BABS Salon & Spa

Got Hair?
If not, we know a little secret!
By Vina Lybbert

From the time of the Egyptians to our present day, hair extensions and wigs have played an enormous role in defining beauty. Wigs and hair extensions over the years have been associated with everything from determining one’s social status, to creating over the top looks, and simply adding hair where there is none. Regardless of their purpose, hair extensions have played an important role in the history of beauty and the beauty industry.

You may not know this, but modern day hair trends are very similar to those of ancient Egyptian times. The age, gender and social status of Egyptians could be determined by the hairstyle they wore. Beauty was very important to the Egyptians. We see this reflected in the depictions of Nefertiti and Cleopatra. Ancient Egyptians wore wigs for two purposes: Shaved heads aided in cleanliness and wigs covered the lack of locks; wigs also hid the loss of hair due to aging.

It seems that there were a few eras over the centuries that donned wigs to hide follicley challenged heads. Louis XIII wore wigs to hide his premature balding, as did his son. Wigs during the 1600 and 1700s were expensive and bleaching them just added to the expense. Therefore, as lighter wigs came into fashion, the people discovered that instead of bleaches one could achieve the lighter look by applying powder instead. Hence that crazy period in history with the enormous powdered wigs that were considered fashionable. But let us move quickly past that little blemish on hair history, shall we? Besides, we all know that wigs during the late 1700s carried a label of aristocracy with them, and the French Revolution proved to be especially hard for the Aristocrats, where a big powdered wig yelled “hey, guillotine needed over here!”

After a time where additions and fake hair were frowned upon, the 20th Century Edwardian hat styles once again called for hair additions. In order to keep the shape and position of the popular and stylish hats of this time, women would collect their own hair from combs and clippings and hair dressers would build supports in which the women could incorporate into their hair and add as necessary. Additional hair was also added to give the appearance of fuller hair where needed. Secured with a hat pin, the shapeless hats of this era appeared fuller due to the extensions and additions used in the supports.

Once again, wigs and extensions disappeared from the beauty scene until the 60s and 70s when updos and big hair came back with purpose and vengeance. Hair extensions aided in adding fullness to coils and voluminous pony-tails and other perfectly coifed hairdos such as the beehive. But once again, those with thin or thinning hair could wear wigs everyday, especially since wigs were now affordable for everyone.

The 90s and early 2000s saw an ethnic division in hair extensions and wigs. African American women began to incorporate hair additions into their everyday lifestyles. Hairstyles and lengths could be tweaked on a day to day basis depending on their needs and the events in which they were attending. However, the last few years have seen other cultures taking advantage of the benefits of hair extensions. In fact, the demand for extensions has caused the beauty industry to perfect the techniques used to apply them.

Application of hair extensions has seen many new twists over the years from sewing panels of hair into corn rows to gluing wefts of hair near the scalp to the recent trend of gluing individual strands for a more natural look with maximum movement. Even though the latter seems like the best option, they can be more damaging due to the removal options. Also, the lack of a track near the scalp might allow one to brush or comb through more aggressively than necessary out of forgetfulness and cause breakage to the growing hair.

Up until now, getting extensions meant spending a lot time in a chair and bringing with you something to knit or an epic novel to read while you sit the day away. The newest form of hair additions to hit the beauty industry is the seamless hair extension system. These hair extensions are not only seamless and feel trackless to the touch once applied, they can be applied in as little as 30 minutes! Salons everywhere are making the switch and providing these as a more comfortable and gentler option for their guests. The application and removal of these hair extensions are as safe as the track and sew method, but without the unnatural bumps. In fact, these extensions require no sewing, braiding, clamping or chemicals. Your hair remains in its natural fall, where it should be.

Bernadette Blanchard, owner of BABS Salon & Spa in Birmingham, is an instructor and educator for New Concepts/Tressalure. She prefers the seamless extensions because “they are the best thing that has ever happened for very fine hair. You add nothing to the hair that would add weight. You also have the ability to fill in the entire head without the extensions being seen. And for anyone, it is less time consuming, less waste of hair because they are reusable and therefore sustainable, and [the extensions] do not compromise the hair in any way. They are removed just as easily as they are applied.”

Regardless of your purpose for wanting or needing hair extensions, everyone can benefit from the industries newest revolution in hair additions. Luscious locks are literally less than an hour away! Call BABS for an immediate consultation today!
248-593-6993