Micro Hair Extensions Guide

Summary:To prevent bead loss and extend the life of micro hair extensions, proper installation and daily care are key. This guide covers essential steps—from preparing hair with alcohol swabs to securing beads with the right pressure—and offers tips for gentle maintenance. As Allure notes, “The longevity of micro extensions relies heavily on technique, not just the product itself.” Follow these instructions to help your extensions stay secure and your natural hair stay healthy.

1.Preparations before installation

Gather the necessary tools and ensure your hair is clean, dry, and free of any oils or products.¹

Tool	Purpose
Miniature bead pressers	Distributes pressure evenly to prevent bead deformation or a weak hold.
Silicone anti-slip microbeads	Increases friction with the hair shaft to reduce slippage (features an inner silicone ring).
Tip comb	Creates precise hair sections to avoid stray hairs interfering with the bond.
Alcohol swabs	Removes oils and dirt from the hair, improving the bead’s grip.

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2.Correct installation process

Step 1: Clean & Section

Wipe the hair at the intended placement area (1-2 cm from the scalp) with an alcohol swab.
Once the alcohol evaporates, use a tail comb to create horizontal sections about 1-1.5 cm wide, working from behind the ear towards the crown.、

Why must hair be dry and oil-free? Oils significantly reduce the bead’s grip, leading to slippage.

Step 2: Thread & Position the Bead

Use pliers to open the microbead, then place it over the teeth of your tail comb. Slide the sectioned hair through the bead along the comb’s teeth.
Position the bead approximately 1.5-2 cm from the scalp.

How to ensure correct bead orientation? The inner silicone ring of the bead must face the scalp. Incorrect orientation nullifies the anti-slip feature.

Step 3: Crimp the Bead to Secure

Hold the microbead steady between your left thumb and forefinger.

With your right hand, align the bead-pressing pliers over the center of the bead.

Press lightly once to position it, then apply moderate pressure two more times (once on each side) until the bead deforms and conforms snugly to the hair.

How much pressure is “moderate”? Too little pressure causes a loose bead; too much can damage the hair or crack the bead. The goal is a firm, flattened oval shape, not a crushed or misshapen one.

Step 4: Check the firmness

After crimping, gently tug on the extension hair. If the bead doesn’t slide and no natural hair slips out, it’s secure.
If the bead can rotate, it must be re-crimped.
Install subsequent extensions in planned zones, spacing each bead 1-1.5 cm apart to avoid tension and weight in one area.

A: This indicates an incomplete crimp. Use your pliers to re-crimp that specific bead until it is fully fixed and immobile.

3.Daily Care & Precautions

Gently comb your hair from the ends towards the roots, avoiding the area around the beads.

Wash gently, lathering the shampoo before applying it to the hair, avoiding direct rubbing of the beads; after washing, gently pat dry with a towel, do not wring.

First, use a low heat setting to dry the roots, then dry the ends. Hold the hairdryer at least 15cm away from the beads, and do not blow directly onto the beads.

You can tie your hair in a loose low ponytail or wear a sleeping cap when you sleep.

FAQs

A: The most common causes are: installing on oily hair, incorrect bead orientation (silicone ring not facing scalp), or insufficient crimping pressure. Revisit Steps 1-3.

A: Address it immediately. A spinning bead will loosen over time and can cause tangling. Re-crimp it with your pliers.

A: A properly crimped bead will be a flattened oval that grips the hair tightly and cannot be spun or slid with your fingers. If the bead looks crushed or misshapen, the pressure was too high.

A: When installed, maintained, and removed correctly, damage is minimal. Key points are: avoiding overly tight placement (tension on follicles), monitoring scalp health, and giving your hair breaks between wears. The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) advises watching for signs like persistent scalp itching, redness, or unusual hair loss with any extensions and seeking professional advice if these occur.

A: Yes, but proceed with caution. Use dedicated bead-removal pliers or small, pointed tweezers to carefully open the crimped bead. Never pull or yank. If you encounter difficulty, seek help from a professional stylist to avoid hair damage.

Learn More: For comprehensive information on hair health and extension risks, refer to guidance from the

https://www.nhs.uk/tests-and-treatments/cosmetic-procedures

Amy

Amy has over a decade of deep expertise in the hair extensions industry—she’s both a licensed senior hairstylist and a long-term wearer and care practitioner. From selecting extension techniques and identifying materials to daily maintenance and troubleshooting issues, she has accumulated thousands of hands-on cases and first-hand experience. Amy excels at breaking down the suitable scenarios and core care logic of different types of hair extensions. She rejects empty theories, sharing only practical, tried-and-tested tips to help others avoid common extension mistakes, extend wear time, and keep every set of hair extensions looking naturally seamless and long-lasting radiant.

Pro Tip: Using tools designed for microbead extensions (e.g., specific plier models and correctly sized beads) yields the best results. ↩︎

Sunny Beauty

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Micro Hair Extensions Guide: Prevent Bead Loss & Extend Lifespan

1.Preparations before installation

2.Correct installation process

Step 1: Clean & Section

Step 2: Thread & Position the Bead

Step 3: Crimp the Bead to Secure

Step 4: Check the firmness

3.Daily Care & Precautions

FAQs

Need help for extensions?

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