Hair Salon Blog: Essential Hair Care Tips and Insights

Hair extensions are a fun, affordable way to change your look overnight. They are taking over the hair styling industry, from celebrities to Instagram influencers. Despite their popularity, however, they are relatively new to the mainstream—and, unsurprisingly, people will make mistakes when wearing and applying them. These, then, are the eight most common hair extension mistakes and how to avoid them.

Mistake No. 1: Choosing the Wrong Length for Your Hair Extensions

Getting hair extensions with the longest length in the store can be tempting, especially if you have short hair and are looking for a long, luxurious look. However, experts recommend choosing hair extensions that aren’t much longer than your actual hair length, allowing for seamless blending and a more natural look.

Mistake No. 2: Choosing the Wrong Color for Your Hair Extensions

It may seem like a “common sense” sentiment, but getting a hair extension that is as close to your natural color as possible is essential. Professional stylists can always dye human hair extensions but cannot perform miracles. Don’t get blond extensions, for example, if you have black or brown hair, and vice versa.

Some exceptions include if you’re looking for a drastic natural change or going to a costume party. Consult with your hairstylist about your options before making a drastic change, however.

Mistake No. 3: Not Taking Your Lifestyle into Account When Applying Hair Extensions

Active lifestyles—such as those enjoyed by athletes or other on-the-go professionals—frequently involve getting semi-permanent hair extensions installed. This leaves the extensions vulnerable to the elements and gives them a “ratty” appearance long before their time.

Consult with your stylist about your lifestyle to determine which type of hair extensions are right for you.

Mistake No. 4: Installing Cheap Hair Extensions

When it comes to hair extensions, you get what you pay for. You may think you’re saving money by spending mere pennies on the dollar on your hair extensions or buying them from a drop shipper or a foreign online store. However, you’ll need to buy more low-quality extensions to get the same result as fewer, higher-quality extensions.

Quality, not quantity, is the rule regarding hair extensions. Sometimes, spending just a little bit extra goes a long way.

Mistake No. 5: Putting Clip-In Hair Extensions Too High on the Crown of Your Head

If you’re choosing clip-in hair extensions, a common mistake is putting them high on your head’s crown. Professional stylists, however, recommend not applying clip-in hair extensions any higher than the height of your eyebrows, which sit below the crown of your head. This allows for easy, more natural application of clip-ins and will make the installation look natural.

Mistake No. 6: Washing Your Hair Too Soon After Installing Your Hair Extensions

People who wash their hair every day may be tempted to wash their hair immediately after a hair extension application. However, this practice can damage the hair extension and even cause it to come out.

Instead, wait at least 72 hours before washing your hair. This will allow your extensions—especially if they are taped in—to “cure” in your head, making them less likely to fall out during a washing.

Additionally, be sure to wash your hair before installing your hair extensions, but do not put in a conditioner—leave-in or otherwise—as the oils can compromise the integrity of the hair extension adhesive.

Mistake No. 7: Using the Wrong Products to Care for Your Hair Extensions

Hair extensions are just like “regular” human hair: they are subject to breakage and damage, mainly when you use the wrong products. Consult your stylist to see which products best suit your hair style and texture.

Mistake No. 8: Not Getting Therapy Hair Studios to Install Your Hair Extensions

If this is your first time getting hair extensions, you may want to do it yourself – or with the help of an enterprising friend – to save some money. However, regarding hair care, the adage “you get what you pay for” rings true – and not paying for a professional hair extension installation will cost you more than just money in the long run.

Visiting Therapy Hair Studio in Houston for hair extensions will help you feel beautiful, vibrant, and confident. Since 2008, we’ve been helping thousands of customers feel their best with our caring, individual approach to hair care. Contact us today to schedule your appointment at our Houston hair extensions salon and get the look you’ve been after.

Celebrities, models, and influencers always have their hair decked out in the finest extensions. So, it’s no surprise that hair extensions have also become popular amongst regular people. Stylists can add extensions to short hair, but there are some minimum requirements that haircare professionals recommend. But how long does your hair have to be to get extensions? It depends on the type of extensions you’re considering.

Hair Extensions: What Are They?

There are two types of hair extensions: those made from human hair and those made from synthetic materials.

Human hair extensions are manufactured from human hair donated or sold to the manufacturing company. They can last up to a year and have all the elements of human hair. They can be heat styled, dyed to a preferred color, and even washed like a regular head of hair. Human hair extensions, however, are a bit more expensive than their synthetic counterparts.

Synthetic hair extensions, meanwhile, are made from synthetic materials like acrylic, nylon, or polyester. They are processed to look like human hair but cannot be heat-styled, dyed to a preferred color, or washed like regular human hair. While synthetic hair extensions are less expensive than human hair counterparts, they can also look “cheap” depending on the manufacturer, upkeep, or style.

How to Apply Hair Extensions

There are several ways to apply hair extensions:

• Sew-in/Weave is the most popular type of hair extension in the Black community. Stylists can easily twist these extensions into ethnic styles such as cornrows, Bantu knots, and box braids. Sew-in/weave applications require at least six inches of the client’s normal hair for best results.
• Microlink/Microbead hair extension application requires extensive professional skills. It involves using metal or silicone beads to apply hair extensions to natural hair. This process requires at least four inches of the client’s normal hair for best results.
• Tape-in hair extension application only requires four inches of the client’s normal hair. This method, as its name suggests, “tapes” the extension to the base of the client’s head. However, this method requires that the client have enough hair at the base of the head to cover the tape used in the extension, so it looks “natural.”
• Clip-in hair extensions are the most flexible method when it comes to hair length. A client’s hair only needs to be 3 or 4 inches long to deploy the clip-in method, which is temporary by design. These extensions are removed after the evening out and are not usually left in the head for more than 24 hours.

Which Extensions Are Best for Your Hair Type?

Each hair extension application method is different and, as such, best suited to different hair types. Microlink/microbead extensions and clip-in extensions are both very versatile and can be used on all hair types. However, sew-in/weave hair extensions are best for thick and coarse hair, while tape-in hair extensions are best for thin to medium-density hair.

It’s essential to get a hair extension that compliments your natural hair. For example, don’t get a synthetic blonde hair extension if you have dark curly hair. Bear in mind, too, that wearing hair extensions for an extended period can damage your hair, so always consult a hair care professional before putting them in. Ensure you understand what’s involved with adequately caring for the extensions so they can last longer while leaving your hair looking full and healthy.

Finally, remove your hair extensions immediately if you experience irritation, inflammation, or any other negative side effect that causes you pain or discomfort. Hair extensions are supposed to make you feel beautiful, not unhappy!

Other Short Hair Considerations 

Installing hair extensions can be difficult for clients with hair shorter than 4 inches, but it is not impossible.

Some stylists opt for a “mesh” system of hair extension installation designed for shorter hair. Other stylists, however, modify the micro link/microbead method, tailoring it specifically for shorter hair.

Regardless of which method you choose to install your hair extensions, it is of the utmost importance to make the installation look natural so you can look, and feel, beautiful at all times.

Get Your High-Quality Hair Extensions at Therapy Hair Studio

Located in the heart of Houston’s Galleria district, Therapy Hair Studio offers its clients the best hair extensions. Since 2008, the talented stylists at Therapy Hair Studio have delighted thousands of customers with their expert approach to hair care and unique way of making each client feel like a million bucks without spending a million bucks, and we can’t wait to add you to our list of satisfied clients. Contact us today and discover what Houston’s hair extensions salon has to offer.

Today’s hair extensions have come a long way from yesteryear’s offerings. Customers who get hair extensions report that the results yield far more natural results than ever.

But nothing lasts forever – not even hair extensions. So, how often do hair extensions need to be replaced?

Hair Extensions: Repair and Replacement

Like human hair, hair extensions need proper maintenance to look clean, neat, and well-groomed. While synthetic hair extensions will only last a few months, human hair extensions will last up to one year if properly maintained.

However, inserting hair extensions will also determine how long they should stay in your head. Clip-in hair extensions, for example, are designed to be temporary and should be removed almost immediately after use. Tape-ins, meanwhile, should be “moved up” or re-taped every six weeks.

Talk to your stylist if you’re not sure if your hair extensions need repair or replacement.

Signs It’s Time to Replace Your Extensions

Sometimes, you won’t need a stylist to tell you that your hair extensions must be repaired or replaced. Here are some obvious signs that your hair extensions have worn out their welcome on your head:

Your Hair Is Dry and Frizzy

Dry, frizzy hair is a sign that you’ve overexposed your hair and extensions to too much damage from harmful styling products, excessive heat from a hair dryer, and other harsh elements. If you’ve tried everything from a deep condition to a hair mask but still can’t get your hair extensions to look right, it’s time to get them repaired or replaced.

Your Hair Extensions Are More Than Nine Months Old

If you get human hair extensions, they can last up to a year if they’re well cared for. However, hair extensions can rarely last for the entire year, and you should consider getting them replaced at around the nine-month mark for this reason. This is especially true if you don’t properly brush your extensions with a boar or nylon bristle brush.

Your Hair Is Looking Brassy and Dull

Hair extensions are dyed to resemble your hair color but with a powerful coloring that is not applied to human hair for durability purposes. However, even the most potent dyes can and will fade over time. As the color fades, the hair extensions will begin looking brassy and dull. When this happens, not even the best dyes will “bring it back to life,” and it’s best to get them replaced.

Your Hair Extensions Start Getting Easily Tangled

When hair extensions have been in your head too long, they are no longer easily styled. Instead, they start getting easily tangled and matting on your head, making you look messy despite your best efforts. When extensions get tangled and matted easily, it’s time to replace them.

Your Hair Is Getting Coarse

Your natural hair will always have a bit of oiliness because your sebaceous glands will keep it moisturized. This is not the case with hair extensions – your “hair oils” will not penetrate them, no matter how hard you try. If your hair starts getting coarse because it lacks its essential oils, it’s because your hair extensions need replacement.

You Start “Shedding”

Over time, even the best-maintained hair extensions will begin “shedding” (falling out of your head in strands or clumps). This will especially be true if this “shedding” is accompanied by split ends. When your hair starts shedding, and that split ends accompanying shedding, it’s time to replace your extensions.

Other Things to Consider with Hair Extensions

There are other things to consider when getting hair extensions. First, be sure to get the right extensions for your lifestyle. If you live an active lifestyle, get semi-permanent or permanent extensions (like the tape-ins) rather than temporary (like the clip-ins).

You should also ask a professional about proper care. Hair extensions require specific care, from the types of products used to the particular brush needed for proper maintenance. Don’t just “wing it” – and don’t do the same thing to your “real” hair as your extensions. Sit with your hair care professional and discuss how to care for your extensions so they last as long as possible.

Above all else, do not trust your hair extension installation to an amateur. Let the experts at Therapy Hair Studio help you. Since 2008, we have been serving the greater Houston area and assisting people to look and feel their most beautiful. Contact us today to get the best hair extensions you’ve ever had!