There are numerous benefits to extensions, the obvious benefit is added length. However, they also add fullness to fine hair, and with the wide assortment of colors available, can be used for highlighting purposes as well. They are also great for people who don't have the patience to grow out a short hairstyle.
In the old days, extensions were applied with messy glues, or they were woven into the hair. Weaving is still a popular art form, but it is impractical for people with fine and silky hair. Many of the latest extension systems are applied with the aid of a heating appliance, making it the preferred method for Caucasian hair types. The hair used for this method can be human or synthetic, or even a blend of both. The extensions are stands of hair that are bound by a tip made of a material that will be first melted with the appliance, then bonded to the client's hair. I have a heavy preference to SoCap, an Italian-based manufacturer of hair extensions that available in a wide range of colors and textures. SoCap extensions are sold in bundles consisting of 25 extensions, which are bound by a tip made from keratin, the protein that hair is comprised of. These tips are color-blended to match the clients hair.
The application method for SoCap is virtually the same as Great Lengths and UltraStrands, which are the most popular manufacturers of human-hair extensions. The application begins in the nape area, where a small section of hair is selected. This hair fits into a groove on the extension near the root area. The heating tool, which is much like a soldering iron or flat iron, clamps down over the tip, causing it to melt. While the tip is soft, it is rolled tightly between the fingers, causing it to bond to the client's own hair. The extensions are applied in rows, working up to back of the head to the crown area. Extensions should not be applied to the top of the head or along the hairline in order to remain undetectable. They should also not be applied too close to the scalp, because doing so will cause the extensions to stick out, rather than to lie flat.
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