Despite the growing popularity of sew-ins, not all North American hair technicians master this technique. So you can improve the recognition of your studio or salon by adding hand tied wefts to your list of services.
Hand tied weft extensions are one of the most demanded extension techniques in 2024, allowing you to make the hairstyle even more beautiful and comfortable to wear.
The customers will probably be interested to try a new technique, which in many ways exceeds all others.
After reading our article, you will learn all the pros and cons of these extensions, the features of the application process, as well as where to get the best raw material for such beauty treatments.
Stay tuned!
What Are Hand-Tied Weft Extensions?
Hand-tied wefts are used for sew-in extensions technique when a ready-made weft is sewn into a braid made around the head.
Speaking of sew-ins, it is worth mentioning that hairstylists can work with two types of wefts: machine or hand-tied wefts. Both are rows of natural hair fixed on a special base for sewing.
- Machine-tied hair extensions are made by using a special sewing machine that attaches hair to the weft. Because this equipment requires the weft to be big enough to grip while sewing the hair to it, this type of weft is quite heavy and dense and is not suitable for clients with soft thin curls.
- Hand-tied weft extensions are handmade, so they are thinner and neater. In general, clients with thick natural hair can use machine wefts, but in practice, most customers opt for hand-made wefts, as they are custom-made taking into account all your features: the size of the head, the required number of rows, the density of the strands, the desired thickness, length and shade.
Let’s dwell on the advantages of hand-tied weft extensions:
No more length loss
Such techniques as fusions or tape-ins feature a decrease of hair length with each reapplication procedure. This happens because the hair tech cuts off the part of the hair with bonds or tapes.
Choosing sew-ins, you can not worry about it! It is enough to remove the old weft, unbraid the hair and re-fix the same weft in a new braid.
Safe for health
Unlike other techniques, this option is absolutely safe for health. Hair irons and other tools that can injure even the healthiest curls are not used here.
Properly done hand-tied weft extensions will not weaken roots or cause hair loss!
Maximum comfort
Large bonds or tapes can greatly affect the quality of your life: they are felt in wearing. It can lead to migraines and other unpleasant sensations.
Natural look
Tapes and large keratin glue pellets can be visible under natural strands. When choosing sew-ins, you can make ponytails or braids, straighten the hair, or twist curls.
You can lead a normal life without worrying about someone noticing that you are wearing hair extensions.
Strong fixation
If you use a hairdryer to style your hair, you should know that bonds or tapes can not withstand hot air flow. It weakens the fixation of extension strands and they can slip off. The wefts are attached to the braid, so they’re not afraid of high temperatures, and you can wear a beautiful hairstyle until the next reapplication procedure.
Despite many obvious advantages, sew-in hair extensions have several disadvantages:
- The application process takes quite a long time – about 3 hours.
- The hair tech has to master the technique: too tight a braid can provoke a headache.
- Not suitable for short haircuts, as the length of natural hair may not be enough to make a braid. In this case, we recommend micro bond extensions, which will be invisible in short hair.
How Hand Tied Weft Extensions Installed?
First, the hair stylist prepares tools and raw materials:
- Hair
For thin, soft, and undyed curls we recommend Slavic hair. For slightly denser strands – Russian (Dyed) hair. For thick and dense curls it’s better to take European hair.
- Thread
As a rule, it is made of cotton or other natural material. Its color is selected taking into account the shade of your client’s hair.
- Weaving needles
The hair technicians work with C-shaped needles: the bend is ideal for sewing the weft into the braid.
- Scissors
They are required to cut the thread and also to cut machine-tied wefts. But you can not cut hand-tied wefts, otherwise, it will fall apart!
- Beads
They are necessary for fixing the weft in the braid. Beads are made of silicone and have a diameter of 2-3 mm.
- Pliers
This tool is used to clamp beads in the hairstyle.
The extension process can be divided into 3 stages:
1. Braiding
The braid should be thin and neat. It should not be too tight, so as not to cause discomfort, or too loose, as it can sag.
Make sure that the braid is covered with the natural locks of your clients.
2. Weft fixation
A ready-made weft is sewn into a braid. At this stage, the hair tech will need thread, needle, beads and pliers.
3. Repetition of paragraphs 1 and 2
As a rule, several rows are made during the extension process, so it is needed to repeat the previous two paragraphs. Start working from the top: so all subsequent rows will be below the first.
Everything is ready, and your customers can enjoy their chic hairstyles!
How Long Do Hand-Tied Weft Extensions Last?
These extensions can be worn for 2-3 months. The wearing term is affected by several factors:
- Hair quality
We have already told you that the best raw material for extensions is Slavic, Russian or European hair. All these types of material undergo delicate treatment that does not affect the quality of the hair.
If you use bundles from the Asian market, you can quickly become disappointed: such locks undergo too aggressive disinfection, affecting their structure.
To hide the damage, strands are covered with silicone that is washed off after the first shampoo. And the hair loses an attractive appearance, becomes dry and brittle so it will be impossible to comb them.
- The professionalism of the stylist
If the hair tech does not master the technique, then the extensions can slide off or cause discomfort. All this can affect the term of their wearing.
This includes proper washing of the head, regular brushing with a good comb and much more.
- Reapplication procedure
If you make timely reapplications, your wefts will serve you as long as possible.
Where to Buy High Quality Hand Tied Weft Extensions?
To order the best hand tied weft extensions, visit the online store of the Canadian brand I Love Slavic Hair.
The company uses high quality hair that undergoes careful disinfection according to all modern standards. Here you will be helped with the choice of the right color, texture and length, they also can make a custom weft, which will be comfortable to wear and invisible to others.
Choose I Love Slavic Hair products – let yourself be irresistible!