Hair extension questions, answered

Human hair, and nothing else. Our Genius Wefts, Premium Clip-In Extensions and The Halo are raw, unprocessed single-donor hair that has never been dyed. Luxury Straight Wefts, Luxury Natural Wavy Wefts and Natural Wavy Clip-In Extensions are single-donor hair offered in two raw shades and one dyed shade. Premium Tape-In Extensions are virgin human hair in the natural donor shade. Nothing we sell contains synthetic fibers.

We have installed extensions in our East Islip salon since 2011, and the hair in the store is the hair we install on our own clients. We check what a stylist checks before an installation: donor characteristics, raw or dyed, and how the weft, tape or clip is built. Then density, texture, and how the hair moves and finishes. Not every bundle is interchangeable, and we do not treat it that way.

Only one of our shades is dyed. Natural Virgin Black, a deep natural black to off-black, and Soft Brown, a naturally lighter brown, are raw and have never been dyed. Dark Brown is the natural donor shade of The Halo, which is also raw. Premium Tape-In Extensions come in their natural donor shade, black to dark brown, and are not dyed. Jet Black 1B is the exception: it has been color-processed to reach 1B, so it is not raw.

Because our raw hair is single-donor hair that has never been chemically processed. Raw hair varies a little from donor to donor in exact tone and in wave pattern. That is a characteristic of real single-donor hair, not a defect. For clip-in sets, order the full set in one transaction so the pieces are consistent. If you want to see how a shade sits against your own hair, send us photos before you buy.

Construction and method. Genius Wefts are hand-finished wefts 0.8 mm thick at the seam with no return hair, so they sit flat and can be cut to width. Luxury Straight Wefts and Luxury Natural Wavy Wefts are traditional sewn-in tracks, made to order in three luster levels. Premium Tape-In Extensions place the hair on thin tape tabs. Clip-in sets are double drawn and single wefted. The Halo rests on an adjustable wire.

Start with three questions. Do you want a stylist to install the hair, or do you want to put it on and take it off yourself? How long do you want to wear it at a stretch? And what is your natural hair like: fine, medium, thick or thinning? Genius Wefts, Luxury Wefts and Tape-Ins are installed by a professional and worn continuously, with maintenance appointments as your hair grows. Clip-Ins and The Halo go on and off at home. Our method guide walks through each one.

Both are sewn-in wefts installed by a stylist. Genius Wefts are hand-finished and ultra-thin: 0.8 mm at the seam, 1.7 mm tall, with no return hair pressing on the scalp. They can be cut to any width without unravelling, come in 18", 20" and 22", and weigh about 50 g each. Luxury Straight Wefts and Luxury Natural Wavy Wefts are traditional weft tracks, made to order in lengths from 16" to 30". They come in three luster levels and three shades, including the dyed Jet Black 1B.

Premium Tape-In Extensions come pre-attached to thin adhesive tabs. A stylist sandwiches a tab on each side of a small section of your hair, which gives a flat placement. Each pack is 50 g and 20 pieces, in lengths from 18" to 30", Straight or Wavy, in the natural donor shade of black to dark brown. When the tabs grow out, a stylist removes them, re-tapes and reapplies. With proper care and maintenance they last up to 12 months.

Both go on without a stylist and come off at night. Clip-in sets are several wefts with clips, from 150 g to 300 g. Premium Clip-In Extensions are custom made in 20" to 30", Straight or Wavy. Natural Wavy Clip-In Extensions come in 20" to 26" in three shades. The Halo is a single 95 g, 16" piece in Dark Brown on an adjustable wire that rests just above the crown, hidden under your own hair. It goes on in about 60 seconds.

Three of our methods are installed by a stylist:

• Genius Wefts
• Luxury Straight Wefts and Luxury Natural Wavy Wefts
• Premium Tape-In Extensions

Two go on at home with no professional installation: Clip-Ins, meaning Premium Clip-In Extensions and Natural Wavy Clip-In Extensions, and The Halo. Clip-Ins and The Halo come off before bed.

• Genius Wefts: fine to medium hair with two wefts, thick or coarse hair with three.
• Luxury Straight Wefts: thick hair. Luxury Natural Wavy Wefts: thinning hair.
• Premium Tape-In Extensions: a flat, tape-tab placement rather than a sewn track. We do not tie this method to one hair type, so send us photos if you are deciding between tape and wefts.
• Premium Clip-In Extensions: fine hair. Natural Wavy Clip-In Extensions: thinning hair.
• The Halo: fine to medium hair at least bust length, so your own hair covers the wire.

Each Genius Weft is approximately 50 g, roughly a third of a head.

• 1 weft (about 50 g): a partial, a top-up between appointments, or added density only.
• 2 wefts (about 100 g): the standard full install for fine to medium hair. Most clients order two.
• 3 wefts (about 150 g): thick or coarse hair, a big length change, or maximum density.

Every pack is 50 g and 20 pieces. Longer lengths call for more hair.

• 2 packs (100 g): a full head with natural volume at 18" to 20".
• 3 packs (150 g): fullness and length at 22" to 24".
• 4 to 5 packs (200 to 250 g): XL length and fullness at 24" to 30".
• 5 to 6 packs (250 to 300 g): XL length and fullness at 30" and up.

Clip-in sets come in 150 g, 200 g, 250 g and 300 g. The same logic applies to Premium Clip-In Extensions and Natural Wavy Clip-In Extensions.

• 150 g: natural volume.
• 200 g: added length.
• 250 g to 300 g: XL length with full volume and blend.

Each set is made of several wefts of different widths, and the larger sets include mini front pieces. Order the full set in one transaction so the pieces match.

Luxury Straight Wefts and Luxury Natural Wavy Wefts are made to order, and we size each order to the person wearing it rather than publishing a gram guide. The right amount depends on your natural density and your length goal. Send us photos of your natural hair, front, back and ends in daylight, and we will tell you what to order before you buy. Our article on how much hair you need covers the reasoning.

Available lengths differ by product. Genius Wefts come in 18", 20" and 22". Luxury Wefts run from 16" to 30". Premium Tape-In Extensions run from 18" to 30". Premium Clip-In Extensions come in 20" to 30", Natural Wavy Clip-In Extensions in 20" to 26", and The Halo is 16" only. As a rule, the longer you go, the more hair you need, which is why the tape-in and clip-in guides pair larger amounts with longer lengths.

Straight is a natural straight, smooth from root to tip. On Luxury Straight Wefts, the raw options are unprocessed, so the hair holds a set curl and returns to straight afterwards. Wavy is a loose, natural S-wave that blends with most natural textures. Deep Wavy is available only as a custom texture on Premium Clip-In Extensions. For Luxury Wefts, also pick a luster level, Silky / Fine, Balanced / Medium or Dense / Coarse, to match the density and finish of your own hair.

Clip-in lengths are measured with the hair pulled straight. Wavy hair sits shorter than its measured length while it is in its wave, because the pattern takes up some of the length. If you want a wavy set to reach a certain point when worn, choose a length above that point. If you are unsure, send us a photo and we will recommend one.

Most of our hair is sold in the shade it grew. Natural Virgin Black reads as a deep natural black to off-black. Soft Brown is a naturally lighter brown. Dark Brown is the donor shade of The Halo, and Premium Tape-In Extensions come in natural black to dark brown. Jet Black 1B is the one dyed shade, a color-processed black. Because raw hair varies slightly from donor to donor, think of each raw shade as a narrow range rather than a single fixed tone.

Match to the mid-lengths and ends of your natural hair, not the roots. Extensions sit alongside your lengths and ends, so that is where the match has to hold. Look at your hair in daylight, and if you are between shades, send us a photo of your ends and we will confirm the match before you order.

Raw shades can. Natural Virgin Black and Soft Brown have never been chemically processed, so a stylist can tone or lift them. Premium Tape-In Extensions and the raw clip-in options can be color treated by a stylist as well. The Halo can be toned or color-deposited. Jet Black 1B has already been color-processed to reach 1B, so if you plan to color, choose a raw shade. Have a professional do any color work, and ask us first if you plan a significant change.

For The Halo, do not lift more than two levels. For our other raw hair, a stylist can tone or lift it, and we leave the degree to a professional colorist who can see the hair in person. Lifting is a chemical process, so plan a conservative change and start with the shade closest to your goal. If you are unsure, message us before ordering and we will tell you what is realistic.

Send photos. Do not guess from the shade names. The ends of your hair usually decide it, and a stylist can tone a raw shade at installation to close a small gap. Send daylight photos of your ends through our contact page and we will tell you which shade to order, or whether a tone is the better route.

Take three photos of your natural hair in daylight: front, back and ends. Send them through the contact page, along with a note about what you want to achieve. We look at your density, length, texture and shade, and we recommend a method, an amount, a length, a texture and a shade before you buy. There is no charge.

Use a sulfate-free shampoo and a hydrating mask. Wash in a downward direction, smoothing from root to ends rather than piling the hair up, and air-dry when possible. Brush from the ends up. The Halo is the exception. It is not slept on or washed daily like installed hair, so wash it only every 15 to 20 wears and air-dry it flat. For the full routine, read how to care for human hair extensions.

Anything with sulfates. Use a sulfate-free shampoo on every product we sell, and if a label is not clear, choose another one. With Premium Tape-In Extensions, also keep conditioner and oils away from the tape tabs and use oil-free products near them.

Yes. All of our hair is human hair and can be curled or straightened. Use a heat protectant every time you apply heat. On The Halo, keep tools at or below 350°F. Air-dry whenever you can, and save heat for styling rather than everyday drying.

For installed hair, meaning Genius Wefts, Luxury Wefts and Tape-Ins, braid it or wrap it loosely before bed. Never sleep in Clip-Ins; take Premium Clip-In Extensions and Natural Wavy Clip-In Extensions out at the end of the day. The Halo comes off at night as well. Nothing on it clamps or glues to your roots, so there is nothing to protect while you sleep: lift the wire off and put it away.

Store clip-in sets flat or hanging in their box. Store The Halo hanging or loosely coiled in its box, never folded. Brush both from the ends up before putting them away. Set The Halo's wire once to your head rather than re-adjusting it each time you wear it.

• Genius Wefts: professional move-ups as your hair grows. The same wefts can be moved up and reinstalled multiple times, and last 6 to 12 months with proper care.
• Luxury Straight Wefts and Luxury Natural Wavy Wefts: sew-in installs maintained by your stylist.
• Premium Tape-In Extensions: a professional move-up and re-tape when the tabs grow out, for up to 12 months of wear.
• Clip-Ins: no move-ups. Wash gently, store properly, and they last 3 to 5 years or more.
• The Halo: no move-ups. One to two years with proper care.

Yes. Stylists order through the online store, and the hair you receive is the hair we install in our own salon. If you are choosing for a specific client, start with our for stylists page, then send us the client's photos before you order.

Three. Genius Wefts are hand-finished wefts installed with beads and thread; they can be cut to any width and moved up and reinstalled multiple times. Luxury Straight Wefts and Luxury Natural Wavy Wefts are traditional sewn-in tracks for sew-in and leave-out installs, made to order in 16" to 30" with three luster levels. Premium Tape-In Extensions are 50 g, 20-piece packs applied with tape tabs and re-taped at move-ups.

Work from the client's natural hair, not just the length goal. Match density and finish first: on Luxury Wefts, choose Silky / Fine, Balanced / Medium or Dense / Coarse to match the client's own hair. Choose a texture that blends with theirs; Wavy blends with most natural textures. Match shade to the mid-lengths and ends. Then set the amount: use the gram guides for Genius Wefts, Tape-Ins and Clip-Ins, and send us photos for Luxury Wefts. We cover this in choosing extension hair for high-ticket clients.

Yes. Send photos of your client's hair, front, back and ends in daylight, through the contact page and we will recommend method, amount, length, texture and shade. You can also email customercare@bahair.com, or call or text the salon at 516-707-2015, Tuesday to Friday 10 to 5 and Saturday 9 to 5. We work in English and Spanish.

Book the installation around the shipping window, not the order date. Genius Wefts, Luxury Straight Wefts, Luxury Natural Wavy Wefts and Premium Tape-In Extensions ship within 1 to 3 business days. Premium Clip-In Extensions are custom made and ship 2 to 3 weeks after ordering. Natural Wavy Clip-In Extensions arrive within 5 to 10 business days. During major sales, processing can take up to 7 business days. Leave a few days after delivery to check shade and texture before the client sits down.

Most products ship within 1 to 3 business days of the order date: Genius Wefts, Luxury Straight Wefts, Luxury Natural Wavy Wefts, Premium Tape-In Extensions and The Halo. Premium Clip-In Extensions are custom made and ship 2 to 3 weeks after ordering; we may confirm your order details before making the set. Natural Wavy Clip-In Extensions ship 3 to 5 business days after processing; expect 5 to 10 business days to receive them. During major sales and promotions, processing can take up to 7 business days.

US orders of $300 or more ship free with the Standard rate. Smaller US orders pay a calculated UPS rate, and international orders ship by DHL Express at the calculated rate; both are shown at checkout before you pay. Orders are not processed on weekends or major holidays, so allow for that when you count business days. The full terms are in our shipping policy.

Sign in to your account to see your orders and, once an order has shipped, its tracking information. If you cannot find it, email customercare@bahair.com with your order number.

You have 7 days from the day you receive the hair to request a return or store credit. The hair must be in its original, unaltered, resellable condition: original ties intact, and not combed, washed, brushed, cut, worn, colored or altered. Check your shade and texture as soon as the package arrives, before you open the ties, and contact us right away if anything is not right. The full policy is in our refund policy.

No. Processing begins the moment an order is submitted, so we cannot change or cancel it after that, including shade, length, texture or amount. If you are not sure what to order, use the free photo consultation first. Send photos of your hair through the contact page and we will confirm your choices before you check out.

Yes. International orders must be paid with PayPal. We may also ask for additional payment or shipping verification before an order ships, for any destination. Shipping cost is calculated at checkout. If you are ordering from outside the United States and have a question about timing, email customercare@bahair.com before you order.

We accept all major credit cards, Shop Pay, Apple Pay and PayPal, which is required for international orders. Installment plans are available at checkout. For questions before or after ordering, email customercare@bahair.com or use the contact page. You can also call or text the salon at 516-707-2015. The salon is at 82 Carleton Ave, East Islip, NY 11730, open Tuesday to Friday 10 to 5 and Saturday 9 to 5, by appointment only.