I believe in having great hair, but also having healthy hair! I’ve chosen to specialize in keratin-tipped (bonded) extensions because it creates the least amount of damage while you are wearing the set. Of course, you will need to care for the extensions properly to avoid extra damage (from styling, washing, etc). The hair is tipped with bonds that are made of pure keratin protein, which avoids breakage to your own hair above and below each bond. These bonds (when applied properly) also create an even amount of tension on your hair that the extension is attached to, making the extensions more comfortable to wear as well. I use both the warm fusion and cold fusion machines to apply these hair extensions. These extensions are great for adding hilights and lowlites for individuals who have never colored their hair – no commitment if you wanted to try out some fun colors! I have been certified with So.Cap USA since 2008, and recently became a certified educator in 2016. I have been offering these hair extensions to my clientele for added length, added density, and/or added color.

Depending on your hair goals, different extensions can be selected depending on how much maintenance is the best fit for you. If you’re wanting to wear extensions on the weekend, but take them out during the week – Clip in extensions will be your best option. If you are looking to grow out your bob-length hair (and not deal with the awkward inbetween stages of the grow-out process!) than a semi-permanent set will be the best choice. You can wear each set of bonded extensions for 4-6 months, and choose to remove them or get another set installed. If the density of your hair is on the thinner side, getting bonded hair extensions will add density to create balanced fullness over a longer period of time.

If you’ve done any research on hair extensions, you may have heard of the word “remi”. This has to do with the cuticle of the hair and the way the hair is bonded together – VERY important! When buying/ordering hair, having remi hair is necessary because it will avoid the extensions from tangling.. lots of tangling. Breakdown: Hair has a cuticle layer on the outside of each strand (which is similar to fish scales) laying downward from your scalp to the ends of your hair. Have you ever tried to run your fingers the opposite way from the ends of your hair up toward your scalp? It doesn’t work as well. So what does remi-hair mean?! The cuticle is aligned to be in the same direction as your own hair, laying downward from the scalp to the ends. No excessive tangling.

It sounds slightly silly to say, but you will need to set aside more time for styling your hair in the morning.

• You will still be able to use a flat iron and/or curling iron, but it is important to be aware of where the bonds are as you use hot tools. Heat WILL soften and melt the bonds!
• While you have extensions in your hair, you will have more density – which will take longer to blow dry.
• When you wash your hair, it is important to be careful to not put too much tension or pull your hair, as your hair stretches more when it’s wet compared to when it’s dry. Tension creates stretching, which in turn can create damage and breakage!
• When your extensions are wet, they are significantly heavier when saturated with water – I recommended blow drying your hair (as often as possible) to avoid damage and breakage to your natural hair. What’s the point of having extensions if you have less hair after you take them out?!
• For long lengths, I suggest wearing a loose braid while sleeping and using a silk pillowcase to avoid tangling.
• There are specific brushes that are best to use while wearing extensions, and the bristles are made out of nylon and boar. These bristles have more flexibility and allow you to brush your hair through the ends and near your scalp without damaging/pulling out your natural hair.

Extensions can be expensive, and is looked at as an investment. Hair is custom ordered in increments of 10 pieces with over 90 colors to choose from, and the cost is determined depending on how many pieces you will need to put in. If you’re just looking to add density or color without added length, you will not need as many bonds in your hair. If you are looking to add a significant amount of length to your hair, you will need to add more bonds to blend the transition from your natural length to the new extension length. If your hair is thick, more bonds are necessary to blend that transition. For women who have thinner hair, you can get away with adding less bonds – causing the extension set to cost a lot less. Extensions start at $150, and go up from there. Partial sets can be a few hundred dollars, and full sets are $1,000+.

The hair that my company (So.Cap USA) along with many other extension companies use is derived from India. Women in India will offer their hair in the Indian temples as an offer to the gods, and this unprocessed hair is sold at an official public auction. This type of hair is a similar structure to European hair and adapts perfectly for extensions. Part of these proceeds finance the infrastructures within these regions.

Extensions typically last about 4 to 6 months, depending on the natural length of your hair before the set is put in. If you have shorter lengths, the bonds will become exposed faster and need to be replaced sooner. But if you already have long hair and you’re wanting some added length and/or density, your extension set should last you closer to 6 months. If extensions are left in longer, there will be too much space between your scalp and the bonds, making it difficult to style your hair and creating more damage and tangling. Your hair grows about 1/2″ per month on average, so after 3″ of growth, it’s time to remove your extensions or get a new set.

I work exclusively with SHE by So.Cap USA. It is the #1 company for hair extensions in the world. They have a large selection of colors to customize your extension goals with over 90 colors to choose from: including natural tones, ombre (two-toned colors), mixed colors (for depth and dimension), and their fantasy color line for the bold-at-heart. The extensions are available in three textures (straight, wavy, and curly) and three lengths (14-16″ / 18-20″ / 24-28″). She by So.Cap offers the largest remi-human hair selection:

• Strand-by-Strand Keratin Tipped (individual grafts)
• Extensives: Tape-In Hair
• Clip-In Hair Extensions in Packages or Individual Clips, Ponytails, and bangs
• Ebony Line
• Wigs and Wefts