Funny thing ~ I know that you are supposed to crack and twist the seal and it slips off and then you undo a tiny braid.

So, I went to take out the bottom row of my heat seals because the hair was trashed and the seal slipped right off, but there was no braid, just a little matted area that combed right out ( I thought this was probably the spirit gum that was used) 

I just can't figure it out - for those that have worn heat seal and had them come out, do you actually see a braid?

I think most of the time you should see a braid.  If the seal wasn't done properly, than it is possible that your hair slipped out and unbraided itself.

I personally am having  MUCH better luck with pinchbraids than the heat seals.  Many of my heat seal clients lose extensions or the hair sheds, but none of my pinchbraid clients have lost any extensions and zero shedding.

Pinchbraids and plastik haar is now my favorite installation method!

What I found, is that if the heat seal is heated for too long, the the synth hair gets singed, and when you brush it it comes out.  Also, sometimes it doesn't get wrapped well enough, and then the hair can also start shedding.

While it seams like a good method in theory, I find that there is too many things that can go wrong to make them either shed or slip out.

On the other hand, Charlene just taught me the pinchbraid in a few minutes, and from her excellent instruction (thanks again, Char!) I can do this method with no problems.  In fact, the first gal I did with this works in the salon, and she loves it.  She's been wearing them for 4-5 weeks now, and not one has slipped, come out, or shed.

Sorry you're having problems!

Hey Mocha

Are you using upholstry thread?  That stuff won't break no matter how hard you pull on it.  I pull my knots pretty tight, and the thread will dig (painfully) into my hands before it will break from the tension.  Upholsty thread is the way to go and it's cheap!