There are many different hair extension techniques, and they’re not all created equally. We talk about this all the time on this blog. In fact, if you’ve read any of our blogs before, you’ve probably heard us say that exact statement.
We’ve also created guides like this one that compare the different techniques. Because we’ve talked extensively about that, we’re actually covering something else in this blog.
Today we’re talking specifically about i-tip hair extensions and, more importantly, the reasons why you should get i-tip hair extensions, the method that we use in our two New York Salons.
We’re pretty passionate about i-tips, for many reasons that we’ll get into today. But we’re also incredibly passionate about the hair we source. While all techniques are different, there are also a variety of hair types to be aware of.
We only use the highest quality, real-human, full-cuticle hair extensions. These terms matter. They’re not just industry buzzwords. The quality of hair extensions and installation techniques varies widely across the industry.
Alright, so how did we get into i-tips, and more specifically, luxury i-tips?
Our founder developed her i-tip installation technique when her home salon was her parents’ garage on Staten Island. She quickly gained a devoted clientele, becoming a master of her industry and opening not one, but two salons in New York.
You can learn more about getting hair extensions in New York City in this guide, and let’s move into the topic of today’s blog: 6 reasons to get i-tip hair extensions (as opposed to other methods).
1. Zero Damage and Zero Discomfort
With our i-tip hair extension installation method, you should have zero damage to your natural hair and zero discomfort. In fact, our clients usually see incredible hair growth the longer they wear our extensions.
Our client Sam is the perfect example of this. When she first came to see us, she had damaged, short blonde hair. After wearing our extensions for two years, she has incredibly healthy, long brown hair and quite honestly, she doesn’t even need the extensions anymore.
When applying our i-tip extensions, we take small bundles of extension hair and attach them to equally small bundles of your natural hair. We do this in rows across layers of your hair, spreading the weight of the extensions more evenly.
Because the attachment points are so small, there is significantly less tug and pull on your scalp and natural hair. This helps free you from the typical heavy discomfort of other extension methods.
And as you can see with Sam, i-tip extensions are also a great way to promote natural hair growth.
2. No Heat, Chemicals or Glue
A common concern we hear from women during consultations is that they don’t want extensions that will damage their natural hair. There’s a lot of concern about the heat, glue, and chemicals used to install many hair extensions. It’s normal to be apprehensive about the products (and especially chemicals) that are used on your hair.
But this is another reason why we absolutely love i-tips. They’re attached with small metal beads that we clamp onto your natural hair. This means no heat, no glue, no chemicals. For women who want to get hair extensions because their natural hair isn’t growing, this is a huge plus.
This also makes i-tips much gentler on your natural hair and more comfortable for long-term wear.
3. Natural Finish
Another reason to get i-tip extensions is that they look and feel like your natural hair. This one is so important to us.
Hair extensions shouldn’t look like extensions. They should look like a natural extension of your natural hair.
At our two New York hair salons, we custom blend each bundle of hair extensions to match your natural hair perfectly. Normally, your hair isn’t one color. It has dimension–and this method allows us to bring that natural dimension to your extensions as well.
We typically custom blend around 2-3 different colors into every bundle, making sure your final look is blended to perfection. This is just one step in making sure your hair extensions look as natural as possible.
This is also why we only use the highest quality hair–that’s another huge factor in how natural your extensions look. Synthetic hair will simply never behave the same as the real thing.
4. They Style Like Normal
Thanks to this installation method, you can style and treat your hair extensions exactly the way you treat your normal hair, aside from a few products you can’t use anymore.
With our luxury i-tips, you can run, sweat, swim, and work out with i-tip extensions in. You can curl, straighten, pull your hair into a ponytail, or style a half down/half up look without ever seeing your extensions. Again, this is also thanks to the quality of hair we use.
We can’t stress enough how important it is to use full-cuticle real human hair for your extensions if you want them to look natural, style naturally, and protect your natural hair from additional heat damage.
Like we said before, the only thing that changes with these extensions is a few products you can’t use anymore, and we want you to wash and protect your hair a bit differently. But don’t worry, we make sure you always leave the salon with specific care instructions and product recommendations.
5. They Are Perfect for Fine or Thin Hair
We often get asked what the best hair extensions are for thin or fine hair…and we have to be honest with you, it’s i-tips every time. If you have thin or fine hair, you want to avoid most extension types because they can add a lot of unnatural-looking volume and density to your hair, or they can add a lot of pull on your already fragile strands.
Luckily, that’s not the case with i-tips. Because of how we install our extensions, they’ll hold well and look beautiful on fine, thin hair. In fact, we can even transform your look from a bob to long, gorgeous hair because we focus more on placement, style, and luxury transformations than instant volume.
We also love i-tips because they’re incredibly lightweight, which is one of the main reasons why you should get i-tip extensions if you have thin or fine hair. They don’t put added stress on your natural hair, helping it to grow long and full while you’re wearing them.
6. They’re Reusable
Finally, one reason you should get i-tip hair extensions is that they’re reusable, which makes them more cost-effective in the long run. It’s no secret that hair extensions are an investment. Luckily, when you opt for luxury i-tip extensions, like the ones we offer, you’re investing in hair that can last for up to a year with the proper care.
Our clients come in every 6-8 weeks for maintenance, and during these appointments we remove the extensions, comb out the hair fall, and reinstall them. This ensures that the hair extensions maintain their quality month after month.
If you’re looking for a long-lasting hair extension solution, i-tips are definitely the right choice for you.
At the end of the day, there are several different hair extension techniques, but as we’ve said, they’re not all created equally. If you’re looking for hair extensions that are natural-looking, safe for thin or fine hair, and last longer, you can see why we highly recommend i-tip hair extensions.
If you have questions, you can read our frequently asked questions here. And if you’re ready to find out if our luxury i-tip hair extensions are right for you, book a consultation with our founder Christina.