| From the beginning of time, women have cared for | | | | encounter. |
| their hair. As 2005's Most Popular Hair Extensions far | | | | Question: What are the legal requirements in England |
| back as 4000-300 B.C. Egyptian women and even | | | | for doing hair extensions? |
| men are shown with various wigs and elaborate hair | | | | Answer: Sadly, there are no specific legal |
| styles. Hair is a contributing factor to ones confidence | | | | requirements for hair extensions over and above |
| and serenity. Our culture strongly identifies femininity | | | | those for a normal hair salon. |
| with a thick, lustrous head of hair. Images of full | | | | Question: What are the minimum requirements for |
| bodied, shining hair are synonymous with female | | | | someone wanting hair extensions? Length of hair? |
| attributes, sexuality, desirability and vigor. Thinning, | | | | Stable hair loss? Have you turned down clients for |
| dry, lusterless hair is identified with illness, old age, | | | | hair extensions and why? |
| and poverty. | | | | Answer: We regularly turn away clients no matter |
| Every generation goes thru more and more | | | | how much they want hair extensions, if we don't |
| transformations and capitalizes on current trends of | | | | think it's going to look sensational! For fashion work, |
| Hair Styles. The big Hair Style trend these days is in | | | | the main reason is length of existing hair - for the |
| full swing in Europe and is just starting to spread in | | | | best results, the clients hair needs to be at least 4 to |
| the United States. It is the trend of Hair Extensions. | | | | 6 inches long. This is because you need existing hair |
| Hair extensions involve the attachment of human or | | | | to conceal where the extensions are attached. For |
| synthetic hair to your existing hair to create a more | | | | our clients with hair loss, there can be a whole range |
| full or long look immediately. Hair extensions can add | | | | of reasons, from too little existing hair to hair loss |
| instant body, length to your look and can also help | | | | that hasn't "stabilized". |
| with hair thinning and hair loss situations. | | | | Question: There are some hair extensionists that |
| There are many different methods of hair extensions | | | | don't recommend getting fiber extensions because of |
| on the market today, some good, some not so | | | | esthetic reasons. Can you describe the quality of the |
| good. Mark Sharp, co-founder and creative director | | | | fiber hair, where it is made and why these |
| of Mark Glenn Hair Enhancement of London, England | | | | recommendations are not valid? |
| and Glenn Kinsey, co-founder and managing director | | | | Answer: We only use a beautiful, hand-made fiber |
| have taken revolutionary steps in developing a fiber | | | | that is absolutely undetectable from the real thing in |
| hair extension method that not only doesn't damage | | | | look, feel and behavior. It's actually more expensive |
| the existing hair but can even improve the condition | | | | than some human hair! Cheap fiber is truly awful, akin |
| of the hair. They have transformed the lives of | | | | to "Barbie-doll" hair. You only tend to spot bad |
| women who suffer from varying degrees of hair loss | | | | extensions - we pride ourselves on the fact that, in |
| caused by conditions such as alopecia, trichotillomania, | | | | general, no-one even suspects our clients have |
| genetic factors, stress and post-operative trauma. | | | | extensions and we have a large number of celebrity |
| The Mark Glenn extensions, commonly known as MG | | | | clients that, in some cases, even the media haven't |
| extensions, use no glues, bonding solutions, threads, | | | | spotted that their hair isn't their own! |
| weaves, injections, and nothing is stuck on the head. | | | | Question: You mention on your website, that the |
| They are attached using a very fine braid. A small | | | | fiber extensions do not damage your hair and can |
| section of existing hair is split into two. The fiber hair | | | | even improve the condition of your hair. Can you |
| is also split into two to make the braid and is finally | | | | explain how they can improve the condition of your |
| wrapped around the base of the hair, protecting it. | | | | hair? |
| The fiber is then "sealed on itself" using a heat tool | | | | Answer: First of all, we don't use any chemicals. |
| (which is no hotter than a typical pair of curling tongs | | | | Secondly, your own hair is "cocooned" and protected |
| or crimpers). This creates a tiny plastic seal. It's | | | | inside the extension and continues to grow as normal. |
| important to point out that during this process, your | | | | Thirdly, when the extensions are removed, they just |
| own hair is safely "cocooned" inside the fiber so it | | | | slide off your hair leaving no mess or residue. |
| doesn't come into direct contact with any heat. | | | | Because your hair has been protected in this way |
| Therefore, your own hair stays in perfect condition. | | | | over a few months, the condition of your own hair |
| For hair loss or thinning problems, the extensions are | | | | often improves. |
| applied with non-allergic mesh and the fiber hair is | | | | Question: What is the maintenance schedule for |
| woven thru the mesh to create the look. | | | | fashion and hair loss fiber extensions? What happens |
| Glenn Kinsey of Mark Glenn Hair Enhancement has | | | | if you do not follow the maintenance schedule? |
| joined us today for a brief question and answer | | | | Answer: For fashion, you'd need to either remove |
| session on their fiber hair extensions. | | | | the extensions after three months or have them |
| Welcome Glenn and thank you for joining us today! | | | | removed and replaced. Initially, the extensions are |
| We have a few questions for you about your | | | | attached at the base of your hair. However, your |
| wonderful hair extensions. | | | | hair will grow at around half an inch a month so the |
| Question: I understand that you and Mark have | | | | extensions start to grow down your own hair. If you |
| previously worked with human hair extensions. Why | | | | leave it longer than 3 months, there's a risk that the |
| did you switch to synthetic fiber extensions? | | | | newly grown hair above the extension may start to |
| Answer: Several reasons: | | | | matt and tangle and, in the worst-case scenario, |
| 1. Weight - human hair is twice the weight of fiber | | | | dreadlock. For hair loss, the particular technique we |
| and therefore feels "heavy" on the head - at its | | | | use demands that clients visit us every six weeks for |
| worst, this increased weight and stress on the hair | | | | similar reasons - the "mesh" can start to feel a little |
| can cause "traction alopecia". In addition, human hair is | | | | loose if it's left for much longer than 6 weeks. |
| porous - it soaks up water - which can significantly | | | | Question: If someone has very thick hair and wants |
| increase the weight when wet. | | | | only to lengthen it, why wouldn't you just apply the |
| 2. Tangle - human hair tends to "matt" and "tangle" - | | | | extensions to the ends of the hair, instead of at the |
| this is because the surface of human hair has little | | | | roots? |
| "spines" on it, that look like roof tiles under a | | | | Answer: Because you'd see a "bump" where the |
| microscope. Because this "alien" hair isn't being | | | | extension is attached. |
| conditioned by the natural oils that condition your | | | | Question: Can you treat fiber extensions the same as |
| own hair, these "spines" tend to "stick out" and | | | | your own hair? I.E. shampooing, conditioning, curling, |
| tangle up with the other hairs on your head. | | | | brushing, etc |
| Consequently, you do need to use quite intensive | | | | Answer: Yes - wash it as normal, blow dry, curl, |
| conditioners to keep the hair in good condition. Fiber, | | | | condition, brush - just like the real thing. And because |
| however, has a smooth surface and therefore is less | | | | the fiber is actually non-porous, you don't need to |
| likely to tangle. | | | | use expensive products on the hair, e.g. conditioners, |
| 3. Glue - human hair extensions are typically applied | | | | because they'll have no effect on the extension hair |
| with glue and removed with acetone - a recipe for | | | | itself. The only thing you have to avoid is direct, |
| damage, the results of which we regularly see in our | | | | sustained heat e.g. hot-iron straighteners etc. Rollers |
| studio. Our method doesn't use any chemicals. | | | | etc. are fine. |
| 4. Colour match - a stylist using human hair would | | | | Question: Are there any restrictions? Can you color |
| typically take a swatch of the client's hair and send it | | | | or perm the fibre extensions? |
| to a human hair supplier who would then pick the | | | | Answer: You can't perm the extensions but you |
| closest colour from a specific range. We actually | | | | wouldn't need to - you can achieve the same look |
| colour-blend our hair with the client in front of us - | | | | using rollers, for instance. Colour has no effect on the |
| taking into account all the different subtle shade | | | | extension hair, again, because it's non-porous. This is |
| shifts that may exist in their hair - to get an | | | | great for clients who continue to have their "roots" |
| absolutely perfect match | | | | done, in the knowledge that the colour won't affect |
| 5. Ethics - there's a great deal of mystery surrounding | | | | the extension hair. |
| the origins of human hair used in extensions and it's | | | | Question: On an annual basis, what would a typical |
| very difficult to track the exact source. A common | | | | client pay for Fashion and Hair Loss Fiber extensions |
| source for top quality hair is from female Russian | | | | including maintenance schedules? Are the majority of |
| prisoners, for example | | | | the costs associated with cost of the materials or |
| 6. Look and feel - fiber looks and feels just like real | | | | the labor? |
| hair but is much kinder to the hair and is much easier | | | | Answer: Costs do vary from head to head and style |
| to style and take care of. | | | | to style. Since we have two people working on a |
| Question: What percentage of your clients gets hair | | | | client's head at the same time, cost is predominantly |
| extensions for hair loss issues versus fashion? | | | | based on the amount of time it takes with each |
| Answer: The split is approximately 50/50 | | | | particular client. On average, a fashion client would |
| Question: You have developed your own branded | | | | pay around GBP £1,500.00 per year and a hair |
| method (MG extensions) for applying fiber | | | | loss client, around twice as much. And bear in mind |
| extensions. What is unique about your method in | | | | that you don't need to visit a hairdresser since we |
| comparison to other methods available? Do you plan | | | | take care of all this during appointments. |
| to patent your application method? | | | | Question: Your Hair Loss fiber extensions qualify for |
| Answer: We have a proprietary technique for | | | | funding from medical plans in England. Did you have |
| working with female hair loss, for which clients visit | | | | to go thru a certification process for this funding? |
| us from all over the world. For fashion purposes, | | | | Have any of your clients outside England received |
| we've amalgamated several different methods and | | | | payment from medical plans in their country? |
| added our own unique adaptations to create a | | | | Answer: Because of the way the UK health system |
| technique that creates a beautiful look | | | | works (which is funded by the Government) it very |
| Question: Why do you feel that fiber extensions are | | | | much depends on the attitude of local health |
| superior to human hair extensions? Could you apply | | | | authorities rather than a specific "test". Some health |
| human hair extensions using your method if a client | | | | authorities are happy to fund their patients, whereas |
| really preferred human hair? | | | | others are not, preferring the cheaper option of |
| Answer: See above. Apart from using pliers and a | | | | providing wigs. We've yet to have someone from |
| metal clip (which is great fun through airport metal | | | | outside the UK who's funded by a health plan etc. |
| detectors and very uncomfortable when you lay | | | | Question: Do you plan to offer training to stylists |
| your head on a pillow!) the only way to apply human | | | | outside your salon so that other salons in the world |
| hair is with glue. | | | | can offer MG Extensions? |
| Question: What training and education is involved for | | | | Answer: Not at present, although it's something we |
| stylists doing MG extensions? | | | | may consider in the future. |
| Answer We work in teams of two people - a "lead" | | | | Question: Are there reputable salons in the US that |
| and an "assist". Team members start out as an | | | | you would recommend? |
| "assist" and then, after about 12 to 24 months, | | | | Answer: Since the majority of our techniques were |
| progress up to a "lead". "Leads" are the ones that | | | | developed in-house and are therefore unique to us, |
| direct the work. Our training is very intensive and "on | | | | it's unlikely you'd find anyone locally who does things |
| the job" to allow team members to experience the | | | | in quite the same way. The fact that, currently, we |
| bewildering array of both styles and techniques, as | | | | have clients that visit us from 14 different countries, |
| well as the differing types of hair loss they may | | | | seems to confirm this. |
