A Little Hair Help

Fusion Stylist

Hair extension questions answered. Trends explored before you commit to them. Products tested and reviewed.

 

Fusion Studio

I am settled into my new studio. I love it there so much! I have 2 treatment rooms, an office, a reception area, a kitchen and a bunch of plants. I have been eager to go to work most days of the week.

I currently have both treatment rooms set up for hair extension application and removal. The office is being used for art creation and daydreaming. The reception area houses an array of hair extension specific products for my clients to maintain their investment. I also have an incredible selection of scalp and nutritive hair care products to help maintain the hair that you have and keep it in good shape.

I have hung my art up on the walls. I have a cabinet full of hair extensions and another one full of hair color possibilities. I am ready to help you with any hair extension projects that you currently have or desire to have.

Currently offering a full hair extension menu of both installation and maintenance of these types of hair extensions: Fusion, Hybrid Weft, Beaded Row Weft, Tape-In, Beaded Single Strand, Combline Nano-Extensions. Within these options are a possibility of combination of any of these styles.

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Training

I am very excited to bring a new installation service to my customers. I am traveling to LA at the beginning of February to take the Combline class. Combline offers a “nano” installation. The technique is specifically designed to install hair in in areas that are very visible, like the perimeter of the hairline and the crown of the head.

These areas are a problem to disguise for clients that are concerned about thinning hair. Normally a client would have to wear a topper, a ton of dry shampoo and or hairspray to fluff the hair up. Or a client might use a scalp powder to disguise the shine and visibility of the scalp.

The compline technique will allow clients to double or triple the hair in the area without chunky or heavy bonds.

The other incredible feature of these delicate extensions is that they are designed to fall out on their own. Anyone who has had extensions can attest that removal is a costly and irritating process which puts natural hair in a vulnerable state. The Combline extensions are designed to shed on their own. This is similar to the principle of eyelash extensions. After a period of 4-6 weeks the majority of the COmbline extensions will have shed away from the natural hair.

Another incredible thing about these Combline extensions is that any hair can be used with this installation process. I really love this! We can use a clients old hair or we can use any new hair in their specific color, texture and length that they desire. This goes a long way in the ability to accurately match and blend the extensions.

I will let you know more about this incredible technique when I learn in just a couple weeks. I will also be putting in some incredible museum time while I am in LA so I will get lots of artistic inspiration.

Update: I completed the training. Finished my certification with the company a few weeks after the class ended.

I have been installing the nano hair extensions in clients and for the clients with the super fine thin hair it has been a really exciting possibility. Still learning and experimenting.

Combline hair extension training
Combline training
Freida Kahlo
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Moving

I am thrilled to announce that I am moving into my own personal 1000 sq ft salon space. I will continue to do all types of hair extensions. In addition I will be adding a few services.

I have been studying and training for a few years in facial cupping and lymphatic drainage. I will have a facial treatment room and offer a facial cupping service combined with gua sha and lymphatic massage.

I am hoping to be moved in and working in the space by the second week of December. I will add a new treatment menu that will start in January.

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Hybrid Hair extensions

Why choose just one method of installation when you can combine the best of both worlds? I have been mixing up my client’s application methods lately. You can mix Hand tied weft and fusion application or machine tied weft and beaded application. I have one client who combines both beaded and fusion methods.

Why would you combine methods? Each method offers its’ own advantages. The hand tied and machine tied wefts add a lot of hair in a short amount of time, but you may find that you still want some noticiable highlights. Or you might want some more hair around your hairline perimeter which needs to be fairly invisible, so fusion could be the answer in that particular area.

Fusion extensions are not recommended to be reused. But if you place a few highlight pieces of fusion on your hand tied weft they will never have to be removed from that hair. Those piece will be moved up when the weft is moved up. You can dream big dreams when it comes to hair replacement. There is a method that is just perfect for you.

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Sunscreen

I am slightly obsessed with sunscreen. I have been actively applying sunscreen to my face since I was 13 years old. It all started with Oil of Olay face lotion that had an SPF 15.

My obsession increased after I had children. Pregnancy caused melasma on my face, brownish splotches, which I hated. I was so confused why I was having these spots when I had been so diligent about protecting my skin from the sun. Old sun damage did contribute to the blotchiness on my skin, but I believe hormones were the primary cause of the brown spots. Fast forward 13 years and tons of beauty treatments (Botox, IPL, Microdermabrasion, Pico wave laser, skin peels) and I really do feel great about my skin. The brown spots have completely faded and my skin is glowing.

So naturally I am wanting to keep my skin looking fabulous and that is where sunscreen comes in. Not only do I wear an SPF 40 daily (Origins, A perfect world is my current favorite) but I also wear a hat when out in the direct sun.

My skin inspirations are Nicole Kidman and Cate Blanchett. They have such beautiful, naturally glowing skin. I know that they take great care of their skin by protecting it from the sun and probably rubbing thousands of dollars of special creams on their faces.

My other new skin obsession is getting a Gua Shau facial. This facial helps to move all the lymph around in your system. It also massages lovely oils into your skin, lifts and improves the tone of your skin and deeply relaxes me. I adore my facialist, Angela S and if you want her number I will gladly give it to you.

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How much do Hair extensions cost?

There are a few different methods to choose from so I will just cover the most popular current types. I use a few different brands depending on the method of installation. Any of these methods can be combined. The cost varies depending on the length, color, texture and amount of hair needed.

  • Hand Tied Weft $800-1800

  • Fusion $250-1600

  • Volume or Machine Tied Weft $800-2000

  • Tape In $250-1000

  • Beaded $250-1000

Hand Tied Weft

This is an invisible installation using 2 pieces of hand tied weft.

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Volume Weft Installation

The volume weft installation has been a tremendous way to add a lot of hair. For your money this is the best way to add as much hair as you can. The volume weft comes with three rows sewn together. I like to take one of the rows apart from the other two and perform an invisible installation with the double orw on the bottom and the single row on top. This allows the beads to be concealed for any up or down styling. It also adds the maximum amount of hair. The volume or machine tied weft has a bit thicker of a seam even deconstructed to one. This makes it a bit more durable so this hair is very likely to last for a year without shedding. The weft can also be cut anywhere and will not unravel. You cannot do this with a hand tied weft. The hand tied weft can only be folded over.

The volume weft is also called a machine tied weft. You get more than double the amount of hair that comes in the hand tied weft!

Client requirements: You must have fairly dense hair. This installation is best for people who want to add length and have medium to thick density hair.

It looks like this weft might be too light compared to the roots.

But when attached and the natural hair is dropped down there is a beautiful blend. This one piece of weft is a thousand highlights.

Viola! Blends beautifully
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Invisible Seamless Weft installation

This installation is brand new to the world and it is amazing for fine hair. The difference in this installation is the way the weft wraps around and under the beads. It is ideal for a client with fine or thin hair who would like to experiment with a volume installation. This is done only with hand tied wefts. It is the perfect combination of the delicacy of the hand tied weft and the invisibility of a multiple weft installation. Check out the pictures below. I have had a lot of fun installing this configuration.

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Wig customization

Wig customization is now another service that I am happy to offer to the public. I have been doing research and training in wig working for a couple of years now and I have finally had enough private priatve clients that I can move forward to offering the general public these services. Wig customization takes time and a lot of special knowledge. The skills that I have acquired over the last 16 years in hair extensions have really paid off. Building a relationship with the suppliers and getting to know the products is an ongoing process and hopefully always will be. Learning color techniques that are specific to human extension hair is crucial. Hair is considered a fabric. Some fabrics are fine and silky and then there are other fabrics, like jeans. Well, hair extensions are their own special kind of fabric and it takes a long time experimenting to learn the nuances of what works and what doesn’t work. Cutting and styling the wig are the other crucial elements that can make the wig feel like your own.

While I am busy setting up my online shop I can still take custom orders. I am currently dedicating 2 days a week specifically to wig working and hoping to expand that.

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Hand Tied Weft

I have learned a few new tricks and now I can confidently say that I love installing hand tied weft extensions. I can make them invisible by installing one weft below and one above. I can blend them seamlessly by custom coloring. I can match the bead to the density and color of your hair and I can install quickly and accurately which will keep your hair feeling perfect for longer. I have been taking online classes over the last 12 months. I became certified in another brand and have dedicated myself to online learning every month over the last year. There are new options; new threads, new textures, new density, new installation techniques. Everything has gotten so much better.

Thank you to all of my current clients who allow me to experiment on your hair while learning what works best over time. If it weren’t for my amazing clients I wouldn’t know what I know. I can learn online as much as I want but actually practicing these techniques on real hair with different density issues is how I really learn.

I have included a few examples of my current work. Enjoy!

Hand tied weft

Hand tied weft

Hand tied weft

Hand tied weft

Machine tied weft

Machine tied weft

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New Clients

I am not currently accepting any new clients at this time. I am focusing strictly on hair extensions and making time for the clients I have. I am assisting my daughters in their online school journey so I am working only 2-3 days per week. If you would like a referral for hair extensions you can contact me and I will try to find you someone based on what type you are interested in. Thank you so much for understanding.

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Recent work

I wanted to show off just a few lovely client’s that I have worked with recently. Let me know if you have questions regarding any of the installation or removal processes.

Hand tied weft installation. One weft for density, same length as natural hair. Installation time, 30 minutes.

Hand tied weft installation. One weft for density, same length as natural hair. Installation time, 30 minutes.

So there you have just a few of the new projects that I have done. If you would like to schedule a consultation let me know. I can do an in person or over the phone consultation. I am booking out into September right now.

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Hair Extension Consultation

What happens during a consultation? First you can easily book an appointment online through my website www.fusionstylist.com choose the perfect day and time for you to come in and take 30 minutes to create a personalized plan for you During the consultation you will get to see all the hair extension methods that I offer, there are 5 of them. While crafting your personalized plan we will discuss your hair goals. Are you interested in adding length? How much length? Is density or length your first concern? We will talk about your current lifestyle and how you will be wearing your hair extensions. Up? Half-up? Under a helmet? We will also discuss your current hair color and the color of the hair extensions. Because I have access to many incredible hair extension companies I will be able to perfectly match your color to the extensions. We will not need to color them after we order them. This is a very important step in your consultation. I have a lot of clients who come from other places who have hair that does not match their hair. The stylists have colored it and it has faded out and damaged the hair extensions. Hair extensions shouldn’t be colored! Why would you color them when you can order them exactly as you need them. Currently these primo extension companies carry Ombré extensions, Balayage extensions, Blended extensions in every color and shade imaginable! There are hundreds of colors in all of these installation options. Let me tell you a little bit more about why you don’t want to color these expensive extensions.

  1. Hair extensions are colored at the factory with fabric/textile dye. They are colored with fabric dye to eliminate fading. When a stylist attempts to color extensions the results will not be good. Professional hair color and fabric dye don’t play well together. The extensions can be splotchy and muddy.

  2. Any color that is put onto the extensions will fade out pretty quickly, bummer.

  3. The cuticle of the hair extension really can’t take much more processing. Adding professional hair color will open up the cuticle of the hair extension causing more damage to this hair and shortening it’s life.

  4. Damaging the hair will lead to tangling and less enjoyable wear on your part and that is not what you want.

The only exception to this rule is a toner, which can be applied to slightly change the tone of the extensions. I still avoid doing this. I think that it is very important to order the correct color for your personal project.

After we have decided on your installation type, the amount of hair you need and the color you want we will move onto setting the appointment. I require a 50% deposit on all hair extension projects to order the hair and set the appointment.

Book a consultation so we can discuss your personalized project!

www.fusionstylist.com

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Hair Extensions for Density

Usually when people think of hair extensions they think of a large an intensive project. This does not have to be the case! Some of my favorite projects are adding just a bit of hair to increase the density without adding much or any length at all. Besides being a less expensive project it is also far less time consuming. Some clients only add 15-30 single strands of hair in the temple area to achieve a fuller, thicker look. Maintenance is a breeze for these projects sometimes taking as little as 20 minutes for a routine adjustment. If you are curious what a little bit of density would do for your hair schedule a consultation and we can talk about all the options that are available for you.

Hand Tied Weft, 1 row added for density

Hand Tied Weft, 1 row added for density

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Fusion extensions 100 pieces to add density and 2” of length.

Fusion extensions 100 pieces to add density and 2” of length.

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Hand Tied Weft Educator

It’s official I am an educator in the Hand Tied Weft method. I have completed all of the training and job shadowing that Aqua has asked me to do. I completed my third class in Idaho Falls last week.

I initially felt that 3 classes plus the 3 day training that we had in Seattle was overkill but I do now realize how important all of those classes were. All of my shadow classes were hosted by a different educator which was an experience in itself because everyone has their own teaching style and everyone absorbs and gives information differently. Also meeting all the different class attendees helped me to realize the variety of skill levels that turn up to these classes. There is a broad mix of total amateurs, intermediate’s and professionals. They all have different needs.

I am so happy to have the extensive training that Aqua provided me both directly and indirectly. This past summer has been a whirlwind of Hand Tied Weft experience. I started 2019 not knowing a thing about Hand Tied Weft and I am ending it with over a hundred hours of training and a new handful of trusted hair extension colleagues that I can turn to for advice and inspiration.

I am teaching a Hand Tied Weft class all by myself on 10/6 at Kiwi salon in Boise. If you are a stylist who would like to attend please contact Melissa Dancer through Salon Service. She will get you registered, but you better hurry there are only a few seats remaining.

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Teaching Hand Tied Weft

I had an adventure in Spokane yesterday. The adventure really started on Sunday night, that’s when I flew up to Spokane from Boise. I went quickly to my hotel and was totally mortified at the accommodations that I had booked for myself. That’s right I had done this to myself, nobody else to blame. I knew it was going to be bad when my middle eastern Lyft driver told me that I should have stayed closer to the airport. When he dropped me off he said “good luck” and sped away. There were shady characters standing out front smoking, more like standing in front of the door. I whisked past them determined to get inside and go to bed. I have nothing else to do here! The check in clerk eyed me I felt suspiciously when I handed her my credit card and ID, She asked if I had any pets and when I answered “no” she looked at me again as if to say, really? No “service animals”? I walked about 100 feet from the check in desk to my room and the second I walked inside I realized why she had asked me about pets. It smelled like I was sleeping in a kennel. I may as well have been caged. Thoughts ran through my mind about the poor families in detention centers at our American Borders who would probably find this luxurious and all I can do is think badly about it. I briefly thought about grabbing my stuff and walking out to find another place, but since it was just me, I knew I could get through it. I set my alarm for 6:00 am. I willed myself to sleep, trying to stay in one position to touch the least of the bed possible. I woke up at 5:50 amazed that my plan had worked. I quickly showered and left ASAP. I went to a local coffee shop and caught up on work for a couple hours, arriving at my classroom at promptly 8:00 am right when they opened.

I was the first educator to arrive. I wanted to be there early because I was unsure what portion of the class I was supposed to be teaching. The classroom was unfortunately in the basement of Salon Services. So there was no daylight, the concrete floors are tough on the body and it was unbearably quiet. As it got closer to 9:00 people, both educators and students started drifting in. I had a chance to quickly catch up with a few of the educators that I had met in Seattle at our training event.

This small group of students who attended the Hand Tied Weft class were lucky because they each had an educator to help them. Unlike the class I took a couple of weeks ago with 50+ students and 3 educators. If I could have taught the class myself I would have done it differently. Here are some suggestions that I have.

  1. Go over the format of the class at the beginning. Let everyone know how their day is going to unfold. I hate suffering through not knowing when we will get a break or when I will be able to leave.

  2. Cover the client consultation in much more detail. This is the most important part of the whole process. Choosing the method that is correct for your guest, determining the palette of hair color and arriving at a price for both the initial installation and the maintenance are crucial in making you and the guest feel good about the service(s) that you will be giving to them.

  3. Problems and Roadblocks, these are rarely discussed in class, as if they never happen. They do happen and we should be asking students what types of issues they are running into in the salon. Are their clients needing maintenance sooner than they should? Are clients experiencing any irritation or damage from an installation?

  4. Legal paperwork, the services that we are providing often exceed the $500 mark, often in the deposit alone. Although we may not be able to provide a template for the student and their clients we should be doing a much better job at providing them a framework for the stylist legal responsibility to the client after they take the initial deposit money. The paperwork isn’t meant to intimidate or put off the client. It is meant to better define their responsibility for their purchase. The disclaimer also protects the stylist against almost everything besides a horrible installation. It isn’t the stylists fault if the client doesn’t take care of their new hair the way they are supposed to. It isn’t their fault if the hair is defective from the beginning. It isn’t their fault that the hair is very expensive, but we do get the blame and hear the complaints. I am always willing to work with my clients to find a solution and talk with the company regarding their product and guarantee but I need them to also know that if nothing can be done to satisfy them that they won’t be receiving a refund of any kind.

  5. Visual materials: Besides the mannequin head and the instructor there is little to look at during the class. It would be nice to have a visual description of the thread in relation to the bead. It would also be nice to have a cohesive description of the installation, spacing, removal and maintenance procedures. Another nice touch would be to send those visual cues out to the students a day or two after class via email to keep extensions on their mind, and to let the students know that we as a company and as educators are here for them. Even a demonstration of the threading of just the beads without the weft in the way would be a great way to better visually break down the training and keep the students moving

  6. Physical Materials: We should be able to look at and smell the shampoo, conditioner and masque that Aqua retails. If it is an important part of their guarantee and a required product for clients we should know more about it. Aqua should send those products in advance along with the kits and give them away at the end.

  7. Giveaway, everybody likes to get something. Aqua is missing a huge opportunity to get tools into their stylist hands. They should be giving away items that they are wanting stylist to order more of. How about an extra loop tool for loading the additional colored beads? How about a different color of beads or thread? Or how about a few packages of clips? Maybe with the Aqua logo on it? How about an Aqua cape or travel size styling products, or their mini brush? Don’t we want to look at, touch and feel all of these items? The educators could use these incentives to their advantage by asking questions of the audience and giving items to people who answer correctly. Even a simple coupon for their first order enticing them to check out the website or mentally build a shopping list with the company.

  8. Get into the hands on stuff much more quickly. Or skip lunch to make the class shorter. We are all stylists here. We are used to skipping lunch in order to get out earlier. It is difficult for us to dedicate a full 8 hours of time to a project. If there are no legal requirements for how long a class is why is it taking so much time? I am certain that the students would pay the same amount and walk away feeling better about a company that made the process seem like such a breeze that even the class is shorter. If we dove into hands on more quickly the format would work. I think that 1 hour of process, all the technical details, is sufficient for most students. Then have them open their kits and dive into the hands on.

  9. Placing an order: What are the different ways that stylists can place an order? Walk them through the online process. What is that going to be like? Shipping? Time of arrival? Where is the closest supply store for them? Who is their rep? Ask how they are ordering their extensions currently. Do they carry inventory? What additional products are they considering adding to their personal inventory?

It was fun to assist as an educator to the class. I enjoyed meeting all 5 of the students and discussing the problems and situations that they are dealing with in the salon. It was also great to watch the other educators function in the room. Each person has such a different approach. The students seemed fairly confident in their ability to complete an installation, some more than others.

I left Salon Services and flew home without incident, thankfully. I was so happy to arrive in Boise and have my husband and daughters come to retreive me. Now back to the salon!

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Hands on demonstration

Hands on demonstration

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New website

I am so happy to say that my new website is 99% completed. I have been working my my web designer and content creator for almost a year now and I am very happy with the results.

My new website offers clients a way to explore all varieties of the hair extensions that I offer. It also offers clients the opportunity to book and appointment directly through the site. My biography will give them a better sense of who I am and how I have gained my experience in hair extensions.

So please check it out and tell me what you think. There are a few photos that will be changed, and I am sure a few other changes that I haven’t yet anticipated. That’s why I need your feedback.

Below is a link to my site. Take a peek.

www.fusionstylist.com

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Hand Tied Weft Class

I took another hand tied weft class from a local distributor today. It wasn’t Aqua and I’ll tell you a few big differences that I noticed. The method of installation leaves the client’s natural hair much more vulnerable to breakage and tension. Both of those are a problem. The support provided by the thread and the knotting does seem slightly more delicate but I feel it also leaves the client’s natural hair more vulnerable to feeling stress from the installation. I did meet some really nice people in the class. Including another local stylist who is also named Jenn B, she works with my favorite beauty school colleague and we had the same color nail polish! We were meant to be together.

The class was all day long! It seemed to be oversold to me, there were about 50 students and only 3 educators. The students were crammed in together so tightly that the educators could hardly get in between us to answer our questions.

The class also seemed a little scattered. It moved in a linear direction from consultation to checkout and I liked the tips that they gave us in both of those arenas. Since I have been doing hair extensions for a long time I was comfortable with not being able to ask a lot of questions because I already knew the answers, but if I was a stylist that was new to extensions I don’t think that I would have left that class feeling confident to charge the client the amount they suggested for the services that would be rendered after that training. An example is that they never covered what to do if you run out of string during the installation, what to do if you miss a knot, miss a bead, the weft sags because it doesn’t get included in the sewing. What to do with a client who doesn’t have enough hair in the temple area for a successful installation. What to do if a bead bucles or breaks and you have a difficult time removing it. There can be a whole lot of problems and if a stylist is going to charge a premium price that they are going to be required to provide all the solutions.

Anyhow I did enjoy the class. The company did give away a ton of great product and discounts. The videos that they showed were a great way to allow everyone to see the method of installation and removal. I do feel like I got my money’s worth out of the class. Oh and the fed us lunch and I love that they held the training in town and at my favorite hotel, The Riverside in Garden City, ID.

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So many people!

So many people!

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Aqua Hair Extensions

I shadowed my first Hand Tied Weft class today! Teaching has its’ rewards. I met some great local talent and I learned a few things too. Fearless Samantha came all the way from Ohio to teach this class. Her bag didn’t make it but her beautiful smile and talent arrived. We were at the lovely new Pigment Salon. They re-arranged their uber-cool custom designed salon furniture to accommodate all of us. We were there for 8.5 hours helping everyone learn the techniques and principles that make Aqua such a unique company. The process provides the client with much more support and much less tension. Our process better protects the client’s hair as it grows out. There is a lot to learn though! It can be a little exhausting. Good thing we had lunch, snacks and cold drinks, thanks to Salon Services and Melissa our lovely rep.

I have heard from a couple of the students after the class regarding some installation questions and I am so happy about that!! I love that they are still thinking about the process and practicing the installation enough to have questions. Two more classes to go before I am certified with Aqua as an educator.

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