Great Lengths Top Hair Extension Hacks for Stylists
Simple tricks and tweaks can make any Great Lengths service that much faster, easier and more creative. We asked our top stylists how they’ve improved or modified their hair extension business for the better. Here’s a collection of the simplest, effective hacks they use in all their hair extension applications:
Pre-Washing The Hair Extensions
Gently washing the extensions and leaving them to air-dry on a towel or in a hair stand works wonders for volume. Says salon owner Steven Candeliera of Exhibit A Salon, “When you receive your Great Lengths hair it arrives very flat and smooth. By washing them and letting them air dry, they get a beautiful natural wave and will instantly have more wow factor for your guest as you are applying them.”
Pre-Blending Two Colours Of Keratin Bonds
“Sometimes, when you really want the most blended effect, you can cut the bonds in half and fuse them together. This makes the highlight/low light effect incredibly subtle and gives the client an all over brightening effect.” says Remington Meyer of Edwards and Co salon.
If you are undertaking the blending of colours Remington advises that you must match density to density, ie. the two standard bonds must both cut down to the same size.
This effect is also fantastic to create a shadow root or balayage for pre-blending the colours. Helpful when you don’t have the perfect colour or when you have a last minute appointment where you need to use the colours you have.
Blending Two Colours In Two Lengths
It’s also possible to take the pre-blending to another level by combining two different colours and lengths. This effect will give internal density with the shorter piece. Because the ends of Great Lengths are blunt cut, be sure to texturise the shorter strand with thinning shears by slide cuts. Additionally, if you are doing a root shadow, for example and the client’s hair will grow in dark, make sure to fold the bond with the darker strand on the outside so that the bond will remain concealed and match with the client’s hair.
Creating Mini Bonds For Delicate Areas
Forgot to order your minis? Not a problem, says stylist Pam Stewart of Xtreme Lengths salon. “Client’s hair varies in thickness and condition depending on where on the head you are applying bonds. Normally, client’s hair will be thinner and more delicate around the temples given the heat and styling that hair has endured. In these particular cases, I like to change up my bonds to make them extremely fine. That way I can still match the density of the client’s hair to the density of the extension and apply tiny micros that have a big impact without stressing the natural hair.”
By carefully cutting down the middle of the “V” in the standard bond it’s possible to make a smaller bond. Cutting a standard bond into quarters is also possible. The quarter bond will be so small it will be difficult to set the client’s hair atop it unless your prewarm the bond to spread it. Then, enveloping the hair will be easier. One world of caution that you must be careful not to overheat the tiny bond as it will cause shedding if done.
Anti-Tap Water’s Secret Use
Anti-Tap Water has always been our stylists’ go-to for combating frizz and dryness in extensions but did you know that it has other uses? Anti-Tap Water is also a fantastic post-colour service to smooth and seal the cuticle. Because Anti-Tap Water’s pH sits at 3.2 it is much more acidic than that tap water which sits at around 6-8 pH.
After a colour service, our clients’ cuticles may still remain slightly open and this can cause the hair to frizz and feel ‘swollen’. A good dose of diluted Anti-tap Water will close the cuticle and leave the hair smooth and sleek.
