I've always been fiddling with my hair in one way or another since I was a kid. I actually remember clipping in a long fake ponytail and wearing it on the bus to school when I was 10. HAHA. I was an extension junkie in the making! I've had extensions several times, but always with the wefts sewn to a braid. My scalp always itched and I felt like I could never really get it clean but the hair was worth the pain and the method was the most affordable. Then I found this site.

I've been reading and searching the forum listening to you all and waiting to see what the best method and hair was that the majority of you agreed upon. The general consensus seems to be shrinkies (either yourhairshops.com microlites or shrinkies.net) with the Lush pretipped hair. So I did it. I bought both adhesive lined and microlite shrinkies and Lush pretipped hair. I called my girlfriend (who is also a hair stylist) over, poured us some wine and a few hours later viola! I have 200 #33 Lush tips in and they look fabulous!!!! It looks seamless!

I've lost a few strands though and was wondering if the glue from the Lush tips is enough to hold it in a microlite shrinkie? I'm thinking if I pretipped a little LG over the lush tips and then put the microlite shrinkie over it would hold better. Has anyone tried this? How about a tripple whammy with the pre glued Lush tip, LG over that and sealed with an adhesive lined shrinkie…would that like survive a nuclear bomb or what? I want a nice firm bond I won't have to revisit for 8 weeks or so for the reinstall.

Thank you all again for your help. You guys are the HAIR MASTERS it's from your discussions that I have finally found a system that is working for me and it gentle to my wallet ;)

I would hug all of you if I could!

Cheers!

Trina

PS: How the heck can I post a picture here?

welcome trina to our community-

i cant answer the question aobut the lush tip adding glue-

my question would be how long did u hold the fusion wand on the hair

that could have something to do with it.

again Welcome

i am sure someone can answer your quest.

Hiya! I actually emailed you about installing my next round. It's alot to ask of a friend so I think I'll pay a professional next time ;) You're not too far away from me so going to your salon isn't a problem.

When she was putting them in, she kind of tapped it like 10 times till it got warm and rolled it. What's the ideal tap time (or should it be a solid clamp?

I held the heat wand firmly on my shrinkies for about 7 seconds, then rolled it.  They are holding firm.  I've only lost maybe 6 strands because they weren't all the way in the shrinkie. 

It sounds like they just didn't get hot enough if they were only tapped, and the tip of the hair should be even with the top of the shrinkie.

I don't know if the shrinkies and lush hair are for me, though.  My hair is tangling bad after only a week and my leave-in conditioners and glossers aren't working.  *sigh*

I might try plastikhaar next unless there is another affordable human hair alternative.

monsterita wrote: I don't know if the shrinkies and lush hair are for me, though.  My hair is tangling bad after only a week and my leave-in conditioners and glossers aren't working.  *sigh*

Are you serious?! What color are you wearing?Mines getting kind of tangly but I chalked it up to the length.Has anyone else had a problem?

I think it might be the length. I'll notice it's mostly the underpart of my hair where it rubs and swooshes against my back as I'm moving around during the day that gets most tangled....

Thoughts?

I don't think that the length is an issue with mine; I cut it to just below my shoulders right after the install.  I started having some problems with tangling about 10 days in on my #6 install.  Figured maybe my flat iron was set a little too hot and I had been using it almost daily.  Since I have been using more conditioner and shine serum the tangling has gotten better.  I also trimmed about 1/4" off the ends any place where the tangles or split ends were bothersome.  Not a big problem overall...however the hair definately is shedding more due to the brushing required to keep the tangling under control. 

hmmmm - tangling- i havent had a problem with them as of  yet-...

far as taping, i tap for about two seconds then i hold it down and count to about 10- i dont roll or anything i go onto the next. no problems slipping either.

tangling- lets do some trouble shooting- i personally havent experienced any and neither has any of my clients. however lets see if i could help

questions-

what type of shampoo and conditioner are u using?

how often  are u shampooing

when u get out of the shower what is your routine?

if you could answer that , maybe we could figure out a solution.

I'm using Matrix Amplify shampoo and conditioner, Redkin anti-snap leave-in conditioner, and Aphoge gloss therapy.  I don't think the water here is particularly hard.

I wash my hair everyday in the morning.  I have to as I have a very oily scalp.  Then, I let my hair air dry for about 30 minutes, then blow it dry.

I was using Caruso steam curlers to curl it because they are supposed to be easier on hair than hot rollers.

It could be that I'm overly sensitive to the different feeling and texture of the extension hair since my own hair is very very silky smooth and fine.  I'm also really not used to long hair at all, so the feeling of it on my neck may be more bothersome to me than to most.

The shrinkies, though, are fantastic.  They're holding great.

But, I would appreciate any suggestions you may have for keeping this extension hair smoother with fewer tangles.

As I stated I was pretty harsh with the flat iron the first week.  I have a CHI iron and I think it was set too high.  I wash my hair every 2-3 days even though it is pretty oily.  I started out using Nioxin Bionutrient Protectives shampoo and scalp treatment (ends only).  I did use Matrix Amplify once, which may have been the start of my problems since it is a volumizing shampoo.  About a week ago my ends were like straw (crunchy) then I started using the Neutrogena Triple Moisture Oil serum and the ends are no longer as dry, however, the tangling, splitting and breaking is definately there.

For the past week I have been using K-Pak shampoo and conditioner as well as Ion color seal conditioner on the ends in the shower.  I am shampooing my scalp once then on the second round I put the shampoo in squeezing it though the lengths of my hair, then conditioner on the ends.  Once out of the shower I pat the top of my head then the length (still dripping a bit).  For the last week I have been drying the roots only and letting the rest air dry when I can (about 2 out of every 3 shampoos).  I am putting the Neutrogena serum on the ends and curling with a Conair spiral curling iron set on medium. 

One other thing, I did notice that one of my half orders of hair tangled a bit before I put them in, nothing serious just enough for me to notice the difference.  Of course that was the hair that I installed. I still have 100 strands that don't tangle at all that I will put in next install.  Whew!...sorry so long!

-Sandy

ok- Nioxin is terrible for extensions, i have actually sent clients home with it for their way thinning hair and their hair tangled, and it wasnt lush

matrix amplify- that blows the cutilce out way to much, even without extensions its way harsh on the hair

redken anti snap has alot of protien and should only be used once a week at the MOST-

k pak- that has alot of protien too. Protien rich shampoo and conditioners should not be used daily. On anyone!

see, the reason i asked the questions and thank you all for replying- is i knew the product you were using Could have a negative reaction to your extensions.

i have been doing extensions for quite some time now and my trial and error brings me to my statements. i am not just pulling this out of my head for no reason.

Washing hair everyday is a no no for anyone with extensions. Typicially i reccommend washing every other day and every three days. if you need to get the oil out, there are other ways to wash without washing all your hair- wash only the top of your own hair while your extension hair is tied back,  or use baby powder on the roots while it is dry and brush it out.

this is the shampoos i send home with my clients and higly reccommend.-

Biolage- bodifying line- for voulme without high plump to blow out cuticle

Biolage- fortifying line- for strengthing weak hair- without a lot of protien

Pureology- Straight line

Pureology- hydrating line

stay away from:

sebastian line

Paul Mitchell line

Nioxin line

there are other lines out there that might be good, however, these are all my experience with each line, i have worn extensions for over three years.

good luck. Remember- what ever  conditioner u you, put it on, and RINSE it off immediatley on the root area, you can leave some on the ends for a bit.

when u get out of the shower- its important that u use a wide tooth comb or pick to get all hair smooth- i do this soon as i towel off and get out of shower, do not let hair dry before u pick. do not use a brush on wet hair.

Sand

Thank you so much Tangles.  This is why this board is so wonderful.

I'll be heading to the store asap to get new shampoo/conditioner.   I've got new hair coming and will do a new install next week for my xmas present to myself!

I second that tangles.I was going to get some redken antisnap.I'm glad you said something cause I probably would have used it like every other day.

Thanks bunches Tangles!  The Nioxin was actually what my previous extentionist recommended...I should have known better concidering how that turned out.   I will save it for when I don't have extentions in.  Well, off again to buy shampoo and conditioner.  Thank you again, hopefully this will save me the same problems next time!

Even with the tangling problems, this last install has got me hooked and spending more money on hair!  I am even considering some color changes!  I could go broke quickly like this!

Hugs,

Sandy