FAQ

Find answers to questions that you and other customers have asked. If this doesn’t cover it, please don’t hesitate to contact us at hello@limage.de

GENERAL INFORMATION

WHO’S BEHIND THE L’IMAGE COMPANY?

The company was founded in 1990 by Gabriele Bürger. Daughter Adina Alt (née Bürger) took over management in 2018. To this day, L'IMAGE is a family-run business. Our product range is specially designed to meet the needs of the hairdressing trade. Our team of 20, some of whom also come from the hairdressing industry, lend their expertise to L'IMAGE's customers.

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN TRAINING AND COMPETITION HEADS?

L'IMAGE training heads are suitable for many uses. Training is an opportunity to learn cutting, coloring and blow-drying techniques. They are used at seminars where new cut and color trends are presented. The training heads are also used on catwalks, serving as models for styling the human models later on. Our competition heads are specially designed for national and international competitions. These heads have a shoulder dimension and a larger head circumference.

WHICH TRAINING HEAD IS THE BEST?

Unfortunately, there’s no blanket answer to this question. What matters here are your individual wishes and plans. For haircuts and coloring, training heads with a hair length of about 35 cm are best. For pinned up styles, definitely use a training head with hair that is 50 cm long. We’re also be happy to advise you by phone at 0049821/4559700 or by email at hello@limage.de. We can also be reached via Whats App at: +49 178 68 40 260.

CAN I SEE L'IMAGE HEADS IN PERSON BEFORE I BUY?

L'IMAGE attends certain hairdressing trade shows. There you’ll find the entire product range and have the opportunity to take each in hand and experience the high quality yourself.

WHY AREN'T THE L'IMAGE HEADS SMILING?

When you smile, a nasolabial fold appears. This fold extends down both sides of the face from the upper end of the nostrils to the corners of the mouth. This crease is very difficult to recreate on the training head due to the foaming process. This is why we’ve chosen a neutral facial expression for "our" heads.

HOW DO I RETURN A L'IMAGE HEAD I DON'T LIKE?

You may exchange your L’IMAGE head within 14 days of receipt. Please contact us 0049821/4559700 or by email to hello@limage.de and send the head back to us.

HOW DO I DISPOSE OF AN OLD TRAINING HEAD?

Discarded heads can be disposed of in your normal trash. If you have any concerns about this, please feel free to contact us. We will also take back used heads and donate them to kindergartens and various organizations.

YOU DON’T SEE THE RIGHT HEAD?

... Contact us! We’re happy to accommodate requests for custom designs with your desired hair color, face, and length.

TRAINING, EXAMS, COMPETITION

WHICH HEAD DO I NEED FOR MY TRAINING?

A training head should be part of every hairdresser’s education. Which mannequin head is the right one doesn’t depend so much on the year of training as on what you need to practice: Perm wrap, water-wave laying, hair coloring or haircuts using different cutting techniques. With the proper cutting sequence and proper care, a mannequin head can last you for your entire education. We recommend an inexpensive head to start with, such as Rita or Steffi. They’re great for training in the basics. For the second or third year of training, heads like Sabine and Kathrin work very well.

WHICH TRAINING HEAD DO I NEED FOR THE MASTER'S EXAM?

Several different heads are required for the master's examination. Firstly, we advise getting a long-haired head complete with shoulders, such as Elena, Raphaela, Luna or Louisa (but please consult with your school for specifics). You’ll generally also need one or another extra mannequin head, such as Sabine or Nicola.

HANDLING AND STORAGE

HOW DO I CARE FOR MY L'IMAGE HEAD?

Unlike our own hair, the hair on the training head is chemically pre-treated, so there are a few things to keep in mind regarding care. You should work with pH neutral or slightly alkaline products for hair care. The training head hair may react by clumping or matting. Spray treatments are also always a good choice for the doll's head. Please avoid pulling the hair or leaving hairspray or hairpieces in the hair.

WHY DO YOU RECOMMEND BUYING L'IMAGE CARE PRODUCTS?

In order to optimally care for your L'IMAGE head, we recommend you use pH-neutral or slightly alkaline care products. We have therefore developed our own product line that’s especially well-suited to chemically pre-treated hair. In order to enjoy using your training head for an extended period, we recommend regular use of our care products.

HOW DO YOU APPLY COLORIS?

The specific density of Coloris is higher than that of other hair dye and acts like a protective layer on all non-hair areas. When dyeing, the hairline is taped and Coloris skin protection emulsion is applied. Color in the ear area and at the hairline is applied with cotton swabs. If any color remains on the skin, please remove it immediately using water and a cotton pad.

WHAT DO I HAVE TO CONSIDER BEFORE USING IT THE FIRST TIME?

Before the first use, remove the hair tie, if there is one. The training heads are ready for use right after the hair is washed. The head should be washed exclusively in the direction that the hair falls. When combing the hair for the first time, some slight hair loss is to be expected and is harmless. Always brush out any hairspray and styling residue before each subsequent use.

CAN I APPLY MAKE-UP TO MY L'IMAGE HEAD?

All L'IMAGE heads are suitable for applying make-up. To do this, remove the original make-up with nail polish remover. Nail polish is a good substitute for lipstick. Eyeliner and eye shadow can be used for the eyes, and we recommend hairspray to set the make-up .

DYEING, BLEACHING, HEAT TREATMENT, UPDO STYLES

CAN I DYE THE HAIR ON MY L'IMAGE HEAD?

All heads except those with protein hair and mixed-hair types are suitable for dyeing. Cut and apply a light blonde wash to the hair before dyeing it the first time. Exposure times for hair color are a maximum of 50 minutes without heat. It is possible to use all application and highlighting techniques. The hair can be dyed with common oxidation hair dyes and direct dyes. It’s best to refresh hair color with clay rinses.

CAN I BUY AN ALREADY DYED HEAD?

No, we do not offer pre-dyed heads. Our training heads are purely for training. However, you are welcome to contact us if you have any questions regarding the color on the training head or if you need a custom design.

CAN I DYE THE L'IMAGE HEADS BLONDE?

Some L'IMAGE heads are suitable for bleaching. It’s important here that the base color isn’t any lighter than dark blond and that the heads have human hair. The recommended material for bleaching is bleaching powder + H2O2 1.5% (maximum 3%). Before dyeing for the first time, it’s always a good idea to give it bleaching wash, possible on almost all training heads. But do be aware: Always remember that the hair has already been chemically treated and lightened.

CAN I PERM THE L’IMAGE HEAD?

L'IMAGE heads have human hair that can be reshaped using any commercial perm. Use a dosage as for damaged or color-treated hair. Exposure time should be soft and short. When choosing a wrap, use a wrap thickness greater than needed for the desired target. Use a rapid fixative. Protein hair and mixed-hair heads are not suitable for perms due to their sensitivity to heat.

CAN I USE A CURLING IRON AND/OR STRAIGHTENER ON THE HAIR?

Human hair can be treated with heat without any problem. For heads with protein or mixed hair, please exercise caution when using a curling iron and/or straightener. Please avoid temperatures above 120 degrees.

WHICH HEAD DO I NEED FOR UPDOS?

In principle, all heads with a hair length of 50 cm or more are suitable for creating an updo. From there, it's up to you and your personal taste when choosing the right L'IMAGE head. There are heads for updos, 50-70 cm long, with or without shoulders and in blonde or brown.

WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE COMPETITION HEADS LOUISA AND LUNA, OR ELENA AND RAPHAELA?

Louisa and Luna both have 60-cm hair, but different faces. It's the same with Elena and Raphaela, except these two heads have 50 cm long human hair.

ABOUT OUR HAIR

ARE THE HEADS MADE OF 100% HUMAN HAIR?

Almost all L'IMAGE heads are made with 100% human hair. However, we also have heads with protein hair and mixed hair. These heads are identified by a P or an M in the item number. Heads with yak hair are marked with a Y in the item number.

WHAT TYPES OF HAIR ARE THERE?

We carry heads with Indian human hair, Chinese hair, and European hair. Furthermore, we have heads with yak hair, protein hair, and mixed hair in our line.

WHAT’S SO SPECIAL ABOUT INDIAN HAIR?

Indian human hair is voluntarily donated by Indian women, hence the stated nationality. Before it’s used on the training head, it is cleaned, chemically pretreated, and refined. Refining involves dipping the hair in an acidic chlorine solution, removing part or all of the cuticle so that the hair is thinned enough to match the thickness of European hair. The hair is then bleached to selected depths of color and bundled. Bleaching is necessary because this hair does not naturally come in light tones.

Advantages and usage: Indian women have naturally extremely strong and thick hair. It also seems that there’s no limit to how long their hair can grow. It is heat resistant and can be dyed without any issue.

WHAT ARE THE OUTSTANDING FEATURES OF CHINESE HAIR?

In Asian culture, it is customary to sacrifice your hair several times over the course of your life. Chinese women voluntarily donate their mostly black or dark brown hair for religious reasons. Chinese hair is the cheapest human hair, but still good for almost all uses. Chinese hair is usually even thicker than Indian hair and must likewise be thinned out in a complex chemical process. The outer hair cuticle is mostly or even completely detached during this process. After that, the outer layer of the hair is so smooth that it is almost impossible for it to get matted or clump up. After the hair is thinned, it is bleached to the particular shades of color.

Advantages and usage: Chinese hair is the smoothest type of hair in the world, silky, shiny, very strong, and particularly resilient. It is possible to use dyeing techniques just as well as application with hot tools.

WHAT IS SO EXCEPTIONAL ABOUT EUROPEAN HUMAN HAIR?

European hair is divided into untreated and treated categories. Untreated hair was not pretreated by the donor (i.e., never dyed, bleached or the like). This special hair is very rare and IS available from us only on request. Treated hair is only primed after donation. The cuticle is removed and it is bleached to the desired depth of the hair.

Advantages and usage: European human hair is the best quality hair on the market, but is the most expensive and rarest hair. It can be reshaped using all the styling a hairdresser's heart desires. Whether cutting, coloring techniques, creating an updo or treatment with hot tools - there’s no problem with European hair.

WHAT’S DIFFERENT ABOUT PROTEIN HAIR?

Protein hair is derived from nylon. The fiber is very finely stretched, making it very similar in thickness to European hair. Protein hair is a very cheap and always available alternative to human hair, which is becoming increasingly rare and expensive. In particular, long hair is being donated less and less.

Advantages and usage: Protein hair is suitable for many practice techniques, especially for cutting and updos. Please note that this hair may only be heated to a maximum temperature of 120°. Only use devices with temperature control. Under certain conditions it can be colored darker, but not lighter, and can’t be bleached or permed.

WHAT MAKES MIXED HAIR UNIQUE?

At L'IMAGE, we understand mixed hair to be the perfect combination of high-quality European human hair and very fine protein hair. A lot of expertise was used to develop the combination, which unites the advantages of both hair fibers.

Advantages and usage: Due to its human hair content, mixed hair can be treated a little more realistically than pure protein hair. To a certain extent, mixed hair can be dyed. People have had good experience with direct dyes and clay rinses. In addition, heads of mixed hair are slightly more heat resistant than protein hair. Up to 150°C should not pose a problem. However, perms are still not possible. The protein hair content also reduces production costs, resulting in an excellent price/performance ratio. Mixed hair therefore offers a cost-effective alternative for training in hair cutting.

WHAT DISTINGUISHES YAK HAIR FROM THE OTHERS?

Yak hair comes from some Asian cattle, which have a long coat on their abdomen that is almost white.

Advantages and usage: This yak hair has no natural color pigments and is pure white. Therefore, it doesn’t need to be elaborately bleached. It is less damaged than pre-treated hair and, in addition, it ensures particularly brilliant color results due to its light color. It is particularly well suited for pastel and bright colors.

DOES MY L'IMAGE HEAD HAVE LICE OR NITS?

People often ask if a training head is infested with nits because they see small white particles at the hairline. These are merely remnants of the PU foam and can be combed out quite easily. Due to the fact that neither the head nor the hairs on the training head contain any blood or have a cuticle (scaly layer), nits cannot settle on the hairs or survive there.

HAIR STRUCTURE AND LENGTH

MY L'IMAGE HEAD IS SHORTER THAN DESCRIBED. HOW DO I MEASURE HAIR LENGTH CORRECTLY?

Please do not measure the hair from the nape of the neck. The information on hair lengths in the L'IMAGE store and catalog refers to the front of the head. Here, too, we can only give an approximate specification. Shorter hair is usually implanted at the nape of the neck, so that the end result is a slight, natural gradation.

HAIR FALLS OUT WHEN I COMB MY NEW L'IMAGE HEAD. WHY?

Some initial hair loss from the new training head is completely normal. If there is still unusual hair loss after the first time you work with or wash it, please contact us at 0049821/4559700 or hello@limage.de.

WHAT CAN I DO TO MAKE MY L'IMAGE HEAD HAIR MORE MANAGEABLE?

You’re welcome to use effilier or modeling scissors to create support hair, which will help especially when backcombing the hair. Washing once also often helps make the hair better to work with afterwards. Protein hair is generally not as manageable as Indian human hair. Here we also recommend thinning it with effilier or modeling scissors.

WHY IS THE HAIR THINNER AT THE TIPS THAN AT THE ROOTS AND SHAFT?

Practical experience matters to us deeply. In production, we always try to mimic natural hair growth during the implantation process to provide you with hands-on training on your L'IMAGE head. L'IMAGE heads are implanted with bundle hair (hair of equal length). Since the hair on the top of the head is longer, it’s slightly thinner at the tips.

MY L'IMAGE HEAD HAS POROUS, DAMAGED HAIR. WHAT SHOULD I DO?

Occasionally, especially with blonde training heads, hair can be porous. Please keep in mind that dark European hair has been lightened using a long bleaching process. With the right care (our spray cure is highly recommended here) you will certainly get it under control.

WHY DO ISOLATED HAIRS MELT WHEN WORKING WITH HEAT?

Unfortunately, sometimes during production, when implanting the hair, which is 100% handiwork, here and there overstressed hairs are also worked in. As synthetic hair is also becoming more popular, a small percentage of synthetic hair may also be implanted during this process. If this problem continues with your LIMAGE head, you can always contact us.

WHY ARE THERE SOMETIMES ISOLATED BLACK HAIRS ON BLONDE HEADS?

Sometimes during the implantation process in production, which is 100% handiwork, individual black hairs are accidentally incorporated in with the blond hairs. We would like to emphasize that this gives the head a more natural look overall. However, if they bother you, these hairs can be removed without any issue.

PRODUCTION

HOW IS A L'IMAGE HEAD MADE?

L'IMAGE heads are for the most part handmade. First, the hair is chemically pretreated and refined. Refining involves immersing Asian hair in an acidic chlorine solution, removing some or all of the cuticle (outer layer) so that the hair is thinned enough to match European hair in thickness. The hair is then bleached to selected depths of color and bundled. Four to six hairs per stitch are implanted by hand into the plastic head, which is then filled with PU foam. Finally, make-up is sprayed on by hand with an airbrush.

WHERE DOES THE HAIR ON MY L'IMAGE HEAD COME FROM?

The human hair used on L'IMAGE heads comes primarily from India. There, women have their hair, which can be knee-length, shaved off in temples to ask for the protection and grace of their deity. We get most of the hair from combings out and sales by the Indian women. The hair is then collected and sold to production facilities around the world. However, there are also heads with Chinese or European human hair.

WHY IS THERE A RED OR BLUE THREAD IMPLANTED IN MY L'IMAGE HEAD?

In the production process, individual tufts of hair are tied with red and blue threads. When hair is implanted, it can happen that these threads are also incorporated. They can be easily pulled out or cut off.

HOW MANY GRAMS OF HAIR WERE IMPLANTED ON MY L'IMAGE HEAD?

A competition head from L'IMAGE has about 135 g-200 g of hair implanted, depending on the length of the hair. A L'IMAGE mannequin head has about 80 g-190 g of hair implanted.

CAN NEW HAIR BE IMPLANTED ON MY L'IMAGE HEAD?

After the hair is implanted into the head, the head is filled with PU foam. This makes it impossible to detach the skin and implant new hair.

ACCESSORIES

WHICH TRIPOD STAND FITS MY L'IMAGE HEAD?

L'IMAGE tripods are designed for all common training and competition heads. There are tripods in every price range and weight class. We offer small, portable, very light table tripods, but also heavy and very stable floor tripods. Whether you’re working in a standing or sitting position, there is a tripod that works for you.

WHY DO I NEED LACES?

Laces serve to thicken or also lengthen the hair. In addition, they can be incorporated into updos. Our line features extensions of different hair lengths for each hair color, which, just like most L'IMAGE heads, can also be dyed and treated with heat.

DOES THE HEAD COME WITH A TRIPOD?

If you order a stand-alone mannequin head or competition head, it is always delivered without a stand. However, there are three sets in our range, the Cut Set, the Wave Set and the Updo Set, which come with table tripod stands.

SHIPPING AND PAYMENT

WHAT DOES A L'IMAGE HEAD COST?

There’s no general answer to this question. We have a LIMAGE head for every budget and taste in our range. Depending on hair color and length, you can purchase a L'IMAGE head for as little as €40 or as much as €200. Here's the general formula: The longer and lighter a head of human hair is, the more it costs. You can find especially good deals in our Sale section.

HOW CAN I PAY AT L'IMAGE?

You have the option to pay by Pay Pal or direct debit. Payment in advance, by Klarna, by credit card or bill-me-later are also available.

CAN I GET A DISCOUNT?

For a purchase of 500 euros, L'IMAGE offers a 5% discount, for 1,000 euros a 7% discount, and from 2,000 euros a 10% discount. For orders of 20 heads or more, please contact us by phone or mail.

WHAT DOES SHIPPING COST?

Shipping costs vary depending on the country, weight, and scope of delivery. You’ll find shipping costs at the following link or feel free to contact us at hello@limage.de or 0049 (0) 821 455 97 00. ➤ https://www.limage.de/en/shipping

WHAT’S THE DELIVERY TIME?

Orders are delivered within Germany within 1-2 business days. In other EU countries it can take up to 5 business days until you have your LIMAGE head. In non-EU countries it takes a little longer due to customs clearance (about 10-15 business days). Urgent orders are no problem. In addition to GLS standard shipping of 1-2 business days within Germany, there is express shipping for an additional charge. That means deliveries can arrive starting from the very next business day at 8:00 a.m. Please note: Express orders must be placed by no later than by 1:00 p.m.!

WHEN WILL THE PRODUCT I WANT BE BACK IN STOCK?

Sometimes even we are surprised by a rush on some articles. Unfortunately, production and delivery times don’t allow us to get additional supplies within days. It may happen that an item is sold out for several weeks. However, you’re welcome to pre-order your desired head with the "Preorder” button. Your item will then be shipped as soon as it’s back in stock.