Hair Extensions 101: Your Beginners Guide
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Hair extensions are a great way to transform your look. You can go from a bob in the morning to long, voluminous hair at night. Whether you just want to go glam for a special occasion, or make extensions part of your everyday life, there are a lot of options to choose from. Let’s walk through some of the different types and methods of hair extensions.
Synthetic vs. Human hair
Synthetic hair can often be the most affordable option for hair extensions. Synthetic hair is best for beginners who may just want to wear extensions occasionally. Note that it cannot be heat styled. Human hair comes in different grades, can be colored, and styled just like your real hair, and is better for those who want to wear extensions daily. It is also more expensive.
Clip-in Hair Extensions
Clip-in hair extensions are fast, easy to use, and are great for beginners who don’t want to commit. These extensions include clip-in bangs, ponytails, buns, and other pieces that add length and volume. Clip-ins come in different colors which makes it easier to match with your hair color. They’re also easy to remove.
Halo Extensions
Halo extensions provide length the whole way around and are applied to the crown of the head using a circular wire (like a halo). You then pull your natural hair up over the wire to hide it, and voila! Long, lush hair.
Sew-in
Sew-ins are for longer term wear and are typically sewn into natural hair after it has been braided into cornrows. While these are the longest lasting (up to a few months) and most seamless form of hair extension.
Tape-in Hair Extensions
Tape-ins are taped or glued into the hair, using an adhesive that is heated to seal the extension onto the natural hair. These need to be professionally removed to avoid damage to your hair. These last for about 6-8 weeks with proper care, and usually take more than an hour to apply.
Beaded Row Extensions
Beaded row extensions use no adhesive or heat to apply with small beads that are used to hold the natural hair and extension in place and the beads can be hidden if desired. This method minimizes damage and only uses a small amount of your natural hair, but again can take several hours to apply, depending on how many rows you want. These extensions give a full look to your hair and can last up to 10 weeks.
Check out Florida Academy’s Cosmetology Program
If you love learning about extensions and are thinking of a career in the beauty industry, the cosmetology training program at Florida Academy could be perfect for you!
Featuring small class sizes and hands-on training, this program is designed to meet the needs of every student. Whether you’re looking to pursue a new career or get more training, the cosmetology program at Florida Academy will help put you on the path to a career in the beauty industry. Apply Now