Weft and I-Tip Hair Extensions- what will work best for you

Dear Reader,

You loved my last blog post Hair Extensions: Why I Choose I-Tips Over K-Tips so much that I decided to continue to blab about what goes on in my salon chair. Quickly, I will tell you about my background with hair extensions (clout and proving to you that I know a thang or two about a thang or two). I've worn hair extensions on and off since junior high, I've applied hair extensions to clients for 10 years, and I've taken multiple certification classes in "All Four" methods of hair extension application. I digress, let's dig in and find out if you're better suited for Wefts, I-Tips, or both!

The "Hand-Tied" Discussion

Weft hair extensions come in all shapes and sizes. Six-eight years ago, "hand-tied" wefts were all the rage. These wefts are extremely delicate, cannot be cut (must be folded), and are stacked onto your beaded row between 3-6 times. All that "hand-tied" means is that the wefts are made by someone, by hand. It has nothing to do with the actual application of the extensions. Personally, these wefts are ridiculous. They don't hold up well, the stacking makes the row feel bulky, uneven, and uncomfortable. Since these wefts cannot be cut, the edges of the row are usually folded over themselves which makes the whole thing even bulkier....it's going to be a no for me.

Wefts I Use Behind the Chair

A LOT of my clients wear weft hair extensions. The wefts my clients wear are sturdy, lay flat to the head, and it's incredibly rare that I hear from my clients in between move ups with any issues. I've had clients wear wefts for eight years straight with no issues! Wefts and I have been work besties for a long time. Below, I'm going to list out some of my thoughts on why they will or won't work for you:

• Maximum Coverage

  Weft hair extensions give a LOT of coverage, in a little amount of surface area. Wefts lay in rows like headbands across the back of the head. You can wear a lottttt of hair, or just 1 row for fullness. Wefts are great for clients with Medium to Thick Hair that is able to provide ample coverage overtop of the wefts.

All my work shown

• No Exposed Beads

  Wefts are applied over a beaded row, making the beads totally invisible. The wefts line up perfectly with your scalp when installed, making them extremely undetectable. Even when exposed, the wefts should not stand out!

• Versatile

  You can wear wefts in a ponytail, braids, and other styles. When placed correctly, wefts are able to be treated just like your own hair.

WHEN I Prefer I-Tip Hair Extensions

As you've read so far, wefts are great! Although, I feel just as passionately about I-Tip hair extensions and could not imagine my career without them. Let me bullet-point some thoughts out below:

• I-Tips Can Be Added to Wefts!

  I-Tips can be used to add dimension (different colors) to your current wefts. This is not only budget friendly (as I-Tips come in much smaller pack sizes than wefts), but also a lot of fun! Let's say you've had your wefts for 4 months, the hair still feels great, but you want to add some highlights for the summer! With the option of ordering I-Tips, this is super easy to do. I have had a few clients make this really fun! We've done blonde I-Tips on black extensions, copper pieces, the list goes on. These are my secret weapon for all of my extension clients that get bored and want to change things up.

• I-Tips Are Amazing for Fine/Thin Hair

  I cannot even begin to tell you how many new clients come to me with wefts from another salon and have fine hair talking about how their "wefts are always exposed" or they feel heavy. NOT everyone has the hair density to hold onto a weft. I-Tips are much lighter, smaller, and easier to hide. The beads that attach the extensions are even called "micro-links" because they are about half the size of the beads used during weft installation. If you have fine/thin hair and never thought hair extensions would work for you, I-Tips are your answer.

• Natural Movement and Scalp Access

  Another reason some of my clients have moved from Wefts to I-Tips is because they felt like the wefts were stiffer. I-Tips are individually spread throughout the hair which gives them a more natural movement, while also giving you better access to your scalp when shampooing, itching, etc.

Other Things to Consider

While there are pros and cons to both hair extension options, only you can really decide what will work best for your lifestyle by experience. I have fine haired clients that are die hard Weft fans and clients with a lot of hair that love their I-Tips! Getting your hair done is meant to be fun and enjoyable, and I suggest giving hair extensions a try at least one time in your life! During your hair extension consultation, we will really dive deep in a collaborative way to pick what extensions will work best for you. I know there is a lot of "social media noise" on hair extensions and it can become overwhelming to decide what direction you want to go. Meeting with a professional, experienced hairstylist that can customize to YOUR specific scalp, hair type, texture, etc. is the key to a beautiful and successful result.

Thinking about hair extensions a lot recently? It might be time to set up a Hair Extensions Consultation with me! Pop yourself onto my schedule for a 30-minute chat, look at color swatches and/or get shade matched, and ask any and all questions. Book below!

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