GROWING IN CONFIDENCE

BY MCKENZIE TURLEY

DO:

Before After

• Pay attention to the scalp – check the scalp elasticity and make adjustments necessary.

• Keep your sectioning clean – a clean parting will make a huge difference in the health of the scalp as well as the comfort level for your guest.

HAIR LOSS AFFECTS OVER 80% OF MEN AND 50% OF WOMEN ACROSS THE WORLD. SINCE THE PANDEMIC IN 2020, WE HAVE SEEN NUMBERS SKY ROCKET EVEN FROM THERE. OUR COLUMNIST MCKENZIE TURLEY TELLS YOU HOW TO USE EXTENSIONS TO TACKLE HAIR LOSS.

Numerous things can cause hair loss, from stress and sickness to hormone imbalances and conditions.

Those affected often seek advice from a hairstylist, hoping to restore their hair and self-confidence through extensions. As licensed professionals, we have an opportunity to re-build their confidence whilst building our businesses behind the chair.

The goal is to truly rehab the client's natural hair to allow their scalp to heal and create a safe and healthy foundation from which hair can grow. As such, you must focus on using a method that works best with fine hair and can be customized based on your guests needs. You will need to provide hair loss solutions that take the weight of the extension hair into consideration, making sure you properly match density to density. I created Invisible Bead Extensions® with these exact issues in mind –something that is versatile enough to provide real solutions, not just aesthetic transformations.

In theory, all licensed cosmetologists are able to perform hair extension services, but methods are not readily taught in-depth in cosmetology school.

• Match textures – a healthy install will properly match textures, providing easier maintenance for your guest. If the guest has curly hair, install a curly extension. Improper texture matching will require the guests to apply more heat to their hair and they may experience additional hair loss due to heat and styling damage.

• Show empathy – guests dealing with hair loss may experience emotional trauma, so be patient and kind.

When it comes to choosing methods and installing extensions as a means of combatting hair loss and thinnning, it's essential that we invest in quality education. 90-second How To’s and free downloads on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube just don't cut it!

I had been trained in multiple methods at cosmetology school but still left with so many questions! Educators couldn't tell me WHY the foundation was the way it was, and I constantly wondered why some clients struggled with loose beads or hair loss. The more I studied and researched, the more apparent it became that keeping hair in its natural state without tension or over-direction was going to be integral in creating a successful and healthy extension install. That's why I developed the IBE® Method, motivated by the incredible guests in my chair.

In IBE® education, we discuss scalp health and the effects of tension on hair loss. Now, those with hair loss can receive an extension method that they can trust will make them look good without sacrificing their health.

DON’T:

• Rush through installs – we can get caught up with “instant gratification”. Remember, it takes five hours to stitch the steering wheel on a Bentley! Take time to know your client.

• Attempt a method without training – athough you may see quick tips and tricks for extension installs on the internet, in order to offer this luxury service, you need to educate yourself fully.

• Never install without proper consultation – gather all information to properly recommend a hair loss solution. Understand a client’s lifestyle, what their current hair wash/ style routine is, what they’re specifically looking for by adding hair extensions.

The fantastic news is that providing hair extensions can truly open doors for guests. Those who suffer from alopecia or Trichotillomania can cover bald patches with strategic extension placement. IBE® specifically provides guests with a hair loss solution that restores confidence. It has been incredible to watch this idea grow across all extensions brands, that hair extensions are NOT just for contestants on the Bachelor, but for REAL women struggling with REAL hair loss.

After you’ve installed the extensions method of your choice, make sure you set up your guest for success by recommending the best products to help them maintain a healthy scalp and continue to heal their natural hair out of your chair. Goldie Locks was specifically created with the guest in mind. The Goldie Locks Clarifying Shampoo is important for extension wearers to use once every two to three washes to keep the attachment points clean and free of build-up. I also recommend the Goldie Locks Dry Shampoo, which is chemical/propellant-free, making it perfect for the guest who wants to keep their scalp healthy and their hair follicles clear of pollutants. I don’t let my guests leave the salon without telling them 101 reasons why they should be on Goldie Locks Hair Supplements. We as licensed professionals should be teaching our guests about healthy hair starting from the inside, then out! If we do not have these conversations with our guests, they will look elsewhere for guidance.

Just one haphazard install can cost a guest already suffering from hair loss an extremely significant blow. Let's level up together as an industry and truly step into our role as hair loss specialists!