Guide To Hair Extensions with Sunderland Salon Beaux Cheveux

Katie Balbach, hair extension specialist and owner of salon Beaux Cheveux in Sunderland city centre, gave Fashion North a professional lowdown about hair extensions.

Hair extensions can be used for all reasons; if you are looking to increase confidence with thinning hair, wanting to add length or even just volume, Katie will walk us through each type of hair extension and her recommendations. She will also give her advice including do’s and don’ts with maintaining the extensions.

Located in the Commissioners Building 4, St Thomas Street, the salon is easily locatable and has the most aesthetic parlour. Down the hallway, new services have just been added; clients can now book massages and beauty treatments.

 

“We are really precious about your hair being the priority, we would always advise against methods that will damage your hair, because having the wrong method, the wrong weight, that’s when hair extensions cause damage”

Know the different kinds of hair extensions

Keratin Fusions:

Keratin fusions are the most popular hair extensions and with the correct care, they can last up to 10-12 weeks.

These fusions, the stylist uses a heated tool to melt the keratin tip and rolls the strand onto small sections of your hair, this then forms a flexible bond when cooled. The fusions can be placed around your face in the front or in the crown if you have thinning as the bonds will not be visible.

Keratin Fusions allow equal pressure on the scalp as they have flexible bonds so hair can be tied up with ease without any pulling and hair can be brushed as normal as they are low maintenance.

Nanos:

Nanos are a popular small beaded extensions that have a molded part at the top with a metal end on. During consultation, your stylist will give you a metal test, if you are allergic to metal, you cannot have nano extensions.

The stylist will get a bead that matches the colour of your hair and attach it to the top of the extension with a quick and simple technique. Nano extensions last eight weeks.

Tapes:

Recommended for people who have thin hair as the tapes are very lightweight. When getting tapes you have to be very careful with pulling or tying your hair up often as they do tend to pull and cause breakage of your natural hair.

Tapes usually last six weeks. The application process guides away from damage as medical glue is used, no chemicals or heat.

Weaves:

Weaves would be recommended for people who have up to 30% of hair loss including women who have female patterned baldness or alopecia.

However, this method would only be used on someone who doesn’t need to tie their hair back and has good practice at washing hair extensions. The weave is stitched into tracks made in the client’s hair which makes it difficult to wash in between, which can lead to matting if not washed properly.

For people thinning around the crown, salons offer a topper which is then blended into a new hairline for a more natural look.

Do’s and Don’ts for maintaining your extensions

Katie at Beaux Chevoux in Sunderland shares some crucial maintenance guidance to allow clients to get the most wear out of their extensions, reducing chances of breakage and protecting your natural hair.

Do

• Come in to your fitting appointment with freshly washed hair.
• Put leave-in conditioner or sun cream in your hair when swimming on holiday as the water can dry out your extensions. Wash the chlorine and sea water out of your hair as soon as possible.
• Get your bonds checked every 4-6 weeks for a scalp health checkup.
• Plait hair whilst sleeping or use a silk bonnet or pillowcase to decrease chances of knotting.
• Use sulphate-free shampoo and hair products.

Don’t

• Go to bed with wet hair, wet hair is a lot heavier and the extensions will pull on your natural hair and cause a lot of breakage.
• Put conditioner on any of the bonds as this will cause the bonds to slip and fall out.
• Wash your hair extensions more than two times a week as they will dry out because they aren’t attached to the scalp and they are not getting any moisture.
• Use a hairdryer too hot with keratin fusions as they use a co-polymer that is moldable when hot, keep it to cool air and use heat on the bottom.

 

Find Katie on Instagram at beauxcheveuxbykatie and DM her to book a complimentary consultation