We know you must have a lot of hair extension questions, so we’ve put together these Frequently Asked Questions that are intended to cover the basics. Of course, every set of hair extensions we design is as unique as the person we design them for. So we will certainly go over everything specifically for you in much more detail, and answer any individual questions that you may have. We want to make sure that we have given you as much information as possible regarding your options, educate you on what would be best for you and your hair, and make sure that you’re 100% comfortable, confident and excited to get started on your hair extensions journey with us.

What are hair extensions?

Let’s start with the absolute basics: hair extensions are pieces of hair that attach to bio hair (your natural, living hair) to extend hair length. Hair extensions can be used in a variety of ways: to create a magic moment for a bride on her big day, to help cancer survivors show off their strength and resiliency with a look that feels more true to their style, or to empower everyday women by giving them the hair of their dreams. With some training and a little imagination, the creative possibilities are endless.

Hair extensions can be used to enhance natural hair length, add volume, create highlights without using chemical color, add fashion shades without commitment, and allow for frequent hairstyle changes. Hair extensions can also help regrow compromised hair post surgery or from chemotherapy, hide sudden hair loss due to scarring or from alopecia, stress or medications, and – best of all – they can be an undeniable boost of confidence to whomever needs it.

What are the most common methods of hair extension application?

There’s numerous methods of attachment for hair extensions, as well as a variety of brands that sell extensions, all of which vary in quality, safety and ethics. The most popular methods of attachment in recent years have been:

Individual Strand-By-Strand Extensions
These come in various forms: I-tip, bead, K-tip, u or nail tip, flat tip, micro links, nano-rings, shrink-links, Brazilian knots and Keratin pre-tipped extensions. All these forms have various tools for application – from laser to glue guns – as well as various heat temperature methods.

Tape-in Extensions / Skin Weft
This category is pretty straight forward, but the major variations are in the size (height, width and thickness) of the top portion of each section of extension, and the quality of the adhesive used to “sandwich” your hair in-between the tapes.

Hand Tied Wefts / Natural Beaded Rows / Sew-in / Braided / Glued-in Tracks / Waved Wefts
The weft method of hair extensions is the oldest method by far, and was developed and perfected with incredible braiding skills in Black and ethnic hair salons over the years. More recently, there have been a few innovators who have tweaked and renamed this old school method, and now you can see it all over your Instagram news feed.

Clip-in Extensions
Like the name suggests, this method uses metal clips that attach to natural hair by bending and crimping the strands in the clip. These extensions come in various sizes and lengths as well as various styles (bangs, pony tails, etc.).

Are all methods of hair extensions application safe?

All hair extension methods are marketed as being safe, but in our 20+ years of experience, we find that certain methods can cause some serious damage; they have very little room for error during the application process and lots of room for major hair loss. The method of application used must be determined by each person’s natural hair strength, density, scalp condition, longevity of wear, lifestyle and so much more.

What methods of hair extensions application does Extology Salon offer?

After 20+ years of research, trial and error, working with and being certified in at least 25 different brands of extensions, and experimenting with almost all of the methods on ourselves and our hair over the years – we choose to work with only a few brands: Great Lengths pre-tipped keratin bonds and tapes+, Hairtalk, Platinum Seamless tape-ins, HaloCouture tape-ins, SHE Professionals keratin bonds and Flaunt by Paul Mitchell tape-ins. We have found that these methods are the most tried and true (for reasons we’ve outlined below), while the brands themselves are simply unmatched in terms of consistently providing a product that is soft, safe, luxurious, and completely customizable.

Great Lengths pre-tipped keratin bonds allow us to customize the size of the bonds to accommodate any hair thickness and density. This premium strand-by-strand application is made with a patented co-polymeric compound whose molecular structure resembles very closely the structure and behavior of human hair: expanding when exposed to water, and contracting upon drying. The keratin moves and behaves like your own hair ensuring a gentle yet strong hold without damage.

Great Lengths Tapes+ are designed to create a fuller effect and luxurious hair, thanks to a quick application. The medical grade adhesive strip is designed not to cause any tension and feels completely flat on the head. It’s an innovative product that’s great for very fine and thin hair. They are carefully designed to ensure that individual hair is inserted into the tape by hand, leaving the impression of natural hair growth.

Platinum Seamless tape-ins are made with smoothest, thinnest and most comfortable adhesive gel attachments on the market. Their unique .25 inch height attachment, which is commonly 50% smaller than most other tape-in extensions, create a super thin and skin like attachment. This allows for the most maneuverability and zero tension, so you can wear your hair up, down or however you want to — without the limitations of the bulky thick brick like tapes from other brands.

Do hair extensions damage hair?

Great quality hair extensions, when applied safely and properly, DO NOT damage your hair. Proper tools and application, coupled with diligent home care and maintenance, means your natural hair can grow in healthier and never break. At Extology, we have utilized hair extensions to grow out post-chemo hair as well as chemically or color-damaged hair. Everything we choose to work with is chosen with your hair health as our priority.

Hair extensions can cause damage if the extensions are not properly customized for your individual needs, or if the quality of the hair does not allow for healthy hair growth. This can occur if:

-The hair extensions are too heavy, too thick or too tight.
-There is not enough hair to support the weight of the (incorrectly-sized) attachment, which can cause the hair to rip out of the hair follicle.
-The hair is crimped too tight and strands eventually break underneath the wrong bond material.
-The attachment is not sealed tight enough or the adhesive was not fully removed when new adhesive was added for replacement, which can cause mold to grow on your hair underneath under the bond.

Is my natural hair too short for hair extension application?

Your hair can be short, but has to be long enough to cover the keratin bond or tape-in extension adhesive – approximately 1.5 to 2 inches in length, depending on your hair density.

Can hair extensions be applied to post-chemotherapy hair growth?

Yes, hair extensions can be applied to post chemo hair! Some methods of hair extension are a great choice for growing out unruly post-chemotherapy hair ringlets, as long as the new post chemo growth is at least 1.5 to 2 inches in length. Thicker or higher density hair requires longer lengths for the most natural blended application.

Can hair extensions be blow dried, curled or flat ironed?

Yes absolutely! Top quality hair extensions can be blow dried, curled and flat ironed with proper hot styling tools and approved hair care products.

If I can’t blow dry and style the hair extensions, will they ruin my hair?

Definitely not! If you are the boho type and prefer the tousled hair look, hair extensions can always be left to air dry in the most perfect wave or curl. The only contingency is that you MUST make sure the bonds and the roots are never left damp for long periods of time, and never allow the roots and bonds to become tangled. This will cause damage and shorten the wear of the extensions. (Don’t worry, you can still swim with extensions – see below for that question!)

If you prefer perfectly styled hair, we can always teach you how to style with your new hair extensions. Simply schedule an appointment for a long blow dry, bring the brushes and tools you have (or we can provide them for you!), and we will go through styling step-by-step with you until you feel like a total hair pro. You can also of course always schedule regular blowouts with us, which means you’ll never have to style your hair at all!

I have curly hair – are there curly hair extensions that would match my curl texture and pattern?

Yes!!! Curly hair extensions do exist!! Luxury hair extensions come in an endless array of textures, colors, lengths, ombre, rooted and so much more — and all of the colors and lengths can be custom designed to match any curl pattern, even more than one per single head to keep things looking totally natural. We know (and you know!) that no one has just one curl pattern in those ringlet heads. The curls that extensions can achieve are so amazing… No one will know they aren’t yours!

Can hair extensions be colored?

The best quality hair extensions can be colored (darkened, glossed, low lighted). They can not be highlighted or lightened.

Can I color my hair after getting hair extensions?

Yes, you can have your hair colored by a professional colorist who knows how to work with hair extensions. You can not color your own hair with extensions at home because the box color will damage your hair extensions (plus we wouldn’t recommend box color as it will damage your own hair, too!).

Can I wear my hair in a ponytail or high bun?

If the hair extensions are applied properly, you can absolutely wear your hair in a ponytail and even a high bun – with no evidence of the extensions showing. You even get some traceless hair ties as part of your take-home package after your initial extensions application appointment.

I am an active person; are extensions for me?

Yes! Extensions can be for you if you’re active as long as you’re taking care of them while you are enjoying that sporty life. Make sure your hair is up in a ponytail, bun, or braid, and rinse out your hair after any activity to remove any sweat/oils/dirt to prevent any slipping or damage to the bonds.

Can I swim or workout with extensions?

Yes! As long as you follow proper maintenance instructions (provided to you at the end of your application appointment), you can absolutely participate in physical activity in and out of water.

How often should I wash my hair at home?

After your application appointment and depending on the method of extensions used, we recommend waiting 24 to 48 hours before washing your hair at home. We do not recommend washing your hair everyday, and the ideal time frame should be every 2 to 4 days, or if your hair feels oily or dirty.

Can I use any hair brush with my extensions?

Certain hair tools are extension no-no’s: you shouldn’t use combs of any kind, or hair brushes with balls on the end of the bristles. Your take-home kit includes a special hair extensions paddle brush, which can be used on your extensions.

What hair products can be used on my extensions?

We have handpicked hair products specifically to ensure the safety of your own hair and the longevity of your hair extensions. Talk to your Extologist about what comes in your take-home products and what they recommend for you – since every set of extensions is unique, just like you!

Can I use a leave-in deep conditioner with hair extensions?

Any hair treatments should be done by a hair extension specialist, otherwise the treatment may ruin the integrity of the hair extension bond or gel adhesive and diminish the longevity of the hair extensions in your head.

How long do the extensions last?

Hair extensions can last anywhere from 4 weeks to 6 months. This all depends on a variety of factors; what method of hair extension application is, the thickness of your own natural hair, the health of your own hair, how much you sweat or workout, how oily your hair gets, how often you wash your hair, how much you style it, and how fast your hair grows.

Do hair extensions shed?

Yes, it is normal for hair extensions to shed, just like your natural hair. You won’t notice a difference in your look.

How long is the initial application appointment?

The time of the appointment can range depending on the application method used and how much hair is being applied. The average timing for a full head application for length and volume can be anywhere from 3 to 8 hours. If you are in for reconstructive hair extensions (meaning, a major transformation, like from a pixie cut to mermaid-length hair), the appointment time can range from 8 hours to 20 hours, which would be done over the course of multiple days.

How much do extensions cost?

For luxury 100% human hair extensions and a premium application by an extensions specialist, some ballpark extension pricing are below:

-For Fullness Only:  $1,000 to $2,500+
-For Length and Fullness:  $2,000 to $5,000+
-For Medical Condition: $1,000 to $4,000+
-For Post Chemo: $2,000 to $8,000+

Don’t forget to read up on what’s included in your initial extensions application cost.

Can I buy just the hair extensions at your salon?

You can only purchase clip-in extensions, hair pieces, wigs, ponytails and bangs at our salon. All other hair extension methods are custom ordered for each client to be applied at our salon by one of our Extologists, and can not be sold separately to any client. Please keep in mind that we do not stock or keep any inventory on hand. All of these can be custom ordered following your consultation appointment.

Can I bring my own hair extensions?

Short answer: No.

Long answer: No, because we cannot guarantee the integrity of any other hair extension manufacturer, we only work with and custom order top of the-line hair extension brands that we have handpicked after years of research, education, certification and experience. We can only work with hair extensions that we can personally vouch for.

What do I do if I need to remove hair extensions?

If you would like to remove your hair extensions, please contact us and schedule your extensions removal appointment.

How can I remove my own hair extensions?

Please, please don’t remove your own hair extensions. Removing your own hair extensions can cause severe damage to your own hair. Please schedule a professional removal to protect the integrity of your natural hair.

Even if you had your extensions applied at another salon and are not getting a new set from us, we would be more than happy to schedule a removal for you and make sure your hair is looking its healthiest, shiniest best post extensions.

How do I schedule a hair extensions consultation?

To begin your hair journey, head over to our Appointments page, select the best date and time that suits you, and we’ll take it from there. We look forward to meeting you!

Let’s show you who we’re working with.

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