This is a guide on how to cover a bald spot with hair extensions. Everyone hates bald spots. However, due to a variety of reasons, we have to deal with them.
I am Lori, and I have more than six years of using hair extensions, I have attended a beauty course and that taught me a lot of helping someone to cover their bald spots with hair extensions.
In this article, I will share my two best ways to cover a bald spot, their detailed steps, and some commonly asked questions.
Sounds good? Keep reading!
Steps-by-steps Guide to Cover a Bald Spot with Hair Extensions
The first step is always preparing the needed equipment. Gather these tools before the whole process.
Tools Needed
- Microneedle
- Linkies
- Swiss lace
- Pliers
- Latch hook
- Needle & thread
- Small-sized scissors
- 4-millimeter microbeads
- Latch hook
- Weft Hair
- Small-sized shears
- Weaving Needle
- Hair Clips
- Hair extension
Detailed Procedure of Covering a Bald Spot
With your tools in place, you can begin the process of covering the bald spot. The process is quite delicate, so make sure you’re careful in taking each step. Keep in mind that there are various methods that you can use to cover up the spot, and I’ll be discussing two methods.
You can decide to use a hair closure (either 4×4 or 5×5), depending on how wide the spot you want to cover is, or you can use a weft extension.
Method 1: Using a Hair Closure
If you’d like to use a hair closure, here are the recommended steps to follow.
Step 1: Laying/Prepping the Natural Hair
Lay the natural hair to expose the bald spot. You can make use of hair clips to help segment the hair into sections. Afterward, place the swiss lace on the bald spot (ensure that the swiss lace is a shade that matches your scalp). This serves as a foundation for the closure to be sewn on.
Make sure the swiss lace covers not only the bald spot but also enough perimeter outside the bald spot. Don’t use the exact size of the bald spot to gauge the net. You want the net a flat net on the head with no bumps or wrinkles.
Step 2: Create a Track Outline for the Closure
Use the small-sized scissors to make tiny incisions on the lace, all around the perimeter of the bald spot. This is to allow some strands of hair from the outside perimeter of the bald spot to be pulled out from underneath.
With a latch hook, pull out tiny hair strands through the incisions made. After bringing out each strand, use a microbead to pin the hair strand on the net. Do this all around the perimeter of the net on the bald spot, till it forms the shape of the bald spot.
Make sure the beads are not too tight and not too close to the root of the hair so as not to put too much pressure on the hair. Also, when stitching the tracks to the hair, make sure you use single tracks and not double, so as not to put unnecessary tension on the hair.
You can only use double wefts when stitching on the net lace itself.
Step 3: Stitching the Closure
After creating a track on the bald spot, you can go ahead to sew in the closure. Start layer by layer until the closure is evenly distributed around the track area.
Method 2: Using Weft Extensions
One of my favorite ways to cover the bald spot is making use of weft extensions, and here are the detailed steps.
Step 1: Preparing the Natural Hair
Use clips to pull back segments of the hair until the bald spot is exposed. Once spotted, carve small sections of hair from the body of the hair, just below the bald spot.
Step 2: Create a Foundation for the Weft
Load beads into your microneedle. With the needle, carve out a small section of hair at the perimeter of the bald spot. Divide the hair into two strands, then use a bead from the microneedle to pin one part of the hair strands down.
If done correctly, this makes a criss-cross shape on your hair.
Continue in this motion until you’ve covered the entire perimeter of your bald spot. As soon as you’ve formed a circle all around the perimeter of the bald spot, go back to the starting point and connect the hair strands that formed a criss-cross shape, using the same method you used initially.
This is to allow the hair to stay firm enough to hold the weave that would be attached.
Once you’re done putting the hair strands in place, take a piece of swiss lace to cover the bald area. Make sure that the lace covers the bald spot well enough, and has enough extra space at the perimeter.
Step 3: Put on the Swiss Lace
With your needle and thread, carefully place the lace on the circular track formed by the microbeads. Ensure that the color of the thread blends with the weave, and if not available, use a dark-colored thread to conceal the tracks.
Once you’ve stitched around the perimeter, knot properly and cut the remaining thread off.
Now it’s time to sew on the extension.
Step 4: Stitching
Start sewing from the edge of the bottom track of the circular spot. After sewing on the first weft, attach the second one, just like the first one. However, sew onto the lace itself and not the bottom track.
Also, ensure that you sew the second track a bit above the first one to conceal the stitches. Make sure to be careful as you sew because the lace is quite delicate. If handled roughly it could tear.
Repeat these steps depending on how large the spot you want to cover is. For the last weft, attach to the top track of the circular spot, just like how you did for the very first track.
Step 5: Styling
After covering the bald spot with a weft or closure, it’s time to blend it all and style! You can straighten or curl your hair. Whichever one you fancy.
Frequently Asked Questions
These questions may come to mind if you want to cover a bald spot with extensions. Here are the answers to them.
What Kind of Extension is Best to Cover a Bald Spot?
You can opt for hair closures, clip-in extensions, weft extensions, or hair toppers. I won’t recommend tape-in extensions because the adhesive may not be a great option for a bald spot. It may pull at your hair and cause more hair loss.
Do Hair Extensions Make Your Hair Fall Out?
It depends on the hair extension used. Ensure that they’re carefully attached to your hair, and with minimal tension. If not, there may be the risk of damage if too much tension is placed on the roots.
Although, the best way to really cover a bald spot is to try to regrow it. Extensions are a great option to cover up while the hair grows naturally.
Can I swim With Hair Extensions On?
Most swimming pools have chlorine as a constituent. If you’d like to swim, make sure to use a swimming cap. This will help to protect your extension from chlorine because chlorine damages hair extensions.
However, if you don’t fancy swimming caps, make sure you don’t soak your hair in the water for too long. And once you’re out of the pool, dry your hair as soon as you can.
Bottom Line
I hope you find this article useful for covering the bald spots. Thank God we have wigs and hair extensions so we no longer have to worry about losing hair!