Attaching Wool Lock Hair Extensions with a Nylon Crimp Bead

These wool lock hair extension kits are available in my shop on Etsy: Inspiration Fibers

The kits include (1) Leicester Longwool lock, (2) crimp beads and a threader.

You'll also need a pair of needle-nose pliers.

Instructions:

Step 1: Brush hair into usual style. And prep your threading tool by placing the crimp bead onto the stick

Step 2: Choose a placement for your lock. I recommend going an inch below a part line so that your hair hides the bead. Adjust as needed for thicker or thinner hair. Clip the top hair out of the way.

Step 3: Section out a small bit of hair for the bead to attach to. You don't want it too wide or it'll be uncomfortable; too long and it won't hang right. You only need a 15-20 hairs.

Step 4: Lay the lock along the sectioned hair so that the stiff end is closest to the head. Don't worry yet about getting the position of the end of the lock in the correct place. In fact, I lay the lock across the parted area.

Step 5: Lay the threading tool (with the bead on the stick) over the hair/lock combo to prepar to pull them through.

Step 6: Pull lock/hair combo throught the big loop of the threading tool.

Step 7: Grasp the bead and slide it down the threading tool and over the hair/lock combo. Continue pulling the ENDS of the hair/lock combo through the bead, making sure you don't allow the stiff end of the lock to go through.

Step 8:

Gently grasp the crimp bead with your pliers, and while holding the hair taut, slide the bead up to the scalp. Don't get it too tight, or it won't be comfortable. Too loose, and your comb will snag it. Adjust the lock down until the stiff end is just barely sticking through the bead. You don't want it to poke into the scalp, or it will be uncomfortable and won't hang right.

Step 9: Squeeze the pliers HARD! I like to turn them the other way and squeeze the opposite side as well to get a good squish.

Step 10: Style!

Tips:

To remove: Use a pair of pliers to squeeze against the bend and it'll break. I've also used a pair of toenail clippers to cut through the bead. The beads are not re-usable.

If the lock gets frizzy or isn't wavy enough, wet it thoroughly and allow it to air dry. A bit of leave-in conditioner will help keep it happy.

You can curl it or straighten it, but as with human hair, if there's moisture in the air, it'll work to go back to its natural state.

If you start catching it with your comb, remove and re-position closer to your scalp. It took about two weeks before my hair grew out long enough for this to happen.