Hi there! Last week I decided I wanted to put my i-tip extensions back in! Sam installed them a few days ago & now I have my long locks back! Over on my Instagram story, I posted a question box so that I could easily answer all of your questions about i-tip extensions!
I filmed a Q&A over on my IGTV which you can watch here! Keep reading for some more extension info as well as some before & after pics!
Lets break down your top questions:
What are i-tip/i-link extensions?
I-tip/i-link extensions are bundles of hair extensions that get attached to tiny sections of your natural hair with a bead to add length and thickness. Below is an up close view of one of the rows on the side of my head.
Where can you buy them?
I purchased my extensions from Donna Bella. Donna Bella is a hair extension company that sells just about every kind of extension you can get, i-tip/i-link, tape-ins, keratin bond, ready to wear extensions-clip ins, & flat tip extensions.
Do you need a cosmetology license to buy/put them in?
No, you do not need any sort of professional license to purchase extensions from Donna Bella! In this case of hair, my cosmetology background does not have anything to do with the process. This leads perfectly into the next question which is:
How do you put them in?
Installing the extensions is super easy with practice! This process is not something I learned in cosmetology school, but just a process that Sam & I learned from watching YouTube videos! Check out these videos here! These are the exact ones we watched to figure out the process. Video 1, Video 2, Video 3. This is also a service
Putting the extensions in your hair is a tedious process (that you MUST have someone else do) of simply sectioning your hair, & feeding through a bead, an extension bundle & then clamping the bead closed, then repeat, repeat, repeat.
What are the exact extensions you have?
My hair is naturally wavy, so I purchased the 22-inch wavy packs of i-link extensions. I cut them much shorter than 22 inches; however, they do not offer the wavy hair texture in shorter lengths like they do for straight air.
What do you need to put them in?
In order to install them, you need simple things like clips to sections your hair, & a comb to make even parts for your sections, but most importantly, you need the beads from Donna Bella & a few tools. They offer full tool kits from Donna Bella, but it is much more affordable to purchase the 3 tools from Amazon. We found that out of the whole kit we only need 3. Tool #1: Pliers, Tool #2: The bead feeder, Tool #3: The hair section. You can get all 3 of these in a bundle here! This kit comes with beads, but the ones from Donna Bella are much better quality, so they will stay longer.
How long do they last?
This can depend on a few things. One is obviously how well they are installed & how well you take care of them in terms of brushing ect. The main factor for me is my curl pattern. Since I have wavy hair, as the extensions begin to grow out (typically in about 3 months), since my hair grows in wavy, my waves can cause the extensions to knot at the root because they get intertwined. When this happens it is time to take them out, comb out the knots & put them back in. They can last much longer with straight hair because the knotting is not a factor.
Can you reuse the hair?
Yes!! This is the number one reason why I wear this specific type of extension. I had these same extensions in my hair in February of 2018, & when I decided I no longer wanted them in, I took them out, stored them in an extension bag like this one, & now two years later they are back in my hair. All you need in order to reuse them is fresh beads! They’re a great option because you only need to make the big investment in the hair once.
Extra Tips
1: Do not brush the roots of your hair. Brushing at the root will cause your hair to pull out of the bead from the top- creating a biigggg mess. Brush from the very bottom of the bead down to the ends of your hair
2: Remember to condition your own hair as well as the extensions. If you neglect the ends of your hair, when the time comes that you remove your extensions, your hair will not be in good condition. Be careful not to condition too high up where conditioner will get into the beads and cause the extensions to slip out
3: Brush out your hair every night before bed and sleep with it in a loose ponytail to prevent knots building up in your sleep.
My Extension Results
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