Pre-glued, pre-tipped, pre-bonded fusion or wefted remy human hair extensions are hot now. Fusion heat wand, basic fusion, microlink or sew/glued in weaving, it doesn't matter the method - they are in high demand! After 19 years in the industry we get asked the same questions over and over. One of the big ones is "How do I tip my own hair extensions?" This guide will explain how to do this process, how to work with this hair and what candidate should try it. As with anything, individual results will vary and you should check with the company you purchased hair fromfor any removal information or specific products necessary to their product. These tips work wonderfully with our products and many others. If you have more specific questions, you can contact us through our Not Just Wigs Storefront and we will be happy to assist you.

Why Should You Tip Your Own Hair Extensions

You may wonder why would you want to put in the time to tip your own hair when there are many options to purchase it already tipped. There are a few reasons. One is that you want a specific and custom color to match your own, and no company carries one you like. A second reason would be length, most companies only sell tipped hair up to 22". Some slients are looking for 26" and longer which is very difficult to find. When you tip your own extension, you have the ability to pick any color, style or length hair you desire. And the last reason I hear often is preference. Many of my customers have fallen in love with a certain type of weaving/bulk hair- be it human or synthetic. They don't want to compromise and accept what is available in factory tipped hair. By tipping their own hair extension they don't have to. They can have the hair they love and still use the strand-by-strand process they want. Tipping hair is time consuming, but worth it for the right person. Read on to see if this is the process for you.

Working with Pre-Tipped Hair Extensions

Once you have tipped your own hair extension, the way you apply it to your own head will depend upon how much keratin adhesive you put on the tip itself. If you are attaching the hair via microlink, basic fusion or contracting (shrink) links you will only need a small amount of adhesive to keep the hair together and manageable. If using a fusion heat wand process, you will need more adhesive on the tip to maintain the bond throughout your hair AND the extension hair.

You may find it necessary to split the tip of pre-tipped hair to make it fit into the microlinks. Since all of the pre-tipped hair is made by hand, every batch will be different from the last. If the tip does not fit easily into the link, simply split it in half using sharp scissors or a razor blade knife. Then work as usual.

Making your Own Pre-Tipeed Hair Extensions

Making  your own pre-tipped hair extensions is quite easy and you will need the following supplies. I make the pre-tipped hair the day before I am applying it to shorten the time the client is sitting in the chair.

You will need:

• Parchment Paper
• Keratin Fusion Glue Sticks ($9.99 for a pack of 10)
• Fusion Melting Pot ($17.99)
• Fusion Finger Guards ($9.99 for a set of 3)
• Scissors
• Hair of your choice, either human or synthetic

1. Spread the parchment paper out on the table. You will use this to lay the extensions out as you make them. The parchment prevents them from sticking as they dry.
2. Break the glue sticks into smaller pieces to fit into the fusion melting pot. Melt the glue. Cut tiny bundles from the hair weaving, or small bundles from bulk hair. When using bulk hair, we suggest keeping the hair together with a band to keep it from going all over your work surface or from tangling.
3. Dip the first 3/4 inch of the hair into the melted glue and quickly roll between your fingers into a point. Lay the extension bundles onto the parchment paper to dry. You will need to make approximately 200 to 250 strands to complete a full head of extensions.

While this may seem like a lot of work, you will get the hang of it very quickly. We hope this has helped you. If you need anything else, check out Not Just Wigs Storefront!

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