The hair enhancement and treatment category is booming with options ranging from extensions to treatments and therapies. These solution-based services can ramp up your knowledge and increase client offerings. Here, we present client requests that can be solved using extensions, treatments, therapies and more. 

IF YOUR CLIENT WANTS TO CREATE THE ILLUSION OF FRINGE OR LAYERS WITHOUT COMMITMENT...
Extensions and clip-in hair pieces provide an easy out for the commitment-phobe.

“It’s easy and fun to give a fringe with The Hair Shop’s clip-in hair pieces,” says Priscilla Valles, celebrity hair extension specialist. “Use a razor to customize the cut and frame the client’s face.”

Valles also loves using extensions in varying lengths to create layers—using the nape and first rows of the sides of the head to build length.

“For the nape and sides use a longer length, like 18 inches,” Valles says. “Around the middle of the head, 16-inch extensions work well. From there, move into a 14-inch or 12-inch to create a layered cut.”

IF YOUR CLIENT WANTS TO PREVENT HAIR LOSS...

“Stylists are often the first line of defense in noticing the problem and can guide if a medical issue needs to be addressed with a doctor,” says Zenagen Hair Care President Jared Reynolds. He says androgenetic alopecia, male- and female-pattern baldness, is the most common type of hair loss.

“This occurs over several years, and is caused by sensitivity to a hormone called dihydrotestosterone (DHT),” Reynolds says. “Inflammation cascades damaged follicles and prevents them from getting the nutrients and oxygen the follicle cells need to grow healthy hair.”

Hair loss can also be caused by an autoimmune disorder (like alopecia areata), medications, rapid weight loss, thyroid dysfunction, diabetes, postpartum hormone changes and more.

“Prevention is key,” Reynolds says. “The earlier hair loss therapy can be started, the better and faster the results.”

IF YOUR CLIENT WANTS TO TREAT THEIR THINNING HAIR...

One treatment doesn’t suit all.

“Once it’s determined if the hair loss is genetically driven or caused by something else, remove excess build-up of skin cells and product to start with a clean slate,” says Michelle Blaisure, director of education, Bosley Professional Strength. “An in-salon microdermabrasion service will help to do that. If the hair loss is genetic, it will often require a multi-therapy approach, pairing a BosRevive 30-Day Starter Kit with a minoxidil treatment. Because genetic hair loss is ongoing, this regimen will need to continue to maintain the results.”

Hormonal changes, stress and aging can all contribute to hair loss.

“These factors are why we suggest supplementation, like our Healthy Hair Vitality Supplements,” she says. “Offering the right coverup and styling products is an integral part of any plan to combat and work with thinning, fine hair.”

IF YOUR CLIENT WANTS TO CREATE VOLUME...

You know what the most straightforward volumizing product is? More hair.

“Whether adding overall volume or correcting problem areas, volumizing services can often be performed in less than an hour, require minimal amounts of additional hair, are relatively inexpensive and make a big impact,” says Nanci Lee,Great Lengths USA national educator. “They can give a client styling options previously unachievable and make styling regimens less stressful on the client’s natural hair.”

IF YOUR CLIENT WANTS TO STIMULATE HAIR GROWTH...
Outside of topical and oral drugs, low-level laser therapy is the only FDA-cleared non-drug treatment to combat androgenic alopecia, says Francesca Dubsky, director of marketing, HairMax.

“HairMax laser devices deliver therapeutic, nourishing light energy to hair follicles to activate them and actually regrow hair,” Dubsky says. “This boost of light revitalizes weakened follicles, stimulates growth factors, reverses the thinning process and helps extend and restore clients’ natural hair-growth cycle, resulting in new hair growth with increased density, fullness and vibrancy.”

IF YOUR CLIENT WANTS TO CONSIDER WIGS AND HAIRPIECES...

Not all heads of hair can accommodate all styles—with help from wigs or hairpieces, stylists can provide a solution without sacrificing style.

“Wigs and hairpieces allow women the ability to style their hair in a way that makes them feel beautiful,” says Sophie Hafner, stylist and salon manager at Follea Beverly Hills. Because hair extension bonds are visible on the surface, some clients feel a wig is their only option—but that’s not the case.

“One of the products offered by Follea is the Topette, which is specifically designed for women that are thinning on the top of their head. The Topette can enhance the existing hair because it seamlessly adds volume to the top and crown.”

IF YOUR CLIENT WANTS TO ADD CREATIVE COLOR WITHOUT LIGHTENING THEIR HAIR...

Fantasy colors are still very popular, but they can be difficult to achieve and maintain.

“Fantasy hair extensions are now the appetizer for the hair enhancement business,” says Johnny Plant, artistic director, Evolve. “With extensions, there is no damage, fading, bleeding of color or long-lasting effects on the natural hair. Clients can mix and match colors at will depending on what’s going on in her life that day, week or month.”

Evolve’s Lollipops are available in nine colors, take less than five minutes to install a section without the use of heat, glues or chemicals.

Meet with the Bosley, Evolve and Great Lengths teams and check out their products in person at the HAIR+ Summit, Oct. 16-17, 2016, at the Hilton Northeast Atlanta! Full details and registration here: hairplussummit.com.