The primary question that I get asked about kinky curly hair extensions is “Why are the lengths so short?". It's a spot on observation. Kinky curly bundles tagged at 18 inches in length appear to be closer to 14 inches in length. So what's going on?
The simple answer is that global manufacturers base their length measurements on 'the maximum stretch' of the hair strands. Similar to the process of stretching out the tight coils of Afrocentric hair to determine that hair's actual length, global hair manufacturers also base their measurements on the 'stretched length' of kinky curly strands not the 'coiled length'. Therefore, a 16 inch bundle which appears to be only 12 inches long will, when stretched taut, measure closer to 16 inches.
So how should this inform your purchasing decision?
Well, we've attached a great chart comparison of kinky curly and straight hair to give you an indication of what to consider. For example, a client who wants hair that brushes their shoulders/collar would typically buy 10-12 inch bundles in straight hair but that client would need 14-16 inch kinky curly bundles. If the client is looking for hair that falls below the bra strap, they would typically only need 16-18 inches in straight hair extensions but for kinky curly hair extensions they would need at least 20 inches.
We recommend choosing practical, manageable lengths to offset budget constraints. The kinky curly texture is best optimized at lengths that fall between between the neck and shoulder blade.
Nevertheless, whatever length you decide on, kinky curly —with its fun and incredibly dynamic texture—is sure to refresh and revitalize your look.
Give it a try!
Cayman's local hairnistas are turning to wearing more often for a variety of reasons: as a transitioning aide, as a protective hairstyle,...etc. Regardless of the reasons, it is fair to say that hairnistas want their extensions to look as natural as possible—as if the extensions were growing from their own heads. There are 3 essentials needed for achieving a natural looking sew-in: 1. Root-realness 2. Hair Colour/luster 3. Hair Length/Thickness.
Root Realness
Root-realness refers to how realistic your install appears at places where the hair visibly meets the scalp (i.e. where the install is parted or at the hair line). The key to achieving root realness is to have leave out—that is, using your own hair as a means of camouflage. This is true even when using closures—because a bit of leave out along the edges can help blend and camouflage the closure more effectively. (As an aside for closures, you also want to ensure that the scalp colour of the closure is a realistic match to your skin tone.)
Hair Colour & Lustre
The country of origin of your hair extensions is a strong determinant of how natural your install appears. I'm sure we've all seen some hairnistas wearing hair that's just too unnaturally dark or shiny —especially when you can spy a coarser looking leave-out (I've been guilty of this!). My rule of thumb is to opt for hair with a natural 1B color and a low to mid-luster such as Brazilian, Peruvian, and Malaysian hair types. If you find yourself with shiny, jet black hair such as hair sourced from Indian donors it would be advisable to gently lighten the hair which will address the colour issue and also tone down the luster.
Hair Length & Thickness.
Sticking to practical lengths (10inches -18inches) and using between 2-3 bundles can give your sew-in a more natural appearance. Now, don't stone me yet! I know that many hairnistas want the glamour of thick, long hair from their sew-ins. But, beware! A glamorous install does not necessarily go hand in hand with a natural looking install. From the first glance, super long and super thick hair can be very suspect. Weave alert! I do concede, however, that the matter of hair length and thickness really comes down to taste and self-expression—and in that case, what looks unnatural from one vantage point might be quite natural looking from another.
To conclude, I guarantee that incorporating these pointers into your next install will ensure that your sew-in will be able to game the best weave checks.
