Hair extensions have come a long way in recent years.
And with the fashion for long and even ultra-long hair, hair extensions are more desired than ever before.
Ugly Duckling is very proud to announce that we have just launched some very high quality Remy tape-in extensions.
These are pre-bleached and colored blonde to help you color match the extensions with your Ugly Duckling blonde colored hair.
In this article we are going to try and give you some basic, general knowledge about hair extensions.
And we'll also zoom in our our new extensions, and how to best work with them.
What Are Hair Extensions are Made From?
Hair extensions can be either synthetic or made from natural hair.
Synthetic Hair Extensions
This type of hair extension uses a blend of materials which usually consist of various types of plastic.
Many of the hair extensions you see that are sold in beauty stores are in fact synthetic.
In general, we don't recommend that you use synthetic hair extensions.
They typically look fake. You can't use heat on them and they don't last well either.
Also, they won't take on color and bleach.
They also tend to get worse and worse looking over time as well.
So all in all, not a good option.
Natural Human Hair Extensions
Natural human hair extensions are will look more natural.
However, even here, you need to be careful.
Many sellers of natural human hair extensions blend together hair from different people.
Such hair can be very inconsistent.
Remy Hair Extensions
What you need is a natural hair extension collected from a single donor.
And you need to make sure that the hairs have all been arranged so that the hairs are running in the same direction.
And thirdly and most importantly, the cuticle layer should be totally intact.
If the hair extension fulfils all these conditions, it is considered “Remy”.
This is the best type of hair extension there is. It will look natural, it will last long. And you can color it or style it using heat as much as you like.
Which type of Hair Extension
Now that we have dealt with what the hair extension should be made of, the next question is, how should they be fixed onto the hair?
Here there are at least 4 options that you can consider:
Clip-In Hair Extensions
Clip-in hair extensions give you the ability to temporarily add length or volume for daily styles or special events.
With practice, you can apply and adjust them at home.
They usually come in single strand pieces or a row of hair with clips attached to them to clip into your hair.
They are quickly and easily attached and removed and when attached properly, are the least damaging of hair extension options.
Tape-In Hair Extensions
Tape-in hair extensions are pre-taped wefts, usually in a single section, that are applied to a fine section of your hair.
They need to be applied very close to the root and therefore require a stylist to apply them.
These type of extensions are able to be removed in the salon or by a competent hairstylist.
A solvent is usually required for that.
And they can be re-glued or re-taped with the help of a professional as well
Tape-ins usually last about 4-8 weeks depending on your home care routine and lifestyle habits.
Sew-In Hair Extensions
Sew-in extensions also known as a weave, are long wefts of hair that are sewn into your hair.
This is done by placing a corn row or braid on scalp and then using a weaving method to sew the weft into your hair.
This option is better for thicker or highly textured hair as it places too much tension on fine or thin hair types.
You can wear this type of extension for about 6-8 weeks.
Fusion/Bonded Hair Extensions
Fusion hair extensions have become a very popular extension method recently.
They use smaller single strand wefts that are bonded by keratin or glue.
Using a meticulous application method, small sections of the hair are sectioned and with heat, the extension is then bonded to your hair.
This option creates a very natural-looking appearance.
This option is best applied by a trained professional and can last up to 3-4 months with proper maintenance.
Once taken out, the hair is then discarded.
Micro-Link Hair Extensions
Micro-link or micro-bead hair extensions are similar in size to fusion/bonded hair extensions but are attached using a small metal bead that is cramped on individual sections of the hair instead of bonded.
This is a less permanent than fusion/bonded and the hair can usually be reused.
This option lasts about 2-3 months, at this time they would need to be repositioned to keep up with the rate of hair growth.
What Length of Hair Extension Should I Get?
Most women looking to get hair extensions are looking for luscious long hair.
We would recommend 18 to 21 inches as the right length.
Which exact length you go for will depend of course on the length your hair is right now.
Plus your desired look, plus of course other factors such as your height and your personal style.
But 18 - 21 inches is about right for most women we would suggest.
Can I color and bleach my hair extensions?
Only if they are of high quality - Natural, Remy hair which has been correctly lightened can be relightened and recolored.
Ugly Duckling's new hair extensions are pre-bleached and toned
But you can re-color them if you wish.
Ugly Duckling hair extensions
Ugly Duckling hair extensions are made from finest Remy hair.
This means they are made 100% natural, and cuticle aligned to prevent matting when they are washed and combed.
They are pre-bleached and toned to some of Ugly Duckling's best-selling blonde shades.
Which means you can color your hair blonde with Ugly Duckling color, and match the exact color with your Ugly Duckling extensions.
They will last for a very long time - up to 2 years.
They will need to be taken off and re-positioned every 6-9 weeks as the hair grows out.
When doing this, you will need to apply tape removal lotion to take off the extensions.
Use fresh tape to re-apply.
