Various Types of Hair Extensions - What To Know

These lengths of synthetic or real hair are attached closely to your scalp. The purpose is to add thickness and/or length to your natural hair. When you go into a hair extensions shop or beauty shop to have these added, you will find that there is a variety of different types of hair extensions to choose from. You will not only have different ones to choose from but also the texture, color, length, and style. One thing to note is that real hair extensions are the more expensive of the two choices. Synthetic hair extensions are also harder to style.

Clip-on

This one does not usually require that you go to a hair extensions salon to have it done. It is the most basic type because all you have to do is clip them onto your own hair. If you want to have them dyed closer to your own natural hair you may want to have a professional do this so you can get a better match. This extension will generally only last for a day or night but you can use them as many times as you want.

Weaving

You can also have them sewn into your hair by a professional. Your natural hair is braided into light cornrows, as close to your scalp as they can get with the weft sewn into these braids. This is a process that can take a long time to do and can be a painful experience. It is also one of the more expensive forms found in the market. The up side is that it can last a long time.

Bonding

These will usually involve a long weft of hair, with track that can be as much as six inches long. The professional stylist will apply an adhesive to the roots of your hair before applying the extension. It is quick to do but normally does not last as long as other means of hair extensions. It is also referred to as gluing.

Shrink and micro links

For long-lasting hair extensions, you can have keratin tubing or metal rings added to your natural hair. Your hair will be attached to a mall tube or ring clamped onto pieces of your hair. The damage to your hair is minimal and there are not solvents or adhesives used that could irritate sensitive skin making this a popular method to use. The drawbacks are they can be hard to remove, they can loosen after a few washings causing some of the strands to be released, and add additional weight to your hair. This is not a process that is recommended if you have fine hair.