Keratin Bond Hair Extensions Q+A

I’ve been wearing extensions since 2013. I LOVE them. My hair was really thick when I was younger, but as I got older, it started thinning A LOT. Whether from coloring it in high school or my chronic back-combing habit, it just doesn’t seem to grow much either. I wore clip-in extensions for years before trying out a more long-term option in Spring of 2018. Now that I’ve had them for over a year and I’ve gone through 3 sets of extensions, I thought I’d answer some of your questions! A few weeks back, I posted a question box on Instagram and let my followers ask anything their little hearts desired about my extensions. Here are my responses:

WHAT KIND OF EXTENSIONS DO YOU HAVE?

I have keratin bond extensions and have Satin Strands 20” hair installed in the color “Rio Nights”.

WHERE DO YOU GET YOUR EXTENSIONS DONE?

My hair is installed by Bri Hardcastle at Beauty By Bri inside the Sola Salon in Reno. You can contact her on Instagram at @hairnailsandlashesbybri or at 775-336-9888.

HOW LONG DOES INSTALL TAKE?

I’ve read that it can take up to 6 hours. Bri’s a pro though, and my typical install appointment with her is about 3 hours.

DO THEY DAMAGE YOUR HAIR?

Short answer: sure. If you don’t follow the home care instructions provided to you by your hair pro, they can definitely damage your hair. It’s important to check your bonds to make sure they stay separated and to prevent matting.

HOW ARE THEY ATTACHED?

Tiny sections of hair are glued onto my real hair in rows close to (but not touching) the scalp. There are probably hundreds of tiny pieces all over my head. Below is a picture to give you a better idea of what these rows look like.

HOW DO YOU REMOVE THEM?

Your hair profesh can definitely remove them for you, but I remove mine myself. As I mentioned earlier, the bond is compromised by oils. So when it’s time to remove them, I use BioSilk. I rub a small amount into each bond, massage it to break the bond, and then they just slide out. I then take a fine tooth comb to remove any residual glue. This process usually takes me about 2 hours- I just binge watch Netflix while I do it ;)

HOW MUCH DO THEY COST?

Install can be upwards of $1,200 plus the cost of hair. Price definitely varies from salon to salon. The hair I purchase is from Sally’s Beauty Supply and costs up to $140, but look out for sales! I purchased a set on labor day and with the discounts, they were only $100 plus I got a free metallic tote bag!

HOW DO YOU TAKE CARE OF THEM?

I shampoo and condition them like normal, but I’m very careful not to get any conditioner toward the roots of my hair, as oily products can compromise the glue. I treat them with a deep conditioning treatment once a week, as they can get dry (they aren’t don’t get oil and nutrients from your scalp like your real hair would). Keeping them detangled is important, so you should brush them several times a day- I brush my hair as soon as I wake up, before bed, and maybe twice throughout the day. I keep a little brush in my car for whenever they feel a little tangly. It’s also important to run your fingers through them periodically to make sure the bonds stay separated because matting can occur. You never want to go to bed with your hair wet, as this can also cause matting.

DO THEY HURT?

My head is always a little sore for the first day or two after a new set is installed. But, after that, I can’t even feel them! Every once in a while they feel a little itchy, but that’s usually because I didn’t rinse my shampoo out well enough lol.

HOW LONG DO THEY LAST?

Keratin bond extensions can last up to 6 months and I have always kept mine in for that entire time. I usually schedule a trim around the 3 month mark which also gives Bri a chance to check on them and make sure everything still looks good and no matting is present.

CAN YOU SWIM IN THEM?

Yep, just make sure to wash your hair afterwards so any chemicals in the water don’t affect your bonds.