Let me first start out by saying this web-site is just great!!  I have found out so many new things about extensions!!

Ok, I had GL's about a year ago and when ever they would get matted or tangled my stylist would tell me to just grab hold of the bonds and RIP them apart.  When ever I did that, it seemed like I was ripping my own hair apart, but she reassured me that it was just the hair that naturally falls out gettting tangled together. 

So here is my question, was she right or did I just continue to do damage to my already fine thin hair?  When she took my extensions off, (5 1/2 months later) I felt like I was bald!!!  So does anyone have any advice, or do I just plan on ripping apart my new ones?  I am getting them installed on Wednesday!!

Hi there, gsmilie!

Brush the attachments 3x daily.  Yes, do not be afraid to really brush the roots.  This will keep the shedding hairs face down and will prevent the shedding hairs from 'kissing' each other.

If a client shows me her 'kissing' strands then I tell her that she has not brushed her hair correctly or she is not getting in deep.  She gets a F on her hair maintenance.

To answer your question, "but she reassured me that it was just the hair that naturally falls out getting tangled together.  "- She is dead wrong!  Shedding hair will never, ever get matted or dreaded if brushed properly!

Another thing, you mentioned that your hair is "fine and thin", human hair is heavy so you may want to try synthetic hair or cyberhair.

But, I've experienced working with over thousands of clients in my field, that anything attached to your growing hair will cause stress to a certain degree.  Beauty is a sacrifice.  Find a stylist who will be honest with you and teach you the proper maintenance.  This applies to any form of extension attached to growing hair.

Best wishes for the mane of your dreams!  Charlene

hmm,

IME synth hair is MUCH heavier

Well I bought a looper brush, so hopefully I am set for detangling!!

I always thought that Syth hair was more course and heavier than HH.  The hair that I am putting in is almost as fine as my own.  And when I say "thin" hair, I'm not balding in any place, I just don't have alot of hair.  The hair God's were not very nice to me!!!

Thanks for the info.

Sounds like a terrible idea, try felt like a terrible idea!!  But, I thought she is the expert that got CERTIFIED thru GL, she would know what to do.  Towards the end of the 5th month I had such a huge Dred Lock at the crown of my head, that even "ripping" couldnt get rid of it. 

Anyways, now I have found all the experts, HERE!!  And I know that should I have any problems, you will direct me in the right direction!!!

No matter what the method, extensions should not be in the hair for more than 3 months without being completely removed, and then reapplied if you want to continue to wear them.

GL stylists lie and say that it's ok to wear them for longer than 3 months, when that's a big culprit for damage.

mochachip wrote: Okay so I brush with a looper.  But I'm confused cybermane.  What do you mean by the hair kissing?

Ok- the hair sheds up to 250 hairs daily {look at your hair brush, carpet, etc.}.  Shedding hair is trapped inside the ext.  So you brush down the shedding hairs to prevent them from dreading, kissing, touching, hugging, get it?

mochachip wrote: and which direction is down?  down like the shed hair shuld point down the length of the hair or down like towards your scalp?

yup! down like towards your feet.  But if they do kiss, brush the shedding hairs up and then down again.

mochachip wrote: And you di think it is the shed hair that is matting just that it means she should be brushing more so it won't mat right?

Yup, swear to my profitable business that if Gsmilie would have really get into her roots, and brushed, swear she would not have dreads.

-C

metalgirl wrote: No matter what the method, extensions should not be in the hair for more than 3 months without being completely removed, and then reapplied if you want to continue to wear them. GL stylists lie and say that it's ok to wear them for longer than 3 months, when that's a big culprit for damage.

Lisa, when I was still new to hair extensions, my teachers told me; "oh yeah, tell the clients they last 6 months".  Now thousands of clients later, I'd say the average, young, healthy, active, woman with normal growing hair is 8-12 weeks too

I do get clients who do not want me to touch their precious hair, but in comparison to my other clients who religiously remove their ext. 8-12 weeks, their hair looks like- YUCK!!!

-C

gsmilie wrote: Sounds like a terrible idea, try felt like a terrible idea!!  But, I thought she is the expert that got CERTIFIED thru GL, she would know what to do.  Towards the end of the 5th month I had such a huge Dred Lock at the crown of my head, that even "ripping" couldnt get rid of it.  Anyways, now I have found all the experts, HERE!!  And I know that should I have any problems, you will direct me in the right direction!!!

Just because she is certified doesn't mean anything.  Not all stylists are created equal.  Plus there are many stylists who don't do a lot of extensions too since ext. is a very rare service in salons.  My guess is that she is still new{?}  {I've been there, done that, so I'll never forget the clients who have taught me many many years ago}

But anytime you need our help, we're here for you!!!

I have been doing GreatLengths for about a year now and i have been telling my clients to avoid brushing the bonds. I am going out today and buy the looper and try it on my own hair..thanks for the tip:-)