Human hair extensions have become very popular and now everyone can have the beautiful hair they have always wanted. Hair extensions come in several different qualities and are also imported from several different origins. You will soon come to find that there are many options available to you when picking the hair extension that will fit your needs and budget. This can sometimes become quite confusing to the beginner or even the most experienced extension wearer.

Hopefully, we will be able to offer a little education as to the methods used to attach hair extensions and the different qualities available.

First, we will talk about the methods used to attach hair extensions. There are several application methods used, and the following are just a few of the most common and popular methods used worldwide.

Wefted extensions are sewn in, weaved in, braided in or bonded in. Wefted extensions are made either by machine or by hand depending on your preference. Machine made extensions come in a bundle on a continuous weft that can be cut for proper placement in your head.  The width of the weft can vary depending on the manufacturer, but should be aprox 50" wide. Hand made wefted extensions are tied and usually micro thin so they are barely visible when attached and less bulky to the touch. The hand made wefts do tend to be more costly then the machine made weft, since they are more intricate to make and are usually made with the higher quality hair.  Hand tied wefts should not be cut or they will unravel so they are made to be aprox 10" wide for proper placement in your head. The length of the hair, will usually determine how many hand tied wefts would come in a bundle. Wefted extensions will stay in securely for aprox 8 weeks if weaved or sewn in and aprox 3 to 4 weeks if bonded in.

Bulk extensions  have no weft and are usually braided in. They and can also be used to make your own pre-tipped extensions.

Pre-tipped extensions (pre-bonded extensions) are several hair strands held together at the tips by keratin glue.  They are used with the strand by strand application. There are several different tips used depending on the type of strand by strand application you will be using. The nail tip which is also known as the U tip is attached with the use of a fusion wand and is called the fusion method.  A small section of your ow hair is placed into the groove of the tip at the hairline, and the fusion wand is used to melt the glue at the tip which secures the extension to your own hair. This will provide the most secure hold and the extensions will stay in securely for aprox 2 to 3 months.   The shoelace tip which is also known as the I-tip is used with 2 different strand by strand applications. The first is called the micro links method. There is no heat or glue used with this application. The pre-tipped extensions are attached to your own hair using micro links or micro rings. Micro rings (links) look like small little beads with a whole in the center. The extension and a small section of your own hair is pulled through the link to the hairline and clamped closed. The micro links application will usually keep your extensions in securely for aprox 2 months.  The second method used with the I-tip extension is the shrink tube application.  A shrink tube is a small cylindrical flexible tube . The pre-tipped extension and a small section of your own hair is pulled through the tube to your hairline. A fusion wand is used by placing the positioned shrink tube into the fusion wand which melts the tube by shrinking it securing the extension to your hair. This is similar to the fusion method and is just another way to attach the pre-tipped extensions with a fusion wand using the I-tip instead of the U-tip. This method should also keep your extensions in securely for aprox 2 months. It is really a personal preference as to the method you choose.

Clip-in extensions are a quick way to have a new look without any permanent attachment. They are easy in/easy out and are great for a night out, vacation, event, etc. They snap into place in minutes and are also removable in minutes. If your own hair is very thin or very fine, clip-in extensions may not always stay in your hair very securely and they could slide a bit, so do keep that in mind.

These are the most common methods used to attach hair extensions. There are other methods that could be used, however, these are the most popular.

Now let us talk a bit about hair quality.

Remy Hair

Remy hair is truly the finest quality hair used in making hair extensions. It can also be called cuticle hair, unprocessed hair and sometimes even virgin hair. The hair is from one donor's cut off ponytail. This way all of the hairs can remain aligned in their natural growth pattern and the cuticles can be left in tact. What is Remy? I get asked that question quite often. Remy is not a hair manufacturer or a brand, it is just a name that is used to describe hair that has come from one donor with all hairs still aligned in their natural growth pattern, and all cuticles in tact. Remy hair can come from many different origins, some of the best being imported from Russia, Europe, Inda and Asia respectively.

Unlike other commercially sold hair extensions, which is the hair that you will find in your local beauty supply store, on web sites and even from many ebay sellers, Remy hair is created by using youthful hair and processing it in a way that maintains the shine and luster of your own hair while keeping the cuticles in tact. The cuticle is the outer protective coating of the hair. This promotes long life and manageability of the hair resulting in natural silky hair with highlights and shading just as your own hair has. Even though some remy hair may be processed with color, the hair will be left completely healthy shiny and beautiful. You may also find that the cost of remy hair varies depending on the origin of the hair. Treat this hair as you would your own. You can use a curling iron, hot rollers, flat iron, hair blower etc. Although you can color the hair, it is always best to try to get a color that will match your own since coloring the hair will reduce the life of the hair. If you have to color the hair, only use amonia free hair color and absolutely no products containing bleach. With proper care you will have many months of stunning hair wash after wash.

Non Remy Commercial Hair

As explained in the prior paragraph, this is the hair you will find readily available because of its economical pricing. Unfortunately when it comes to hair extensions, the saying is true, you do get what you pay for. This hair can look and feel beautiful when you first get it, very similar to the remy hair, however that quality will only last for a short while. Unlike remy hair, non remy hair is collected from many donors. The hairs collected are put into a big pile going in no particular direction.  Due to this reason the hairs can no longer be aligned in their natural growth pattern. Since the hairs are going in all different directions, the hair will get tangled and matted.  When cuticles are left on the hair and the hairs are no longer aligned, cuticles will cause hair to tangle. To avoid this problem, all of the hair cuticles are stripped in an acid bath and replaced with a silicone coating which brings back the shine and silkiness of the hair. This is only a temporary fix, because after several washings, the silicone coating will also wash off. You will then be left with raw processed hair that will begin to feel dry, brittle and unmanageable. It will start to tangle terribly and it will be time to get new extensions. If you are looking to wear extensions that are not overly costly, non remy hair is a good choice for short term use.

So in summary, you do have choices to make when it comes to picking the right extension to fit your lifestyle budget and needs. I hope you found this guide informative and it has been my pleasure to present it to you. I am always happy to answer any additional questions or concerns you may have regarding hair extensions.

You can contact me via my ebay store or send me an email to: SAMPOOK@HOTMAIL.COM. All emails will be replied to promptly.

Please visit my store front for a wide variety of human hair extensions and extension accessories.

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