I am new to the board & loving it! You guys rock!

I am a hair dresser in Kentucky & want to get certified. I don't want to do pinchbraids. I'm considering Great Lengths or So.Cap. Did you like the classes? Did you feel it was worth it? Anyone have ANY advice they'd like to share? It would be greatly appreciated.

Also, anyone know if there is any real difference between the GL. original unit & the sonic or ultra sonic model? Thay say the sonic model uses sound waves to melt the keratin & none or very low heat.

Please, oh please give me some direction,

We have a few GL people here, hopefully they will chim in here.

I don't like fusion, it sheds like mad, it's hard to get the glue out of the hair, and it's not economical for the client, as you can't reuse the hair.

I offer my clients a choice of 5 different methods, but the main strand method that I do is the Shrink Links.   It's gentle on the hair, stays in well, easy to take out, and the hair is reusable for several installs.

Check out the website:

http://www.markbarrington.com - www.markbarrington.com

Hi JJ!

I just answered your PM!  SoCap is cheaper than GL.  GL does a lot of advertising therefore will refer you the most clients.  SoCap is easier to get into.  GL is strict.  Which means, for example, if you work in a chain salon, you will be denied.  Both are Italian companies and used to work with each other- years ago.

I would request some samples and brochures to see what the majority of your clients need.

Good Luck!

Right now, I'm having fun with my extendmagic machine b/c I can use any hair I want too!  Some of my clients are not into temple hair or even human hair- or even glue/bonds/polymers.  It's good to offer a variety.

The extendmagic comes with a grip which can make 'nail' tips or 'stick' tips.  It also comes with a wand that you can melt your premade 'nail' tip to get closer to the root.  The 'stick' tip can be used to insert into metal tubes/shells/rings.  I really am impressed with this new machine!  However I just received mine 2 wks ago so I need more practice.  Will keep in touch!

marie87 wrote: I'm so glad to hear that you like the extend magic. After Lisa's problem I decided to wait and get some feed back before ordering. I really wanted to have this work out. I also hate depending on a company for hair and like using what is best for the client and what they can aford.

I had to ask the inventor a ton of questions and ask a couple of hair stylists who has had experiences in this machine.  I also begged them to send me a couple of samples- a wide strand and a thin strand- cause as the inventor says, you can attach this to as little as 10 hairs.  After receiving positive feedbacks, I said; "ok what the heck.  I'm buying it"!!! 

xoxo

CyberMane could you go into more depth about how strict GL is? Like does the salon you work for have to be privately owned? Or are there certain criteria that the salon you work at must meet?  Do they take into consideration whether the stylist has experience in hair extensions?  Do they take into consideration the years of experience of the stylist?

I like your website . . . you do nails too?

Hi Chica!

Been wondering what happened to you and what classes you decided to take!

I don't work for GL, I am just a mere hair technician for them.  But one of my friends who works for JC Penney's wasn't allowed.  I also had another friend who found it to be hard to get into.  You have to call the company for more info.  Sorry can't answer all those questions.

You like my site?  Thanks!  I designed it myself- sorry for the clutter- I'm a novice- HAIR is my #1 passion.

I was trained to do it all- hair, skin, nails, etc... I have a cosmetology lic- but my #1 is hair augmentation.  To me, if you focus on one field, you get really good at it.  In NYC, there are stylists who just do one thing either- cutting, or coloring, MUA, etc....

I have just decided to start somewhere and do hairlocs. Like I already stated I don't really have the money right now to travel too far from where I live in order to take classes or go to shows.  Also I just was to start as soon as possible in order to gain as much experience as possible to become good at it.  If that works out I plan on learning more methods like you have  and also becoming good at those. 

Right now I am in college to become a cosmetic chemist (the people that formulate hair, skin, nail products) b/c the beauty industry is very appealing and profitable to me .  I am also considering becoming an esthetician b/c I'm obssessed w/ skin and have a few skin problems of my own that I would like to solve.

Do you always practice on manikins? When I learn hairlocs I am planning on practicing on my mother/sister/friends/family. How often would you say that you practiced the different methods?I also wanted to ask you on average how long after you learned a method did you start charging people to perform it?

Most importantly how do you have the time?!! It sounds like you do alot of good work and would lead me to belive you probably have alot of clients and probably booked for months. All the classes, traveling, and working

pisceschica wrote: Do you always practice on manikins? When I learn hairlocs I am planning on practicing on my mother/sister/friends/family. How often would you say that you practiced the different methods?I also wanted to ask you on average how long after you learned a method did you start charging people to perform it? Most importantly how do you have the time?!! It sounds like you do alot of good work and would lead me to belive you probably have alot of clients and probably booked for months. All the classes, traveling, and working

Hi!  First I practice on the doll.  Then I put it on some client's who are willing.  I start off with an 'Intro rate' and then I charge accordingly.  It usually takes a good 6 months or after 10 full heads to really have the confidence to sell the method.  You have to get the right clients who are willing to participate during your trial and error.  They have to stick to you during those 8-12 weeks.  Which means they cannot default.  Plus, you can't tell them; "this is the best", "it's never going to damage your hair", "it's not glue so it won't damage your hair", blah, blah, blah...

The most important thing is if you do plan on committing to offering hair extensions, you really have to show prospective clients the real deal- which means -NO BULLS***.  For example, "this is what you want, these are the risks, these are your commitments, if you don't commit to these rules then this is the outcome, this is the cost and if you cannot afford it then pick something else or go somewhere else, etc...

Yeah, I work hard.  This my life.  This is all I do.  So I make the most of it.  I put my heart and soul into it.  Most importantly, I NEVER, EVER sugar coat anything.  Clients like to know the hard-core facts.  They want to earn your trust.  You will get a lot of respect from your clients if you tell them the real deal- the truth.  They will also refer people to you too!  Good Luck!

i am certified in Hairlocs and have been doing them for three years. and i agree with everything Cybermane says.

practice is the key, and yes honesty above all.

there is however Alot of competition out there and everyone is copying eachother.