Shaping hair extensions involves cutting them to blend seamlessly with your natural hair. Here's a breakdown of how to achieve a natural-looking shape:
Shaping Hair Extensions: A Step-by-Step Guide
The key to shaping hair extensions lies in cutting them strategically, focusing on creating a cohesive and blended look with your natural hair.
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Preparation: Before you start, ensure your extensions are clean, dry, and brushed to remove any tangles. Also, make sure your own hair is styled in a way that reflects how you normally wear it. This will give you a better idea of how the extensions will blend.
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Sectioning: Divide the extension hair into manageable sections. The reference suggests cutting the hair all at once instead of in horizontal sections as you would a wet cut. It's also recommended that you section off the back and split the hair into three vertical sections.
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Cutting the Middle Section: Begin by cutting the middle section to your desired length. This will act as your guide for the remaining sections. It's usually best to err on the side of caution and cut less initially. You can always trim more later.
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Blending the Side Sections: Bring in the left and right side sections to match the length of the middle section. Then bring in the side sections and cut a one length cut, ensuring the sides blend seamlessly with the already cut middle section.
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Refining the Shape: Once you've established the overall length, focus on refining the shape. This may involve adding layers, point cutting (holding the scissors vertically and making small snips into the ends to soften the edge), or thinning out bulky areas. Remember to hold the extensions up to your own hair periodically to check the blend.
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Wearing and Final Adjustments: Once you've attached the extensions, assess how they look with your natural hair. You may need to make small adjustments to further refine the blend and ensure a natural appearance. Consider having a professional stylist make the final touches, especially if you're not confident in your cutting skills.
Key Considerations
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Wet vs. Dry Cutting: While some stylists prefer to cut extensions wet, others prefer dry cutting. Dry cutting allows you to see the final shape and length more accurately, as wet hair tends to shrink when it dries.
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Type of Hair: The type of hair extension (synthetic or human hair) can influence the cutting technique. Human hair extensions can be styled and cut more like natural hair.
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Blending is Key: The ultimate goal is to create a seamless blend between your natural hair and the extensions. Pay close attention to the ends and layers to achieve a natural-looking flow.
