Ever wanted long, luscious locks without damaging your hair? Then this is for you! I've never had extensions before, and never really felt I needed them - I have naturally long, thick hair, but have noticed it's not quite as thick as it used to be before I started having bleached highlights. And recently, no matter what I do, I can't seem to get my curls and volume to stay in, leaving it half-styled and a bit rubbish if I don't put the hours of labour in.
Anywho, my friend Jenny has just set up her new business (British Hairways based in the midlands) in extension fitting and I was all for trying it out! I wasn't sure what to expect, but I'd rather try something new like this out for the first time with a good friend who I trust to do a good job!
So the extensions she fitted is Indian Grade AAAA double drawn Remy (it lasts 2-3 months) and fitted with silicone-lined Nano rings. She does Brazilian Hair (12 - 18 months), and Mongolian Hair (18 months), all ethically sourced and all (obviously) with different price ranges - check out her website for more info! So the idea of using Nano rings is you can apply them close to the root and they cause no damage to your real hair whatsoever. They're really popular for this reason - and also because they're so damn effective, but we'll get on to that! Here's a before picture of my hair, freshly washed and totally unstyled (I let it air dry).
I asked Jenny to use Nano rings that were slightly lighter than my actual hair colour for the purposes of the photos, so normally they blend in far more than this! But you can see they're evenly placed throughout the hair and applied close to the root.
I sat for hoursssss to get these fitted, though as we're friends there was a lot of faffing about and gossiping - usually, a fitting like this for normal hair takes around 3 hours.
Jenny used two different shades of hair to get the right tone; she came to colour match me in natural daylight a week beforehand so she could properly check the colour and order the hair in time!
Aaand this is the finished result! I've got to say, I'm really pleased. The sitting process was totally painless (and even a bit relaxing, it's so nice having someone play with your hair!) despite the length it took to put them in. Jenny then cut and razored the extensions to length to help them blend into my hair, a process which took a short amount of time and didn't take any length off my actual hair. The hair feels comfortable but slightly heavy... I definitely know they're there, kind of like when you leave your sunglasses on your head and you can feel the slight weight of them! The first night lying on them was fairly strange but it didn't interrupt my sleep at all, which is always good. Jenny says they're tight the first day and start to loosen as the days go on, so they should be more comfortable by the second day!
Once I curled it, I felt like Elle Woods out of Legally Blonde... my hair looks so bouncy and THICK (it's a bugger to get in a hairband now!) whilst still looking natural. It's added about two inches of length (not really noticable in the photos due to the curling) and LOT of thickness. I'm hoping to keep them in for a good couple of weeks (though I admit I'm dreading washing them...), so hopefully they stay looking this great!
OK, now on to the important stuff...
How To Care For Your Extensions
Caring for your extensions is SO DAMN IMPORTANT if you want them to look great and last longer! Here are the tips and advice Jenny gave me to look after my new 'do.
1. Use a Tangle Teezer to brush through morning and night. Jenny says a normal brush will damage the bonds (and hurt like hell), whereas a Tangle Teezer will be far more gentle.
2. Use natural shampoo & conditioner. Normal shampoo/conditioner will create a build up of product at the bonds; you need to use silicone and sulfate free products. Extension shampoo/conditioner is perfect for the job but can be pricey!
3. Plait it at night before you sleep. It will stop your hair tangling. You can also wrap you hair in a scarf; there's loads of Youtube videos showing you how to sleep on your extensions without damaging them.
4. Air dry it. Using a blow-dryer will make the extensions tangle and it's a NIGHTMARE to untangle! If you absolutely have to blow-dry, do it layer by layer and brush through carefully; your extensions will last a lot longer if you let them air dry properly.
5. Don't scrub your scalp while shampooing. Carefully separate hair into section to shampoo it gently.
6. DON'T attempt to try removal yourself! You may damage your real hair; always book in to get them removed or refitted.
7. Apply Argon Oil to the ends of your hair to maintain the condition.
8. Avoid tying your hair up too tightly. This damages the scalp (and is painful!)
Meli X