I am very excited to announce that I’ve gotten hair extensions yesterday (my third time so far), and I absolutely love them. The reason I got my extensions is because my hair is very thin and doesn’t really grow. The longest I’ve ever had my hair grow is just a little past my shoulders, and being a fan of long hair, I had to do something about it! Therefore, I believe hair extensions are great for anyone with thin hair or hair that doesn’t grow fast. Of course there are numerous ways in which to go about getting extensions, and I will list some of them, including which are cheaper or more expensive.
My extensions for example are braided and clipped in, and this is the cheaper option you can choose. They basically take your hair and the extensions, braiding them together at the back of your head (they do about three rows across your head). Then, they use about 10 clips for each row to better secure the braided part to your head. Like I said, this is your cheapest option and can run you anywhere between $100- $250. I got extremely lucky because I called my salon to set up an appointment and they told me it would be $175 plus the hair (which is anywhere between $50-80, depending on the quality). Now you have to go buy your own hair, and I was told to go to this beauty supply shop. To my surprise, the lady at the shop not only helped me match the extensions to my hair perfectly, but she also said she would do my extensions for a very cheap price- $70! I was extatic, and booked the appointment for the next day. So in total, I spent $120, compared to $225 that I would have spend had I gone to the salon. On top of that, the lady at the supply shop did it in ONE HOUR, which is a miracle compared to the EIGHT HOURS I spent getting my extensions done the 2 previous times.So the lesson here? Scour beauty supply shops and see if they do extensions in store- it’ll save you loads of money!
There are also sewn in extensions. They do this by braiding your own hair and then sewing in the extensions into your hair. This is a little more expensive, about $1000, and frankly, lasts about the same as the braided ones. This method is best for those with coarse hair, and not for fine, silky hair.
Another way to go about is glued extensions, and I would not recommend it. Not only is it super expensive and it varies from salon to salon, but it is very unhealthy for your hair. I had a friend get glued extensions, and was horrified by the sight of her hair after she took them out. She was basically left with half of her hair on her head. Although these last a little longer (around 6 months, compared to the other two which last about 3), they still aren’t worth the money or the trouble they give you after you’ve removed them.
In conclusion I would like to say that hair extensions are a great way to get longer, fuller hair instantly. It’ll make you feel better about yourself, and they’re just plain amazing! But don’t think you have to spend a ton of money, do your research first, and make sure that whoever does your extensions knows what they’re doing. Ask to see some before and after pictures if possible!