The Art of Extensions

Written by Madi Clement, Stylist at Frankie Salon

As a stylist, it is truly rooted in my heart to make every single client I have the honor of having in my chair feel their best and walk out the door radiating confidence and glowing with their new hair look. When I started in the profession, I realized there was something else I could be offering in my service menu to dive deeper into the “your hair but better” mission I had curated my skill set around.

As I grew my lived-in colour and balayage clientele, I noticed a lot of curiosity from clients about hair extensions—and it definitely sparked a lot of creativity on my end! It was one of my first certifications, and I have spent countless hours over the past 3.5 years behind the chair researching and gaining hands-on knowledge and experience in the craft. I can definitely say, without a doubt, it is one of my favorite services to offer! The fact that I have the honor of being part of creating a guest’s dream hair fills me with so much joy and always makes my day.

Hair extensions come in many different forms, and I have curated my weft and fusion installs to be safe for the scalp, protect the integrity of the hair, and work for the many different densities and hair types my guests may have! Over the years, I have learned that hair extensions aren’t linear, and every single client’s install has to be custom-built and created with intention.

What I adore about hair extensions and Frankie Hair, is the customization of length, thickness, and colour—whether you are a guest only wanting to add density to your hair, truly creating your most effortless dream hair, or if you want luxurious waist-length hair to live out your seamlessly blended mermaid dreams. We can do it all! And when I get to tap into my creative and custom color extensions, or shade-match the richest brunettes and brightest blondes, I’m truly in my element!

The most important part about extensions for me is upholding my clients’ scalp and hair health while creating seamless blends with the enhancement of extensions—a completely invisible “your hair but better,” an extension of the beauty my guests already have.

Hair extensions go hand in hand with scalp and hair health, another huge passion of mine! So here is how I recommend my guests maintain their extensions at home: You always want to use a hydrating shampoo—I’m absolutely obsessed with Oribe’s Gold Lust Shampoo! You never want to use a thickening or volumizing shampoo, as you risk drying out your Frankie Hair or causing any knotting. Keeping the scalp properly maintained is key with extensions, whether you have wefts or fusions, so incorporating Oribe’s Serene Scalp Exfoliating Scrub is a nice add-on to your shower routine. Always pair it with one of Oribe’s conditioners and a hair oil for extra hydration.

As your stylist, I do everything I can to create a comfortable, long-lasting install, but at-home care is a top priority as well! I always make sure my guests have enough knowledge on how to maintain their effortless installation, and I always give product recommendations on your day of installation, as well as at-home care instructions, to make sure your extensions are as effortless as possible, and continue to uphold their integrity.

Adding hair extensions to my craft was one of the most rewarding things I have done. Combining my passion for effortless hair with ensuring my clients have the healthiest, most luxurious hair when they leave the salon—and until they see me next—was a match made by the hair Gods. It was a skill set that couldn’t have found me sooner! Some days, I truly can’t believe I get to partake in such an important part of my guests’ identity. When you feel your best, there is nothing stopping you. Being able to pair a gorgeous color with comfortable, seamless extensions will always be a staple in my chair!

To any current or future clients—don’t feel intimidated! Getting to chat about extensions, maintenance, and how to properly care for your install is genuinely the highlight of my day. There are absolutely zero wrong questions, and if you aren’t sure what to ask, I will always make sure to give you the proper info on everything extensions and Frankie Hair. <3

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