Best extensions

Hi Tom. May I ask what the natural texture of your hair is? Would you describe it as thick, course, fine soft, medium? How much hair do you have overall? Are you prone to breakage? Would you call your hair weak? Tensile strength is another name for that. I ask these questions because depending on the method of attachment used in the placement of hair extensions, you can have problems with breakage upon removal. If you are having no trouble at all in growing your own hair to extreme length, you might want to take that into consideration or only wear the extensions for the show if you choose to participate.

Your hair sounds healthy enough to do well with extensions. I am a fan of the "sew in" method in which the wefts (they look like little curtains of hair) are sewn in. I have been wearing this attachment now for nearly a year and LOVE it. You can get a lot of hair in safely and it seems to encourage growth. At least in my case my natural hair has grown now several inches and it’s healthy. Amazing.

The fusion and strand by strand methods are more expensive and time consuming but the results can be great. Just not my preferred method. I am unfamiliar with the "sand bond" you are referring to but I’m sure someone here will know. There are many stylists on forum either pro or not. Good luck!


Edited by krimsa - May 04 2008 at 11:03am

I think there is all kinds of videos for the sew in method, however, be aware there are many ways they can actually do the attachment. You will probably end up seeing some online. They can also use glues and tapes to install wefts. I have never tried that before. Mine is actually sewn directly onto my hair not using a braid or cornrow and then the rest of my loose hair is lying on top of the wefts so you can not see them and it just all blends together. A good stylist will be able to tell what will work best for you. Good luck and let us know what you get. Take some photos! We need more men on here.

There are more than 6 different ways to get extensions, more than a dozen for sure!  But that's good, since it gives you more options.

Thanks Metalgirl. Your links are very informative. I have not been able to find other pictures of guys with extensions. Apparently just rock stars and movie actors. I would say my hair is between Kimberly and Sara's on the 1st link or between the 3rd and 6th models on the Metamorphosis link. I would like to get midback length like theirs if it is undetectable. I have a bit of wave and would like it straight. Do you need to do the chemical straightening for that?

The sew ins vary for how long you can go in between maintenance. I am easily able to go about 8 weeks or so before I need a tightening and redo. Even by then they are loose but I can still get by. I prefer the tight feeling though and having them right up close to my scalp.

So it really depends how fast your hair grows. I have been wearing the same hair now for almost a year (a year in July) and it is still very nice and silky. The reason on that was I spent a lot and got virgin hair that matched my own texture perfectly. You don’t have to do that but you want to find a close match to be happy with the results long term and have the hair hold up well.

I don’t know of any good sites that show this method in particular. I asked my stylist and she said with my type of hair, the best way was not trying to do a cornrow and just sewing in right on the hair. You may want to use a cornrow though. I recommend going to a salon that KNOWS weaves and braiding techniques and have them look at your hair and get an idea on texture and what they feel is the best route for you to go. You can do full weaves (all of your hair braided and under the extension hair) or a partial like I have where most of my top hair is loose and exposed and lying over my wefts. I have three levels of wefts. I could probably do a 4th for more body which is what I am trying out in July.

As far as this lady claiming to be a specialist, can you ask to see her portfolio and photos of her clients? I would start there.

Tom,

Speaking from personal experience, stay away from Great Lengths!  They tell you it is keratin (a protien yor hair already has) but it is still mixed with glue.  I am still trying to get my healthy hair back from a fusion experience 9 months ago.  I wish I would have done the research/read the forum before I did it.

Thanks Sky and Krimsa. I think I will try the clip ins for now.

Hi Krimsa,

Tom,