Costs vs. Value
Hair extensions, hair weaves, hair systems, hair replacements, hair restorations, hair pieces, wigs, etc...
How do you evaluate whether a hair extension, hair restoration, hair system, weave or wig is worth its price? There are so many hair replacement methods from which to choose, it can be tough to tell whether a particular method is worth the dollars.
Luckily, there is a relatively simple evaluation process that makes it easy to select the right system—and that allows you to match your budget to the right hair extension, hair restoration, hair system, weave, wig or other hair replacement system.
Here are two rules of thumb:
- Thinner, finer systems (especially those that add only one or a few hairs at a time) are usually safer, offer better results and come with a higher price.
- Thicker, bulkier hair replacement systems offer less natural results and allow fewer options when styling your hair—but are available at a lower price.
These guidelines sound pretty simple and they are. If you follow them, you will be satisfied. But you need to understand the details to fully comprehend the guidelines. This evaluation process applies to any method of adding hair, both non-surgical and surgical, and is not biased toward either system. (FYI: the phrase "hair restoration" is usually when referring to surgical procedures.)
Let's discuss surgical procedures. Certain factors drive the price of these procedures, just as they do non-surgical procedures. In general, surgical procedures will be more expensive than non-surgical procedures. This does not mean that surgical processes are better, safer, or more natural than non-surgical procedures. In fact, some doctors will charge more then other doctors for surgical procedures but this does not mean one doctor's procedure is necessarily better than the other's.
When evaluating surgical procedures you need to find out how many transplants will involve single hairs, and how many will be of multiple hairs. "Multiple hair transplants" are those that transplant more than one hair at a time (for example, some processes transplant two, three or more hairs together). You will find that some hair restoration procedures or transplants add a greater percentage of single hair transplants than others. Since our hair grows out of our heads one hair at a time, single transplants are more natural than multiple transplants.
Multiple hair transplants make for a faster hair restoration procedure. This usually results in a lower cost—but also a less natural looking result. So single hairs transplants cost more but offer a better value. Sometimes doctors perform additional procedures as part of their hair restoration process, but the key factor in driving price is usually whether or not the doctor is performing single hair transplants.
The principle remains the same when evaluating non-surgical procedures, such as hair extensions, hair weaves, hair systems, hairpieces, wigs, etc. When single strands are added—or fewer strands are added—then it is a more time-consuming process. The results, however, are lighter, more natural, and offer more styling options.
So when are hair extensions, hair weaves, hair systems, hairpieces, wigs, worth the money? One answer lies in the product; the other in the method of attachment.
In the case of hair extensions, the product is comprised of vertical strips of hair. When creating hair extensions, little groups of hair are glued or bonded together into small vertical strips of hair. These strips are glued together at the root areas and represent the product. The method of applying these vertical strips on your head is the attachment. So when evaluating hair extensions on a cost vs. price basis, the main criteria is the size of each bundle of hair. That is, how many hairs are within each bundle? Higher-end extensions have smaller groups or bundles of hair because they look more natural. But, smaller bundles are more time consuming to prepare—and take more time to attach. Keep in mind, the less hair added at a time the better the value. (Note: be aware of hair extensions called "single hair extensions." This name is just a play on words; there are no real single hair extensions.)
There are other hair extensions that are linked to your hair (sometimes referred to as micro-links). Again, small bundles of hair are used, but a metal link at the root section of the bundle as opposed to glues or bonds. These metal links are bent with an instrument to flatten and lock onto your hair. Even when discussing micro-links, the principle remains the same: small bundles are more time-consuming but offer a more natural result and come with a higher cost. (Be aware, link attachments have a considerable risk of hair loss when removing these links)
In the case of hair weaves, the process is made with wefts, more commonly called tracks. These tracks are the hair weave product. Hair tracks are rows of hair that have been sewn together at one end therefore creating a sort of curtain of hair. Again, the finer the track, the more time consuming to make, the higher the cost, the better the value, and the more natural the results. The second consideration is the hair weave attachment. The same holds true: the finer the attachment the better, the more time it takes, the higher the cost and the better the value.
Hair systems are usually used for a more severe loss of hair. The procedures for hair systems usually rely on some sort of base, like a hairpiece. This base—with hair attached—is the product. The finer the base, the more time consuming to make, the more money and the better the value. Attaching fewer hairs to the base also makes it more time-consuming—but more natural and higher priced.
The same principle applies to wigs and hairpieces: the finer the base, the more time consuming to make, the higher the cost, the more natural, the better value. Also, the fewer amount of hairs are added at the same time—that is, the closer to one hair at a time—the finer, more natural, and more expensive the product will be, but the better value.
These principles hold true no matter what hair addition procedure we discuss, but there is still another consideration: the durability. A good example of this is lace (as used on lace wigs, or on the lace fronts of any hair system). Lace wigs or lace front are very light, very fine, and are created with a system that applies very few hairs at once. All of these components point toward a process that is of the highest cost and quality. But lace wigs and/or lace fronts are fragile so they are not practical. Yes, they look quite natural, but at some point durability becomes an issue because lace processes do not last. So if the process does not offer longevity, then its value and its worth are low. (A side note: Lace wigs and fronts are not for everyone; they are made for completely bald areas.)
Another hair addition procedure is unique—but not for everyone. This hair addition procedure meets all of the criteria for being natural and offering the most value. It is extremely intricate but offers durability, thereby creating a very high value when compared to its cost. This product is the Blending Strand®. The hair procedure is called Sequencing®, or in some cases, Sequence® Hair.
What makes the key component, the Blending Strand, such a high value? Most notably, it is incredibly fine—and durable. Plus, the process adds one real hair at a time. By adding single human hairs to a strand as fine as the Blending Strand, Sequence is creating the highest level of non-surgical technique in the industry. Once hair is added to the Blending Strand, it virtually disappears in the client's hair or on their scalp.
But what about durability? Will the Blending Strand last long? The answer is yes. The invention is generally recognized to last an average of three to four years. No other hair addition procedures come close to this level of durability. (Other procedures, even the most durable, last about one year—if that long.) When you combine all of the criteria, Sequence® Hair clients are getting the highest value for their money.
How is Sequence® Hair attached? The method is called Stand-locking, known to be the finest, safest, most flexible attachment in the industry. No glues or bonds are used; the client's hair is not tied down or broken. One single thread of the transparent Blending Strand® is used to lock the Sequence® Hair onto the clients existing hair. This attachment method is one of the more time-consuming processes in the industry. But the tradeoff is worth it since Sequencing is the finest, safest, most versatile attachment in the industry today. To be clear, Sequencing is not for everyone, but it does top all other methods when comparing cost to value.
Every hair replacement system—whether it's a hair extension, hair weave, hair system, hair restoration, hair piece or wig—has something to offer, no matter its price and regardless of how thick or fine it may be. But for people, who strive for the most natural process and want the most value for their money, knowing how to compare really helps.
Written by Dino Dondiego