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The Full Story
OUR HAIR EXTENSION PROCESS
If you are new to hair extensions then understanding the whole process can be overwhelming. We have broken down each step with all the information you will need to know to get a better understanding of how it works.
Consultation
All of the consultations take place in Ashley-Marie's private treatment room with just you and her present. The consultation usually takes approximately 15 minutes, and offers you the opportunity to discuss your requirements and to ask any questions you may have. If you do feel that 15 minutes will not be long enough please state this when booking and we will happily mark more time out of the diary. This service is free, no-obligation consultation and is a very important part of the hair extension process.
At your consultation, we will discuss what look you desire and also talk about your lifestyle and hobbies to ensure hair extensions will be manageable in your daily routines. We will then go on to examine your hair colour, texture and length and go through which method would be best suited for your natural hair and the look you would like to achieve.
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We will then begin to discuss the costs of the fitting and also the maintenance upkeep to ensure that you are happy with the financial costs involved. We will then discuss our terms and conditions and aftercare advice. If you are happy after all of this we can then look at dates and times your available.
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You can either then go away and think about everything we have discussed or you can book in your fitting appointment. A deposit will be required and the amount depends on the length and thickness of your chosen method.
If you are not able to make the appointment and would like to re-arrange, you can do so but we require at least 72 hours’ notice. If notice is not given, your deposit will be deducted with a £50 cancellation fee and then refunded to you.
Colour Match
Colour Matching your hair extensions is the most crucial part of hair extensions process. The perfect colour match is essential for discreet looking hair extensions. With over a decade of experience in colour matching and trialling new hair suppliers each year, AshleyMarie has accumulated 16 colour rings from 16 different hair extension suppliers with hundreds of hair colours combined. We strongly advise that the match up is only done in your consultation face to face, as pictures can be misleading and not accurate in poor lighting.
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If you are looking to have your hair coloured or highlighted before your colour match, then please ensure that you wait at least 7 days before your consultation/colour match. As you know when your hair is freshly dyed after 2-3 washes it usually fades and the toner washes out. If you wanted to have your hair extensions the same colour as when your hair is toned then it is advised that you get your toner done every 3weeks otherwise your hair extensions will not match once the toner has washed out of your hair usually around 4 washes.
Your new hair extensions will be matched up to the ends of y
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If your hair colour is a natural colour and you have never used a colour dye on it, then the only way for an exact colour match would be to buy virgin raw hair, which is more expensive.
If your hair is a customised colour eg bright orange or pink then it is most likely that you will have to pay an extra colouring charge for the hair extensions to be coloured with your exact colour. We do have a small selection of bright colours which could match.
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If your dyed hair colour has washed out over a few months then this will be difficult to colour match as your hair colour now will not be an exact colour. For example if you have previously had blonde hair and you have coloured it brown and it has washed out and faded over the months and you haven't coloured it since. Then your hair colour will not match up to any of the colour rings swatches.
Preparation
Before your fitting appointment we ask if you prepare your hair the night before to ensure the your new hair extensions are applied in the safest way.
Preparation is extremely important to ensure that you do not have any excess oils in your natural hair which can cause the connections of the extensions to not adhere properly and slide out.
Before you have your hair extensions fitted, the hair must be thoroughly cleaned and free from any hair products, especially near the roots.
Step 1: Ensure that you have washed your hair thoroughly using a clarifying shampoo on the morning of your fitting (not the night before). This is to remove all natural oils and product build-up. Please do not use any conditioner on the roots of your hair. It is best that you do not use any conditioner, but if your hair really needs it then lightly apply conditioner on the ends of your hair only. Any conditioner to the root area will cause extensions to slide.
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Step 2: Please do not put any styling products on your hair prior to your fitting appointment. If you have excessive amounts of thickening talc, backcombing or hairspray then you may be charged for your hair to be washed in the salon to ensure the hair extensions can be applied correctly.
Step 3: Please arrive to your appointment with your hair dry and straightened. If your hair has to be coloured or chemically treated, then make sure it is done at least four to five days before the application of your hair extensions.
Each hair extension fitting time is usually within1-3hours depending on the hair extension method, length and thickness you have chosen.
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Tapes: 1-2 Hours
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Weaves: 1-3 Hours
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Individuals: 1-4 Hours
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The application is pain free and should feel lightweight in your hair. The result is a gentle but secure and comfortable connection.
My Luscious Locks salon has a very relaxed, friendly environment. If you are not feeling up to the busy salon main room, you can be located to the private treatment room where it will be just yourself and AshleyMarie in there. Hot and cold refreshments will be provided throughout your fitting appointment and you are more than welcome to bring any lunch/dinner we can warm up in our kitchen area.
Fitting
Once you have had your hair extensions fitted, it is important to get into a good aftercare routine with your extensions as they will need to be looked after and cared for to ensure your own hair does not get damaged and you get the most out of your new hair.
You will be given an aftercare leaflet which you can read and follow through after your appointment. We stock all of the hair extension products which can be purchased on the day to ensure that your hair is going to last and stay in perfect condition.
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Maintenance appointments are extremely important to keep your extensions looking and feeling their best and to stop any matting/tangling of your natural re-growth hair. The length of time before your second appointment will depend on the method you have. We advise that you book a month in advance as our diary gets extremely busy.
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If you have an individual method fitted it is normal to loose up to 15 strands in two months most clients don’t it all depends on the clients lifestyle, what products they are using and how oily their hair is this is totally normal and we ask you to keep a hold of these so we can refit them for you.
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We do require a small deposit of £30 to secure maintenance appointments in the diary. If, for what ever reason, your maintenance appointment needs to be re-scheduled, then please give us at least 48 hours’ notice. If notice is not given, then your deposit will be non-refundable and payable again.
Maintenance
After wearing hair extensions, there comes a time when you want to or need to remove them. This is the most important part of the process to protect your natural hair. If the hair extensions are not removed by a professional then you may damage the hair extensions, your natural strands of hair, even cause shedding, breakage, and other problems.
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Making sure that your removal is carried out at the correct time eliminates any damage to your natural hair. On average we lose 100–150 strands of hair a day. This is the hair you find in your brush/in the shower when not wearing extensions. When you have extensions in, this hair shed will be caught/trapped in the bond and it has nowhere to go until your hair extensions are removed.
If you leave your extensions in for too long, all the shedded hair can become tangled and start matting at the roots when the bonds have grown down. This can lead to your hair dreadlocking above your bonds which causes removal to be extremely difficult. It also causes unnecessary weight on your natural hair. When you have had your extensions fitted, you will start to notice around the bond some natural hair spouting out with white bulbs on the end. This is your natural hair shed and it is completely normal.
When having your extensions removed, you will be surprised at what 150 strands a day looks like after wearing your extensions over a long period of time. All the methods that we fit, when maintained and removed correctly, help your natural hair to grow and cause zero damage.
The Removal times all depend on the method and can range from 15 to 90 minutes.