First things first, lets’s get into some hair extension terminology…
While shopping around for hair extensions you may come across some terms and have no clue what they mean, unless you are experienced in the world of hair extensions. Below we explain the most commonly used terms to describe hair extensions and what they mean.
Double Drawn - This mean that the thickness of the hair extensions is the same from the top of the hair extension piece all the way down to the ends. They do not have ratty ends and taper or thin out towards the ends of the hair.
Remy/Remi - The hair has a cuticle in tact and has been cut from a ponytail which was tied first to make sure the roots all face the same way. This is very good quality hair, as when you brush the hair you are not brushing against the cuticle.
Virgin Hair - Hair which has not been chemically treated in any way, it has been cut from the ponytail and applied to a client's head using one of the below bonding methods. This hair will last very long, but it is VERY expensive.
Human Hair - This is human hair which is collected at random and the cuticles are not aligned like that of Remy hair, so the lifespan is shorter than that of Remy hair.
Synthetic Hair Extensions - Synthetic hair, like human hair, is a polymer. It is composed of fine plastic fibres, manufactured to look like human hair. In its basic form, synthetic hair is made from low-grade acrylic that is heated and strung into strands to make individual hair fibres. It is a good option as an addition for braids, dreadlocks or for once-off use. It has a very short lifespan and is not a great solution for everyday use due to easy knotting.
Now that we have covered the basics, let’s get into the different types of hair extensions and the methods used to insert them...
Micro-Ring/Bead Extensions
These are hair extensions that apply individual pieces to your hair, strand by strand, using small metallic loops.
They are attached without the use of heat or glue. A metal pulling loop is used to thread the clients own hair through a small micro bead with a silicone lining. Once the ring is on the clients hair, a hair extension piece with an i-shaped tip is inserted into the the metal ring and is clamped flat. A custom colour metal micro-ring is chosen which should match the client's own root colour. The hair with the i-tip can be used over and over again, as new rings can be attached each time the extensions are applied.
Recommended brands:
There is a company called Hair Extensions Experts, who offer micro-ring extensions, they are professional, use good quality hair and are reasonably priced. Yentl is fastidious about the quality of the hair she installs, so you will be safe in her hands. Hair Extension Experts use the first professional brand of Micro Ring Hair Extensions called Hair Tech Extensions.
Cost:
Ranges between R5000 and R10000 for a full head, depending on length and thickness. If you want additional length more pieces will need to be used and you need to match the thickness of your own hair with the extensions. If you only want thicker hair, less pieces can be used. Maintenance is required every 6-8 weeks and a fee is charged of about R15 per micro ring installed.
How long do they last:
You can use one set of Hair Tech Micro Ring Hair Extensions for 1 – 2 years, depending on how well you take care of the hair.
Who should use them:
I would say if you are to use micro-ring extensions, the most important thing to understand is that there will be maintenance involved and proper care is needed in order to protect your own hair and to extend the lifespan of the hair extensions themselves. You have to use good quality salon products on the hair. You will find it difficult to give your own hair a good scrub at the roots, as you need to be very delicate around the bonds, especially when the hair is wet as you don’t want to damage your own hair. If you originally have short hair, styling your own hair will be a lot more work than before and you might find ALL THAT HAIR overwhelming at times. If you are used to having long hair and the time it takes to style you could consider this option without thinking about this issue much.
You have to go for the maintenance - this is very important to prevent damage of your own hair. Which means you need to budget for this, so you need access to some money every 2 months for maintenance. If you like to do intricate braids this option is great, as the micro rings are difficult to detect if they match your root colour.
Who shouldn’t use them:
I would say if you are not willing to spend time and money on your hair, then don’t install micro-bead extensions. You have to follow the maintenance rules to avoid damage to your own hair.
If you are losing hair at the moment I also don’t recommend micro-rings, your own hair needs to be strong to handle the weight of the hair extensions, especially when your hair is wet. Take a piece of your own hair from your head, tug at both sides, if the hair breaks easily, micro rings are not a good option for you.
Tape-in Hair Extensions
These are a type of permanent extensions that come with pre-taped wefts, made from a medical-grade glue.
Tape-in hair extensions can be easily and gently attached to the hair by means of a unique adhesive strip or tape technology – and just as easily removed again using a special solution that is completely safe for your hair. Tape-in hair extensions can be attached to your natural hair in less than 40min by a certified hairstylist. Your own hair is divided into straight sections and clipped in place. One “strand” of the tape hair extension is placed under a thin section of your own hair with the sticky side of the tape facing upwards underneath your section of hair. This thin section of hair is brought down over the sticky side.Next another “strand” of the tape hair extensions is placed on top of the first piece with it’s sticky side facing down.
Recommended brands:
As mentioned before, Yentl from Hair Extensions Experts would be my recommendation for tape extensions. They are professional, use good quality hair and are reasonably priced. Yentl is fastidious about the quality of the hair she installs, so you will be safe in her hands. They use Hair Talk Tape Hair Extensions from Germany. The bonds are uniquely thin and residue free. The hair used is of a fine texture, suitable for European hair types. You can expect: 100% Remy Indian hair extensions, cuticle aligned, soft, with minimal knotting and long lasting.
Cost:
Ranges between R4500 and R10000 for a full head, depending on length and thickness. If you want additional length, more pieces will need to be used and you need to match the thickness of your own hair with the extensions. If you only want thicker hair, less pieces can be used. In general, tape hair extensions need to be reconnected to the hair roots every 6-8 weeks, by a hairstylist, since they “grow out” together with your natural hair.
How long do they last:
The extensions can be reused two to three times depending upon the level of care you treat with your extensions with. The more care, the longer the tape hair extensions remain healthy, shiny and fit for use. Most likely you will need to replace them every 9-12 months.
Who should use them:
If you want to wake up in the morning with long hair, tape-in extensions are a great option. They are also a better permanent hair extensions solution for people with weaker hair types, as they cause the least damage of all permanent hair extension methods. They are not as versatile as micro-ring extensions in terms of braiding etc, as the tape in sandwiches are about 2,5cm is width, so it can be challenging to hide the bonds when tying up your hair. A good solution for this though, is to combine tape in extensions with micro ring extensions around the hairline.
Again, if you are used to short hair, tape-in extensions will be a lot more maintenance than what you may be used to, in terms of washing and heat styling. Be prepared to spend a lot more time and energy styling your hair after and during washing. Good quality care products are imperative to maintain the hair extensions lifespan.
Also have your budget in place for maintenance of the extensions every 6-8 weeks, to avoid damage to your own hair. Tape-in extensions only take about 45 minutes to an hour and a half to install, so they are much more effective if you don’t have time to sit in a salon chair, but still want permanent extensions.
Who shouldn’t use them:
If your hair is super thin on top and you like to play with tight ponytails and braids, I don’t recommend tape-ins, tape-in extensions need enough hair to hide the sandwiched sellotape-like bonds, so your own hair needs to be thick enough to hide these bonds. If you don’t use good care products, have money for maintenance or if you have very short hair and don’t want to spend time styling your new long hair hair every day, tape-ins may not be a good solution for you, as you need to style your hair to blend with the extensions.
Keratin Bonded Extensions (Hot Fusion)
Keratin bond individual hair extensions are small strands of virgin human hair that have beads of keratin adhesive used to fasten to the hair, instead of tape or glue.
Keratin bonded hair extensions are often referred to as U-Tips because of their shape, however the bond is sometimes flat. The strands of hair are pre-tipped with keratin. A low-heat extension iron is used to attached the extensions to one’s own hair, by melting the keratin bond onto and around the client’s natural hair. The bond is very strong and almost undetectable when applied correctly.
Recommended brands:
Miz-Pah Hair sells good quality keratin extensions, the hair is cuticle aligned and double drawn, so it is thick from the tops down to the ends. Anneke, the owner of the business also offers guarantees on her hair extensions (almost unheard of in the hair extensions world due to their fragility). Anneke is very confident in the quality of hair she sells and offers great service.
Cost:
Ranges between R5000 and R15000 for a full head, depending on length and thickness. Similar to tape-in extensions, if you want additional length more pieces will need to be used and you need to match the thickness of your own hair with the extensions. If you only want thicker hair, less pieces can be used. In general, keratin hair extensions need to be reconnected to the hair roots every 6-8 weeks, by a hairstylist, since they “grow out” together with your natural hair.
How long do they last:
You can use one set for 1 – 2 years, depending on how well you take care of the hair. The hair needs to be maintained by removing and reapplying the hair extension bonds every 6-8 weeks. The hair will get shorter and shorter by about 1cm with each new application, as the old keratin bond is removed and a new one is applied.
Who should use them:
Careful planning, a lot of time and money are necessary for this type of hair extension. They do offer an extremely natural look, but you will sit for hours while the extensions are removed and re-bonded onto your own hair during maintenance, usually about 6 hours or more. The hair extensions will also need to be sent for re-bonding if your installer doesn’t do it in-salon.
If you like to do intricate hairstyles, tightly pulled back ponytails etc, then these extensions are a great option as the bonds are barely visible. If you are prepared to spend time styling and looking after your new long hair using the best care products and and washing carefully between the bonds, you won't be able to give your head a good scrub until the bonds are removed.
Who shouldn’t use them:
They are only recommended for hair which is no shorter than 15cm for a natural look. As a general hair extensions rule, also try to only wear hair extensions that are no more than 15cm longer than your own natural hair. If you have very fine hair, or are losing hair at the moment I don’t recommend keratin extensions, your own hair needs to be strong to handle the weight of the hair extensions, especially during washing, when your hair is wet and at its most fragile. Take a piece of your own hair from your head, tug at both sides, if the hair breaks easily, keratin bonds are not a good option for you. Some of your own hair will be lost during hot fusion maintenance which is not good news for people with already thin hair.
Weave-in/Sew-in Extensions
Sew-in hair extensions, also called weave hair extensions, are more complicated than other hair extensions. They involving bradding the hair into cornrows and sewing the extensions directly into your natural hair.
The clients own hair is strategically braided into cornrows and the braid is reinforced with cotton. A hair weft is then sewn onto this braid using cotton and a needle, very much like hemming a dress. The wefts are sewn underneath the layers of the clients own hair, so your own hair should be thick enough to cover the wefts easily for a natural look. Otherwise you need to pair your weave with a lace-front closure which can be expensive, as each hair is hand tied onto a scalp like mesh.
Recommended brands:
As mentioned before, Miz-Pah Hair sells good quality weave-in extensions, the hair is cuticle aligned and double drawn, so it is thick from the tops down to the ends. Anneke, the owner of the business also offers guarantees on her hair extensions (almost unheard of in the hair extensions world due to their fragility) Anneke is very confident in the quality of hair she sells and offers great service.
Cost:
Weaves are a less expensive option for permanent hair extensions. I would say you could budget between R3500 and R10 000 depending on how many rows you want to install and whether you want the extensions for a little extra thickness or for length. For length you will need to install more rows and longer hair pieces are more expensive than shorter ones.
How long do they last:
Visiting your stylist often about once a month for professional maintenance will be necessary to keep your weave looking fresh. The stylist will trim any broken hairs, tighten loose braids, and make sure the weft is secure and your natural hair is healthy. The weave can be reapplied multiple times and its lifespan depends on the quality of the hair used. Good quality Remy hair will last about 12 months.
Who should use them:
Only a good idea if you wear your hair mostly down, as intricate braids or a high ponytail will be difficult to achieve as the wefts are sewn horizontally on your head. You need to be able to go for your monthly maintenance, so be prepared to spend time on this. Washing your hair will also become very challenging and good hygiene is necessary to prevent your weave from smelling mouldy. Remember the base of your weave is cornrow braids.
Who shouldn’t use them:
You shouldn’t wear a weave if you are not prepared to take the necessary washing steps to avoid them from smelling mouldy due to the braids not drying well enough after washing. Special sprays made up of coconut oil and tea tree oil for example will also need to be applied to the scalp to prevent build up and itching. If you wash your hair daily and like to give your scalp a good scrubbing you will find the weave in extensions very annoying. Your own hair needs to be very strong to hold the weight of the cornrow and weave, without the correct maintenance some damage might occur to softer hair types.
We saved the best - and our personal favourite - for last…
Clip-in Hair Extensions
Clip-in hair extensions use a method where wefts of hair can be easily installed into your natural hair with the multiple silicone pressure-sensitive clips.
The hair extensions are clipped underneath the layers of your own hair using small snap clips. Our clips are equipped with a silicone strip so they won’t slip down your hair or damage it. When clipped underneath the layers of your own hair, the clips are virtually undetectable.
Recommended brands:
Well, you already know what we are going to say…
Frontrow stocks a variety of luxury 20” clip-in hair extensions that are made from 100% Remy human hair and are thick right down to the ends. Frontrow offers three clip-in hair extensions thicknesses and an array of tutorial videos to show you how to use and style your hair extensions. We pride ourselves in high quality hair extensions and world class client service, with an easy return and exchange policy.
Cost:
A full set of Frontrow clip-in hair extensions will cost you between R3990 and R6190, depending on thickness you prefer, ranging from a 120g to a 220g set of extensions. Frontrow extensions can delivered to your door within 3 business days!
How long do they last:
The better you look after hair extensions the longer they will last. Hair extensions are affected by so many factors, such as heat styling, washing, sunshine and how often they are worn, so it is impossible for us to guarantee their lifespan. However, our extensions can last anywhere from 3 months to a year. Some of our clients replace them once every 2 years and others every 6 months, it’s all dependant on those factors.
Who should use them:
Anyone whose own hair is chin-length or longer, as well as enough hair to cover the wefts as the extensions sit underneath the layers of your own hair. Clip-in extensions are versatile and can be used in many different hairstyles, such as half up styles and intricate braids as they can be manoeuvred into various positions by opening and closing the snap clip onto a particular section of hair. If you like to give your own hair a good scrub without having to worry about damaging it or bonds in the way or special hygiene techniques, then clip-ins are for you. You take them out before washing your hair and re-apply them in clean, dry hair within less than 10 minutes. If you need to save time and still want long hair, you don’t need to wash and style your clip ins every time you wear them, as you can store them already styled in a box or on our carrier hanger and just reapply them in the morning and you’re ready to go.
Who shouldn’t use them:
If your hair is very short you wont get a natural look and it could end up looking a bit like a mullet. If you want a hair extensions solution you can sleep in, then clip ins are not for you as they need to be removed at bedtime to avoid damage to your own hair when rubbing against your sheets while sleeping.
Types of clip-in hair extensions:
Crown Toppers
A crown topper is a type of hair extension or hair piece that’s commonly used by women with thinning hair or conditions like alopecia. It’s attached to the top of your head (your crown) where thinning most commonly occurs, by use of silicone-lined snap clips. It’s ideal for covering up hair loss or thinning, and it’s attached in a similar way to clip in hair extensions. People also call crown toppers half wigs or top pieces.
Frontrow's luxury crown toppers are made from 100% Remy human hair and are hand tied onto a scalp-like mesh for a natural look. Frontrow offers high quality hair pieces and an array of tutorial videos to show you how to use and style your crown topper hair extensions. They come in a variety of colours, including: light blonde, dark brown, brown black and jet black.
Cost:
Our crown topper costs R6990, they are 16 inches and 110g, the perfect length and thickness to adjust and alter to fit your hair!
Who should use them:
If your hair is thinning on top or you have a haircut you don’t like, the crown topper is a 100% safe and easy way to hide the top of your head, while giving your hair some extra length and body. Use it on its own, or pair it with other extensions for a longer look. Cut the topper to match your own hair style.
Who shouldn’t use them:
If you are 100% happy with your hair, a crown topper can be used to hide greys, regrowth, change up your hairstyle, hide a bad haircut, thinning hair - if you don’t have any of these concerns then a crown topper wouldn’t be recommended for you.
Halo Hair Extensions
Like the name implies, these extensions are placed on top of your crown – like a halo! The miracle wire sits several a few centimetres behind your hairline, and the back of the extensions sit slightly lower down. Once they are fitted correctly, they will feel snug and comfortable, there will be no movement.
Frontrow's luxury 18” halo hair extensions are made from 100% Remy human hair and are thick right down to the ends. Frontrow offers a variety of different colours, including: ash blonde, light blonde, mixed blonde, highlighted brown, chestnut brown, chocolate brown, dark brown, brown black and jet black.
Cost:
Our halo costs R3590, they are 18 inches and 120g.
Who should use them:
If your hair is longer than shoulder length and you have wispy ends the halo is a good option for you. Also if you like wearing your hair down, the halo is not very versatile in terms of what you can do with your hair styling-wise once you have it in.
Who shouldn’t use them:
If you have a blunt hair cut or very short hair, we would prefer for you to consider clip-in hair extensions in the thicker options as you require an even distribution of extensions across your entire head.
Clip-in Ponytail Hair Extensions
These are easily applied clip-in ponytails available in a selection of colours, 20 inches in length and available curly or straight. These extensions can be used to create buns, low or high ponytails.
How they are attached:
Slide the comb in between your hair and your hair elastic and use the ribbon to securely fit the ponytail hair piece onto your own ponytail. Use a piece of your own hair to hide the ribbon.
Frontrow's luxury 20” clip-in ponytails are made from 100% Remy human hair, are lightweight and luxuriously flattering. Frontrow offers thirteen colour options, ranging from ash blonde to jet black, and an array of tutorial videos to show you how to use and style your ponytail hair extensions.
Cost:
Frontrow Ponytails are available for R2490 for 20 inches of 100% Remy human hair!
Who should use them:
If you are active and on the go and don’t spend much time styling your hair in the morning, the ponytail is perfect for you as it literally takes seconds to install and gives you a fuller and longer ponytail instantly.
Looking for an elegant look for a special occasion? The ponytail is perfect.
Looking for a chic everyday look? The ponytail is perfect!
Who shouldn’t use them?
Everyone who can tie up their own hair easily should use a Frontrow ponytail!
Wigs
Wigs are a hair piece carefully made from real or synthetic hair. The wig has adjustable straps and wig combs, which holds it securely in place on your head. You can also glue lace wigs to your scalp using special wig glue. If you’re worried that your wig may come off during sporting activities or swimming, you can sew it into your hair for added peace of mind, just like you would with a wefted wig.
Our sister brand, BeYou by Boity, stocks beautiful wigs made from 100% cuticle aligned Brazilian human hair.
Cost
Depending on the length, which varies from 10 to 22 inches, the cost ranges from R2990 to R6990.
Who should use them:
Anyone who wants to change up their hairstyle in an instant or prefers not styling their own natural hair. If you have lost your hair due to a medical reason or condition, wigs are a great option to gain back some confidence!
Who shouldn’t use them:
Anyone can use a wig- so get shopping!
