By Extension . . .

Happy Fall!

Just a few years ago it was rare to find a client familiar with hair extensions at all. Today most clients have heard of them but are still unaware of exactly how extensions could enhance their own style. Despite all of the media attention; there is next to no coverage which offers solid facts about extensions, how widely they’re used today, and most importantly, how to choose an extensions brand or qualified stylist.

As a result, many myths and misconceptions swirl around the service and the clients who could most benefit from hair extensions often shy away from asking questions. In my role as Euro So.Cap. USA’s president I spend quite a bit of time correcting the wide range of incomplete, out-of-date and incorrect information that is presented about hair extensions in both the salon environment and on the internet. I face the same challenges when meeting new clients at my salon and studio. To assist you in starting this important dialogue with your clients and address misconceptions about hair extensions they may not even know they have, below you’ll find the top three myths I hear most often.

MYTH #1 – HAIR EXTENSIONS ARE ONLY FOR MODELS OR CELEBRITIES
That’s putting it nicely. Usually I hear, “…but I don’t want to look like a stripper.”
While it’s true that Hollywood discovered the versatility of hair extensions long before they were considered mainstream in the US, hundreds of thousands of women throughout Europe have been relying on extensions for decades. In fact, hair extensions were considered a European secret long before Hollywood jumped on the bandwagon.

High-profile celebrities are NOT the typical hair extensions client –the largest extension demographic worldwide is the female salon client from 25-45 looking to enhance volume, not necessarily add length. Bear in mind that most extensions clients will only require a partial installation not a full head – the most popular uses are the addition of volume for increased thickness, precise chemical-free color, and additional length to assist in quickly transitioning from one style to the next. Partial installations are also an affordable option for client’s with an eye on their salon spending.

MYTH #2 – HAIR EXTENSIONS WILL DAMAGE MY HAIR
“Your own hair is pulled out and breaks when you get them removed.”
Like any other technical salon service, hair extensions must be used properly by a trained professional. To avoid costly mistakes, it is crucial that any stylist offering extensions receives hands-on training from a reputable trainer. Additionally, selecting extensions with a non-damaging keratin bond, installing in the proper pattern, at the proper distance from the scalp, utilizing a spacer and applying the correct chemical-free removal solution and tool for the brand you’ve chosen will ensure the optimum impact on a client’s natural hair.

Used according to manufacturer’s instructions by a stylist certified in extensions, high quality hair extensions contribute to the overall health and vitality of natural hair.

MYTH #3 – EVERYONE WILL KNOW I HAVE EXTENSIONS
“Hair extensions look fake or artificial.”
Hair extensions technology has greatly improved over the years – clients need to know that today’s extensions bear little resemblance to the first products on the market. Stylists must decipher the difference among hundreds of hair extensions brands to choose the best for their clients – and new ones launch every month! Strands are available featuring synthetic hair, incorrectly treated non-Remys human hair, beautifully pigmented high quality hair and everything between. It’s crucial to stay on top of learning the current technology to guarantee that your clients enjoy natural-looking, hassle-free, long-lasting hair extensions.

Installing top-quality extension products with features like high quality human hair, a nearly invisible keratin bond and double-pigmented color ensures that only you and your client will know she has extensions.

For the next several weeks, just for fun I encourage you to simply start a conversation about hair extensions with every client in your chair – whether they’d be a candidate for extensions is not important. If you need to brush up on technology for yourself, don’t forget to consult the hair technology section of our website. I bet you’ll be surprised about all of the misconceptions and misinformation that you hear - I always am. Feel free to submit or post the most outrageous ones, along with how you set the record straight, of course!

Tony