Healthy Extensions!?
Hey my beauties! I have spent many years looking into extension methods that offer flexibility in styling and most importantly leaves the hair and scalp the healthiest it can be. I’m not against a traditional sew-in extension, I’m just not a fan of it for a long term solution as far as extension options. It’s also pretty hard on my hands due to the braiding and sewing, this led to me not liking a traditional sew-in as a service. In spite of all of that, I love being able to offer multiple options. So I stayed open to different extension methods and WAAAYYYY back in 2011 I stumbled on a fairly new method, what you all know today as iTips. I loved the fact that the scalp isn’t obstructed, it offered flexible styling with high ponytails and it blended seamlessly into the natural hair, I was HOOKED!
I started working for an extension company in 2012 where I learned a couple of new methods that you all now know as tape-in extensions, K-tip extensions along with the iTip method. I wasn’t a fan of the K-tips because it involved having to melt a keratin bond onto the natural hair. I wasn’t concerned about the health of the hair more so I was concerned about the burns on my finger tips LOL! But when it came to doing tape-ins I was loving it. It was quick, flexible and blended seamlessly, again I was hooked. I soon realized it wasn’t the most convenient for my clients. Because of the tape, it was difficult for my clients to manage the oily component of their hair which caused slippage. For me as a stylist, the touch ups were a sticky mess and I just didn’t really care for it much after that.
Needless to say I’m a little meticulous when it comes to extension methods. Since then, there have been more extension methods to come out. Like a newer traditional sew-in pattern like the vixen sew-in, microlinks, and the beaded sew-in method to name a few. However, I have found a new method that I will have to say, even for myself, is the perfect fit. It’s called Slice Strands! I took a 3 month intensive to learn this method along with 3 other methods. I knew of the other methods but was only interested in the Slice Strand method.
I loved the fact that you can get the fullness of a traditional sew-in, the flexibility of the iTip method, the ultimate health of the hair and scalp and the best part is it’s done in record time! The average time for a full install is 2 hours; that includes shampoo, installation, cut and style. Of course everyone’s needs are different so this time may vary but that’s the good part. Even if it would take longer due a client needing more coverage, fillers, fullness etc. it is still less time than it would take with more traditional methods. I haven’t had extensions in my hair since 2003 but with this new method I decided I HAD to have and experience. That’s how much I’m in love with it! Since learning this method I’ve had clients love how comfortable and flexible this method is. This is a method I’ve been happy to add as a great alternative to traditional extension methods. Let me know what your experiences have been with extensions in the comments! Until next time…SMOOCHES!!!
-Rachel