Hi,

I am seriously thinking about hair extensions. My hair grows but it is thin at the ends, I love the fuller look extensions can give you!

Well, doing some research.

1) What do you think it is the method that LESS tangle?

2) What is the method that lasts longer?

3) Seems that GreatLengths is the most expensive because you cannot reuse hair. How would you compare to Hairlocs?

4) Last, does anyone know a GOOD styulist in Michigan?

Generally speaking, the 'tangle' factor has nothing to do with what method is used.  It has to do with the quality of hair that is used for the extensions.

Regardless of the extension method, you are asking for trouble if you leave any kind of extension in for more than 12 weeks, period.  I find with strand applications, most clients wear them 10-12 weeks, and with wefted applications, most wear them for 6-8 weeks.

Great Lengths are way over priced because the company stipulates how much their stylists must charge for the service.  If any stylist is found to 'undercut' and charge less than what goes along with the company guidelines, than that stylist's certification and ability to order from Great Lengths is revoked.  Great Lengths also has a sales quota that stylists must meet in order to continue to order from them.  All in all, in my opinion, Great Lengths are 'hair Natzis'!

And it is true, Great Lengths will not allow you to reuse hair.

As far as Hairlocs is concerned, the opinions are mixed.  I personally think any time you are putting metal in the hair you are asking for breakage.   I used to do Eurolocs, which is similar to Hairlocs, and the breakage that I saw, due to the metal chewing away at the hair, is unreal.

DO you have any suggestions on the method? I spoke with a stylist from Great Lengths and she told me she guarantees for 5 months, anbd it generally (average) ranges from 1200-1400 per visit.

Are there any better methods that would not cost that much? I was very surprised with what you told me from Hairlocs, they advertise it is a gentle method. I am so glad you told me.

Please let me know what you guys think.

Any type of extensions you install in your hair has the potential for damgae- some has more potential then others, however, with that said, the MAIN reason for breakage with any method is the install and removal.

i have been doing hairlocs for some time now and have seen minimal damage compared to other methods i have seen, the primary reason i havent seen alot of damage with my installs is the way i install and remove, i typicially do not install and remove the way most hairlocs install and remove, i do not crimp the cylinder nor do i use the pronged plyers to insert into the cylinder, i use another tool which is very gentle. Also, the eurolocs install is a bit different then hairlocs, eurolocs from what i have been told, folds the cylinder in half, which in fact "could" not saying always does, but could have more tension on the hair.

i have also been  installing with shrinkies, there is some adhevise in the install but the install and removal is quite gentle,unlike other methods which i have repaired or removed faultly work.

do your reasearch, and if you decide to go to have it professionally done, ask for references, make sure they hae a website and portfolio for you to see their work. And of course make sure they have been doing extensions for a while and have done at least 20-30  clients.

good luck and feel free to ask away!

Lmadeira wrote:  I spoke with a stylist from Great Lengths and she told me she guarantees for 5 months

I could gaurantee several methods to last 5 months....but I cannot gaurantee the amount of damage that your natural hair will suffer when you remove them at 5 months...the problem with leaving ANY extensions in for over 12 weeks is that at the attachment area after 3 months will be grown out and the attachment will be around an inch away from your scalp, the shed hair will be trapped in there and tangling around the bond area and to other close bonds, resulting in matting. Also the bond will be hanging by less hair because of the shedding of the natural hair and putting stress on the natural hair that the bond is still attached to. When the bonds get that far out and attached to less hair then you risk pulling them out by root when brushing also.

I personally can only wear extensions for 9/10 weeks....tops! Because of new growth. My natural hair grows pretty fast and at 9/10 weeks I HAVE to redo mine.

I also agree with what Tangles said, any method has the potential for damage....some more than others. And that the key is careful installation and removal.

I think the price range is varies, each stylist is different.  I know many stylists who do charge a lot of money for this though.  I have heard anywhere from $1000-3000.

When I do my Shrink Links, the client buys the hair at my cost, I do not mark it up at all.  And for the service, I charge between $300-500, depending on how much we are installing and the time it takes.