Different types of hand tied extension methods

I decided to write this blog post after a consultation I had with one of my guests the other day. I knew when she came in that she was wearing a Hand Tied Method, but what I didn’t know was that she wasn’t wearing a Hand Tied Method. I went about my consultation asking my usual questions, “What’s your goal? What aren’t you liking about your hair now?” So on and so forth.

Then I dug in!

I lifted her hair up to expose her first weft and immediately I knew why she was unhappy with her current extensions. These were not “Hand Tied” wefts, these were Volume wefts.

This was the moment that I decided that I needed to enlighten my audience, because this was not the first time I had come across this. It truly breaks my heart when guests decide to never wear extensions again because they didn’t receive what they they thought they would thus leading to a bad experience!

I’ve had a number of guests over the past few years who were terrified of Hand Tied Extensions all to come and find out that they never had Hand Tied Extensions from the start!

If this is you, I hope this article helps enlighten you on what Hand Tied really means and alleviate any fear of every wearing extensions again!

What does “Hand Tied” Refer To?

Despite popular belief, “Hand Tied” does not refer to the method being used for your extensions. In fact it is referring to the actual weft of hair being placed into your hair!

Mindblowing, right?? Me to!

For years, I was just as like anyone else thinking that all this time Hand Tied Extensions referred to method and not an actual form of creating the hair weft. Hand Tied wefts are completely micro thin because they have been completely sewn by hand allowing them to be this way, thus giving them their name!

Hand Tied wefts cannot be cut [unless specified by the company, thank you Covet & Mane!] without completely unraveling on you. They can be layered over each other to create the weight and density needed for your individual head of hair. This is probably my favorite aspect of them!

They are great for all densities of hair and particularly my favorite for my fine haired guest who want beautiful mermaid locks!

Bottom line, these are the only extension weft that should be used in a Hand Tied Method!

What other types of wefts are used for sew in methods?

The two other types of weft extensions are what I’ve seen most with my guests who claim to have received “Hand Tied Extension” services, and these include “Volume Wefts'“ and “Machine Wefts”.

Let’s start with Machine Wefts! Machine wefts have been sewn together by an actual machine, and for this reason they are thicker than a Hand Tied weft. Machine wefts usually come in bundles and can be cut to the desired length needed for your head. These are a great option for those looking for a cheaper option of sew in and can be used on most hair densities, but not usually recommended for those with fine hair.

Volume wefts were designed with my thick hair babes in mind! These are much more dense, heavy and volume packed. They are great for those with coarse, thick and curly hair because you can put in less rows but still achieve that heavier density needed for coverage! I would never recommend to use these on anyone with fine hair as they can cause a lot of tension and unwanted damage.

Both are neither Hand Tied Extensions, only a sew in extension! However, both are great sew in options for guests who are looking for a thicker wefts and need more volume.

BUT WHAT ABOUT ALL THE HAND TIED METHODS?

Exposed Freespirited Hand Tied Extension Method

This part of “Hand Tied Extensions” is what gets the most confusing, because there are so many methods that say they are a Hand Tied Method. However, Hand Tied again only refers to the weft, but what these classes are teaching their students is their way of “creating the row and sewing in” the Hand tied weft!

There are a number of ways to create a row that you would sew on the Hand Tied Hair Extensions. Freespirited, Habit Hand Tied and Natural Beaded Rows [NBR], just to name a few. Most of these Methods utilize beads and string to create your row that your Hand Tied wefts are sewn onto. Personally, I use the Freespirited method, which utilizes your hair and beads [such as shown to your right] to create your row. Doing it this way gives you more anchors to sew onto, thus balancing the weight from the wefts and creating less tension points on your hair.

Less Tension = Less to No Damage

I have worn most Hand Tied Sew In Methods and Freespritied is still mine and my guests favorite, because this method allows the Hand Tied Wefts to lay so much more seamless to the scalp, they are comfortable and do not pull at all.

All methods mentioned can be used to also apply Volume and Machine wefts, but are then considered a sew in method and not a Hand Tied Method at this point.

What questions do I ask my stylist during my hand tied extension consultation?

Now that you’ve become more educated on the types of wefts that are out there, you understand what Hand Tied means, but you are looking for a Stylist to perform the Hand Tied Method on you. So what types of questions should you ask?

Here are a few that I find super important and I’ll explain why:

“Do you do hand tied extensions?”

This one seems obvious, but there are many stylists who say they do Hand Tied, but actually offer Volume wefts or Machine wefts. As we’ve learned this is the number one reason I’ve come across guests who’ve had bad experiences with Hand Tied Extensions and that’s because they aren’t receiving Hand Tied wefts, which leads to my next important question!

“What type of wefts do you use and what brand?”

This is when you will discover if your stylist actually does “Hand Tied” extensions or if they just do a form of sew in extensions. Remember, Volume and Machine wefts are not Hand Tied Extensions ONLY Hand Tied Wefts are Hand Tied Extensions. It is not wrong to have Volume or Machine wefts installed, you just want to make sure that that is the correct type of extension for your individual hair, density, and type of end result you are looking for.

Some of the more popular brands that carry Hand Tied Extensions include: Covet & Mane, Bombshell Hair Extensions, Babe Hair extensions, and Bohyme. Some Stylists will use brands such as Bellami, which only carries Volume wefts and will give you your answer fairly quickly. However, if these brands aren’t mentioned it’s super easy to google any brand and make sure they carry Hand Tied Wefts!

If this is an in person consult, ask to view a weft if possible!

“What hand tied method do you use?”

This question is only important if you are looking for a specific sew in method, as mentioned I prefer Freespirited, but it is newer to the industry and not easy to find a stylist who does it. I am one of the very few stylists in Southern California that offers this method. Personally I find it the least damaging, most comfortable and you get 8-10 weeks between move ups unlike most other methods that give you 4-6 weeks.

However, NBR and Habit are also great options if that’s easier to find in your area!

“Do you custom color my extensions?”

This is not something all stylists offer and totally adds to the natural look of your extensions! I highly suggest finding a stylist who custom colors your extensions and this is because if those suckers ever show themselves there is really nothing more embarrassing than the whole world knowing you now wear extensions… am I right?! No one ever wants their secrets to be exposed!!

I mean check out all the pictures above, all are completely exposed… did you even notice?{;

in Conclusion...

I’m so proud of you for taking the time to broaden your knowledge on Hand Tied extensions before taking the plunge. These extensions are a major luxury service and an investment, so making sure that you are getting what you are asking for is crucial!

I always wish for the best experiences for you and hope you always receive the best of the services you are requesting. So taking the time to read this blog post and making sure you have education on these types of services will really ensure you are getting what you want and what’s best for your hair type!

As always lovelies, I am an open book so please feel free to leave me any questions down below or head over to my instagram page to learn more about Hand Tied Extensions!