The hair extensions market is growing at a rate of around 40 percent annually, as consumers are willing to explore and experiment with new trends. Celebrity endorsements also play a pivotal role in promoting this industry. As per a recent analysis by the Professional Beauty Association, there has been a 28.5 percent increase in the number of professional salons offering hair extension services in the country over the past two years alone.

1. Own-hair extensions
This trend once started as the result of export and sale of human hair that was otherwise discarded from salons or offered in temples in a few Asian countries. A lot of unprocessed hair used to get collected, and these went on to be designed as human hair extensions to be attached to the regular hair for more length and volume. This culture has today become a norm wherein you can opt to save your own hair when you go for a haircut at salons. Widely welcomed by many who prefer to use real hair extensions but do not prefer to have hair from another donor attached to their own, own-hair extensions have become a trend in many parts of the world.

2. Synthetic hair extensions
Wigs have been in the market for a couple of centuries now, and the modernization of the wigs has resulted in synthetic hair extensions. Though human hair extensions have a better look and feel and are sturdier than their synthetic counterparts, it is the latter that is cheaper and preferred for daily use. Taking this into consideration, synthetic hair that outlasts human hair have been designed. Futura is a type of synthetic fiber which can withstand heat of around 400 degrees Fahrenheit. It possesses a natural sheen and resembles human hair. This takes a long time to set and cannot be colored, but it can be styled.

3. Hair blending extensions
New technology emerging in the field of hair extensions has also introduced a new type of hair blending extensions that cannot be distinguished easily by sight and touch. Introduced in the country in 2015, these also do not require the intervention of bonds, tapes, or glue and can just glide through your original hair. They also do not cause hair breakage or any sort of damage to the hair.

4. Strand application
There is also a new technique known as strand application that has made synthetic extensions look better and last longer. Small amounts of keratin, a protein found naturally in healthy hair, are fused to the existing hair, several strands at a time, before attaching the extensions. This is almost as good as natural hair and stays in place for around four to six months before getting dried out.

5. Colored hair extensions
Another innovation in this field is the availability of colored hair extensions. These can be opted for instead of the laborious task of getting hair extensions done and then coloring them. These colored extensions come in various hair color shades, such as black, brown, blonde, and honey.

This industry is still advancing by leaps and bounds and newer technology that can make our tresses more attractive are soon expected to be made available.