Clip Ins, Tape Ins, Microwefts, Oh My! Which Will You Choose For This Summer Season?

Spring has sprung and Summer is around the corner! With the weather turning up the heat and all the activities starting to roll, we need hair that will last through it all! Family gatherings, day parties, the beach and swimming, the summertime is filled with fun activities that threaten a sleek hairstyle.

There are so many options to choose from. You’ll want something that takes minimal effort (and time) but still looks gorgeous. Extensions are a great way to keep it minimal, and get the length and look you desire. What kind of extensions will suit your needs and wants the best? Don’t worry we are here to help.

Tape-Ins

If you are interested in gaining length and volume that will last (with proper installation + maintenance) about 6-8 weeks, tape-ins are the way to go. Although, you will have to brush your hair more often than usual to ensure it stays detangled, tape-ins are easy to maintain on a daily basis and will cut your time with getting ready in the morning. They are easy to style and offer a variety of possible hairstyles. With tape-ins you can wear your hair in a sleek ponytail, long braids, beach waves or pin straight, its up to you! Another benefit is that you can still swim in the pool or at the beach without sacrificing the upkeep of your extensions or having to take the time to remove and put them back in. Water, humidity or sweat, those tape-ins will stay perfectly in place. So, yes ladies, you can work out, go swimming, get in the hot tub and enjoy the sauna! However, just like anything, there are also things to keep in mind before making your decision. If the tape-ins are not installed correctly they can pull on on your natural hair causing breakage, slip out of place becoming visible, and irritate your roots and scalp. Getting them installed properly is key, which is why we suggest having them applied by a professional who has experience. Also they can easily become tangle with your natural hair and cause damage so it is important to regularly brush your hair throughout the day, keeping mind the placement of the adhesives.

Clip-Ins

Are you looking for something more temporary and easy for you to remove and apply whenever you want? Clip-ins would be more of your lane. You can pop them in when you wake up and easily take them out before you go to bed. They can be styled outside of your head so no need to rush in the morning to style and they are fairly simple to maintain. With clip-ins you still have the ability to put your hair up if wanted and apply heat if needed and, if installed correctly, they won’t slip out or damage your natural hair. The key word with clip-ins is temporary, meaning they must be taken out before bed, when washing your hair and should not be worn multiple days in a row without giving your natural hair a break. If you don’t, they can easily pull and tangle with your hair and cause major breakage and damage. They will have to be washed and combed regularly so that they stay in tip top shape. Also, keep in mind where you place them every time they are applied. They should be placed in different positions each day so that they don’t cause stress and ten-sion to the section they are attached to. We definitely suggest consulting with a professional and even getting them installed professionally, especially if it would be your first time getting them. They would be able to walk you through the process, show you how to install and place them on your own, and give you tips on how to maintain them for regular usage.

Microwefts

Another long lasting option that will keep your hair long and thick from Spring to Summer is Micro wefts. With proper installation and maintenance, these hair extensions create a bouncy and natural appearance and will last you 4 - 6 weeks before you have to say goodbye to your length and volume. They are easy to up-keep because once they are in they can be washed and styled as your natural hair. When installed correctly with the right tools, they don’t cause breakage to your hair or damage to your roots. However, just because it is relatively low maintenance, you still have to brush, wash, get it removed and reapplied on a regular basis. To avoid them from falling out faster or pulling on the root too much, don’t wear your hair up for too long and as always, we suggest getting them installed and removed by a experienced professional to ensure your experience with extensions go as smoothly as possible.

At Versus Salon, we offer all of these options, performed by our experienced stylist. To help choose the best one for you, we suggest booking a consultation prior to the service so we can walk you through the options and the best type that would fit your natural hair conditions and desired look to have fun in the sun. You can book online or give us a call at the salon. Happy Spring!

The Curl Journey: From Chemically Straight To Naturally Curly

Terms to know:

• Transitioning / Transition - growing out your natural hair texture while the ends of your hair are still chemically relaxed and straight

• Line of Demarcation - the line where your natural new growth and relaxed hair meet

• Touch up - relaxing the new growth only

• Curl Journey - a personal journey a learning, appreciating and enhancing your natural curl pattern through regular care + pampering

• Big Chop - chopping off the relaxed ends of your hair

Transitioning from chemically relaxed hair to naturally curly hair can be an emotional journey as you learn how to take care of your natural hair and appreciating the beauty of it.

Throughout this transition, patience and acceptance is the key. Your hair will take time to grow out the chemical treated ends and while this is happening, making sure all your hair is getting the proper love and care it needs.

You could go with the “big chop” route, which can be emotionally jarring depending on how much your hair has already grown out and how you feel about rocking a short hairstyle. The other option is to go through the Curl Journey. This Journey can also be emotional, but possibly more rewarding and uplifting in the end.

The Curl Journey

Going through the Curl Journey means, instead of chopping off all your hair at the line of demarcation, you work with both the new growth and the relaxed ends, giving each part the love it needs to stay as healthy as possible. When you start, it might be very tempting to just give up and do the “big chop” or get a touch up. If you decide to stick with it, it is important to keep something in mind.

1. Keep it simple and be consistent!

Don’t overwhelm your with too much anything. Create a routine and follow it. It can be as simple as shampoo, condition, moisturize and style; and every so often deep condition or get a steam treatment and trim the ends.

2. Don’t expect too much too soon (keep realistic expectations)

This journey to your natural curls is a long and emotional journey. You will not see your natural curl pattern everywhere immediately, especially on those relaxed ends. And that’s okay! Don’t rush your hair and don’t get frustrated. Be patient, consistent and nourish your hair (as well as yourself), and you will get your desired results!

Don’t compare your journey to others, your hair grows at its own pace, and keep in mind, products / methods that might work for other people, might not work for you. And even once your natural curl pattern shows, remember, it still might take some time for your curls to be at their best and POP! The journey continues…

3. Keep up with regular trims

Get your hair trimmed on a regular basis to help manage split ends and minimized breakage. Look into getting a curly cut to give your natural curls a defined shape, but don’t worry, this isn’t the the “big chop”. A curly cut, sometimes called a “DevaCut”, will make your curls look more defined and healthier (it will also help with those straight ends, too!). And it will only get better as time goes on and you continue along your Curl Journey.

We recommend getting a Curly Cut once every three months and then if you can’t wait, get end trim in between.

4. Deep condition and get treatments

While your hair is transitioning, it will be fragile, especially at the line of demarcation. To make sure your hair is getting the love it needs to grow out healthy, deep condition regularly and get a treatment once a month. Staying consistent will help keep your hair moisturized and lessen the possibility of breakage due to dryness. This can be something to enjoy long after your hair has grown out into beautiful luscious curls.

5. Limit the amount if heat

While going through this rewarding journey, you should try to limit the amount of heat you expose to your hair. I know it’ll be hard at times and you might just wanna break down and straighten it, but doing that will hinder your curl journey. Heavy heat from the process of getting a thermal silkening (silk press) will loosen your natural curl pattern and could cause unnecessary heat damage to your already fragile hair follicles. Also, the extra heat could lead to more breakage at the line of demarcation and ends that are still chemically processed.

6. Protective Styles are your friendsss

If you are struggling with what to do with your hair while it is still transitioning to natural because of the different textures, protective styles is a good way to go. Twist outs/ twist sets, braids, flexi rods all use minimal to no heat, will help with breakage and is easy to manage on a daily basis.

If you are starting your journey to natural hair or even just trying to get your curls back to healthy and popping, check out our new Curl Journey Package. With this new package we help you get and stay on track to embracing your natural hair and keeping it as healthy and beautiful as possible!

Is The Keratin Smoothing Treatment For You?

Summer is here and it’s time to have fun in the sun!

With the summer comes the heat and the humidity. You may be looking for something to control the frizz this beautiful weather causes, especially if you like to wear your hair straight.

The Keratin Smoothing Treatment is a great option if you are interested in managing frizz and keeping your hair poof-free during these hot days and nights. However, just as for any treatment that changes the structure of your natural texture, there are pros and cons to consider before making your decision.

This smoothing treatment is great for strengthening dry, damaged and frizzy tresses. It can make your hair more manageable for styling in this hot weather and gives a healthier, glowing look that lasts about 6-8 weeks. If you are a babe that loves to wear your hair straight most of the time and wants to kick the frizz, then look no further!

As for my curly girls that love their waves, spirals and and coils, and usually rock them all year long but wanting to switch it up for a little while during the summer, lean in close. Yes, the Keratin Smoothing treatment will help make your hair more manageable, and partly the reason why is it will chemically relax and straighten your curls. There is a possibility of your curls not being their natural pattern and texture for weeks after the treatment and may need some extra love to get them back to normal. There are multiple factors that could dictate the state of your of your natural pattern once the treatment has worn off: how much you heat, color or chemically process your hair on a regular basis; if your hair is prone to breakage, how healthy your hair is before you get the treatment and how much love you give it after.

All of these details are why we always suggest coming in for a consultation prior to making your final decision. Our stylist are all about healthy, thriving hair and want to help you make the best decision for you and your luscious curls!

Introducing the Newest Addition to the Versus Hair Care Family: K18!

K18 Biometric Hairscience uses biotechnology to transform and repair your hair at a molecular level.

The K18Peptide Shampoo and leave-in molecular hair mask treatment reverse hair damage from bleach + color, chemical services, and heat while restoring strength, softness, smoothness, and bounce to hair in just 4 minutes. This treatment works on all hair types, rebuilding from the inside out and giving immediate and progressive results. Color-safe, non-stripping, vegan + cruelty-free, K18 damage repair treatment is the hottest level up in healthy hair care.

This innovative hair treatment can be added to any service we offer and ensures you walk out of here glowing with clean + healthy hair!

The Ultimate Guide to Self-Care for your Hair!

Maybe it’s just us, but a typical day for us is all go and no stop! Especially with the craziness of the past year, weekly self-care routines are a must. If you’re ready to give that mane the attention it deserves, you’ve come to the right place. From using hair masks to scalp care, we’ve got what you need. 

1) Give Yourself A Scalp Massage While Shampooing 

 No shampoo routine is complete without a scalp massage. While nothing beats the scalp massage in the bowl, an in the shower scalp massage will do wonders for your hair, scalp, and stress levels. It helps increase blood flow and encourages the release of endorphins. When you’re in the shower, use your fingertips to massage the scalp gently. Avoid using your nails, and use a circular motion starting at the front of your hairline and working your way back.  We love any shampoos with Rosemary or Tea Tree Oil, such as Influence’s It’s Natural Rosemary Shampoo. These ingredients are super invigorating.

2) Exfoliate Your Scalp 

The majority of us have face exfoliation in their skin care routine, but what about the scalp skin? Don’t worry; a lot of our clients give us the big eyes when we tell them this too. But rest assured, we came up with a solution for this as well. We offer The Versus Salon Scalp Exfoliating as an in-salon treatment and a take home treatment as well. This has a combination of nourishing and exfoliating products such as baking soda, tea tree oil, and leaf and plant extracts to help remove excess sebum, dry skin, flakiness, and oils. This will also increase and encourage blood flow, which is great for hair growth and health! 

3) Treat Your Mane To A Hair Mask 

Before you finish your shower routine, treat yourself to an at home treatment. This is a great way to replenish nutrients and moisture to your hair.  Since most of us don’t have hours to pamper ourselves in the shower, we love to shampoo and scalp massage first thing, then follow directly with your hair mask. When the mask is applied, continue with your washing and shaving shower routine and allow the product to soak into the hair. Rinse as normal and BAM, some instant health and shine. 

4) Use An Overnight Serum 

If you love to pamper yourself but you’re a lazy girl at heart, overnight serums are your jam. These products are specifically designed to work to nourish your hair while you sleep. The product does the work for you, all you have to do is rise and shine and wash your product out and go! Try and find a product with the super nourishing Hyaluronic Acid to really boost your hair’s moisture. 

If you have any fun ways you practice we’d love to hear, share a video on Instagram and tag us @VersusSalon