perfecting shrinkies.....

Hello all,
i have been playing w/ shrinkies endlessly and I have finally gotten some tips that work ( for me anyway). Just thought I'd put them out there for everyone- Let me know if they work for you....

I am using His and hers 100% mink French body wave ( I have had great luck with this hair so far)

I use a cheapie conair flat iron and I've noticed that it works best on the highest heat with GENTLE pressure. NO squishing the shrinkie. Just hold it gently between the two heat ed surfaces and it shrinks up beautifully, then roll w/ fingers.

I have pretipped w/LG and nail glue and found that the nail glue seems to prevent the shrinkie from shrinking evenly- also since I have dark hair - the nail glue tends to make the shrinkie a whitish color that is visible in my hair. If I just use the LG the shrinkie shrinks evenly and matches my hair color.

I also experimented with pretipping using DR. Locks fusion. It works good - but plan on using acetone and pliers to remove the glue when you take out the extension.


Finally, I tried AMM's method of pretipping w/ a shrinkie. I Cut a strand off the weft and use the hook to pull the strand through the shrinkie, heat the shrinkie and trim off extra hair from. The shrinkie is small and very firm- the size and texture of a piece of rice - THEN I put a drop of nail glue on the very tip of the shrunk shrinkie. Then I apply this pretipped strand to my head with a new shrinkie and the shrinkie shrinks down even, firm and small with NO whiteness. I like this method best so far- let you know how it holds up.


I noticed that the only time the shrinkies sizzle is when they are tipped with fusion or LG. I have not noticed that the shrinkies alone sizzle and I still get a great bond.


Just a few observations.......from my mad experimenting.

These are really helpful tips, Saucy and AMM. Thanks!

Now that you mention it, I think I may have coated the pretipped strand with too much nail glue (mostly because I was having some issues with the applicator bottle), and now I'm thinking that could be why mine didn't sizzle. I also think I may have applied too much pressure with the fusion wand.

:)

Thanks saucy! Can someone help me out though, I don't understand how tipping a strand with a shrinkie, then installing is any different than simply using one shrinkie, on both a strand and the real hair. How would that shed any less? But I know kalika said she tried it with no luck.

OMG Bridget, you're right. I'll try it when I get my Plastikhaar. I'm going to get the color ring first and then make my order.

In regard to LG - it smells like airplane glue to me.

Re the looping over method. . .
I can't get this to work because the PH is *SOO* long I keep getting it tangled!! ;-(

Also I have the 50mm curl (which I understand goes away anyway) which makes it really hard to keep untangled while trying to pretip.

I did about 30 pretips last night with LG only. .
Amm: Just to clarify - you're saying that if you don't put the nail glue on, then the LG gets in your hair. But isn't it just choosing *which* glue you want in your hair -- Liquid Gold or nail glue?? Or are you saying that the nail glue doesn't get in your hair?

Thanks - I'm inching my way toward getting this hair in. (The only reason I haven't started yet is because my shrinkies haven't shown up yet -- grrrr)
Fina

I also like to apply a small drop of 60 sec clear nail polish on one side of the tip. Then I insert the tip to the shrinkie, press to one side and let dry. It is very easy way for pre-tipped shrinkies.

I do still pre-tip hair with LG. Pre-tipping the shrinkies only makes their application easier. Then I still have to use heat wand.
I usually pre-tip hair w LG and let it dry o/n. Next day, or when I have time, I apply a small amount of clear nail polish on 1 side of the LG tip. Then I insert the tip into the shrinkie and press to the inner side of the shrinkie. Let it dry. When I want to apply my strands, I still use heat. I also use finger condoms to roll the shrinkies while hot.
My choice of nail polish- actually I am using Sally Hansen Hard as Wraps, fast drying - in 60 seconds.

I did not have any problem with nail polish.
I am also still experimenting, but this work the best for me so far. I also like to use finger condoms when making LG tips, b/c LG does not stick to them like to the fingers.

You can use both, it'll work. I do not use nail glue because it causes my strands to slip sooner.