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Fibre vs. Human Hair Extensions:
Q Why are fibre extensions better than human
hair extensions?
A The Top 5 reasons are:
- Safety - our extensions are attached
and taken out without the use of any glues, bonding solutions or harsh
chemicals. Human hair extensions are attached using glue and their removal
is typically done with acetone - i.e. nail varnish remover - with a
clear potential for damage. When you hear horror stories about damage
caused by extensions, they're typically the human hair variety, applied
by a stylist with little experience.
- Flexibility - because your hair
can be left in such bad condition when human hair extensions are removed,
many people find they get "trapped" into continually using
them to disguise the damage done. With our system, your hair will look
just as good the day you take them out, as the day they were put in.
- Comfort - at around half the weight,
fibre is lighter than human hair, so it doesn't feel "heavy".
Human hair extensions can feel quite "weighty" on your head
and they also have a tendency to pull on your own hair and scalp.
- Cost - real hair is much more costly
than fibre.
- Ethics - naturally, many people
don't feel comfortable wearing hair that's come from someone else's
head. Human hair is typically sourced from developing countries.
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Q If so, why do so many hairdressers offer
human hair extensions?
A In a word, profitability. Human hair
extensions are a quick, "single operator" solution - and therefore
less costly for the salon in terms of staff and time - whereas our system
requires two operators working on your hair simultaneously. And because
of the relative simplicity in human hair extension application, stylists
typically undertake only a single day's course before offering the service
to their clients.
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Q Are you saying that I should avoid human
hair extensions?
A Not necessarily, but as leading hair
extension specialists with many years experience in the industry, we feel
it's important to allow you to make an informed decision. And, through
our allied work with hairloss,
we're regularly called upon to fix the damage caused by poorly applied
human hair extensions. Despite the above mentioned aspects of safety,
flexibility, comfort, cost and ethics, some people just prefer the human
hair solution. This is often because they presume that fibre extensions
will look "fake". If that's the case, we'd encourage you to
take a look at the quality of our work. The vast majority of our clients
come to us through personal recommendation - in other words, every client
is a walking advertisement for our services. With a team that's collectively
got over 40 years experience, we've been exposed to many different methods
and materials - and we've found that our system is the best in terms of
quality, safety and look.
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Q What about weave-on's?
A Particularly popular for Afro-Caribbean
hair, this method uses hair already attached to a long strip of material
- almost like a "grass skirt". This is then cut into further
strips and is sewn - in some cases, glued - onto your hair using thread
and a curved needle. Whilst it's a cheap and relatively quick solution,
the weight of the material and hair can cause traction alopecia, both
in Afro-Caribbean and Western hair. It can also cause matting, leading
to unintentional dreadlocks. We regularly work with and treat clients
who've encountered these problems and, because of this, we wouldn't recommend
it.
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Q Does fibre look and feel like human hair?
A Absolutely. Fibre looks and feels
just like human hair with the added advantage that it's lighter than real
hair. We can achieve a perfect colour match - even taking into account
the multitude of different shades that may be in your hair - ensuring
that the extensions will be undetectable from the real thing.
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Q What is fibre made of?
A Fibre is made from a synthetic formulation.
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Safety:
Q Will the extensions damage my own hair?
A Absolutely not. Damage can only occur
if they're applied incorrectly or left in too long before either being taken
out or replaced.
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Q What about going out in the sun or on sunbeds?
A No problem. You can't damage your
extensions by going out in the sun or on sunbeds.
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Q What about swimming, going out in the rain
etc.?
A You can swim, go out in the rain,
face a windy day etc. without worry. What's more, when wet, the extensions
look and behave just like your real hair.
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Q What's your level of expertise?
A We're hair extension specialists
- we don't do it as a "sideline" to hairdressing. The pioneering
work of our Creative Director, Mark Sharp - with over 17 years experience
- has been highlighted on several television programmes, from ITV's, "This
Morning with Richard and Judy" to Channel 5's, "At
Home With Gloria Hunniford" to GMTV's "LK Today" . In addition, the work of Mark
and his team has inspired full-page features in over 30 newspapers
and magazines
including "The Daily Mail", "The Sun"
and "Eva". We have a worldwide reputation with clients
visiting us from as far afield as Texas in the USA and Tokyo in Japan.
And, with allied expertise
in dealing with
medically-related
hair loss, you can rest assured that we pay just as much attention
to the safe application of your extensions, as we do to the finished
look.
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Application and Removal:
Q How long does my existing hair need to be?
A For the best results, your existing
hair should be at least 2.5 to 3 inches (6 to 7.5 centimetres) long.
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Q How are the extensions attached?
A The extensions are attached using
a very fine braid (for those who are interested, we use a four-stem braid).
We take a small section of your existing hair and split this into two.
The fibre is also split into two to make the braid and is finally wrapped
around the base of your hair, protecting it. The fibre is then "sealed
on itself" using a heat tool (which is no hotter than a typical pair
of curling tongs or crimpers). This creates a tiny plastic seal. It's
important to point out that during this process, your own hair is safely
"cocooned" inside the fibre so it doesn't come into direct contact
with any heat or, indeed, the plastic seal itself - therefore, your own
hair stays in perfect condition. In effect, apart from the fibre itself,
the only thing your hair comes into contact with is our fingers!
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Q How are the extensions removed?
A To remove the extensions, it's a
simple matter to gently twist and break the plastic seal. The fibre extension
will then just slide easily off your hair, leaving no mess, residue or
damage. We can show you how to do this yourself, or we'd be happy to do
it for you.
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Q Will you be able to match the colour of
my own hair?
A Yes, perfectly. Unlike some, we won't
just pull a colour "off the shelf". Choosing from a multitude
of colours, we expertly "blend" several together while you wait
- just like mixing paints - to get an exact colour match that'll incorporate
all the different subtle shifts in shade that may exist in your own hair.
Technical expertise counts for nothing if the colour isn't right - one
of the first things you notice about "poor" extensions is the
colour. That's why we invest a lot of time in ensuring we get this aspect
of your extensions absolutely spot-on.
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Q What sort of length can be achieved with
extensions?
A In theory, right down to your ankles.
However, the condition and quality of your existing hair is an important
barometer in deciding the maximum length we'd recommend.
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Q Can I just add volume instead of length?
A Yes. Our extensions are perfect for
instantly boosting volume, body and bounce and we can dramatically - or
gently - enhance fine, limp, flyaway or "lifeless" hair.
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Q Can I just add highlights?
A Yes. This is a very popular application,
because no harmful chemicals are used and you can choose colours that
your hairdresser might not otherwise recommend - from subtle shifts in
shade to striking neon colours. You can also use this risk-free method
to judge whether you'd like to take the plunge and go for a permanent
colour.
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Q How long does it take to have them fitted?
A This depends very much on the individual
job but we can give you an accurate indication at your initial consultation.
As a guide, a few extensions to add highlights could take around 30 minutes;
whilst a very large head of hair could take up to 4 hours.
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Q How long will they last?
A Our extensions are designed to last
around 3 months. This is because they will grow with your own hair, moving
further away from the scalp over time. It's important that at this stage
the extensions are either removed or replaced, otherwise you run the risk
of damaging your own hair.
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Q Do I have to give my hair a "rest"
between hair extensions?
A No. You can have them both removed
and replaced on the same day, ensuring an uninterrupted continuation of
your look and style.
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Q What if I don't like them?
A This doesn't happen very often! However,
they are easily removed - by you or us - leaving your hair just as it
was when you came into the studio, with no mess, residue or damage.
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Q Can I continue to colour my own hair?
A Yes. You can either organise this
yourself or we can do it here at the studio. Because the fibre we use
is non-porous, if you accidentally get the colour solution on the fibre
itself, it'll have absolutely no effect - in fact, it just wipes off.
Therefore, if, for example, you already colour your hair blonde and go
for blonde extensions to match, you can continue to dye your roots etc.
whilst wearing the extensions.
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Q What happens when it comes to take them
out?
A You can either remove them or have
them removed and replaced on the same day. If you simply remove them,
rest assured that your hair will be in perfect condition with no mess,
residue or damage. However, you may feel that your hair is thinner because
you'll have got used to having so much hair!
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Q A few strands of my own hair came out when
I removed them. Have I damaged it?
A No. Without noticing, every day we
lose between 50 to 100 strands of our own hair as part of the process
of renewal and growth. However, where the extension is attached, hair
that would otherwise fall out is trapped and held in place by the extension.
So, when you remove the extension at the end of your 3 month period of
wear, you may notice one or two of these hairs coming out. This is simply
hair that would have fallen out during the renewal process over the previous
few months.
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Look and Feel:
Q Will you notice the difference between my own hair and the extensions?
A No. The extension fibre is expertly
colour matched and applied so that you won't see any ridges, kinks or differences
between your own hair and the fibre. And because your own hair intermingles
with the extensions, the illusion is perfect.
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Q Do they feel heavy?
A No. This is because fibre is around
half the weight of real hair. For the first few hours after application,
it may certainly feel strange having so much more hair! But within a couple
of days your head of hair will feel just like your own.
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Q Will my partner be able to feel them?
A The extensions are attached where
your hair meets your scalp and at this point you may feel a tiny bump
where the connection is made. However, apart from that both you and your
partner will be able to run fingers through your hair etc. without hindrance
and both the extensions and your existing hair will look and feel identical.
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Q Will I feel "hotter" in the summer
sun?
A No hotter than you'd feel if you had the same amount of real hair. And
remember, you'd treat the extensions just as you would your own hair,
so you can tie your hair back etc. if you wish.
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Cost:
Q How much does it cost?
A Prices vary depending on the time,
expertise and amount of hair involved. We'll give you an accurate costing
during your initial consultation. As a guide, costs vary from £4.50
per single extension (for random highlights etc.) upwards to around £550.00
for extremely extensive work. The average cost tends to be around £325.00
to £375.00 for volume and £395.00 to £475.00 for
length.
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Q Does it cost the same when I need to have
them replaced?
A The cost will remain approximately
the same. A small additional cost may be incurred if you choose to have
us remove them prior to replacement, instead of doing this yourself.
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Care:
Q Do I need to use any special shampoos or conditioners?
A No. Your favourite shampoo and conditioner
is fine. Like most hairdressers, we wouldn't recommend you use a "2
in 1" product.
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Q Can I wash my hair every day?
A Yes, although there is generally
no need to do this. That's because the fibre used in the extensions is
non-porous and therefore doesn't absorb the everyday dirt, grime and smells
that human hair does.
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Q Can I use a hairdryer or rollers, hot sticks
etc.?
A Yes, and we'll give you full instructions
for this during your appointment. For styling, fibre is a wonderful medium
to work with - unlike real hair, it does what you tell it to! That's because
it reacts well to heat and will stay in position once set. This means
you can easily achieve some truly creative styles and, if you wish, change
your style at whim. For instance, wrap the fibre round your hand, give
it a blast with the hairdryer and you'll achieve a beautifully natural
wave. Then, if you want it silky straight, run your brush and hairdryer
along the length of the hair and you'll achieve a smooth and sleek look. Or, if you like, you can use certain brands of straighteners.
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Q Can I leave my hair to dry naturally?
A Yes. Once again, you can treat your
extensions just like your own hair.
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- Check out our information page
here»
- See our picture galleries and case studies here»
- Learn more about us here»
- For frequently asked questions
about our medical work go here»
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