What Is a Mesh Install? The Complete Guide to Lace Integration
If you have been hearing the words "mesh install" or "mesh integration" and wondering what they actually mean, you are not alone. The terms are newer, but the technique is not. Mesh installs are installs applied to the head using lace pieces. The lace is what we are calling the mesh, and we are integrating those lace pieces into the client's hair.
After 21 years behind the chair, I can tell you mesh installs are one of the most natural-looking, versatile services a stylist can offer. In this guide, I will walk through the what, who, when, where, how, and why of mesh installs, plus what stylists charge and how long they last.
PART ONE: What a Mesh Install Is
A mesh install uses a lace piece, with hair ventilated into it, as part of the install. Because the lace mimics the scalp, the hair looks like it is growing directly out of the head.
Lace pieces you can integrate
- Closures: 2x6, 4x4, 5x5, 6x6, and 7x7
- Lace frontals: 13x6 and 13x7
- 360 lace pieces
In our collection, these pieces come in multiple shades and multiple textures, and all of them can be custom colored. You can get very creative with them and place them in several different areas of the head.
PART TWO: Who, When, and Where
Who mesh installs are for
- Clients who want hair extensions in a particular place
- Clients with thinning in a particular area of their natural hair
- Clients getting another extension method: mesh pieces can be integrated into a traditional sew-in, single rows, bonds, tape-ins, and even clip-ins
- Clients who want a lace piece placed on its own, in different places on the head
When to choose a mesh install
Choose mesh when a client wants a really natural appearance, where the hair looks like it is coming directly out of her head, or when she wants a protective style with none of her natural hair out. A traditional sew-in with a closure, frontal, or 360 is a perfect example. Mesh gives more versatility and more options for where to part the hair and how it looks compared to a meshless integration.
Where the piece goes
Placement is decided during the consultation. It depends on where the client wants coverage, where she parts her hair, and how she wants to wear it.
"Lace pieces were made for theater before they were everyday hair. They are fragile. The education and the expectation matter just as much as the install."
PART THREE: How and Why
How mesh installs are done
Every mesh install starts by creating a base with the natural hair.
- Braided base: Typically used when the lace piece is installed with a traditional sew-in.
- Micro bead flat base: When the piece is installed on its own, which is what is now called a mesh integration, the natural hair is pulled through micro beads to create a flat surface. The mesh is then sewn onto that flat base.
Why clients want mesh
Mesh gives the most natural appearance when it comes to mimicking a scalp, and the most flexibility when it comes to parting and styling the hair.
Managing expectations
Lace pieces are fragile. They were originally meant for theater before they were worn as everyday hair. They require a certain level of care and understanding. I see a lot of complaints online about how lace wears, and much of that comes from expectations that were never set. Educate your client before the install.
SIDE BY SIDE: Mesh Install Pricing
| Level | Initial Install | Maintenance |
|---|---|---|
| Beginner | $50-$75 per hour | $25-$50 per hour |
| Expert | About $500 per hour | About $250 per hour |
What to Expect From a Mesh Install
| Factor | What It Looks Like |
|---|---|
| Look | Hair that appears to grow from the scalp |
| Parting | The most flexibility of any integration |
| Wear time | 4 weeks up to 6 months, depending on the stylist and maintenance |
| Care | Gentle handling; lace is fragile |
BOTTOM LINE
A mesh install integrates lace pieces, from 2x6 closures to 13x6 and 13x7 frontals and 360s, into the client's hair for the most natural, scalp-like result and the most parting flexibility. It works on its own or combined with sew-ins, rows, bonds, tape-ins, and clip-ins. Educate clients on lace care, price for your level, and a mesh install can last from four weeks up to six months.
Read Mesh and Meshless Integration and Types of Lace Pieces for Mesh Installs.
Train and Shop With BLONC
Learn it step by step with the Mesh Integration Install Certification at Blonc Academy, and practice with the Mesh Integration Install Training Kit.
Shop BLONC lace closures in multiple shades and textures. Stylists, join Blonc Pros for pro access to lace pieces and hair.