A SALON specialising in hair replacement for people suffering from alopecia or the effects of chemotherapy will be opening its doors in Old Town at the weekend.

Future Lengths, in Victoria Road, also offers human hair extensions to add thickness and length.

Owner Drew Carlton, who has been working with hair extensions for 19 years, said there is a demand for the service in Swindon.

“Rather than being a hairdressing salon offering hair extensions too, we are just hair extensions and hair replacement. It is the complete opposite of everything out there at the moment,” he said.

“There are a lot of people who wear them and if they are applied properly you wouldn’t know someone had them.”

The salon uses two types of hair, which are supplied by Hairdreams.

One type is made of hair from people in Europe, known as seven star, and one is made of hair from people in India, known as five star.

“There are very strict ethical practices where the hair comes from,” said Drew.

“The hair is then selected strand by strand and each extension can come from a number of different people.”

A full head of seven star extensions usually costs between £400 and £1,000, which will need to be rebonded after four months at a cost of £500.

“Hair damage generally only applies when it is not applied or removed professionally,” said Drew. “I have heard horror stories of girls buying them online and applying them themselves. It is not something you can mess about with. The tension has to be proportionate.”

Future Lengths also specialises in hair replacement for people with thinning hair or bald patches, which involves attaching the hair to the client's head using fine threads. There is no use of mesh.

“It wouldn’t work on someone who was completely bald but does work if someone has very little hair. We can cover bald patches or make hair thicker,” he said.

Hair replacement costs between £400 and £1,100 and lasts about six months.

Drew, 39, who is originally from Royal Wootton Bassett, has been in the hair extension industry for 22 years and trained with Antenna in London.

The salon will hold its opening at noon tomorrow until 6pm.

It will be open from 9.30am until 5.30pm Tuesday to Friday and on Saturdays from 10am until 6pm.

Late evenings are also available on request. For more information phone 01793 481486 or visit www.futurelengths.com.