Tapes or Wefts? Hair Extension 101
Hello and welcome!
i know it has been FRIGHTENING long between blogs but i really wanted to marinate on this feature and deep dive into the world of hair extensions.
if you follow me on instagram (@leahjay_) you may have seen my year long journey with hair extensions, so let’s start from the very BEGINNING. the pre- extensions era.
au naturale
this is my hair before adding extensions. i was in the process of growing it out from a pre covid bob cut. my hair was in the best condition it had been in years. i had no colour or damages. not a single split end for that matter.
overall, my hair texture is fine. therefore, any bleach usually will lead to breakage almost instantly. even through my texture in fine hair, i do have a lot of hair strands. also i should add my hair is completely dead straight.
now i knew i wanted to grow my hair long to a length i was comfortable and familiar with. however, my PATIENCE was wearing thin and another year wasn’t going to cut it. i already knew that hair extensions were a COMMITMENT, a relationship even. i knew that my lazy towel dry hair method wasn’t going to be an option and i would need to brush up on m blow wave skills. why you may ask? hair extensions are most likely going to be a different to natural hair and they tend to dry differently naturally. they also hold a lot more water than natural hair.
before we start this deep dive into the different types of hair extensions, i want to quickly add how my life style impacts my daily routine. me, well being me, ocd clean. i can not wear my hair down two days in a row unless it is freshly washed. i also go to the gym every day and my hair does get oily quick. so NATURALLY i tend to wash my hair everyday if i am working or going out. adding hair extensions into the mix did impact my getting ready time by a good 30 minutes per day. so if you are anything like me be prepared to add that extra 30 minutes to your morning.
now there are two main types of hair EXTENSIONS. one being invisible tapes and the other being a weft. unsure which is best for you? well, i have taken out the guessing game and tried out both. so here is my honest review.
let’s start with my salon of choice - emilly hadrill hair extensions. emilly salon are experts in hair extensions. yes, they also offer colour, styles and blow waves. but extensions are there SPECIALITY.
they are also located in multiple cities around australia, so even if you are away and need a quick maintence, there is usually one close by.
emilly hardrill use a brand of hair extensions called jadore. hands down, the quality of the hair from jadore are beautiful. the texture is soft, smooth, zero frizz, slightly more course than my natural hair texture but only slightly. i was very much impressed with the quality.
invisible tapes
Tape hair extensions are one of the most popular choices of hair extensions for many EH Hair clients. Tape hair extensions are particularly suited to people with fine hair, as the tape lies flat to the scalp, giving you a virtually undetectable application. The hair is hand sewn into the tape itself, giving the illusion that the extensions are growing straight from your scalp.
the tape extensions are applied which i like to describe as a sandwich. think of it like a section of your natural hair is divided. a tape extension is placed UNDERNEATH your natural hair section then another tape extension is placed on top of that same section. therefore, the tapes being the bread and your hair being the filling inside the sandwhich. the tapes are made with a chemical bond which glues and holds together in place.
i made a reel of my first tape application here.
so let me provide more information than the video entails. i had a few highlights added to my natural hair to help blend the extensions. although the extensions were an exact match to my nautal colour, i wanted to have a more soft balyage look. the extensions were a mix between full brown and brown roots and blonde ends. the combination of the two types gave me a very soft highlight without over bleaching and damaging my hair.
i initally started with approx 200grams of tape hair extensions. this is alot of hair! there it no exgageration but it was an entire full head of hair was added to my hair. it definetly was an adjustment and i noticed the extra weight.
but boy did it look glamourous
the overall duration, including HIGHLIGHTS, was around 3-3.5 hours long. don’t worry the maintenace is no where near that long.
beautiful
i must admit i love the look of hair extensions. they just instantly make you feel glam. even in sweats and make up free, having full thick hair AMPLIFIES the look. they also look incredibly real. never did anyone say ‘nice hair extensions’! only ‘nice hair’!
pros and cons
Pros
1. Natural Look And Feel
Tape hair extensions made with real human hair are carefully constructed to look and feel natural. High-end hair extensions go through very specific processes to ensure that they blend in seamlessly with your natural locks, this includes getting the best colour match possible. You can also style your extensions as you would your natural hair.
2. Quick And Easy Fittings
If you will be applying a full head of hair extensions, it won’t take your stylist longer than an hour. Application is quick, easy and hassle-free.
3. Safe For All Hair Types
invisible tape hair extensions is that they’re lightweight. This means even those with very fine hair will be able to wear them. The extensions can be worn for up to 8 weeks, where after, you can remove them with a gel-based remover, which is also non-damaging.
4. Reusable
If you don’t end up changing your hair colour, you can reuse your tape hair extensions again. After 6 – 8 weeks, the hair can last up to a year or more with proper care.
5. Easy To Maintain
6. easy to tie up
high or low ponytails are very easy and easy to hide the tapes. unless. grown out. they peek through.
Cons
the only thing that i found annoying about tapes was washing my hair. ESPECIALLY if they were freshly lifted to the root. i would just find it hard to scrub inbetween the tapes. it did take me a few months to get use to them and navigate the most suitable way to wash my hair.
not exactly relevant to tapes, just hair extensions in general. but the time it takes to blow wave and style is taxing. not just the time but my arms would get so sore from blow waving. i did eventually create my own method for shortening the drying time by using a hair dryer and a blowave hair drying brush.
overall, pretty happy!
as my hair grew naturally, i would remove a. few tapes. so my hair was looking more natural. this also cut down my drying time, by the end of my INVISIBLE tapes (just under a year) i remained COMFORTABLY with 125grams. i probably could even get away with less.
Weft Hair Extensions
wefts are completely different to tapes. completely! now, the reasoning behind my switch up was to see if i could get away with washing my natural hair and leaving out the weft. and just so we are clear, no this doesn’t really work. i also just wanted to experience the difference and see what i PREFERRED.
A hair weft is a collection of hair strands sewn onto a super-thin cloth strip ready for your stylist to work into your hair.
i would say they are more suitable for women who have thicker hair texture.
once again, i had my weft applied at emilly hadrill salon using the best quality hair extension. read more here.
the way these extensions are applied are completely different from tapes. firstly, the hair is sectioned and the stylist will determine where is the most suitable placement. once that is done, the weft is cut to the length of your. head shape.
Beadeds (also known as Micro Bead) is an application process that involves having small sections of hair connected to your weft hair extensions using a small bead. This bead is then treated in a way that it securely and seamlessly connects your natural hair with your weft hair extension. im not exactly. the best at explaining so here are some images.
as you can see. the hair is sectioned and a ‘track’ is created using your natural hair and beads. this is how the weft is attached to your hair by BEING sewn in.
i ended up starting with three tracks with MULTIPLE rows of wefts added. i think it was around 120grams. so the same as my tapes towards the end. however, it did feel A-LOT HEAVIER. i must have an sensitive scalp baise i did find these uncomfortable for the first few nights. maybe is was because is was a different experience to the tapes, something i was unfamiliar with.
i did like the idea of having wefts and i must say it was easier to scrub my head by simply lifting each section.
note* emilly hadrill has since brought out a brand new method of wefts that is much thinner and lighter so they could be better for those who don’t like a bulky weft. the most suitable option is to discuss with the stylist on consultation.
Weft Extensions
This is the final result of the weft extensions. I had 3 rows added. as you can see my hair is full! click the link below to see the application.
pros and cons
pros
1. Secure tight bond for coarse hair
If you have thick strong hair then this method is great for you. Adds lots of volume and length to your hair. and looks natural
2. No heat or glue required
3. lasts a long time
MAINTENANCE is a longer between lifts. also doesn’t require washing between lifts. a real in and out treatment.
cons
1. Not many people can do this method
Yes, it’s hard to give weft specialist. there is a few stylists at emilly hadrill in melbourne who can master this method. so you will need to be organised and book appointments in advance.
2. hair damage
if you have fine hair like me, then this method can cause hair fall out at the roots. remember a bead it holding the extension to your head so it can be heavy.
3. tight application
when first applied the extensions felt really heavy and the tight beading gave me a headache for the first few days.
overall, i ended up taking out my wefts after 3 weeks, i honestly just found them uncomfortable. as much as i wanted to love them i couldn’t in comparison to the tapes.
let’s talk MAINTENANCE
to make the most of your hair extensions it is so important to look after them. honestly, if you are going to invest money into extensions than you want them to last as long as possible.
by using the correct products will keep your extensions in the best condition and last you around 12 months.
jadore have created a number of product specifically to assit with maintaining your hair extensions. the shampoo & conditioner truley make the world of difference. I notice the difference instantly when i sometimes swap it out and use a normal shampoo and conditioner. The extensions are much more smooth and soft after using the correct jadore products. the extensions practically look brand new after each wash. trust me, after using my normal products i had to rewash my hair because it was fizz city.
all these products are avaliable at emilly hadrill
WET BRUSH
this brush is a must. its from a brand called base hair. it protect, detangle, defrizz and de stress hair, extending the life of your hair extensions. i love this brush so much. i can’t live without it.
davines oil.
i love davines. i really believe they have some of the best QUALITY products out there. not only does this oil smell incredible, its also so good for fine hair.it adds shine and softness to hair while also detangling and fighting frizz, without weighing it down.
costs
lastly, the pricing of tapes and wefts does vary. also it does depend on the hair quality, the amount and the length. the more grams you add and the longer in length the more expensive,
tapes
the cost of tapes starts around $500. once you add in more lenth or grams the price can reach a maximum of $1900. to maintain the tapes and have them lifted around every 5-6 weeks costs around 250 give or take depending on the amount.
wefts
the costs of wefts is slightly more expensive than tapes. the starting price is around $550. For the ultimate glamour pack with 250grams and the longest length can cost about $2500.
for a complete price list i have added the direct link.
overall, i really love having extensions. i think i PREFERRED tapes over wefts purely because of the COMFORTABILITY aspect. my next appointment will be to have my tapes reapplied but no more than 60grams just for some extra thickness not length.
if you are intersted in extensions i really recommend having a consultion with one of the emilly hadrill stylists. they will be able to look at your hair and determine what type of extensions are most suitable for you.
i hope i was able to give you a little insight into the different types and if you have any questions to please pop them in the comment box below.
thanks for reading.
x leah
