I came across this interesting video of Bonnie Fuller getting hair extensions from celebrity hairstylist Ted Gibson. (You know, the guy who did Kate Gosselin‘s extensions.) The type of extensions he used on Bonnie are Platinum Seamless, which are relatively new. They literally stick to your scalp* with adhesive strips, which kinda freaks me out. Does that really stay put? And wouldn’t it pull out your real hair? Supposedly not…
Other things worth noting with Platinum Seamless extensions: You can only condition the bottom of your hair because you can’t conditioner where the adhesives are. And you can only blow dry the adhesive area with the cool setting so you don’t melt the adhesives. Prices range from $500 up. And, of course, they use real human hair. (Scalped off some praying woman in India. I saw Good Hair!) The only salon I saw listed as “certified to do Platinum Seamless” in Los Angeles was The Chroma Studio, but the only extensions they list on their own site are Great Lengths so who knows.
Extension experts: Do you guys know anything about Platinum Seamless extensions? What are your thoughts?
*Edited to add: Jordana Lorraine just informed me that they are not taped to your scalp; they’re taped to the hair near the root. And Platinum Seamless extensions fall into the “Taped Wefts” category discussed in the Guide to Types of Hair Extensions. Still, something about having extensions taped in makes me leery… Like Nikki said in her comment, there are pros & cons to all the extension options, it seems.
Okay I’ll bite! Here’s my take (I’ve used tape on photo shoots but never on a salon client)-
It seems that not a lot of people use the tape but I wonder if it’s going to become more popular? It all depends on the quality of the hair that’s available- I don’t know this brand but I’ve seen one brand that has better hair than great lengths.
When the tape is applied back to back (as in the video) it can be quite difficult to remove- and it can pull your hair if it’s not done right! But if you’re gentle with it- it comes out without any of your own hair attached and can be easier to remove than glue or the keratin bonds. A LOT easier. A lot of the damage that occurs with extensions can happen with removal.
It also appeals to a lot of people because it is sooooo quick to put in that way. If you put it on one side of the section only, it can be really easy to remove- but that’s for a one-day sort of thing.
The adhesives do dissolve with any sort of oil which is why you can’t really condition. It’s not as permanent as a lot of the other methods- but that could be a good thing.
There are pros and cons with every method and as always- it depends on what you’re going for! There’s no perfect solution.
Hi Nikki: Interesting information! Thanks so much. 🙂
Fun video! I agree with Nikki–this type of extension has not been amongst the most requested, but may grow in popularity due to the quick and easy nature and the ability to re-use the hair. You might call them “economically sound hair extensions,” along with clip-ins, which are definitely growing in popularity.
For the sake of accuracy: they are taped to thin sections of natural hair, not directly to the scalp. Platinum Seamless Extensions fall into the category or “taped wefts” in HOTB’s recent Guide to types of hair extensions: http://www.haironthebrain.com/2010/04/types-of-hair-extensions/
Platinum Seamless Extensions | Hair On The Brain…
I found your entry interesting do I’ve added a Trackback to it on my weblog :)…
Her hair looks great afterward, but since she complained that it won’t grow past a certain point, why did they cut it back up to her collarbone and not give her a tiny bit more length? The body he was able to create looked great. I wonder how heavy the hair is and if it pulls the hair it’s attached to, stressing the follicle to the point of damage? I would love to get extensions and speed up my hair growth process!
Kelly: I thought that too! She was going on and on about the length…. And then when she finally had long hair, she cut it off! Weird. That said, I don’t think she should have had super long hair, but a little more length would have looked nice. The fullness/volume is exactly what I want though, but I am leery of taping hair because of exactly what you said… I don’t want to risk damaging my current hair! I want to keep the hair I have. Hmm…. And also, they only stay in for 6ish weeks, which is not very long for $500+?
I’d like to get my hands on some. I’ve seen them in how-to videos and I know those are the kind that Lauren Conrad sports (she said so in Glamour when she was on the cover).
Lauren: Weird! I was JUST wondering about Lauren Conrad’s extension and what type she uses when I read your comment!! I had read in another interview that she hated the individual bond ones because they felt like bugs in her hair (ew). But I didn’t read where she named the actual type she used… Very interesting. Her hair always looks pretty great. You should get “certified” in Platinum Seamless. 😉 And why don’t you live in LA again??
Clip-ins, Valerie, clip-ins! If you take good care of them, they can last several years! And, you don’t have the hassle of ‘extra’ hair when you’re working out, swimming, surfing, etc. You just pop them in when you want to be glam 🙂
Jordana: yeah, that is what I am thinking. 🙂
I love my hair!! I’ve been wearing Platinum Seamless for over a year! They can be worn for up to 3 months, not six weeks. They don’t have a lot of weight to them and certainly haven’t damaged my hair. I can’t feel them, and my friends couldn’t even tell I had them in!! Lots of celebrities are wearing them now! I like them better than the other brands out there.
Hi Anna: That’s interesting! If you don’t mind my asking, where do you get them done?
I have a stylist that rents a booth in Vero Beach Florida that does them now, but I had them done at a place in New York the first time.
Anna: Thanks for answering my questions! How long do they last for you? And have you noticed any of your own hair being damaged or tugged out by the weight of the extensions or with removing them? Thx.
No problem 🙂 Mine normally last almost 3 months and I haven’t experienced any damage to my hair.. my stylist said that because of the way they are attached they don’t damage the hair. In my opinion they aren’t cheap but they are well worth it..and my impression from what I’ve read, who’s wearing them and from what the stylists I’ve talked to have said they are top of the line quality 🙂 If you try them will you let me know what you think? Ya know everyone’s experience is different
Thanks for all the information, Anna! You’re like our Platinum Seamless “guest correspondent”. 😉
Hey Anna! Where in NY did you get it done and how much did you pay, if you don’t mind? I’m actually looking to try this out..
Thanks
Nothing like forgetting to check your email! I love love love being a guest correspondent, makes me feel important 🙂
I had them done by David @ Blow Downtown in NYC, I only needed 7 sandwiches and it cost me $700 but my friend had hers done and it cost $1000 to get the look she wanted. So I guess it depends. My husband better think I’m worth $700 every 3-4 months 🙂
Anna: 7 sandwiches? …
$700 – $1,000 every 3-4 months is kinda a lot. Wow. But I bet you look amazing! 🙂
I hope so 🙂 That’s how much it was in NYC but here in Vero I pay a lot less so I guess it depends where you are. Now I pay about $400-500 but Vero isn’t a big city and my stylist doesn’t do celebrity clients..lol
I have tried MANY different extensions. I use clip ins EVERYDAY! I finally got the Platinum Seamless extensions. First thing i want to say if you have short hair, you are going to need at least 9 sandwiches and it still might look empty at the bottom. Secondly, they are VERY straight. Can be very difficult to blend sometimes, and I was able to blend clip ins everyday. Especially if you are a blonde. Brunettes may work better. Thirdly, you pay a lot of money and they last 2 months THE MOST. And that is stretching it because the tape grows out with your hair and starts to get annoying. Then you have to throw the hair out because you cant use it again. You would be better off working with clips that will last you A LOT longer or trying a different permanent method.
Hi Alyssa: very interesting feedback! I am currently using a similar type of taped in weft extensions, but not platinum seamless. I am using Hot Heads and they are not super straight, actually they are pretty wavy so maybe more easy to blend? I will have to report back on how long they can stay in because I have only had them for like 3 weeks or so. The hair I am using is pretty light–not totally blonde but close and it looks really natural.
Just curious, have you tried any other types of extensions, aside from taped and clips? I’d love to hear your personal experiences on those too. Thanks! 😉
Hi Valerie,
I actually have tried the Microbeading which was pretty cool. The extensions are sewn into your hair using these little beads. The only thing is you feel the bumps a little on your head. I didnt mind but some people might. As they grow out you get them taken out and sewn back to the top. It didnt damage my hair at all. And it was good because you can re-use the hair. They just charge you to put them back in. Ultimately the clips look the best because you can place them where you want. But it is a lot of work for everyday use lol… I will look into the hot heads also. Thanks!
Thanks for the info, Alyssa! I think it just feels weird to me to have anything in my hair, but I give credit to women who can do it long term! It looks cool but is harder than I thought! 😉
I have fine thin hair and have developed a seamless hair extension that works on thin, thick, wavy or curly hair. I am not a stylist but a product developer who tried the platnium series, hot headz, and more than a half dozen seamless extension methods, finding in EACH AND EVERY case the hair tended to tangle and mat after only a few washings, regardless of the brand. The seamless hair product I developed will NOT matt, or tangle for 3 or more months. It will not frizz up and has the least split ends out of any product on the market today. I spent 2 years developing this type of tape in extension and originally developed it due to my disappointment with seamless hair products available in the market. I will be releasing this product (sorry, I cannot give out the brand name until release) until March of April of 2011. It will be available nationally at this time to salons only. It is the creme de la creme of seamless extensions and every client will notice the difference from the moment it it placed in their hair. You can contact me at
diane.schwartz@comcast.net if you would like to be contacted at our launch time in April.
I think that it is so important to know a variety of methods of hair extension application…there are pro’s and con’s with them all. I have found that there is much misinformation out there about how to install many of the seamless (skin weft) methods so many people are weary in trying them.
I think that the seamless extensions are ideal for many people who have thinning or fine hair. I typically use 12 “sandwiches” for almost all of my clients who are adding length for fullness. They are very quick to install and remove and cause very little damage.
A drawback with these is that they are more visible if they must be placed higher in the crown area to cover shorter layers. I recommend combining methods and installing fusion extensions near the face and crown (if needed in the crown). They also do not bend as easily on the sides of the head for higher up-do’s. The fusion extensions solve this problem without a lot of added time.
Thanks,
Maria Becker
Rapunzels-Relic.com
Maria@Rapunzels-Relic.com
I know I am kind of late posting on this blog, but I have been using platinum seamless extensions for over a year. I have very blonde hair and I would never try extensions before these because of the damage to the hair. The woman that does my hair was wearing them so I gave them a shot and LOVE them! They are attached to the hair near the root in tracks and the blonde colors are fabulous. They also come in straight and curly, I prefer the curly ones because of the texture of my hair. One think i will say is that they take a lot of work to keep healthy. I wash 2 times a week and it takes me about 2 hours start to finish. Spray in conditioner will be your best friend with these extensions so you can spray the ends to get tangles out without spraying the top that will loosen them. I highly recommend these, but be prepared to take very good care of them and change them every 2 months.
hi kerry, thanks for commenting on your experience with platinum seamless extensions! I’m glad you’re liking them. and I agree, they take a lot of work–more than I was use to with my own hair. I’m lazy. 😉
Hey Anna,
I live in the Melbourne area and am looking for someone in the area who does the Platinum Seamless. I already have them now, but got them done somewhere else. Could you please give me the name and number of your person in Vero? I’d greatly appreciate it. Thanks.
I wanted to take a minute to comment on somethings. I am always looking for the safest, healthiest extensions on the market for my clients. I do large majority of my income in extensions. I can do many different types of extensions just to get this straight. Understand something, there is a reason that EVERY hair extension goes after Great Lengths specifically. Why is that you may ask yourself? When you are the best at something people try to copy you, and when they can’t they speak poorly of you. Everyone goes after the best. Plain and simple. There is a reason that EVERY media outlet says they are the best. Even when the media is going after the extension industry, they say Great Lengths is the extensions to use. Every year Great Lengths wins all the stylist choice awards, because stylists know the best hair quality and the safest methods for the client. Great Lengths wins that EVERY year. Is there a perfect hair extension? Absolutely, NOT. I think anyone would agree, when you do some true research into the extension word and truly understand the entire process from start to finish, Great Lengths is best. Great Lengths is the ONLY company that has an ethicality guarantee, because they actually trace their hair from source to salon. You know that your hair is true human hair and was given willingly and humanly to the extension process. The clean process they hair goes through leaves the cuticle on the hair. The coloration process leaves the hair in virgin like state. Great Lengths is also a very environmentally friendly company.
Other extension companies may find a couple celebrities to pay for them to say they use their product and that is fine. Great Lengths has a huge list of celebrity clients which go onto Great Lengths facebook page to rave about how much they love their hair. Celebrities can have any kind of extention they want and most of them have Great Lengths. Simply put they are the best.
If anyone knows anything about Great Lengths, they have been developing line of extensions just like these for over 2 years now. They simply have released them to the market because they can not get them to the point they feel they live up to the Great Lengths name. They must be superior quality and as damage free as possible, for Great Lengths to put their name on it.
I will end up by saying. That with all of the extensions that I am capable of doing, I am the most impressed and proud to offer Great Lengths.
Anna, can you please give me the name and phone number of your stylist in vero beach. Also the name of the salon and if um not being to rude. Can u tell e if they do black people hair.
I have them. They’re amazing. Especially for gals with thin hair like me.
So with platinum seamless you have to get it done in a salon? Is there a comparable brand that can be bought online? I have tape in extensions now and I feel iffy about them- mainly bc I hate the quality. Also, they get so tangled through out the day.
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