Why Our Harrogate Clients Travel 35 Minutes for Hair Extensions at FAKE
Harrogate isn't short of hair salons. Walk down Montpellier Quarter or James Street and you'll find plenty offering "hair extensions" on the menu. So why do women from one of Yorkshire's most affluent towns drive 35 minutes north to a converted barn in Bedale for their extensions?
Because 13 years of London expertise and thousands of fittings doesn't exist on Harrogate's high street.
When FAKE's founder Kylie Hammond relocated from London to North Yorkshire, she brought something the region had never seen: Tailor-made Designer hair extensions fitted using a specialist-level keratin bond technique refined over a decade in the UK's most demanding market.
Before: Dull and lifeless hair
After: Natural-looking fullness and length with keratin bonds & micro ring extensions
Hair Extension Specialist & Founder of FAKE
With over 13 years of experience specialising in keratin bond and micro ring hair extensions, Kylie has transformed thousands of clients across London. Certified in advanced, super discreet extension techniques and passionate about creating natural-looking results for fine & short hair transformations she brings her services to the north of England for the first time.
What Makes FAKE Different from Harrogate Hair Extension Options?
If you're looking for hair extensions near Harrogate, you'll find three main options:
- High-street salons offering branded extension systems (Beauty Works, Great Lengths, etc.)
- Mobile or home-based extension services (convenient but limited in scope)
- Specialist extension salons with dedicated studio space and advanced techniques
FAKE falls into the third category, and we're the only specialist extension salon serving the Harrogate area that combines:
- 13+ years specialist experience (not a side service)
- Keratin bond expertise refined across thousands of London fittings
- Hand-blended Eastern European hair custom-matched in-salon
- Professional studio environment purpose-built for extension work
This isn't a stylist who learned extensions in a weekend course. This is over a decade of daily, exclusive extension work in one of the world's most competitive markets, now available 35 minutes from Harrogate.
Our Specialist Services for Harrogate Clients
Every fitting at FAKE uses the same hand-blended Eastern European hair and custom colour-matching process. What varies is the application method, chosen specifically for your hair type, density, and lifestyle:
Keratin Bond Hair Extensions
Best for: Fine, thin, or delicate hair
The lightest, most discreet method available. Bonds about the length of a grain of rice sit completely flat against the scalp. Ideal for women who need invisible extensions that won't cause tension damage. Lasts 10-12 weeks.
Micro Ring Hair Extensions
Best for: Normal to thick hair density
Small metal rings clamp individual strands to your natural hair. Slightly more visible than keratin bonds but incredibly durable. Perfect for active lifestyles and those wanting maximum longevity. Lasts 10-12 weeks.
Colour-Matched Hair Extensions
Best for: Complex colour (balayage, highlights, multi-tonal)
Every fitting includes custom colour-matching, but this service is for clients with intricate colour work who need precise tonal blending. We replicate your exact gradient in-salon.
Extensions for Thin Hair
Best for: Thinning, post-pregnancy, or hormone-related hair loss
Specialist consultation and ultra-light application designed specifically for fragile or compromised hair. We assess density, scalp health, and realistic volume goals before recommending a method.
Extensions for Curly Hair
Best for: Natural curls, waves, or textured hair
Matching curl patterns requires specific hair sourcing and blending techniques. We work with Eastern European hair that naturally holds texture and movement.
Can't decide which method? Book a free consultation and we'll assess your hair in person.
Why FAKE's Approach Works
1. Hand-Blended Eastern European Hair (Not Pre-Packed)
Every set of extensions at FAKE is custom-crafted in the salon. We don't open a packet and clip it in. We take raw Eastern European hair, sourced from single donors for consistency, and hand-blend multiple tones to match your exact natural colour.
This technique came from London's most discerning clients. When you're fitting hair for ex-love island contestants, professional models, and world famous actresses and musicians, "close enough" colour matching isn't acceptable. Kylie perfected a blending method that replicates the natural depth and dimension of real hair growth.
Why this matters:
Your hair isn't one flat colour. Even a simple "light brown" contains at least 3-5 tonal variations: darker roots, lighter mid-lengths, sun-kissed ends. Pre-packed extensions can't replicate this. They're uniform. Obvious. Expensive-looking in the wrong way.
This hand-blending process creates depth, dimension, and an invisible blend that pre-packaged salon brands can't achieve. It's the difference between looking like you "got extensions" and looking like you were born with incredible hair.
2. Keratin Bonds for Fine Hair
We're the only dedicated extension salon offering keratin bonds for fine and thinning hair in the Harrogate area, using application techniques developed through years of delicate-hair fittings.
You'll find micro rings in most salons. Tape-ins are widely available. Great Lengths hot bonds have their place. But keratin bond extensions, the lightest, most discreet method specifically designed for delicate hair, require specialist training, dedicated equipment, and years of experience to apply without causing damage.
Why experience matters with keratin bonds:
Fine hair extensions are high-risk. Apply bonds too close to the scalp, and you cause tension damage. Use bonds that are too large, and they're visible and uncomfortable. Fit too much volume, and you overload delicate follicles. Most stylists learn on normal-density hair and struggle when faced with genuinely fragile strands.
When your client base includes women dealing with post-pregnancy thinning, perimenopause hair loss, and naturally delicate hair, you develop instincts and techniques that can't be taught in a training course.
If you have fine or thinning hair, keratin bonds are often the only safe option that won't cause visible bulk or tension alopecia. Yet finding a specialist salon that offers them, with hand-blended hair and proper application technique, is almost impossible in the Harrogate area.
Until now.
Watch the precision keratin bond technique used for Harrogate clients with fine hair
3. A Dedicated Extension Studio
FAKE is purpose-built for extensions only. We're not juggling cuts, colours, blow-dries, and extensions in a busy high-street salon. We're a specialist studio where your appointment has the time, space, and focus it deserves.
What this means for Harrogate clients:
- No rush: 2-6 hour appointments with undivided attention
- Professional environment: Dedicated extension equipment, proper lighting, ergonomic setup
- Peaceful setting: Converted barn studio, on-site parking, completely discrete
- Consistency: The same specialist every time, not whoever's available that day
This matters more than you might think. Extension fitting is precise work. In a busy salon juggling walk-ins, phone calls, and multiple services, quality suffers. In a dedicated studio, it doesn't.
4. Custom Colour-Matching
Walk into most salons and you'll be shown a colour ring. "Pick the closest shade."
At FAKE, we colour match your hair by sourcing exact match pony tails we can blend to create a seamless look. If your natural hair has caramel highlights through your roots but ash-toned ends, we replicate that exact gradient. If you're growing out balayage, we blend the regrowth line so it's seamless.
This is why FAKE clients from Harrogate, York, and Leeds drive past closer options. The colour match is undetectable.
What Harrogate Clients Should Know Before Booking
We are ideal if you:
- Have fine, thin, or delicate hair that's struggled with other methods
- Want invisible, undetectable extensions for professional or social settings
- Value bespoke craftsmanship over high-street convenience
- Are willing to invest in premium Eastern European hair that lasts
- Prefer longer wear time (12 weeks) with less frequent appointments
We might not suit if you:
- Need same-day appointments - we have to design and source your hair
- Want clip-in extensions for occasional use only
- Prefer pre-packaged branded systems (we don't use them)
- Aren't willing to travel for specialist service
- Need budget-friendly options (quality Eastern European hair costs more)
Common Questions from Harrogate Clients
"Why can't I get this in Harrogate itself?"
The Harrogate extension market breaks down into two categories:
High-street salons: Multi-service businesses offering cuts, colour, styling, and branded extensions (Beauty Works, Great Lengths). Convenient, but limited to pre-packed systems and general fitting techniques.
Home-based specialists: Some practitioners work from home studios. More personal than high-street salons, but service scope is limited.
FAKE is the only specialist extension salon serving Harrogate that combines:
- Exclusive extension focus (not a side service)
- Keratin bond expertise for fine and delicate hair
- Hand-blended Eastern European hair custom-matched in-salon
- Professional studio environment purpose-built for extension work
The crucial difference: Most stylists add extensions to their existing skills after years of cutting and colouring. Kylie did the opposite—spent over a decade exclusively fitting extensions daily before opening FAKE. That's not just experience. That's deep specialisation in a single craft.
It's not that you can't get extensions in Harrogate. You can. But this level of exclusive focus doesn't exist closer.
"Is the drive really worth it?"
Ask yourself: How many fittings has your stylist done?
If the answer is "dozens" or even "hundreds," that's perfectly respectable for a general stylist. But with over a decade of exclusive extension work in London's premium market, Kylie has fitted more extensions than most stylists will see in their entire career.
The drive is worth it if you've had extensions that:
- Were too heavy for your fine hair
- Showed visible lines or bonds
- Didn't match your colour properly
- Caused breakage or thinning
- Required constant maintenance
- Were applied by someone who "also does extensions" but isn't a dedicated specialist
Harrogate is 35 minutes on the A1(M). We have parking on-site. You'll spend 2-3 hours in a peaceful, converted barn studio (not a bustling high-street salon). And you'll leave with extensions that last 3 months and genuinely look like your own hair.
"What makes FAKE's keratin bonds different from Great Lengths?"
Great Lengths is a decent branded system with pre-bonded extensions. These products have their place.
But FAKE's keratin bonds offer:
- Custom hair blending (not pre-selected colours)
- Eastern European hair sourced directly (not mass-produced inventory)
- Ultra-fine bond application for very thin hair (smaller than standard GL bonds)
- Tailored fitting density adjusted strand-by-strand during application
Think of it this way: Great Lengths is high street - it's off the rack. FAKE is bespoke tailoring. Both are high quality. But only one is personalised to you.
How to Book If You're in Harrogate
Step 1: Get in Touch
Call 07775 660299 or visit our contact page to book a free consultation. We'll discuss your hair type, goals, and whether keratin bonds or micro ring extensions are better suited.
Step 2: Book Your Consultation
FAKE is located at Hunters Hill Farm, Bedale, DL8 1LA—35 minutes from Harrogate via the A1(M). We have on-site parking and a relaxed, private studio setting. We can also do consultations online or over whatsapp.
Step 3: Expect a 2-4 Hour Appointment
Unlike quick in-and-out salon visits, a bespoke extension fitting takes time. We custom-blend your hair, assess density, and apply each bond with precision. You'll leave with extensions that last 10-12 weeks.
Step 4: Rebook Your Refit
We'll schedule your refit appointment before you leave. Most Harrogate clients rebook every 12 weeks, making it just 4 appointments per year.
Final Thoughts: Is FAKE Worth the Journey from Harrogate?
If you've tried local options and found them lacking—if you have fine hair that's been damaged by heavy extensions, or you're tired of colour matches that are "close but not quite"—then yes.
FAKE isn't the closest option. We're not trying to be. We're the specialist option for women who value craftsmanship, longevity, and truly invisible results.
The women who make the journey from Harrogate don't do it for convenience. They do it because nowhere else offers what we do.
Ready to see what bespoke extensions look like? Book Your Free Consultation → Call 07775 660299 | Bedale, North Yorkshire | 35 min from Harrogate