How to Properly Apply Black Hair Extensions
Extensions for black hair enhance any look. Extensions come in a variety of hair hues and textures including straight, curly, wavy and afro-textured. Proper application ensures the final look appears natural and aesthetically pleasing. Utilizing a few tips will make the process smooth and hassle-free.
Extensions offer an easy way to instantly change appearance, adding volume and length to Black locks. Extensions techniques for black hair include sew-in extensions, bonded extensions and tape extensions. Manufacturers offer the extension hair as wefted hair (sewn together) or bulk hair (loose).
Sew-In Extensions
Sew-in extensions offer a natural looking extension. The style lasts up to 12 weeks. To create the style,a stylist braids hair into small braids called cornrows. They sew the wefted hair extension onto the braid using a small curved sewing needle and special thread used for weaving, beginning at the nape of the neck. They continue sewing the hair in rows, as desired. To remove the extensions stylists snip the thread securing the extension, taking care to avoid cutting the client's hair.
Bonded Extensions
Bonded extensions use a hair safe adhesive to attach wefted extensions to the client's natural hair. The adhesive ranges from a latex adhesive, keratin adhesive (called fusion) or an adhesive called Liquid Gold bond. A stylist parts the hair in horizontal rows. They apply the adhesive bond to the weft extensions, then apply to the client's natural hair. They continue the application moving upwards by rows. The client's natural hair covers the rows of hair extensions. Keratin fusion extensions utilize bulk hair extensions. Small bundles of bulk extension hair are dipped in a heated keratin adhesive then applied to a small sections of the client's hair. Latex bonded extensions last up to one week and Liquid Gold bond extensions lasts up to three weeks. Keratin fusion extensions last up to three months.
Tape Extensions
Tape extensions use a wefted hair extension attached to the client's natural hair with a medical grade, skin safe tape. A stylist measures the weft hair extension for placement in the client's hair. They cut the tape to fit the weft hair. After parting the client's hair horizontally the stylist applies the weft extension. Passing a heated flat-iron across the applied wefts activates the adhesive in the tape and creates a stronger bond to the client's hair.