Different types of Hair Extensions

There are so many types of hair extensions available on the market today. Although generally in the Hair Extensions industry in Ireland the same names are used regularly ie: bonds, microbeads or weave. If I could count the number of times I get the call for ‘how much are the bonds’. I don’t think many hair extension technicians or hair extension wearers have even touched on what is available out there. There is limited hair extensions training available on these shores, and I have never attended an Irish hair extension course and will be setting up my own courses in the coming months to fill this void of basic information. I obsessively research everything about hair extensions, total touch of the obessive complusive disorder when it comes to researching although it hasn’t yet been clinically diagnosed

Along with all the research I have trained with numerous companies around the world. I have been lucky enough to train with many talented hair extension technicians, whilst always on the look out for new and improved techiniques. I believe that being trained correctly by the designers of the products and the technicians with the correct methodolgy is why my hair extension career has been successful and trouble free. Over the years of research and training I have tried out every single method on the following list:

Clip-In – these come in various different types of styles ponytails, full head pieces, upstyles, volumizers to just name a few. These are great for occasional use although many women use these as a daily addition to their hair regime. They clip-in and out in minutes and can achieve some really great looking hair.

Bonding – bonding is a latex based glue which generally comes in a bottle. It can be used for on and off the weft for hair extensions. This type of glue can be difficult to remove from the hair (nightmare material!)

Keratin Fusion (strand by strand or prebonded) – ‘keratin’ is in fact a poylmer, plastic or glue based material which is used for heat sealing hair extensions on to the natural hair. It can be used with a glue gun or on prebonded hair extensions which are heat clamped into the hair.

Cold Fusion – is very similar to Keratin fusion although it is applied with an ultrasonic clamp which does not use any heat.

Weave – this is where natural hair is cornrowed then hair is attached on to the tracks by sewing.

Tree Braids – hair is pinched braided with extension hair to extend at the same time.

Microbeading – colour coated aluminum or copper beads are used to attach hair onto the natural hair

Tape – small weft type hair extensions which are applied with a sellotape (like) solution

Netting – this is used to create a flat base over cornrows

Integration – this can be a full head piece or a small hair piece which is integrated into the natural hair either clip-in or semi-permananent

Microchet - involves looping & tying the hair extension with a special attachement

Shrinkies/Shrink Links - these are a silcone type tube which require heat sealing

Brazilian Knots – this is where the hair is weaved and tied with elastic

Malaysian – a braidless weave-on

On this site you will wonder why I don’t use all of these techniques (The list is available here: www.issonni.ie/hair-extensions). I complied the collection that is used at Issonni by experience. Having applied thousands of heads of hair extensions over the past twenty years on various hair types, with the various methods. My preferred methods of hair extension were chosen based on the factors below, as they are an investment and should fit these requirements if they are to be successful:

1. Durability
2. Finished Results
3. How easy they are for the cleint to maintain
4. Budget Friendly – as all systems are 100% reuseable
5. Damage Free