Hair Extensions

Hair extensions are such a great way to add length and volume to you hair- they have been a part of my life for many years and they are just so versatile- you can have clip ins, sew ins, glue'ins- and a whole variety of other ways to attatch'em 'in!

For hair extension virgins what hair to buy can be very confusing and potentially disastrous if you haven't done your research. (I talk from experience) I remember my first set of hair extensions as if it were yesterday- getting the bus into town after school with a purse full of coins I had saved up with an entire months lunch money- walking into the hair shop... and wow it was hair heaven! I had never seen so much hair in my life- rows upon rows on the stuff- curly blonde weaves, black bob wigs, and then the extensions- hundreds of them.... 

I walked nervously to the counter and asked if the young man could kindly help match my hair, he pulled down a set of platinum blonde ones, held them up to my golden blonde hair and said 'yes yes these are the ones, the match is perfect'. There was no mirror, but I could easily see that the mane that he was holding was about 9 shades lighter than my actual color- but being 14 and not the most confident of girlies at the time- I politely agreed and purchased them, along with a few clips I could sew on myself. 

 
 After getting them  home, watching a few 'how to' you-tube vids and trying my hand at sewing I was ready for the big moment. I clipped them in, tried my best to blend them, cut them a little with the food scissors out of the kitchen and waltzed into the lounge to show off my new locks- well- I will never forget my family's face until this day- pure shock and horror.



I have 11 years of extension experience since that day (to my family's pure relief) and I would like to share with you what I believe are the main things to achieving a great look with hair extensions.

The hair

The hair you buy is the most important thing. There are so many types out there is can be very bewildering- so here is the basics...

Human or synthetic? 
 In my experience Human hair is the best by far, it is longer lasting, more natural looking, easier to style and more durable. Synthetic hair however has come along leaps and bounds over the years and some people would choose it over human hair every time- but my personal opinion is go for human!!

Types of human hair
Next is what type of human hair- don't be fooled by the fact that just because something claims to be human hair- it will be great quality- this just is not the case. Human hair has many different qualities- and unfortunately- you do get what you pay for, and if you can afford to scrape a few extra pounds together the hair will be worth it and last much longer- I promise :)

The very best type of human hair is 100% Virgin Remy hair- 

European virgin remy hair

 This hair is very very rare-(going for a bit of rhyming there to keep you all entertained).. it is hair that has literally just been cut from one persons head of hair and is ready to go- its not chemically treated in any way.  For those out there with very dark/black hair it is easier to get hold of (as it primarily Indian Remy hair) Those of us with lighter hair would have to go for the European Virgin Remy hair  and this costs hundreds upon hundreds of pounds... believe me I have scoured the internet trying to find this gold dust hair and its just so rare I have given up.... so I have been using what I believe to be the next best thing.....


Remy hair... Remy hair is different to normal human hair in that the cuticles of the hair are all aligned and are facing the same way (normal non-remy hair have cuticles facing in different directions meaning it tangles a lot easier). I used to buy non- Remy hair (for approx £35 a set) and I promise you the Remy hair I buy now (approx £85 a set) is well well worth the extra money and lasts me about 5 times longer. There are many types of Remy hair out there also- but  the very best in my experience is Remy Couture by Sleek. (I have the silky weave) I pay approx £85 for a 16 inch set.

For years I used to sew on the clips and use them as clip-ins but for the past 8 months I have had them sewn in professionally. To get them sewn in costs only £60 at the salon- which is a bargain compared to the price of having the micro beads or the glue option. Every 2-3 weeks I have the sew-ins tightened and that costs me £30 (£10 a row). They make a little plat and sew the hair to the plat- easy and effective!!

 

Be warned though- it does become a slight addiction, I couldn't be without my false hair now and when trying to budget each month its now sneakily made its way up into my 'essentials' list!!! (don't tell the other half :p)

Once you have your locks- maintenance is the next step... and this is just as essential as buying good quality hair!! (even the very best virgin hair can look less than glam if not cared for correctly) 
 

• Number one in maintenance is try not to wash it too regularly- They do recommend once every two weeks but for me personally this is just...urgh... way too long my fine hair would be like one big grease ball by then. I do full wash about every 4-5 days and do the little trick I like to call a 'top wash' daily.... a 'top wash??' its perfect- just as it says- I section the top of my hair above the extensions and wash only that part- its much easier than it sounds I promise!! the top of you hair is fresh and squeaky clean- dry shampoo the bottom section- and your ready to go!!

• Always use a Gentle shampoo- I stick to something like Johnsons baby shampoo!!

• And lastly- condition, condition, condition! (and leave in condition) (and spray condition) (...and any other type of condition you can think of) Im sure you get where im headin' here!! Because your extensions don't get the oils from you roots than your natural hair does- they are likely to become dry alot quicker- there are 2 holy grail products I have found to keep you extensions in luxurious condition....

• Number 1- Maroccon Oil (I apply this after washing and before blow drying- it really is worth the hype and makes a noticeable difference to the condition of your hair- its actually pretty amazing!!

• Number 2- Macedemia hair mask (I saw so many reviews on you tube about this baby and I'm so glad I tried it, I leave it in overnight and the next day your hair will feel softer than ever!!)

Oh and make sure you get it cut/trimmed professionally- if you don't have your locks cut and shaped I guarantee they will look fake and 'straggly' (is that even a real word??) Having them cut will leave you with a more natural finish- why not add a few layers in there too! If you follow these steps I guarantee you will be impressed with the results and have gorgeous looking long luscious hair!! 

Let me know how you get on :) xxx