Taking the plunge to get hair extensions is not just a fashion commitment, but a monetary commitment, so it’s only right to do your research to find out which style of extension is the best for your hair type!
If it’s your first time choosing what kind of extensions you want installed, you may feel overwhelmed with how many different options you’re offered. There are tape-ins, sew-ins, fusion extensions, and weaves, all of them having their own benefits and areas where they may fall short.
Among your choices of extensions is also the micro bead application (aka the i-link or i-tip extension), a form of hair treatment that’s been gaining footing in recent times for possibly the most seamless application possible. It’s so popular, in fact, that people who are extension veterans try them out once and never go back.
But what makes the micro bead hair extension so desirable, and more importantly, where might they cause issues?
So, what are micro bead extensions and their pros and cons? These extensions are held to the root of your natural hair by small beads. The discreetness, longevity, and gentle application process are all worth celebrating, but the potential damage, upkeep, and cost of installation may not be for you.
Clearly, there are a lot of things you need to keep in mind before booking your micro bead appointment, so we’ve put together our masterlist of all the pros and cons (in detail) you may come across on your extension journey.
What Are Micro Bead Extensions?
Micro bead extensions are a great, low-damage way of adding discreet volume and fullness to your hair (without the hassle of adhesives, tapes, or glues). Because of their gentle nature, they’ve become a beloved extension option by hair enthusiasts all over the world.
But how do they work? Unlike other extension processes that may involve excessive heat and chemicals, micro bead extensions are done on your hair via the attachment of super small beads placed near your hairline.
These beads are meticulously made to hold the perfect amount of your natural hair, as well as the weight of the bundles your stylist will add in.
The use of the beads to begin with make this type of extension stand out amongst the rest. By attaching the extensions with this method, you’ll be eliminating the need for chemical or heat related exposure to your locks when it comes time to maintain your extensions.
During application, your stylist will thread your natural hair through the bead, insert the tip of the extension into the same bead, and use a special pair of styling pliers to flatten, or crimp, the bead down, securely keeping the extension in place.
It sounds easy enough, but it’s quite the time consuming process, especially when done correctly. Remember that the micro beads are, well, micro, and how many are needed are completely dependent on the thickness of your hair and what you want your final look to be.
That means you could be in the chair for multiple hours, making installation an all day affair.
If you’d like to see how the process works, we’ve found this great tutorial from DreamCatchers Hair Extensions on YouTube. Check it out below!
The Pros
1. Discreetness
If you’ve been looking into hair extensions for a while, you may be put off by how restricting some types of extensions are. They may keep you from putting your hair into the intricate styles you may want, or it could even prevent you from doing something as simple as a ponytail.
Unfortunately, if you have thinner or finer hair, micro bead extensions may not be a good choice for you. Because your locks are low density, even the smallest of micro beads could peek through your strands (even when your hair is down). For a truly seamless option that works for your hair type, we suggest looking into fusion treatments instead.
However, should you decide to go with the micro bead extension, you don’t have to worry about anything prohibiting you from styling your hair to the nines.
The application process is very intricate, with smaller beads resting around the visible parts of the hairline, and the thicker, heftier beads working their magic on the middle of your scalp. That means that, unless they’re looking for them, no one will be able to know you’re wearing extensions in the first place.
The “crimp” of the micro bead also assists in how seamless the look of this extension is. Because your hair technician will squeeze the bead to its maximum flatness, the faux hair will lay flat against your scalp, mimicking the look of your natural hair as flawlessly as possible. And unlike the look of tape-ins and clip-ins, your extensions will “sway” just as your real hair would.
But let’s disregard how your extensions may look to others, because how discreet they are to you may be more important. If you’ve had other treatments done in the past, you may not be able to shake the memory of how heavy your head felt post extension application.
Or, you may still cringe at the feeling of the glue in your hair when you tried shampooing. Thankfully, you won’t have any of those issues with micro bead extensions.
They’re lightweight, durable, and since they involve no chemical treatment, you can truly forget that you even have them in (and you can do it with the peace of mind that your hair still looks great).
2. Longevity
With proper upkeep and maintenance, a single installation of micro bead extensions can last you anywhere from 3-6 months at a time.
A bulk of how well these extensions stay in your mane is reliant on how good you are at personal upkeep. Obviously, if you’re rough with your locks or aren’t mindful about the health of your hair, you can cut down the longevity of your treatment by a notable amount.
Since the average head of hair grows about half an inch a month, so it may take you an upwards of six to eight weeks in order for your growth to warrant a visit to the salon. While that’s the average, it’s vital to keep in mind the growth of your hair, and placing importance on your comfort.
If the beads are becoming more obvious in your strands, or they’re pulling on your natural locks in a way that bothers you, don’t be afraid to book an appointment with your stylist for a quick check in. They’ll be able to plan out a schedule of readjustment that works best with your hair.
While you can keep a single installation in for half a year at most, we don’t recommend letting it get that far. Instead, check in with your extension technician at the 3 month mark (if nothing has warranted a visit already), to see if you have some work that needs to be done.
3. Damage-Free
We’ve mentioned it earlier in the article, but you’re about to hear it from us again. Among all the types of extensions out there on the market, we have to say that the micro bead extension is probably one of the least damaging extensions out there.
When installed professionally, the beads, when crimped on your natural hair, don’t cause any tension or stress on your scalp. This is important, and something that other types of extensions don’t place enough importance on.
Even when you don’t have extensions in, keeping your scalp healthy is the key to having healthy hair in general. It’s best to deal with any issues at the (quite literal) root of the problem.
Some types of hair extensions involve exposing your natural locks to extremely high temperatures (we mean more than 400°F), in order to achieve a lengthy do. While the results are Rapunzel-worthy, the damage done to your strands definitely isn’t anything to cheer about.
The same goes to exposing your natural hair to the likes of hair adhesive or hair glue, which can cause hair to tangle or can even burn your strands.
If done correctly, this type of hair extension is damage free. And we mean it! These extensions can be removed and leave not a trace of harm or impairment to your original lengths.
The Cons
1. Potential Damage
Improper installation of micro bead extensions can be detrimental to your locks in a handful of ways.
Firstly, installing the beads too close to the root of the hair (instead of the near centimeter down where they’re supposed to be), will apply too much tension to your scalp. Not only will this be extremely painful, but it will cause breakage and your locks may even fall off immediately.
With your natural hairs falling out, but the extension staying in place, you’ll have less real hair to carry the weight of your faux hair. This heaviness can ultimately cause the remaining hairs left on your head to rip, leaving you with breakage (or a bald spot).
Be diligent in your care routine when you have extensions in, because failure to address potential issues when they first appear can lead to problems down the road.
Going back to what we mentioned earlier about checking in with your hair stylist around the 3 month mark, taking the time to check in with your stylist about moving your extensions up at the appropriate time will save you from some pretty serious knots.
Because the bead will keep your hair locked together, letting it grow out for longer than the appropriate time is a surefire way for your hair to mat, making the removal process extremely difficult.
2. Upkeep
If you don’t already have a set hair care routine in place, having micro bead extensions in is one way to kickstart the process. Getting extensions in the first place is a clear indicator that you love having healthy looking locks, but you may need to do some slight adjustments to ensure that you’re keeping your new extensions in account as well.
We know how great a good deep conditioning treatment feels, and in any other instance, we would be all for a weekly hair mask to inject your locks with some much needed moisture. Unfortunately though, having slippery strands may not bode well with your micro beads.
The beads need some friction to be able to hold onto your locks. We’re not saying you need to go longer in between washes, we’re not even saying that you should skip conditioner altogether, we just warn against giving your hair too much slip.
That goes for hair oils as well. If your ends are dry and need some bonding, by all means, distribute your favorite oil through the problem areas. But if you were the type to run oil through your locks from root to tip, you may need to switch up your routine. Again, the slipperiness will cause premature falling of your faux strands.
For all of our gym fanatics, be careful when tying your hair up into tight styles. We know you want to keep your strands from falling into your face, but too much tension on your extensions can cause breakage. Instead, opt for a loose braid or twist.
The sweat from your workout may also prove problematic, so if you’re the type who likes to take a breather after their gym session, you may need to make the change of immediately showering post-exercise. This will prevent tangling, and protect the beads from sweat damage.
3. Cost Of Installation
Because they’re so sought after, and because the finished results are so unlike any other extension types offered by salons, the price point and financial commitment of the micro bead extension may seem daunting.
Firstly, you’ll need to pay for the extensions themselves. The hair used in micro bead extensions are specially made for the treatment, and since you’ll be able to treat them like real hair, you’ll be paying for high quality strands. Expect to pay an upwards of $300 for all of the extensions.
Of course, this price could go to as high as $3,000 depending on how many bundles you’re purchasing, and the quality of the hair you want on your head. Because the micro bead extension is mostly targeted towards those with medium density hair types, the average customer will spend around $500-$1k on the extensions alone.
On top of the extension price is installation. Again, this is dependent on the salon you go to, but don’t sacrifice quality of treatment for a cheaper price point! When it comes to beauty treatments, you’re paying for the quality of the final result. The installation can range from $400 to even $1k depending on where you go.
All in all, it’s not other worldly for people to drop as much as $2,500 on their initial installation of micro bead extensions. But, thankfully, you only need to pay that much one time (with proper upkeep of course).
Depending on the maintenance of your extensions, and how well they were installed to begin with, you can reuse the same extensions during your second maintenance session and onwards. Going back to the salon to maintain your hair will cost another couple hundred dollars per session.
As you can see, choosing micro bead extensions is a serious commitment, but for many, the end result is worth the dollars dished out.
Related Questions
Can people with curly hair get micro bead extensions?
Absolutely! Micro bead extensions work on straight, wavy, and even super curly hair. If your hair is on the super curly end, however, your technician may need to straighten your hair out to make the installation process easier and faster.
The only time we would tell someone with curly hair to look at another extension option is if their hair is super thick. It’s all too easy to accidentally lose beads and extensions in thick hair, so we recommend going for sew-ins or a weave instead.
How long is the installation for micro bead extensions?
This depends on how many bundles are being installed in your head, and what the final thickness is that you’re yearning for. If your hair is on the finer side of medium, the average time you’ll be in the chair is about 1-2 hours. For those with thicker, or textured hair, the process can take an upwards of 5 hours to complete.
Maintenance sessions should be faster, but even then, expect to be in the salon for 1-2 hours with each appointment following your initial one.
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