How can hair extensions be used for thickening, rather than just lengthening, and therefore opening up the technique to more clients?

There’s a huge demand for extensions for volume whether it’s to thicken up fine hair, correcting a previous bad hair experience (breakage or hair cut) or for someone who just wants to have Red Carpet hair 24/7.

To use hair extensions to create volume instead of length, you use a different approach. Instead of doing a full head of hair extensions, you would strategically place the extensions exactly where you feel more volume is needed. A lot of women find that the hair in front of the ears is the finest part so you would place extensions around that area to thicken the area out and then cut to the natural length of the hair. I find bonded and tape extensions are the perfect method for thickness and volume – bonded because you can customise the size of the bond so they can be virtually undetectable and tapes as they sit so flat to the head.

At consultation, you look at the client’s scalp and hair condition and see if it is healthy enough to have the extensions service. If not, you can recommend a course of treatments to enhance the hair and scalp health. During consultation, you can also discuss your client’s
needs and expectations which will help you decide upon the method of extensions that you would apply, taking into account their lifestyle and hair routine.

This service can really enhance salon revenue as partial placements can take up to 45 minutes – more or less the same time as a cut and blow dry. If the client needs to have treatments prior to the extensions being fitted, it offers you the chance to upsell the salon’s treatments so all things considered, it is a great bill booster.

Also, in my experience, when you do a thorough consultation and you fit the extensions best suited to the client’s hair and lifestyle, the client generally loves the result so much that it is very likely their first experience with extensions will not be their last - therefore generating repeat business for the salon.

Karl Warner is Beauty Works master extension specialist and stylist at Pastels Salon at the Ritz Carlton, Dubai. He is renowned in the British media and has more than 10 years’ industry experience including working in prestigious London salons and backstage at London Fashion Week.

There’s a huge demand for extensions for volume whether it’s to thicken up fine hair, correcting a previous bad hair experience (breakage or hair cut) or for someone who just wants to have Red Carpet hair 24/7.

To use hair extensions to create volume instead of length, you use a different approach. Instead of doing a full head of hair extensions, you would strategically place the extensions exactly where you feel more volume is needed. A lot of women find that the hair in front of the ears is the finest part so you would place extensions around that area to thicken the area out and then cut to the natural length of the hair. I find bonded and tape extensions are the perfect method for thickness and volume – bonded because you can customise the size of the bond so they can be virtually undetectable and tapes as they sit so flat to the head.

At consultation, you look at the client’s scalp and hair condition and see if it is healthy enough to have the extensions service. If not, you can recommend a course of treatments to enhance the hair and scalp health. During consultation, you can also discuss your client’s
needs and expectations which will help you decide upon the method of extensions that you would apply, taking into account their lifestyle and hair routine.

This service can really enhance salon revenue as partial placements can take up to 45 minutes – more or less the same time as a cut and blow dry. If the client needs to have treatments prior to the extensions being fitted, it offers you the chance to upsell the salon’s treatments so all things considered, it is a great bill booster.

Also, in my experience, when you do a thorough consultation and you fit the extensions best suited to the client’s hair and lifestyle, the client generally loves the result so much that it is very likely their first experience with extensions will not be their last - therefore generating repeat business for the salon.

Karl Warner is Beauty Works master extension specialist and stylist at Pastels Salon at the Ritz Carlton, Dubai. He is renowned in the British media and has more than 10 years’ industry experience including working in prestigious London salons and backstage at London Fashion Week.