatment which may cause any kind of hair loss or affect your scalp or hair in any way then it is not advisable to have extensions. If either of these apply or think there is any other reason why you may not be able to have extensions then please let me know as I can not be held responsible for any problems arising from any previous problems or anything mentioned above.