Hair Salon Blog: Essential Hair Care Tips and Insights

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. For best results, sew-in/weave applications require at least six inches of the client’s normal hair.
• 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 for hair length. A client’s hair must only 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 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. Remember 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 that the installation looks natural so that you can always look and feel beautiful.

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 at (713) 355-4247 and discover what Houston’s hair extensions salon offers.

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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 at (713) 355-4247 to get the best hair extensions you’ve ever had!

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10 Winter Hair Care Tips to Keep Your Hair Healthy

Winter is here, so the weather is colder, the nights come sooner, and your hair will likely get dry and brittle. If your hair is already dry or prone to breakage, you may panic about caring for it during the colder months. Fortunately, we’ve got you covered. Here’s Therapy Hair Studio’s list of 10 invaluable winter hair care tips to keep your hair healthy this season and year.

Moisturize, Moisturize, Moisturize

Winter air is arid and crisp, leaving even the healthiest hair feeling dry and brittle. Regularly moisturizing your hair with an argan oil-based product will protect your hair from the harshest of the elements. You can also use a lightweight post-shampoo conditioner as a leave-in after your shower (make sure it isn’t too heavy, or your hair will look oily) and apply your favorite hair oil to the tips when you feel your ends splitting.

Don’t Go Out with Wet Hair

In today’s grab-and-go world, it’s easy to rush out of the house with wet hair as you make your way to work while beating the rush-hour traffic. But going out with damp hair during winter will leave it vulnerable to freezing and breaking. While air-drying your hair is always best, you can set your dryer to low heat before heading out the door.

Wear a Hat or Scarf

Hats and scarves are your best friends during the chilly winter months. Not only will they keep your head warm, but they will go a long way in keeping your hair protected. Hats work best for fine, thin hair, while scarves lock in moisture for thick, coarse, and curly hair. You can even style your hair in a braid or a bun and tuck it under the hat or scarf for extra protection.

Don’t Wash Your Hair Every Day

We get it: washing your hair makes you look and feel good. But unless you lead a very active lifestyle that drenches your hair in sweat, cleaning it daily will strip it of the protective oils that keep it moisturized and protected from the elements. During the winter months, your hair needs all the moisture it can get, so try washing it only once or twice a week, depending on your hair type and texture.

Don’t Blast Your Hair with Hot Water

On the days that you wash your hair, don’t use piping hot water. Hot water strips your hair of protective oils and moisture, leaving it looking dry and brittle even after thorough washing. Instead, rinse your hair with room temperature or cold water to lock in the moisture and keep it looking clean and neat.

Start Doing a Weekly Hair Mask

During the winter months, scheduling a weekly hair mask will go a long way in keeping your hair moisturized. Doing a weekly hair mask will reverse the damage that the extreme cold (and heat from styling) can wreak on your hair over time. Imagine having something that can “wash away all the sins” of your hair styling past!

Schedule Regular Trims

You don’t have to cut your hair every week or every other week to make it look stylish and neat. But getting a regular trim, where no more than one or two inches are snipped off the bottom to eliminate “split ends,” will go a long way in keeping your hair looking great during the harsh winter months.

Invest in a Humidifier

Cold air is arid, and the air, by design, needs to leech its moisture from somewhere. Your hair, therefore, becomes an easy target. Avoid this by investing in a humidifier for indoor air. This will keep moisture in the air and your hair.

Eat a Balanced Diet

Good-looking hair isn’t just about what’s on the outside – it’s about what’s on the inside, too. Your hair will never be healthy and quenched if you don’t eat a healthy, well-balanced, predominantly plant-based diet.

Don’t Brush Your Wet Hair

Finally, but no less important, don’t brush or style your hair while wet. Doing so will leave it prone to breakage, flyaways, and dryness, especially in winter. For more winter hair care tips, follow these simple steps.

If you’ve found it impossible to keep your hair moisturized and healthy in the winter months, let the hair care experts at Therapy Hair Studio help. We’ve been serving the greater Houston area since 2008 and have helped hundreds of clients get the hair of their dreams. Contact us today at (713) 355-4247 and discover why we’re Houston’s premier hair care specialists.

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