Different Types of Hair Extensions.

Those of you who have had good hair extensions before, and are completely and utterly in love with them (like myself) will have a general knowledge of how to look after them, and should be aware that they are slightly more work than looking after your own hair, but that most of the time, the end result is worth it.

Sexy Hair = Feeling Sexy = Boosted Confidence = All Round Happiness :D 

I would like to discuss in this blog, the differences between the different types of hair available on the market, so that those who are considering getting hair extensions, or that already have had hair extensions can find out a little bit more about their options before having them applied. I will have another blog written soon about the different application method options.

I have naturally very thin hair which tends to split easily, and when it grows past my shoulders, looks kind of pathetic because there's not enough volume to do anything with it. This is genetic for me unfortunately, and there's nothing I can do about it...
except either have a short hair style (which I don't like at all), or wear hair extensions!

This is me, without and with hair extensions.

I have been applying and wearing hair extensions for the last 5 years. I have tried almost every method and different type of hair imaginable. Some has been absolutely fantastic! And some has been total shite and kind of f*cked up my hair for a while.

So I would like to discuss here the different types of hair available, what I have found to be great, and what I will recommend you stay clear of if you are looking for quality hair extensions to be a part of your life. 

** Please keep in mind all things discussed here have stemmed from my own, and my clients personal experiences only, and I am certainly not having a dig at any specific ethnicity, companies or products, these are simply things I have found from my own research and experience. If you have any other opinions that you feel are worth mentioning, please leave a comment. **

1) ASIAN HAIR EXTENSIONS. I personally, have never had a good experience with Asian hair extensions. I do know people who have managed to wear them and look after them for up to a year, but myself personally has never been able to put up with them for longer than 2 months. They seem to become very dry, knotty, and hard to manage. I think that this is because the hair has been highly processed (obviously most Asian hair is naturally black - but most of the hair used for extensions is bleached very light and then dyed to popular colours using fabric dye - not hair dye, and then coated with a silicone treatment), it feels great at first, but quickly becomes quite unmanageable. Also if you are of Caucasian descent like myself, you will find the hair just doesn't really tend to blend well with your natural hair, as it has a different texture. I do have several Asian clients though who like to wear the Asian hair extensions, although they still tend to need to replace them with new ones around every 3-6 months.

So much hair on the market, being sold online (usually for quite cheap prices), and through many suppliers who simply advertise their hair as "100% Human Hair" (and don't mention where the hair is from) is Asian hair. I don't personally recommend it or use it in our salons (we used to), but we had too many complaints about the hair quality that we stopped using it. Asian hair can be more affordable than other hair types, although as I mentioned previously, usually doesn't last as long, and can be quite difficult to maintain.

There are suppliers and salons out there that will sell you Asian hair but will tell you it is better quality, because it does feel fantastic at first (be wearing of overly shiny & silky smooth hair coated in silicone - it washes off and doesn't last) so it can be very difficult to know for sure what you are getting. I know this because it has happened to me several times. This is why I always test every new product on myself and my close friends, so I know what the quality is like over time and how long it will last.

2) INDIAN HAIR EXTENSIONS. Can be really good or really bad. A lot of well known (and expensive) hair extension salons use Indian Hair. It has a good reputation for being easy to maintain, soft, light and long lasting (provided you treat it right of-course). However I have had the unfortunate experience of using Indian hair that tends to shed a lot (low quality bonding), or get a lot of split ends and tangles. It is normal if some hair comes out at first after or during application, although when it continues to happen throughout the life of your hair extensions, can be annoying and costly to replace. I suggest if you are dealing with this to discuss re-bonding options with your hair extension technician. 

We do use Indian hair extensions on our clients and we also supply it wholesale to other salons and technicians around Australia. We have our Indian hair custom made to our specifications including making sure the bonds are high quality and the extensions will not shed. It took us about 3 years of samples and testing to find a supplier we were happy with. Our clients tend to get around 6 months to 1 year out of the Indian hair if it is looked after correctly. The main difference between Indian hair and Russian hair, is that the Indian hair tends to go a bit more fluffy and requires more frequent brushing / styling.

 Client during and after full head of Indian Hair.

3) RUSSIAN HAIR EXTENSIONS. I have found Russian hair extensions to be the creme de la creme of the hair extension world. The hair seems to stay soft and easy to manage for a lot longer than other types of hair. It can still get dry (all hair extensions generally will since they are dead hair - always remember this and don't expect them to just be like your real hair) but when using the right hair care products, the hair will stay silky smooth and look and feel far more natural than the other types of hair. Russian hair is generally more expensive than the other hair types, although can last for up to or over twice as long, saving you money in the long run if you intend to wear your hair extensions for a long time. It is also far less of a hassle if you are not someone who wants to put a lot of effort into your hair every single day (like myself). I like to do my hair nicely on weekends and some week days, but there are also many days that I am just too busy (or tired) to bother to do anything with my hair, so I simply brush it and put it into a pony tail / bun / or clip for the day and it just stays there nicely until I take it out at the end of the day. I also find with Russian hair the hair care routine is less strict as the hair is far more forgiving if you don't follow set hair extension care rules, for example, I sleep with my Russian hair in a pony tail (24" hair), I let it air dry, and I swim in the pool or beach with it completely out, and it still manages to stay in good condition.

 Client after application of Full Head Russian Hair.

We generally try and recommend Russian hair extensions to most of our clients as we know how much nicer it is, although we still like to provide the Indian hair as a cheaper option. We also sell clip in hair extensions in the Indian hair, for people who only like to have extensions on special occasions, or who aren't ready to make the permanent commitment just yet...

Here's a photo of me (posing with Bob Marley's Star in LA) on a day where I just
let my Russian hair extensions air dry, and brushed them a couple of times.

If you are looking to have hair extensions applied soon, or if you are a hair extension technician wondering what type of hair to use, I do personally recommend you either go with Indian or Russian hair, try and avoid buying cheap hair from ebay - you really have no idea what you're going to end up with, and PLEASE have them applied professionally and know what you need to do to look after them, otherwise you really do risk some serious damage to your natural hair.

Our online supply store is now online at: www.hotstuffbeauty.com.au/shop
Or you can give us a call / txt or email if you have any questions.
0407 825 064 / sales@hotstuffbeauty.com.au

Thanks for reading :)

Carissa xo

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