Long hair extensions are in and are here to stay. Installing extensions on a client can be daunting at times. Hair extensions give beautiful volume and length, but achieving the final results takes a lot of steps. Knowing how to effortlessly blend hair extensions into a client's hair is more difficult than it appears, aside from color matching and determining the proper length.
You’ve installed a brand new pack of extensions into your client, and now you’re thinking what is next? We sat down with one of our educators, Danielle. She is a master and precision based hair cutter who can make any extension blend. She shares her best insights with you on how to create the perfect blend every time.
Most of the time when clients get extensions, they’re trying to fix an insecurity they may have. Blending extensions is super important. If they’re not blended properly that may cause another insecurity which isn’t the goal. The goal is to have the most natural look possible.
Having proper technique is what is going to achieve the effortless blend. With technique there should be no differentiation between a client’s natural hair and the extensions. Dani likes to use dry cutting shears for cutting extensions using a slide cutting technique. Picking up any heavy spots to create better movement.
It’s necessary to take out weight in the client’s natural hair when it’s extremely blunt and or thick. You want to make sure you add enough soft texture in the client’s hair for a seamless blend. Sometimes you have to precut the natural hair before you do your install using texturizing shears, slide cutting or using a razor, depending on how thick the hair is. You typically just focus on the mid lengths and ends.
A lot of stylists are scared to remove weight from their client’s hair but in all honesty, it is needed if you want a client to feel the confidence they are looking for.
Removing weight and adding movement will always give you the most natural results. Always make sure to start your layers just below the client’s natural hair that’s laying on top of the extensions. Blending the extensions from where the client’s hair ends will give you the most natural blend. This works for clients with short or longer layers.
Face framing extensions goes hand-and-hand with blending. You want the front to blend as smoothly as the back. It should be seamless from all angels. To create shape around the face I like to direct the hair forward making sure to cut the extensions only, letting the client’s natural hair drop out and then slide cut to create the framing. Every client will be different, some may need more framing than others.
The cherry on top of the final results is making the ends look natural. This whole process is meant to leave the client looking like the extensions are their natural hair. The best way to achieve natural looking ends on extensions is to cut any stringy bits and blunting up the ends. That will make the hair look healthier and fuller.
When clients arrive back in your chair in 8-10 weeks, there needs to be accurate placement of the wefts to ensure the blend remains the same every time. When doing move ups you just want to make sure that you keep track of which row goes where. That way the layer stays the same as the initial install. We like to mark each row with clips. Bottom row gets 1 clip, the next row gets 2 clips and so on.
Blending is half of the process of an install and is crucial every time you install a new pack of hair. Finding the perfect techniques to use on your client’s is what ultimately leaves the final product looking seamless and effortless.
At Sierra and Sage, we are devoted to enhancing natural beauty! Enroll in either our digital or in-person certification to learn all about cutting from our master and precision cutting educator. Extending your education will last you a lifetime!
Comentários