I Got Invisible Hair Extensions, And I’m Never Looking Back

I’ve tried pretty much every hair extension technique – from tapes to bonding to wefts. I’ve even had my extensions done in a celebrity salon in Los Angeles. The best extensions I’ve ever had, though? I’m wearing them right now, and they didn’t come from Hollywood, but from a small salon in Munich – Eliza Munich. They’re called micro-bonds, and they’re totally invisible.

The salon founder, Eliza Ullrich, was recommended to me by other hairdressers, along with a colleague who I’d have never guessed wore extensions. “An insider tip,” they told me.

Why micro-bonded hair extensions are so good for fine hair

Ullrich doesn’t work with Asian hair, as is usually the case when it comes to hair extensions, but with Slavic and Eastern European hair. This has its advantages: “Our blonde extensions were never dark, so they don’t need to be heavily bleached. There are also very fine hair textures here – straight, wavy or curly,” she explains. Anyone entering her salon can see the variety for themselves at first glance: bundles of hair in all lengths, colours and textures are displayed on an open shelf. If a shade doesn’t fit, it’s ordered in or individually mixed.

Having micro-bonded hair extensions fitted

I’d like to go longer than I have before, around 60cm, or to just below my ribs. So, Ullrich grabs two bundles from the shelf, holds them to the back of my head and decides: “The colour fits perfectly.” A honey-blonde gradient, darker at the roots, lighter at the tips. Exactly like my own hair. Because I like it as natural as possible, the expert recommends 100 strands. It sounds like a lot, but it’s not: Eliza Munich’s bonds are much smaller than usual, which makes them look less conspicuous and more natural. Incidentally, you can also order the hair from her online store and have it fitted by your regular hairdresser.

The hair is installed by Ullrich and her colleague, and the two experts start at the nape of my neck. The bonds are heated with small tongs, and the keratin is then rolled between the fingers to form a tiny grain. Because the colour of the keratin is matched exactly to my roots, the strands are attached from below, so the bonds disappear invisibly into my own hair. “Straighteners or curling irons won’t un-bond them,” Ullrich reassures me. “You’d have to stay in one place for a long time.”

An hour later, and my head is full of micro-bonds, even just below the crown. Normally, I would be worried that they would be visible. But thanks to Ullrich’s technique – in which my own hair is placed around the bonds – the connection points remain invisible.

The result

When I stand up and look in the mirror, I am surprised: the transitions are practically invisible. While extensions usually had to be cut in heavily for me, a few corrections to the basic length are enough here. There’s no “extension look”, just seamless fullness.

The care instructions are straightforward: no rich shampoos, and conditioner should only be used on the lengths, not the scalp. I’m also told to gently brush my hair twice a day, over the bonds and through the ends.

“Incorrect home care is the main reason extensions have a bad reputation,” says Ullrich. “If they become matted, this damages your own hair when you remove them… If you follow the care instructions, the hair can continue to grow healthily,” she assures me.

The micro-bonds can be worn for up to six months. For fine hair, however, Ullrich recommends having the strands put up after two to three months. The advantage: the hair can be “re-bonded” and reused several times, which is more sustainable and much cheaper.

Speaking of costs: these vary depending on length and density. For a little more thickness, prices start at around £170. For hair extensions applied to thicker hair, for which you might need more extensions and more bonds, it can be as much as £1,300.

After six weeks of wearing them, I can say that my hair is still as soft and shiny as it was on the first day. And above all, they are still just as invisible. Last week, I went to a hairdresser I’d never been to before for a blow-dry. He only noticed that I was wearing extensions when he started washing my hair. I had neglected to tell him, because I always forget that I’m wearing extensions myself. The only instance I ever really notice the “little grains of rice” is when I’m shampooing. The rest of the time, they’re utterly invisible.