Fusion Hair Extensions
Hair extensions can be attached to your head in many different ways, including gluing, tubing, sewing, and clipping on. Different methods have different advantages. The method you choose will depend on many factors: your hair, your lifestyle, your budget, and your needs, for starters. If you are looking for a long-lasting, natural-looking hair extension, though, consider one of the fusion methods.
Fusion is generally the preferred method as fused hair extensions can last up to three to six months with skilled application and proper care. With fusion hair extensions, the extensions should be indistinguishable from your natural hair. If properly applied, the attachment site should be virtually invisible.
Fusion hair extensions can be applied in different ways: hot or cold fusion. Hot fusion or bonding uses hot glue to attach extensions to your hair. This is the more traditional method. While it does have many happy followers, others say that the glue causes the extensions to feel stiff and unnatural. These extensions can last up to 4 months.
Cold fusion is a new method, and is meant to be gentle for the hair. This method uses a keratin-based polymer to attach extensions to the root. As this method uses no heat, it is good for fine or thin hair. The polymer offers more flexibility than hot-glue, and results in more natural-feeling hair. For cold fusion hair extensions, many hairdressers use SoCap extensions and a clear bond. These extensions can last up to six months.
Fusion hair extensions are more expensive than other methods. If you want long-lasting, natural-looking luscious hair, they just might be the extensions for you
Thermal Bonding
What is Thermal Bonding?
Thermal Bonding, often referred to as ‘micro-bonding’, is a popular method of applying extension hair to clients of European or Caucasian origin. It can be used to add highlight strands, increase volume and length.
The benefits of bonding are that it allows you to run your fingers straight through your hair giving an effect of ‘free flowing’ hair. Thermal Bonding is considered suitable for most hair types excluding extremely thick, course or brittle hair.
Suitability
Thermal Bonding may be considered unsuitable by myself if your hair is over-processed through chemical treatments such as bleaching, perms or relaxing/straightening, all of which can make the hair brittle, or if it has been damaged due to medical problems.
An initial consultation will determine which length of hair to go for and how much you will need depending on your requirements - whether this be to add volume, create highlights or lowlights, or to add length.
The Process
This method attaches a few strands of hair at a time to the natural hair, close to the scalp but not touching it, using a special hot resin formula.
Particularly for Thermal Bonding, there should be no traces of oils, moisturisers, gel or mousses on the hair, as this will soften the resin sealant that is used to attach extensions and will cause the seals to break, so I will wash your hair prior to application.
Once clean and dry, the natural hair will be sectioned and a few strands will be taken at a time to which the extension hair will be attached. A resin seal is heated normally using a tool such as a ‘connector’, ‘glue gun’ or ‘hot pot’. Once melted it is used to attach the extension hair to the natural hair, close to the scalp but not touching it (normally upto 1cm away). During the application process, a plastic protector is used to ensure that the melted resin does not touch the scalp.
Caring for Thermal Bonded Hair Extensions
If 100% human hair is used, you can style your hair with heated straighteners and tongs and with a hair dryer. However, direct heat should NOT be applied to the bonded parts, close to the scalp, when blow-drying or using any other heated styling appliances, as this will make the resin seal melt and cause the bonded hair to fall out.
Thermal Bonded extensions require regular brushing for a tidy appearance. It is recommended that you use special Ionic brushes to diminish static from your extensions or a wide-tooth comb to eliminate entanglement that can be caused by ordinary hair brushes.
Any oil based hair products should be avoided as these will cause a ‘barrier’ and stop the extension hair from becoming securely bonded to the natural hair. Your technician will advise you on particular products that may be best for your new extensions depending on which brand of hair they have used.
MICRO RING STRAND
Very similar to Thermal Bonding but without any resin or glue, a few strands of extension hair are attached at a time using a small ring – the Micro Ring – which is clamped to tightly hold the extension hair to the natural hair.
The Micro Ring method originated in Japan in 1992. However, by 1994 the method was abandoned by hundreds of salons due to a problem with rusting rings. The original material that the rings were made of was copper or similar that, after washing, would rust, causing allergies and hair breakage on removal.
Today, Micro Ring technology has advanced considerably. Re-developed using different materials the problem of rusting has been eliminated and application removal by trained technicians is perfectly safe.
Suitability
People that enjoy the free-flowing effect delivered by attaching a few extension strands at a time may find the Micro Ring suitable. Also those that have come across Thermal Bonding but are not comfortable with the idea of glue or resin seals, will find that the Micro Ring is a superb ‘Green’ alternative that offers the same results.
The Micro Ring method is suitable for all European and Asian hair types although it is not recommended for use on hair that has been overly processed, is brittle or on Afro hair.
The Process
A few strands of extension hair along with the client’s natural hair is crocheted through the Micro Ring using a small latch-hook or wire eye instrument . The ring is then closed flat using a ‘connector/disconnector’, sealing the extension and natural hair together.
The rings are compact and flat and are usually a colour that matches the hair too (i.e. Brown rings would be used to attach brown hair to keep the extension connection as hidden & unnoticeable as possible). They lie flat and can be less bulky than some thermal resin bonds. Micro Rings come in up to five sizes. Normally a medium size ring is used on ‘normal’ hair. Thicker hair may use large size rings. Smaller rings may be used closer to the hair line or fringe or on thinner hair.
Micro Rings, like Thermal Bonded extensions, will last 3 months, however you should expect a few to fall out during this time. It is advised that you replace or remove your Micro Ring extensions after 8-10 weeks to keep them in their best condition and to stop them from becoming visible as the natural hair continues to grow.
It is important to get your Micro Rings removed by myself or another qualified technician as trying to pull them out yourself can cause hair breakage. Proper removal is very quick, easy and leaves minimal damage to your own hair.
Caring for Micro Ring Extensions
It is recommended that you wash the ring extensions once to twice a week at most. Suitable shampoos and conditioners should be used during the time you wear the extension hair - your extension stylist should be able to advise you on the correct cleansers. Unlike with Thermal Bonded extensions, you can use conditioner near the ring attachments close to your scalp as it does not affect the rings. However, you must ensure you rinse this out thoroughly as conditioner can cause clogging at the attachment point.
As long as the extension hair used is 100% human, you may use heated appliances to curl or straighten the hair as you please.
Volumiser/weave/mesh system
This technique is widely used by all hair replacement clinics and has been featured on ten years younger the television make over programme. This method of hair replacement uses a fine mesh, hair extensions and hair pieces to create a full head of hair on clients who have severe hair loss. The technique can be used for a full head of hair replacement, or for clients who have thinning hair in the frontal and crown areas of the head.
My hair systems are virtually undetectable to sight and touch and are manufactured with the finest Russian and Indian virgin hair making this a one of a kind hair system.
With my hair systems you can recreate a natural looking hairline as our units create the flawless illusion of hair growing directly out of the scalp. The hair in the front is graduated in density and all the knots are bleached out, so the hair and the base become undetectable. The base has that great skin tone, so you can't tell it's not your scalp.
All my custom made hair systems are designed in accordance to your specifications such that I custom tailor a system to fill in your alopecia areas. These patches are great because they are made of a thin, skin like membrane. The human hair is hand tied to the membrane in the direction you choose so it flows and falls as natural as your own hair. Patches can be designed in a specific shape to fit a specific spot, or can be made in sheet with a gentle contour, which you can then cut to size.
My smallest, lightly-textured, custom made integration hairpieces can do wonders for your hairstyle in areas of thinness. These pieces are made using a few rows of thin hair wefts, with spaces between each row that allow you to pull your own hair through, creating a natural, fuller look, right where you need it. These pieces are not intended to cover up your hair. They are designed to blend in with your own hair, offering volume and height. This kind of pieces are ideal for women with soft, fine hair of their own who want a light textured hairpiece that will look natural when worn.
Volumiser - 'As seen on TV' My Unique Volumiser has been especially designed as a hair loss solution for women with hair loss or hair loss patches.
How Does It work?
The Volumiser treatment is created by combining a fine material lace and human hair with a complex addition method making it a great solution to female hair loss. This process is specifically designed for each individual. The Volumiser treatment integrates with your existing hair, there is no need to cut or shave your own hair as with other methods. This allows you to wash, brush and enjoy a completely natural head of hair.
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