Orange County Master Extensionist & Global Educator

If you’re a hair extensionist, this is your organization dream 💭. My unopened hair is marked and sorted by length method and color. Next is my open stock labeled the same way and sorted into photo storage boxes (4x6 size). Yes you can get these as smaller options and even with a plastic little case. These I bought loose without a case in packs of 24. I used the case for about a year testing then grew out of it. These are amazing for all methods. I had these drawers custom made by the amazingly talented Edgar at @madrigalwoodprocess . We tested out sliders and wood options along with specific measurements for these specific boxes. I mean, when I commit, I commit. I did this so when I use any kind of hair, no matter the packaging by any brand I have a fool proof storage option for myself. This year is about efficiency for me behind the chair and implementing best practices for success whether during install or even the way I organize. Let me know if you want more!!! #hairextensions #ochairextensions #hbhairandextensions #organization

Combline removal!! Call it a flaw but I'm never content with one option. I used the combline removal liquid and it worked but not with the ease that i would like for sparse and already fragile hair. NOTE i was removing fresh glue in a mannequin head so it wasn't worn the same as an average client. I did a deep dive into eyelash extension removers and their ingredients and this one ended up being my top choice to try. I really like the gelatinous consistency as well which sits directly in the bonded area and doesn't transfer anywhere. The combline liquid oil remover did work however there was more extension hair left than I would have liked. I felt i needed to pick at the top of the hair which Im not reappy a fan of. Maybe if it was work in the hair and the glue was older i would have had different results. The tension applied was VERY light and consistent between both removers as to ensure not to compromise natural hair. ANYWHOOOOOOO.... those are my results and I'm stickin to em!!

Alright here are my thoughts so far…. Insane. ABSOLUTELY BANANAS 🍌 1. Black adhesive is seamless on level 5 and under 2. Installing on natural hair you can attach more extension hair than mannequin 3. Dark hair blends better than level 7 and up. 4. This was a partial crown install (1/2 the amount I might for for a whole crown sector) since my client has never worn it before. I didn’t want to install too much and overload her without being totally sure she could take care of it. Just like any extensions. 5. She instantly became obsessed and wanted more. Just like extensions. She already wears tapes and k tips but has ALWAYS want coverage higher and in her crown (which is an extensions no no until now. She hates that it parts and exposes. It’s her biggest insecurity. ) 6. Install cut and style took from 2:28pm-2:55pm so just shy of 30 minutes. #hairextensions #hairstylist #ochairextensions #hairextensionspecialist

Of course I'll give you the Amazon link! Just scroll down I'm a fan of loopers that are longer and flexible. The only bummer is they can get a little tangly if you have a couple together and begin to twist. I love magnetic chord organizers. I use them in so many different ways and this is just one for customizing my trays. You can even have a couple lined up for different colors or sizes if you don't want them grouped together on the same piece 6 Pack Magnetic Cable Clips [Cable Smooth Adjustable] Cord Holder, Under Desk Cable Management, JOYROOM Adhesive Wire Holder Keeper Organizer for Home Office Desk Phone Car Wall Desktop Nightstand https://a.co/d/08EPM0cU

The @combline_international hair holder is so much more than just an inventive tool for extension hair. The teeth of the holder separates the extension hair into small clusters which allow for a clean and swift pull. These separations keep you from wasting hair by pulling too much. Any method can be used with the CombLine enhancement once point of attachment has been removed. Different methods also wield different grams of hair. What you can expect on average from each method: Tape tabs: 6-9 bonds K tips: 2-3 bonds I tips: 2-3 bonds GW: will fill teeth with appropriate amount of grams. Volume weft: needs to be deconstructed. They are too dense and the hair holder will not be able to hold the loose hair with enough tension. This leads to extension hair falling out of holder or pulls not staying clean and blunt at the top. When you pluck the hair It will become tapered and need to be recut every time.

I pre-thread my loopers with different sized beads to ensure that I'm prepared for which ever density Hair I'm going to run into building my foundation. I personally do not use metal loopers. I find using a plastic looper to be quicker and allows me to move quickly and clean Through the hair. Bead size should correlate with the density of the guest hair. I usually find that I use 2 to 3 different sized beads on each foundation, depending on the guest density. This allows for me to focus on healthy foundations and not compromising my installation because I don't have the correct sized bead to allow consistency. If your beads are too small, the hair won't go through and you'll notice you have to adjust your sectioning which can feel tight and uncomfortable. This can also lead to the silicone sliding out of the bead, even prior to crimping down. If you be is too large, immediately, your stitching can be compromised as well as those beads most likely will slide out of the hair. Different companies in different ways you have to check if they are measuring from the diameter of the interior of the bead or the diameter of the outside of the bead. A Good marker is usually going to be there 2mm. a 2mm bead usually means that it has been measured from the interior and the exterior will be a 4mm measurement. From there, the numbers usually go up.

It goes on and on.... I've said is before and I'll say it again THERE IS NO 1 METHOD OR OPTION THAT IS RIGHT FOR EVERYONE. Sometimes people need multiple methods to meet their needs. As much as I love strand for strand enhancements longevity is not always their strong suit. Aside for the monthly commitment, clients watching extension hair shed from their head can be traumatizing in itself. All understandable and all reason why keratins can be the right course of action for them. I love embracing the methods and techniques that speak to me and I understand from every aspect.

My process for breaking down extension colors always starts with my inspo. Wait let me rephrase.... REALISTIC INSPO. I love using grids like @hairbymickk to showcase different tones and amounts of dimension side by side which helps with managing expectations and getting us all on the same page. Next I begin to color match. I'm using for this guest as I'm looking for dimension but nothing stripey. I want soft and blended and @kovihair helps me deliver those shades. Based of a neutral palate I choose my brightest, deepest and target levels, and begin to blend. In this moment you gotta trust the process. My first layer on row 1 is lighter that you might expect however this is because I need a the bright impact in her front hairline. Then I move into darker colors layered only in the back interior. ROW 1 L1: Coffee Cake L2: Hot Toddy L3: Rooted Bronde L4: Hot Toddy ROW 2 L1: Coffee Cake L2: French Toast L3: French Toast L4: Rooted Bronde My top layer of my 2nd row I ensure is spot on with what her natural ends are to visually connect her length into the extensions. Finally the cut allows for me to expose the deeper color when she pulls her hair forward and help blend her top layer into the extensions to add movement and remove and unwanted colors from their natural hair or the extensions. #haireducation #hairextensions #ochairextensions

Let's break it down shall we. Move ups should be so much easier when it comes to genius wefts because there is no return hair so let's not make it harder than it has to be. 1. The spine of genius weft has a lot more flexibility and elasticity so when you start in the back and make your way to the front for a move-up, most likely it will move up the way that you installed it originally without rippling. 2. If you have the intention of doing at least one to two move ups on a specific client do not exceed two stitches per pocket for your foundation and your sectioning. If you do exceed that choose to do a wider section that might encompass three stitches or more per pocket.... most likely you will not be able to do a move up. It will be too tight. The beads and weft will not slide the same way. 3. Parallel stitches will always move up so much cleaner than cross stitch. On certain construction of wage is needed to ensure that it will not lift however when you are working with genius wax and the anchor that I choose to use isn't necessary. Parallel stitches are clean, concise and safe in an area that can already be potentially compromised. Wanna know more? Take a deep dive? Let's do a one on one? Check my hair cartel link in bio for detail! #haireducation #hairextensions #hairextensioneducation #hairextensionspecialistsalon #ochairextensionspecialist

Like is it too much to ask for you to brush with a feather?

Call it PSTD but I've seen so many extensions (not always whole packs but at least a couple grams) become unusable or just wonky when we become lazy or rushed. We start wildly cutting at the binding of pack of k tips or cutting down through a weft accidentally nicking the extension hair. This leaves a 5 o'clock shadow of short ass hairs and that's annoying and honestly those pieces or that run of weft should not be applied in the head. Thanks to the Genius weft construction being a PU spine which connects EVERY SINGLE HAIR but does not have any additional reinforcement, you can simply pull it apart. Pull swiftly and quickly as to not elongate and stretch the area which can lead to shed. But if you give it a quick POP! It's easy enough and less tools you need building your row. Worried about excessive shedding in blocks after? Don't over think it. There's other reasons for that.... I'm sure I'll make a video on it soon. 😉 #hairextensions #ochairextensionspecialist #hairextensioneducation #ochairextensions

A maintenance after wear can tell a lot about the install as well as the way the extensions were maintained by the wearer. In this case for individuals you can see the hair shifted positions and moved to the right then drop back down straight near the bead opening. This is due to the clients natural growth pattern on her head and also the way I redirected the hair when installing. Her growth pattern from the crown in the back of her head is a clockwise rotation meaning the hair in the left side of her head and the hair on her right side have different angles and patterns. To achieve continuity between bother sides, I repositioned the beads and growth pattern slightly on the right. Why is this different than looping? Looping occurs when the section was too long from parting to subsection, or hair was pulled while wearing usually when brushing or styling and will push out not to the side. Once the hair begins to have more flexibility and movement from the point of attachment the hair will begin to push back to the origin growth pattern. This can also occur with specific and strong curl patterns. Usually about the 3-4 week mark, gravity will swing the hair extensions back down but the growth pattern will still be evident. You can install following the growth pattern all the way around to try and keep this from happening however it can lead to discomfort, overdirection and or breaks in the final look.