We all know that the sky’s the limit when it comes to hair extension customization. Donna Bella has made it easier than ever to cut, color, and modify our extensions to suit your clients and your salon practice. One of the customization routes we’ve recommended in the past is mixing different hair extension methods within a single installation. You can furnish your client with the comfortable, flat feel of Tape-In in back, and the 360 degree movement of I-Link on the sides. Alternatively, mix a mostly Flat-Tip install with micro Kera-Link bonds near the top and front to fill out thinner areas. It’s fun to mix and match our extension methods, and it’s also practical in terms of arriving at a more tailored end result for your client. But why stop at hair extensions? Why not mix and match extension beads for your beaded installations?
Related: From now until March 13, 2018, get a pack of Variety Beads free with your purchase of Green or Funky I-Link or Flat-Tip!
Our beaded hair extensions (that is—I-Link and Flat-Tip) are installed with a Loop Tool and an assortment of beads that are crimped flat to hold the hair extension in place. We offer a number of different bead options at Donna Bella, from Grooved to Silicone to Flare, in order to appeal to a range of different clients with different hair types and conditions. While there are many similarities between our multiple bead varieties—among them: their safe hold, secure grip, and range of color options (to match our natural range of hair extension shades)—there are some notable distinctions that make them suited to specific kinds of hair.
Recommended: Selecting I-Link Beads
Grooved beads are made of aluminum and feature interior grooves that interlock when the bead is crimped flat. As such, Grooved Beads provide the strongest hold of all our bead varieties. We recommend them mainly for clients with relatively thick and healthy hair.
Related: 5 Quick Tips for Grooved Beads
Silicone beads are also made of aluminum, but they contain a supple silicone interior coating that allows for a gentle yet secure hold when crimped. These beads are great for any hair type, making them the most versatile of our bead offerings.
Related: 5 Quick Tips for Silicone Beads
Flare beads are longer and thinner than our other bead options, and they are made of copper rather than aluminum. These differences enable a distributed grip and softer hold that’s ideal for thin or fine-haired clients. Their narrow appearance also makes them supremely easy to conceal! We recommend using the Flare Tool when installing with Flare beads.
Related: 5 Quick Tips for Flare Beads
The important thing to remember, of course, is that clients’ hair is not uniform. There’s no guarantee that the hair at the top of a client’s head will be in the same condition as the hair underneath. In fact, many clients come in with natural gradations in their hair—be it color gradation, varying thickness, or undulating length. Just as you would tailor the hair extension method to each section of the head, you might also tailor your bead selection in this way. For example: a client with overall medium hair is experiencing some thinning around the sides of her head. She comes in for an I-Link installation and requests the most secure of the extension beads. While you might be able to get away with using Grooved beads in the back section of her hair, you might opt for Silicone or Flare beads on the sides, in order to lessen the strain on the thinner hair.
Or take this scenario: a client with very thick, curly hair comes in wanting a full-head, Flat-Tip installation (for added length). In order to match the thickness of the client’s hair, you will need to install extensions a row or two higher than you usually would. In order to prevent the bonds in these upper rows from being seen, you opt to install Flare beads here, even though you used Grooved beads for the rest of the head.
Helpful tip: Invest in an additional Loop Tool for mixed bead applications so that you can switch back and forth as needed (rather than meticulously planning out the sequence on a single Loop Tool).
There are plenty of circumstances that would benefit from a mixed beaded application. And there are ways to quickly stock up on all the beads you need! From now until March 13, 2018, get a pack of Variety Beads free with your purchase of Green or Funky I-Link or Flat-Tip. Start browsing strands and beads today to take advantage of the deal!