TEEN KUTZ

concern for people who are undergoing treatment
for cancer. While radiation and chemotherapy are
often life-savers, the fact remains that hair loss is
a common and emotionally devastating side effect.
But cancer patients can turn the situation
around to their own advantage and make the situation
a positive. With extensions, they can not
only cover the baldness but use this as an opportunity
to give themselves a “new look” if they
want, experimenting with different styles and
even colors.
While hair extensions are available in a variety
of materials, including various synthetics,
human hair is considerd the best. But simply having
human hair is not enough. The type and origin
of the hair used in extensions is of critical importance
when considering hair extensions. European
hair is deemed by industry experts to be too fragile
and thin to be used in hair extensions, and
most Asian hairs feature a round cross-section,
making them incompatible with the majority of
American customers’ hair. (Of course, if you’re of
Asian descent, then Asian hair is the ideal way to
go!)
India has traditionally been a prolific source
of hair, which has been used in wigs and toupees
for decades. However, Indian hair that has been
brushed or chemically treated presents some
unique challenges when used in hair extensions.
Left untreated, brushed Indian hair tangles readily,
presenting the wearer with unpleasant snarls.
Chemically treated hair not only mats and tangles,
but it is fragile, which can result in the hair breaking.
The optimum option requires the use of Indian
temple hair that is neither brushed nor
chemically treated. Special care is taken in the cutting
and preparation of this hair, to ensure that all
the strands go in the same direction. This minimizes
tangling, results in stronger extensions, and
eliminates the need for any chemical treatments.
Extensions are available in a wide range of
colors, to match seamlessly with the customer’s
natural hair.
Welding, waxing, gluing, and knotting are all
traditional methods of applying hair extensions,
and a newer method exists now called modulating.
Modulating is a patented bonding method in
which a polymer chain connects the strand of hair
extensions directly to your own hair. This is done
on a strand-by-strand basis, to ensure a natural
IF YOU PLAN ON WEARING YOUR NEW
LONG LOCKS IN AN UPDO, LET HER
KNOW. IT WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN
HOW SHE APPLIES THE EXTENSIONS
look. To accommodate the natural variations in
hair, extensions are available in a variety of widths.
This is important because often customers seeking
extensions not only have short hair, they have thin
hair.
The process
The first thing you want to do, if you’re considering
hair extensions, is to have a consultation with
a stylist. This will take a little bit of time—plan on
the better part of an hour. During this time, you’ve
got a lot of information to go over: the color of
your hair, the texture of your hair, the look you’d
like to achieve, and how you normally wear your
hair.
Few of us wear our hair the same way every
day. Be direct with the stylist. If you plan on wearing
your new long locks in an updo, let her know.
It will make a difference in how she applies the extensions:
You don’t want your new hair to look
awkward and fake!
One of the topics you’ll want to cover is how
long you want your extensions to be. Since it’s not
taking you any time or energy to create this hair,
it’s tempting to go as long as you possibly can. Hair
plummeting to your waistline can be a sexy look
indeed, but experts have a few words of warning
on that account. Hair that’s more than 30 to 32
inches long can be up to eight to 10 years old at
the tips—that’s how long it took the original
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