Hair extensions, whether real or synthetic, are strands of hair integrated into natural hair to change its appearance temporarily. They add volume, length, and/or color. Human hair extensions are sourced from donors, often from Asian countries like India and China, while synthetic extensions are made from plastic strands designed to mimic human hair.

Synthetic or human hair, depending on the type of extensions, is woven or glued onto the weft, with clips used to attach the extensions to your natural hair.

1. Clip-in Hair Extensions
2. Tape-In Hair Extensions
3. Sew-In Hair Extensions/Weave
4. Fusion & Pre-Bonded Hair Extensions
5. Microlink Hair Extensions
6. Wigs & Hair Pieces

Contrary to popular belief, hair extensions typically don't damage your natural hair when applied and cared for correctly. It's crucial to research and consult with a hair extensions expert to ensure they're suitable for your hair type and that the right products are used.

To maintain your hair extensions, handle them gently with a soft-bristled brush and avoid harsh chemicals or excessive heat, advises Bailey. Limit washing and heat styling to extend their lifespan, recommends Venturin. When washing non-synthetic extensions, use mild shampoo and conditioner, keeping conditioners away from attachment points to prevent buildup. Hydrating extensions is crucial as they lack natural oils, adds Venturin.

Hair extension prices vary depending on the type and quality of the hair, as well as the installation method. According to Brynn Reed from Mirror Mirror Salon, high-quality, hand-tied human hair extensions offer a more natural look and durability but come with a higher price tag. Clip-in human hair extensions typically range from $100 to $350, while professionally installed, longer-lasting extensions can cost anywhere from $350 to over $2,000. Synthetic hair extensions are generally more affordable.

Hair extensions serve multiple purposes. They add length to your hair without the wait for natural growth and provide volume for fuller, more voluminous locks. Additionally, they effectively conceal areas of hair thinning or loss, boosting confidence. At our Lakeside salon, we often advise clients on using hair extensions to cover thin areas. They also save time in your daily routine or when getting ready for events by instantly styling your hair with waves, curls, flicks, or sleekness. Clip-ins have saved us from hair disasters in the past!

Tips for Long Lasting Hair Extensions
1. Brush, Brush, Brush.
2. Wash Carefully.
3. Condition Like A Pro.
4. Let Them Dry Naturally.
5. Blow Dry Carefully.
6. Store With Care.
7. Tie Back.

Hair extensions have different lifespans depending on their type and maintenance. Fusion extensions typically last 3-6 months with proper care, while micro-ring extensions can endure for several months. To maximize the longevity of your extensions, regular maintenance and proper care are essential.

Instant Length and Volume: Hair extensions quickly add length and volume for a luxurious, full-bodied look.

 Seamless Blending: Modern extensions seamlessly blend with your natural hair, matching its color and texture perfectly, even in updos.

 Endless Styling: Experiment with various hairstyles, from beachy waves to chic updos, without commitment.

 Color Without Commitment: Try different hair colors and highlights with extensions, no permanent dye needed.

 Cover Thinning or Short Hair: Conceal thinning or short hair for a fuller, voluminous appearance.

 Low Maintenance, High Impact: Minimal upkeep and versatility make extensions a long-lasting investment in your look.

 Boosted Confidence: Achieve the hair of your dreams and stand taller with the confidence that comes from looking and feeling your best.

Wig density refers to the fullness or volume of a wig when worn. It affects how the wig appears and sits on your head. Lower density results in a thinner wig, while higher density creates a larger and more voluminous look, adding overall fullness to the wig.

A wig is a head covering made from human or animal hair, or a synthetic imitation thereof. The word is short for "periwig". Wigs may be worn to disguise baldness, to alter the wearer's appearance, or as part of certain professional uniforms

Remy Human Hair Wigs.
 Human Hair Wigs.
 Synthetic Hair Wigs.
 Capless Wigs.
 Lace Front Wigs.
 Monofilament Wigs.
 Full Lace Wigs.
 100% Hand-Tied Wigs.
French Drawn Top Wig
Basic Cap Wigs
Non-Slip Wig
Hair Toppers Hairpieces

Wigs offer significant benefits, including protection for your natural hair from damage. If you're weary of heat styling or seeking respite from chemical treatments, wigs provide an excellent alternative. Additionally, wigs can assist individuals dealing with thinning hair or hair loss, offering both coverage and confidence.

Straight human hair wigs are universally flattering, offering a sleek, stylish, and highly versatile look. Easily restyled to fit any occasion, they leave you feeling confident, glamorous, and, above all, comfortable!

With numerous options available, selecting the perfect wig can be challenging. Factors like your face shape and personal preference play a significant role in finding your ideal straight wig.

Curly human hair wigs offer bouncy curls that maintain volume throughout the day without the need for extensive styling. Enjoy gorgeous curls with lasting volume, eliminating the hassle of hours spent curling, spraying, and tweaking to maintain your look.

Round Face Shape:
Opt for styles that end below the chin to elongate the face. Shorter layers around the crown add height and length.

 Square or Angular Face Shape:
Curly wigs soften square or angular faces. Choose a full or half fringe with a mid-length style for balance.

 Heart Face Shape:
Avoid short styles that emphasize a wider forehead. Opt for a slightly longer wig shaped around the face for balance.

 Oval Face Shape:
Most curly styles suit oval faces due to their symmetry. Experiment with both long and short styles to find the perfect fit.’

Determining the price threshold for a real hair wig depends on balancing quality with budget. A high-quality human hair wig typically ranges from $600 to $800. Premium options can exceed $1500 to $2000. Be cautious of quality below this range, as excessively low prices may indicate compromised craftsmanship.

To install Remy hair wigs, follow these general steps: 

Clean and moisturize your natural hair, ensuring it is dry before wearing the wig.
Braid down your natural hair or slick it back to keep it flat, ensuring the wig sits naturally on your head.
Use a wig grip to prevent slipping. If unavailable, apply lace glue or adhesive along your hairline where the lace is and tie it down with a scarf for 15 minutes to secure.
Once in place, trim off any excess lace along the hairline for a natural look, taking care not to cut any hair strands.
Style the wig as desired.
Wear it confidently, and use quality lace glue remover if adhesive was used during installation.

When it comes to human hair wigs, like synthetics, they come in various colors, lengths, and thicknesses, offering endless options that can be overwhelming for first-time buyers. However, fret not, as not all hair is created equal! Indian human hair stands out as the best type for wigs due to its thick, lustrous, and resilient qualities. Ethically sourced Indian hair can last a very long time if properly maintained, often lasting many years. When shopping for human hair wigs, keep an eye out for a few key factors.

A hair frontal, in simple terms, is a hairpiece, hair extension, or wig with a lace base that extends along the front edge of the product. Its purpose is to replicate the appearance of a natural hairline, making extensions blend seamlessly with an individual's own hair. Because of its design, this product is incredibly versatile, suitable for any hairstyle, and offers limitless styling possibilities.

Certain features distinguish a frontal from other hairpieces, such as closures. Identifying a frontal relies on recognizing these distinctive characteristics:

 Base: A frontal typically has a base, often crafted from lace. This lace base is a crucial element of the wig or extension. It creates the illusion of a natural hairline by mimicking the appearance of the forehead or front of the scalp. The lace base spans from one ear to the other (ear to ear) across the hairpiece.

 Hair Strands on the Base: In addition to the lace base, a frontal consists of individual hair strands that are manually knotted onto the base. These strands are essential for achieving a natural look. They blend seamlessly with the rest of the wig or weft bundle and extend from the lace base. The quality of these strands or extensions significantly impacts the durability and overall appearance of the frontal.

To clarify:

 13 x 4: This indicates a lace base that measures 13 inches in width and extends 4 inches backward in length.

 13 x 5: Similarly, this denotes a lace base that is 13 inches wide and extends 5 inches backward in length.

 13 x 6: Contrary to the previous descriptions, this specifies a lace base that is 13 inches wide and 6 inches in length.

Swiss Base: This frontal features a Swiss lace base, known for its durability and acceptable natural appearance. In summary, it's considered average but manageable in terms of quality.

 French Base: The frontal with a French lace base is the least durable option. While it is somewhat manageable, it doesn't have a long lifespan and may not achieve the desired level of realism or natural appearance.

 HD Lace Base: The HD lace base is made of HD Lace material and is becoming increasingly popular in the market due to its exceptional durability and quality. According to hair experts and customers, this lace base is the most realistic and durable of all bases. However, it comes with a higher cost compared to other options.

Straight: A straight frontal features type 1 (straight) strands extending from its base, typically appearing pin-straight in texture.

 Wavy: This type of frontal consists of strands with a wavy pattern extending from its base.

 Curly: Curly frontals are characterized by strands with spiral or ringlet patterns, providing a curly texture to the hairpiece.

 Kinky Frontal: The kinky frontal showcases tight curl patterns reminiscent of African or African American hair textures. These strands often have minimal definition and are ideal for mimicking type 4 curls.

A closure style is designed to replicate a natural parting, serving as its primary purpose. Unlike a frontal, a closure does not mimic the hairline nor extend from end to end. Instead, its base resembles a patch located in the middle of the extension, wig, or hairpiece. Closures can be part of a weft bundle, making them suitable for sew-in applications, or they can be standalone hairpieces used to complete the look of an extension. Closure wigs are also available, offering additional styling options.

 Closures are ideal for achieving a seamless blend and natural-looking parting, making them perfect for women seeking a realistic hairstyle finish.

 While hair frontals provide more versatility and styling possibilities, closures have limitations when it comes to certain hairstyles, particularly up-dos. Despite being affordable and practical, closures may not be suitable for those desiring elaborate up-do styles.

 Different types of closures exist, each serving distinct purposes and offering unique features. While they may appear similar to hair frontals, closures possess distinct characteristics. To identify a closure, here are some features to look for.

Base:
Similar to a hair frontal, a closure also features a lace base with strands attached to it. However, unlike a frontal, the closure's lace base is located at the center of the hairpiece, extension, or wig, rather than running from end to end. Typically, the closure's lace base is square-shaped, with equal width and length, resembling a patch in the middle of the hairpiece. Therefore, a frontal generally has a wider base than a closure.

 The lace base is designed to blend seamlessly with your natural skin tone, creating the illusion of a realistic parting that appears to be your own scalp.

 Similarly to frontals, closures come with different types of bases, including HD lace or Swiss Base, as well as lace or silk bases.

 Silk Base: A silk base closure offers a highly natural appearance and is neater and more realistic than a lace base. Unlike lace closures, silk base closures do not require plucking or adjustment of strands along the parting line to achieve a natural look.

 However, despite its pleasing appearance and high durability, silk bases may not lay flat on the scalp due to their thicker material, potentially causing installation issues and preventing the desired natural look.

 Lace Base:
Lace base closures are widely popular and commonly used. They are durable, comfortable, easy to maintain, and practical. The thin nature of the lace base allows for a flat installation, ensuring a natural appearance. Lace base closures also provide comfort by allowing hair to flow into the extension freely. This type of closure is suitable for both beginners and experts and is considered a standard choice.

A closure can be categorized into different types based on its parting style:

 Mid-part: This type of closure features a parting line in the center or middle of the extension or hairpiece. It is the least versatile option as it limits styling possibilities.

Three-part: A three-part closure offers three distinct parting options, providing flexibility in styling your hair.

Free-part: With a free-part closure, you have the most versatility as you can create various hairstyles and partings. However, achieving up-dos may be challenging with a free-part closure, as it typically requires the use of a hair frontal for such styles.

The texture of the strands can also help identify different types of closures. Closures come in various textures, determined by the strands of the extension.

These textures include:
 Straight closures
Wavy closures
Kinky and curly closures

The duration of a hair closure's lifespan depends on its installation method. Here's a brief breakdown:

Closure Wig or Hairpiece: Offers flexibility as it can be easily removed daily for maintenance. 

Closure Sew-in: Lasts around 6 to 12 weeks, requiring maintenance every 2 to 3 weeks. It's crucial to remove and reinstall the closure every two weeks to maintain both the closure and natural hair.

Before purchasing a closure, consider what makes it the most natural-looking option. The goal of a closure or hair frontal is to seamlessly finish a hairstyle and emulate natural hair. To achieve the most natural appearance, several factors come into play:

Type of Lace Base: Opt for closures with HD lace for the most realistic look. While Swiss lace is also effective, HD lace closures provide the best natural appearance.

Installation Method: For a natural look, choose a sew-in closure. This method ensures a secure and flat installation, enhancing the natural appearance.

Material and Texture of Strands: Ensure the closure's texture and material complement your natural hair. For example, curly closures should blend seamlessly with similar-textured bundles. Avoid synthetic closures as they lack natural appearance and durability.

Quality of Strands: Select closures made from high-quality human hair, such as Remy or Virgin cuticle extensions. Though pricier, these options offer the most natural look and durability.

By considering these factors, you'll achieve a natural-looking closure that seamlessly blends with your hairstyle.

When considering the lifespan of a lace frontal, quality and maintenance are key factors.

Product Quality: A high-quality lace frontal with a good lace base and human hair strands can last up to a year.

Durability After Installation: Frontals typically require glue for installation, making them less durable than closures. After installation, a frontal can usually be worn for 2-4 weeks before the glue starts to weaken. It's crucial to remove the frontal after the fourth week to prevent damage to your natural hairline.

While frontals can be reused for a while due to their quality, they're not as durable as lace closures. Exercise caution when using frontals to avoid damaging your natural hairline.

Size of the Base:
A hair frontal boasts a larger base spanning from ear to ear, while a closure features a simple square base in the middle of the extension. Frontals typically measure 13 x 4 inches, offering more versatility, whereas closures typically have a standard base size of 4 x 4 inches.

Versatility:
Frontals allow for various styling options like ponytails and French braids, thanks to their larger size and structure. However, closures, while offering natural-looking parting lines, may limit certain styles due to their smaller base.

Cost:
Frontals tend to be more expensive than closures due to their larger size and more intricate production process.

In summary, if you prioritize a flawless hairline and styling versatility, frontals are the way to go. But if you seek a natural look with simpler parting, closures suffice. Adding baby hair and edges to closures can enhance their natural appearance. Ultimately, your choice between closure and frontal depends on your preferences and priorities outlined in this article.