What Is the Monti Method?
The Monti Methods are 3 damage-free extension techniques- Microlink I-Tip, Tape-In and Waterfall Beaded Weft. What makes them damage-free is how they go in: no tight tension, no over-direction, equal weight on all methods.
Monti Methods are the safest extension techniques in the industry, and those 3 core values are the reason. We teach and preach them for comfortable damage-free hair extensions.
I'm Deb Monti. I've been doing hair extensions since 2002, and teaching stylists since 2016. I say those 3 values almost every day, during consultations or whenever anyone asks about extensions. I teach all 3 methods in hands-on 1-Day and 2-Day courses, and my classroom is in San Francisco.
Why I started teaching this
I was seeing so many women with extensions that were not installed correctly, made with low-quality hair, or applied in painful ways that caused damage. The extension industry was developing a bad reputation, so I created Monti Extensions and Academy.
We're not just trying to sell you a product. We're here to provide education.
Are extensions damaging?
One of the first questions a client asks me during her consultation is "are extensions damaging?" and I say "yes". Shocking answer, but true. I then go on to explain... if not installed correctly, they can damage your hair. Why lie?
We've all seen or heard a horror story of damage from extensions. But, extensions aren't the only thing that can damage your hair. Sometimes bleach and high heat, when not used correctly can also damage hair. But, stylists are more properly trained on how to apply bleach than on applying extensions. It's all about EDUCATION.
I think it's important to really explain to our clients (and know ourselves) the real cause of damage from extensions. It's these 3 things:
Tight Tension- the extension is applied too tight to the scalp. Extensions shouldn't hurt!
Over-direction- the hair holding the extension is over-directed, so some of the hair in the section is not actually supporting any weight at all.
Unequal Weight- the amount of hair getting installed is heavier than the amount of hair holding it.
Stylists, it's not your fault! We only know, what we were taught, and if you learned that putting extensions in too tight or with over-direction is right, then we just need to re-adjust our methods a little bit.
The 3 methods we teach
Microlink I-Tip goes by a lot of names- I-tips, beaded, cylinder, micro-bead, micro-ring. Same thing. Wefts can be machine tied or hand tied, and in class we teach the waterfall beaded weft.
Micro-Links distribute weight evenly on the section of your own hair. Tape-Ins can sometimes put too much weight on a small section of natural hair. Over-directed sectioning, uneven weight distribution, and too much tension can cause breakage no matter what method is used.
In the 2-Day we do all 3 the same way- installation, removing and re-tipping. In the 1-Day it's installation and removing on the method you pick.
What a class is like
We teach Theory first, so you understand the concepts that go into the decisions for an install. Knowing theory builds your confidence for the hands-on part, where we demonstrate the correct way to install. In the 2-Day, day one is theory and day two is hands on.
Then it's your turn! You don't need to bring a model. We practice on mannequins, and we'll provide one if you don't have your own. It's worth having your own, though. You take your installation work home with you, hair and all.
I keep it to 1 educator for every 5 students, so somebody is actually watching your hands. And if something doesn't feel right on an install, my students can text 415-802-9230 and get an answer from one of us.
Who's teaching you
Every Monti educator is a real working stylist with years behind the chair. We are not brand ambassadors. We wear hair extensions ourselves, and we have also seen the damage they can cause when they are installed incorrectly.
I trained most of the top extensionists in the Bay Area. And I don't teach alone. You can meet Honey, Victoria and Fidel on my About page.
At 211 degrees water is hot, but at 212 it boils. One degree can make a big difference, so we teach how to be 212 degrees with installations, consultations and practices. Be a little bit better than the competition. We teach section perfection, no tight tension and no over-direction, on every single install.
I want my students to leave properly trained, not just certified.
What the Monti Method is not
It's not a state license. What you earn from me is a Monti Extension certificate of 2-Day or 1-Day completion, depending on which course you take. You do need to already be a licensed cosmetologist, currently enrolled in cosmetology school, or a graduate of a cosmetology or beauty school. That's my rule! I've turned people away, including people who wanted a career change but had never done hair. It wasn't that I didn't want to help them. I teach on top of what beauty school gives you, so you need that part first. If you're not there yet, start there. I'll be here when you graduate.
I refuse to promise that building a hair extension career is easy. It takes a lot of practice and transparency as you are building.
Where you can learn it
That classroom is at 2040 Union Street in San Francisco, inside my salon. We also teach at partner schools around the Bay Area, including Paul Mitchell The School in San Jose. And I travel across the country to certify stylists in the Monti Method.
You'll find dates and prices on my certification course page. And on my common questions page, I answer what stylists usually ask me before they book.
The education material in my courses is copyrighted. If you're an educator and you want to use it in your own class, ask me about my teacher training program.
If you're not sure which course you need, call 415-409-1500 or text 415-802-9230 and let's figure it out together. I can't wait to meet you!
Let's all do our best to give the extension industry a great reputation and get properly educated on healthy installs:) I know we can do it!