Keraflex Extensions from Hotheads: Matte Keratin Bonds for Discreet Strand-By-Strand Application

Hotheads® put tape-in hair extensions on the map, made major waves with their launch of hand-tied and machine wefts, and now, with the introduction of Keraflex™ Extensions, Hotheads offers a thermal fusion solution for stylists and clients looking for strand-by-strand extensions—firmly cementing the house of Hotheads as a one-stop-extension-shop.

Keraflex™ Extensions feature a matte, keratin bond designed for an application that’s completely undetectable. Soft, flexible bonds adhere to the hair via hot fusion, designed to provide controlled delivery of volume, density, length and color. 

“The matte finish of Keraflex bonds have zero visible light reflection—meaning the bonds won’t catch the light if the client wants to wear her hair up, or if the wind blows,” says Rebecca Schoonover, brand director for Hotheads Extensions. “We found that clients want a discreet finish when they’re wearing extensions. With Keraflex, the extensions can be applied even in more visible areas, like the fringe or the top of the head, and are perfect for clients who like to wear styles that require a totally camouflaged attachment site.”

Keraflex Extensions are offered in 25-piece packs in three lengths—10"-12", 14"-16", 18"-20"— and are available in Hotheads' 21 shade range, including nine Colormelts, for unlimited color and placement combinations.

Natalie Ruzgis, Hotheads Master Educator and co-founder of Chicago’s Thrive Hair Collective, says the pre-tapered ends of Hotheads 100% Remy hair create a seamless blend that saves time traditionally spent on cutting and blending.

“When an extension client knows they’re paying a premium for length, they look at the hair you’re cutting or blending and see money falling on the ground,” says Ruzgis, who collaborated with Hotheads on product development and testing. “Hotheads’ pre-tapered ends look natural, allow for a more seamless grow-out, and I don’t need to negotiate with my clients to let me cut and blend because most of the blending work is done for me.”

Keraflex Extensions are designed to provide stylists with controlled delivery of volume, density, length and color. 

Hotheads’ dedicated Keraflex thermal application tool is recommended, however the system is compatible with most existing thermal fusion tools. The 8mm-wide bond comes pre-customized at a 1-cm height for optimal as-is application or for additional allowing for optimal customizability and 3-5 months of wear, the longest-lasting single-wear method.

“Keraflex placement will be familiar for those familiar with Hotheads’ traditional tape-in method,” Ruzgis says. “The back quadrants snake up the head from left-to-right in a brick-lay pattern. Working in the front, we’re very deliberate with beginning at the visible temple area with a rolled bond that moves like real hair. As you work toward the center of the head, you transition into flat bonds. When you reach the center, you begin back at the other temple.”

Ruzgis says clients with shorter hair styles will now be able to achieve previously unachievable transformations, as the lightweight Keraflex Extensions allow for application in more fragile, less dense areas, and on finer textures, from filling in a fringe or hairline, to a full head and anywhere in between. 

“The two biggest points of difference with Keraflex are that the matte bonds aren’t glossy or shiny when the hair splits, and you can see the hair strand inside the bond so it looks like it’s growing out of the scalp,” Ruzgis says. “Meaning the keratin bond itself isn’t ultra-pigmented, unlike others on the market. It’s the equivalent of wearing braces versus wearing Invisalign—both will make the teeth straight, but one is more visible and the other is more discreet.”

Keraflex Extensions can be used alongside other systems, including tape-ins and wefts, and are easily and gently removed using the Keraflex Remove Gel and Remove Tool.

“Hotheads invented the tape-in, then we perfected the weft, and now we've reimagined the bond,” Schoonover says. “With the launch of Keraflex Extensions, Hotheads is officially a one-stop shop, providing stylists and salons with a complete portfolio of extension services.”

Learn how to get certified at hotheads.com/virtual-learning and follow @hotheadshairextensions for ongoing inspiration, educational opportunities and creativity.