Family Encyclopedia >> Beauty & Style

Wednesday's beauty question:how do hair extensions work?

How are they fixed?
The extensions are attached a few millimeters from the hairline. When cold, they are clipped onto the support wicks using small rings. When hot, they are fixed by a point of keratin brought to high temperature. More recent, the ultrasound technique uses positive and negative ions to attach the extension by a point of keratin, without feeling any heat. In terms of quality, the three techniques are equal.

Who can do it?
In theory, everyone, because there are different hair thicknesses and lengths of locks. Only downside:impossible to apply extensions if the hair density is not high enough. Good to know:extensions are not only used to have long hair. They can also bring mass to hair without volume and nuance the color of the hair (it avoids making a chemical coloring).

How long does it last ?
For installation, it takes between 30 minutes and 3 hours, depending on the technique adopted and the number of wicks applied. Good to know:removal also takes time (from 20 minutes to 2-3 hours). They can be kept between 4 and 6 months, depending on the speed of hair regrowth (then the attachment points may be visible). After the removal, we take a break of several weeks, because the wicks of extensions pull on the bulb and weaken it.

What maintenance should be given to the extensions?
If the extensions are fixed with a keratin point, you must wash your hair with a silicone-free shampoo (otherwise you risk dissolving the point and causing the strands to slip ). In all cases, we untangle the hair every day using a boar bristle brush, and by hand, we check that there is no knot at the point of attachment. To sleep, we braid the hair so that it does not get tangled. No problem for brushings, straightening or curls, if you protect the hair with a heat-protective spray. For coloring, it is better to go to the hairdresser:only he can determine if the extension supports coloring / discoloration.

How much does it cost?
It takes at least €5 per strand for quality human hair extensions. The total price is then fixed on estimate, according to the number of locks posed (between 100 and 150 for a whole head) + the expenses of shampoo, cut, maintenance and removal.

Does it damage the hair?
No, if the installation and removal is done by a pro and the hair is of good quality (=we are not trying to save money) and we allow time to pass between poses.