Episode 120: What Is Keratin Glue?
By Trish
I wanted to briefly explain what is keratin glue? A subject that is not really talked about to often, because let’s be honest once the hair extension is in; you feel beautiful so who cares right. But I want to explain what is in this keratin glue substance you are using to attach your hair extensions to your hair. Most of you are familiar with the glue stick method. This method is used with a glue gun (nothing special typical arts and craft type), which is used for most installations. Also you have another type of glue that comes in small little pellets that can also used with a melting pot.
The glue it’s self is a polyamide, which is a macromolecule (is a very large molecule commonly created by polymerization of a smaller subunits) with repeating units linked by amide bonds. This is one of the components that creates a bond that is able to be molded and shaped when heated with a low-temperature glue gun operate at approximately 120 °C (248 °F) and are well suited for hair extension bonding installations.
Keratin glue is somewhat of a new excitement to the mainstream beauty arena. If you are interested in learning about what is keratin check out this tutorial Episode 114: What Is Keratin? by Rebecca. This will outline the hype surrounding Keratin. Although some in the industry strongly debate and question if there are actual traces of Keratin in the glue whatever properties of the glue are slightly different than the normal clear glue. Here is the first point the break down of the regular glue when exposed to water or oil products slowly breakdown the bonding structure of the glue. The Italian Keratin glue has a stronger lasting hold that stands up to oil and water base products.
Now if you don’t want to spend the money just yet on this new wonder keratin glue. I have seen stylist melt down glue pellets and add keratin protein powder to the glue as an additive. Now here is my first warning if you failed chemistry then forget this whole paragraph because more than likely you’re going to have an weird science type of fallout. Oh wow, I think I’m showing my age annnyway. If you are not comfortable mixing something like color, it is safe to just buy it already mixed to try.
The best remover for the keratin glue or regular glue would be something like Seabreeze or 91% Isopropyl Alcohol will breakdown the glue. At this point moisten the glue surrounding the hair, put the hair in-between your thumb and forefinger and press and apply pressure. Begin applying pressure to the area that has the glue on it. Procced by rolling the area back and forth until you start to see the glue crumble into pices. At this point slowly and gently pick the pices of crumbled glue out of the hair. Once all glue has been removed slowly comb from root to tip to make sure that all glue areas have been properly removed. I hope this has answered some questions.
Trish
