shrinkies...

Concerning Shrink Links ( Mark Barrington Concepts) :

It does say on his website (under the Shrink Links sections) that the method does have a patent on the product. (what that # is-it doesn't say?)

That's what I thought he said when I took the class from him several years ago to become certified. ( I also think certification is over rated)

I happen to live in the same city where the company is located and so I have often stopped into his office to pick up my client's hair orders, and we often chat about how his business is going. Very nice group of people.

I don't think he aggresively markets his system because he wants to keep it 'exclusive'. He would probably never sell a system to an unlicensed person.

A big difference with their system, is that the hair is pretipped with a small plastic end that does not melt under the heat of the flat iron. So that means you can easily reuse the hair several times and don't have to keep rebonding it. It's really no hassle.

Also, they are big on sellling true 100% European Hair which they get from Extensions Plus, in LA. Real European hair is so much better than any kind of Indian hair (which includes Bohyme), but almost three times as expensive. I do have clients who have been using the same European hair for over 2 years with no tangles at all. I myself have also have worn European hair and it is great, if you can afford it. However for the most part, I think Indian Remi hair does just fine for most clients.

For the most part, the Dr. locks system seems good too. Their shrinkies are more firm than the shrink links and therefore take more heat to shrink them down, but I don't think that is a problem.

http://www.superhairfactory.com/shop/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=2_41

of course, that's 12''. which, now i know, is short.

so i think i'll go to the local supply store and get 14'' or 18''... one weft. and order my shrinkies stat. i hope i won't need more then one order???
and hope my flatiron works, b/c i already spent a ton on that thing and i don't know about buying a new tool.

oooooo i'm so excited. i'm moving back east and no one will know they aren't real since i've been gone for 8 months. except the boy i adore. gotta figure out a way to tell him, cause he's the one who will be, um, close enough to figure it out! LOLOLOLOL

yay!

Thank you both! Somewhere on here I say what all that hair is and where it came from. There's numerous types and some of it has copper Jazzings streaked in.

Bra strap length is about 18" and one weft will probably be plenty. I'm assuming you'll be making your own strands with it? ebonyonline and superhairfactory is where I believe the good bohyme hair is. Good luck!

omg Amm you have beautiful hair!! What type do you have in right now? I know I read you have a few differnt kinds but just wondering where you buy it and how you make it. What would we do without you on this board.

Hi Kelly,

I'd think that you'd need at least three of those wefts (or 200 pretipped strands) to be safe, but I'm not the best at figuring out the ounces.

Hopefully someone else will chime in here...

Good luck, and let us know how it goes!

Amm uses human hair, so all of her comments above and on various threads apply to human.

I just re-read the thread. A trademark is definitely not the same thing as a patent, so if they've only trademarked it, I don't see how it could be a problem.

PS:

metalgirl,

What's inside Barrington's shrinklinks? Do you know what the coating is?

I have been using the original 'shrinkie' system called Shrink Links. Shrink Links, (previously known as 'Toobz' or 'Elegant Additions') was invented and patented by Mark Barrington Concepts, Inc over 10 years ago. The Dr. Locks method is a copycat, and Mark Barrington has contacted them regarding patent infringement.

I like the Shrink Link method, but they also leave a lot of sticky residue in the hair and it is hard to get out. I have been using a product called "Take Down" which is a oily substance used to remove hair extension residue and it works good. The only remaining problem is that it is hard to get the oil out of the hair, which you must do before you can reapply.

I would caution anyone against reapplying the Shrinkie over hair that you have not got all the residue off of or brushed out the fallen, naturally shed hair because you could get massive matting problems in the future.

Conparing the two systems, I like the Mark Barrington Shrink Links better than the Dr. Locks' Shrinkies. I think the Shrink Link Shrinks down much better ( I have tried both systems)

The Shrink Links system is only sold to professionally licensed cosmetologists, and I think you have to take a class to become certified.

see the website at www.markbarrington.com

I am not affliated with the company, I have only used their product (and worn it myself) for several years.

Good luck!

Amanda, that's great! Just wait until it's time to remove them and there's no damage. Yippee!

After you reheat the shrinkie to remove it, don't try acetone at first. Try straight vegetable oil and wrap it around the hair strand to gently work it out.

I tried olive oil and it doesn't work. Apparantly it's not gritty enough like veg oil is.

Again, congrats!