Hair Extensions – How Do I Know What I’m Getting?

A guide to choosing a hair extension technician and what happens when things go wrong

The supply and fitting of hair extensions is not something that is currently regulated by a governing body. Commercial endorsements including the promotion of any product, service or publication fall outside of the responsibility of the government so they have no legal obligation to regulate the industry unfortunately.

This leaves the industry open to anyone that wants to call themselves a Hair Extension Technician. We’ve all heard the horror stories in the media about the pitfalls of hair extensions. The media have a canny way of sensationalising stories and creating a moral panic among the general public.

Every day 1000s of hair extensions are successfully fitted by fully trained, highly qualified professionals.  However, this side of the industry never gets reported in the media because, let’s face it, professionals doing their job properly does not make for a particularly interesting story in a newspaper!

Here are our top tips for ensuring your hair extensions are fitted safely by a trained professional:

• Don’t be afraid to ask to see proof of the technician’s training. Professionals that have received comprehensive training will be more than happy to prove this to you by letting you see their certificate. Make a note of where they were trained and do a quick Google search to check out the training centre.
• Ask to see a portfolio of their previous work. A trained professional will be proud of the work they do and will be more than happy to show you examples of their work.
• For your first time it’s recommended that you use a technician that operates from an established hair salon. If it’s a well-known salon they’re not likely to let an untrained hair extension technician operate from their premises as poor quality work could damage the salon’s reputation.
• It’s recommended that your hair extension technician is also a trained hairdresser as they’ll be able to shape the extensions properly to blend in with your existing hair.
•  Good hair extension technician will do a consultation with your before fitting your extensions. They’ll be looking at the quality of your existing hair to see if you’re a suitable candidate for extensions.
• Don’t be afraid to ask plenty of questions before your choose your technician, if they’re fully trained they’ll be confident in answering your questions.
• If you have any friends that have had real hair extensions fitted it’s a good idea to ask them for their advice and recommendations.
• Do as much research as possible. It’s worth investing a little more time and effort into finding the best technician and understanding the industry terminology before you go ahead with the extensions. If they’re not fitted properly they can cause damage to your existing hair and scalp so it’s worth being over-cautious.

For more information please visit Foxy Hair Extensions / For bookings please visit getfoxy.co.uk 

How To Care For Your Real Hair Extensions

How To Care For Your Real Hair Extensions

Having real human hair extensions fitted can be expensive, so it’s important to look after them well to get the best lifespan from them. With a little time and effort you could get up to a year’s wear from your real hair extensions. Here are our top tips for looking after your extensions:

Brushing your hair – It’s a good idea to invest in a hair brush that has been specially designed for hair extensions. The bristles on a regular hair brush may catch the hair extension bonds at the roots and damage them. A hair extension brush will glide easily over the bonds without snagging them. When brushing your hair you should hold the bonds and try to brush as gently as possible. Remember the extensions are bonded to your own hair, so if you pull too hard you could pull your own hair out at the roots. It’s recommended that you brush your hair extensions no more than 3 times per day. Take a look at our specially formulated extensions brush here: Brush £9.95

Washing your hair – It’s advisable to wait at least 48 hours after having your extensions fitted before you consider washing your hair. After that, try not to wash your hair more than 2 to 3 times per week as this can dry the extensions out and make them brittle. When it comes to washing your hair it’s recommended that you brush it gently first to get rid of any tangles as these will be harder to brush out when it’s wet. Ensure that you use shampoo and conditioner that have been specially designed for people with hair extensions. Wash your hair with your head upright i.e. standing up in the shower as opposed to hanging your head over the bath. Apply conditioner to the ends and mid-length of your hair extensions, do not apply it at the roots as this can soften and weaken the bond which can cause the extensions to come out. Take a look at our specially formulated extensions shampoo here: Shampoo £7.80 / Conditioner £7.80. 

Drying your hair – Do not brush your hair while it’s wet! Use a leave-in condition, or allow your hair to air dry and slowly detangle with a wide-toothed comb, holding the bonds so as not to place too much stress on your roots. Section your hair and dry the extensions carefully, making sure the bonds are fully dry. Don’t use the highest setting on your hair dryer as this can dry your extensions out, and weaken the bonds.

Styling your hair – Real hair extensions can be styled the same as your regular hair. Straightening irons, curling tongs, crimpers etc are safe to use on your extensions. However, it is highly advisable to use a heat protection spray before heat treating your hair extensions. Hairspray, serums and gels can be used on your extensions, but avoid the actual bonds as products can weaken them. Real hair extensions should be safe to dye as long as you avoid the bonds. However, most natural hair extension wefts are made up of multi-tonal colours to give a natural look, so the hair colourant may take differently on different wefts. It’s best to have anything like that done at a reputable salon to ensure the best result. Why not take a look at our specially formulated extensions serum as well? £7.80.

Sleeping with hair extensions – Ensure that your hair is fully dry before sleeping. Going to bed with wet or damp hair extensions can weaken and damage the bonds. It’s also advisable to tie your hair up gently in a loose plait or low ponytail. This will help to stop your hair getting tangled in the night, thus reducing the amount of brushing and styling you’ll need to do in the morning.

 For more information visit our website: www.foxyhairextensions.net 

Real Hair Extensions Vs Synthetic Hair Extensions

Real Hair Extensions Vs Synthetic Hair Extensions

There are a number of pros and cons to real hair extensions and synthetic hair extensions. Which one you choose ultimately depends on your own personal preference. Obviously you’ll be using them to extend your existing hair, but will this be just on special occasions and nights out? Or do you plan on wearing your hair extensions daily? Here are the pros and cons of both types of hair extension:

Real Hair Extensions – Pros

• Since they are made from real human hair they are almost impossible to detect by sight or touch. They have the softness, shine and flexibility of real hair.
• Real hair extensions can be styled the same as your own hair as they are heat resistant.
• They can be dyed to match your own hair, just be careful not to colour treat them too much as they have been pre-treated with chemicals before they are distributed. Excessive colouring could damage them.
• Real hair extensions can last up to a year if they are well looked after.

Real Hair Extensions – Cons

• They are more expensive than synthetic hair extensions.
• They are not as easy to maintain and style, as with regular hair, a style such as curls will drop out after a few hours.

Synthetic Hair Extensions – Pros

• They are able to hold a style better than real hair, even in rain and humidity.
• They add more volume to your hair than real hair extensions.
• Synthetic hair extensions are more affordable than real hair extensions.

Synthetic Hair Extensions – Cons

• They do not have good resistance to heat and are likely to melt if straightening or curling tongs are too hot.
• Synthetic hair extensions cannot be colour treated.
• They typically last between one and three months before they need replacing

For more information visit our website:
Foxy Hair Extensions 

Foxy Ombre Shades

Why We’re Embracing The Never-Ending Ombre Trend

Ombre is still going strong, and with the recent popularity growth of pastel hair colours, what could be better than pastel ombre colours? Loved by the likes of Kim, Khloe and Kourtney Kardashian, Kate Beckinsale, Rihanna, Jessica Alba and many more, we have been completely inspired to help continue this beautiful trend! Not only have A-listers set the trend, but ombre is also strongly loved by bloggers worldwide, with the main colour preference being dark chocolate and tawny brown.

What is ombre exactly? 
Ombre hair is a lighter and softer version of dip dyed hair. Instead of having an abrupt colour change at the mid-length of hair and ends, ombre gradually transitions the hair from darker to lighter shades and value of the same hue.
Ombre is the ideal solution for spicing up and re-vamping your look without undergoing a complete colour change.

Do you want the ombre look?Now you too can spice up your look with our NEW ombre pre-bonded extensions without the dye! We have 5 gorgeous shades of pre-bonded, flat-tipped grade 4A Remy hair available for fitting in our shop at the Metro Centre, Newcastle. Alternatively, if you’re a salon, you can purchase the extensions at Foxyhairextensions.net

 For more information please visit: www.foxyhairextensions.net 

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