What Are the Different Hair Weave Techniques?

There are many hair weave techniques, and the one a client chooses can depend on many factors, including the type of hair the client has, how long the client’s natural hair is, and how long the client wants the weave to last before it has to be re-done. Bonding is a technique in which hair extensions are glued to the roots of the client's own hair. Infusion hair weaving involves fusing, braiding, or bonding single strands of hair to the client’s hair. Clip-in hair extensions are used in the most temporary form of hair weaving, where the client’s hair is separated into sections, and clips are used to attach a hair weft to each section.

Bonding is one of many temporary hair weave techniques, and can last for about two weeks. With this technique, a hair stylist uses an adhesive to glue tracks of hair to the client’s hair, at the root. A more permanent type of bonding is called hard bonding. Hard bonding uses a stronger type of adhesive and can last for much longer before requiring maintenance from a hair professional. Because hard bonding can last anywhere from four weeks to three months, depending on the adhesive used, it is often preferred by clients who wish to avoid having to go to the hair salon frequently for regular maintenance.

Infusion is another one of the so-called permanent hair weave techniques, and can last anywhere from two to five months, largely depending on the type of hair the client has, whether the hair has already been relaxed, and how the hair extensions are attached. This type of hair weaving can be a time-consuming process in which the hair stylist separates the client’s hair into small sections, and single strands of hair are applied and then fused or bonded to each section. Infusion is not recommended for clients whose hair has already been chemically treated, or who have hair that isn’t at least 5 inches (12.7 cm) long.

Clip-in hair extensions, which are also called clip-on hair extensions, are the most temporary of the hair weave techniques. This method is recommended for clients who want to enjoy the benefits of hair extensions, but have been advised not to use any of the other hair weave techniques. With this type of hair extension, clips are sewn to a hair weft, where the hair is attached at the top but free flowing at the bottom. The client’s own hair is separated into several sections, and the hair weft is clipped to each section. These hair extensions are meant to be removed every night before bedtime.