As announced in early May, Hair & Compounds launched an intensive research project with a specialized engineering team to advance our hair extensions and application process.  This type of testing and analysis supports the science and innovation behind everything we do to bring you and your clients a better hair extension.  We are excited to share with you the initial results of our venture.

Following many days of project briefings and product orientations, it was clear that our objective of reinventing a reusable, swift attaching, safe removing and quick assembling extension system was a challenging one.  And one that would require hundreds of dedicated hours from our team of engineers.

After the R&D phase, the team immediately began the ideation process and from there began using sophisticated equipment, innovative materials and evolving techniques to ensure the best outcome.  They also looked at the industry as a whole, identifying the most common obstacles faced by all manufacturers.

Out of the many ideas that came out of this phase, the team focused on designing four prototypes to advance the current attachment methods.  Additionally, four improved tips were tested (and passed!) against extreme functionality and environmental conditions that would have been experienced on a much smaller scale in real life.

To see if each prototype could withstand the application and removal process, functional heat, solvent and pressure tests were intensified to gauge the lifespan of the new tips. 

Heat Test

To test for heat, the tips were first held in a hot iron at 180˚C for ten seconds.  If the tip passed, it was allowed to cool and then clamped in an ultrasonic hot iron ten times at 50,000 Hz for 1.8 seconds each.  Passing these two tests indicated that an extension tip would survive application of glue. 

Solvent Test

For the solvent tests, the beads of the tip material were submerged for thirty minutes in each of three solvents: acetone, isopropanol, and proprietary Poly-Remover.  Passing this test indicated that the tips could survive the fusion removal process.  Passing both the solvent and heat tests indicated that a tip material could be used for the fusion method. 

Pressure Test

Pressure tests consisted of crushing by pliers and rotating 90˚ sixteen times.  Passing this test indicated that the tip could survive being repeatedly crushed inside a copper tube, and that the tip material was appropriate for the fastener method.  All those that passed were considered to be the most probable models for a new extension system.

All four tips passed functionality testing and were further subjected to a series of environmental tests designed to exceed the conditions that a hair extension might be up against during everyday wear. 

These environmental tests included extended immersion in chlorinated water, salt water, hot and cold water, exposure to sudden changes in temperature, and immersion in hair care products such as shampoos, oils, straighteners, bleaches, hair dyes and acid perms.  All four tip materials passed each environmental test, indicating that there are several workable options for the tip material.

Several solutions were proposed and multiple options were scrapped but our research team succeeded in attacking the issue head on (no pun intended!).  We were extremely impressed with their focus and dedication to this project. 

The final step involves production and further testing of the new attachment method.  We anticipate launching our new extension by the middle of 2010.

Far ahead of the rest, Hair and Compounds delivered to you and your clients, a hair care line so brilliantly and strategically engineered that we’ve come to exceed our very own invention through revamping our IONIX Shampoo. With the same outward appearance and a new white consistency (opposed to the previously clear hue), our combined scientifically advanced ingredients, all being 100% Sulfate-Free, will not only preserve & extend the elegance of natural and attached hair, but also infuse every strand with even more glossy smooth moisture!

It is certain that you will discover exactly what our Research and Development team broke through in their intensive lab tests. Even before precise chemical analysis began and after such a swift cleanse of the hair, we were amazed, at first touch, by its delicately soft texture. It was then we invested grueling hours in our own on-site lab just to confirm that the hair was saturated with more than 10% moisture than with the previous formula. This being a profound discovery only in chemistry terms, all of Hair and Compounds guarantee these moisture maximizing results!

Now coupled with a richer and more refreshing aroma (a Hair and Compounds Staff favorite), we invite you to share our excitement and place your order today.  Call us now +1-818-997-8810.

We support you with genuine consideration for your Stylist-Customer interaction by backing our hair with a complete and harmonizing extension care maintenance line.

Our IONIX Line consists of:

Every professional Stylist knows that no color lasts forever and that is the same with our color ring.  Even if we use high quality color and special conditioners to ensure long-lasting and accurately matching hues, our colors eventually fade. It is highly recommended to replace your color ring yearly as we want to make sure that you and your clients get exactly what they see. If you are unsure when you bought your last color ring, just give us a call and we can find out for you.

Purchase your new color ring now  for $60 per ring and replicate its vibrancy for your client with true matching colors every time!

Call us now at: + 1 – 818 – 997 – 8810

We take our business very seriously and delivering the highest quality products is what motivates us every day.  Our poly extensions have fallen short of our highest expectations and we are working diligently to improve the adhesive and ultimately the application process.  Some of the issues we’re addressing are based on real customer feedback, including optimizing the application process (currently takes too much time and non-Hair & Compounds tools don’t get hot enough to seal the adhesive) and increasing resistance to slippage. 

In order to address these issues and deliver an adhesive option that’s as high quality as our hair, we’ve enlisted the help of a private company to formulate a new polymer bond which will result in faster, stronger and more resistant hair extensions.  Specifically, the new adhesive will respond to a lower heat setting which will enable a quicker application and ultimately a stronger, more resistant bond.  That being said, we are also mindful of the positive attributes of our current poly bond and will maintain the softness/flexibility of the adhesive so it moves with the hair and doesn’t cause breakage during removal. 

We will be conducting rigorous testing of the new adhesive in the coming months and need volunteer stylists to take part in the study.  We will provide free bundles (limited colors) to those who are willing to participate and provide feedback.  For more information or to sign up, please contact us via email:  hair@haircompounds.com.

Our goal is launch this revolutionary new adhesive by the end of the year.  Stay tuned!

Customers often ask if our hair is coated (meaning a silicone coating) and what will happen to the quality/texture of the hair extensions after washing. Other companies deliver coated, pressed and packed hair extensions which change appearance after washing. Stylists will typically attach these extensions and after the first couple of washes, the hair looks completely different (texture has changed, hair becomes dry, tangled, etc.) because the coating has washed off and the hair has reverted back to its natural physical texture.

At Hair & Compounds, we do not coat the hair and once we get our hair shipment from the factory, it goes through a rigorous quality control process including washing each and every bundle, checking for tangles, and ensuring a 2-step conditioning process using Ionix Daily Conditioner and Maintenance Spray. Once the quality control process is completed, the hair is hung up to dry naturally, so the hair that is delivered looks exactly like it will when your Client starts wearing it. Because we don’t use coatings and adhere to the strictest quality control process, our hair texture will not change after washing.

Author: Theresa Bullock

This amazing book was recommended to us by one of our customers, Joanne Morrison, an excellent stylist and fantastic woman. After finding it on Amazon we purchased it immediately based on the quick description. After receiving it we discovered just how great this book is for anyone that does hair extensions or is thinking of offering hair extension services. It is well organized, detailed in content and generous in critical information.

Here is a summary of the contents:
1 The hair extension service
2 Preparing for the hair extension service (very important)
3 Tools and products
4 Hair extension appointment times
5 Client consultations (Critical – she even gives a form example!)
6 The hair (Excellent advise)
7 Planning the application of an extension hairstyle (Brilliant!)
8 The application of hair extensions (detailed instructions, photos and diagrams)
9 Client aftercare and homecare procedures
10 Removing hair extensions

We highly recommend this book!!

Yesterday, I had a lunch in the Taj hotel in Chennai (Madras) and enjoyed fresh Mackerel wrapped in banana leaves. What a dish! If I would enjoy half of my time here as I enjoyed this meal, I would run to the local ministry of internal affairs and apply for an Indian passport. You have to redefine your definition of good food after leaving this country.

India is one of the countries where hotels prove to you that they still know how to do certain things other than charging high prices. Cooking is one instance. Service with good intentions is another one. And I’m putting a lot of emphasis on the good intentions because their disorganization skills will drive you crazy. In principle, people are good hearted here and willing to do on a regular basis many of the things that we forgot in the West.

The Taj is owned by the largest company in India. They have over 10 hotels in India, all of which are very impressive, expensive and designed with good taste. In Mumbai (Bombay) you will have to pay $500 per day for a basic room in their flag ship hotel. Then you step outside to the beach that is only 100 yards away from the hotel’s entrance and see all the poverty. There are so many stark contrasts in this country.

My lunch is finished and now back to work.

One of my biggest problem that I have since the beginning is achieving a low breakeven analysis but very high fixed cost per product. One way is to reduce expenses, but since they are low already the other factor of this equation forces me to increase number of kilos per month. This is a known factor but we don’t know how to do it and this is why I’m here again only 2 months after my last visit.

In order to succeed this time I decided to conduct the micromanagement myself. Which means I must approve all the daily schedules, assign the tasks to the production employees as well as to my managers, supervising the execution of the tasks and applications on an hourly basis, collect data during lunch time instead of only by the end of the day, trying to understand the reasons for running late (due to employee performance or bad production planning due to error in collecting and analyzing previous data), reading and analyzing reports and preparing new instructions and Correction Plans (CP is the most popular term in my factory). Then I have to change and update the drafts of the company’s business/strategic plan which results in changing the business model.

All the time I feel that I am getting closer to what I envision and expected this company to be. Then I remember that India is one of those rare places where you may find yourself getting closer while you are actually drifting away from your point of destination.

In order to prepare mentally, to withstand the amazingly high humidity (85%-90% humidity and 105 F-115 F temperature), I decided to come to the office with a very simple and light T-shirt, shorts and sandals. 3 hours into the work day, I was outside of my cool office, at the administrative section when my 11:00 AM meeting showed up only 50 minutes late. I approached him together with my loyal assistant, Ganesan (One of the Indian Gods). I asked the guy for his name and he replied to Ganesan while completely ignoring me. It seems like my clothes are so poor he decided that I’m just another production employee. I forgot that in the south of India people will judge other people by the way they dress.

End of day I return to my hotel. And no it is not the Taj. I have a meeting with my new Yoga instructor. Yoga is one of the most accurate and detailed systems that I know for “personal growth”. One day I asked my managers if they practice Yoga and then noticed some hesitation among them until Ganesan, who has been my loyal employee since day one in India, had the courage to tell me “No sir.” with a smile on his face “Only foreigners are doing Yoga in India”.