Are extensions right for me? FAQ
It’s spring again and a lot of girls out there are sick of winter and up for a change, but it’s not just the wardrobes that are changing. We are out looking for a whole new look and in my case, I’m choosing a Naturalook. The following blog post contains three frequently asked questions about extensions and chances are, if you’ve ever considered getting extensions, you’ve asked yourself these before.
1. Is it going to be super obvious that I have extensions?
This is something I’ve regularly asked myself as my hair currently is shoulder length (in case you’re not sure, shoulder length for me is the tips of my hair touching the tops of my shoulders). When it comes to having “obvious” extensions, what it really comes down to is the length of your natural hair. There are three categories – which do you fit in?
Short Hair – anything shorter than chin length
Short hair poses the most difficulty in camouflaging your extensions, but there are options for you. Keratin tip extensions can be installed right up to the part, and depending on your hair colour, the connections may not even be noticeable. I’ve seen many celebrities who put the connections all the way up to the part for maximum volume and length, and it’s not noticeable that they have extensions, however I have to tell you that the amount of effort daily for styling that kind of installation is maximal. You can have your connections done and look great on Day 1, but you will have to maintain a solid amount of effort to have a nice style every day, and if you’re a member of the Plastics you’re only allowed to wear your hair in a ponytail once a week so choose wisely!
Medium Hair – chin length to shoulder length
Medium length hair is easier to use as camouflage for extensions and will offer you a satisfying increase in length and volume. Cut is always important because you don’t want to have a straight line of short hair immediately above long, uncut extensions. You should always bring this up with your technician in your consultation: great extensions can be expensive and extremely high quality and the look is ruined by a bad cut. On the bright side, medium length hair allows for the “halo” effect for installation. Basically, the “halo” effect is when the technician leaves 1-2 inches of natural hair free of extensions along your part, your temples, and the base of your head. With medium length hair, this installation allows you to style your hair in any way and the connections won’t be visible. You can put a pony tail, any up do, even half-up and the connections won’t show.
Long Hair – longer than shoulder length
Long hair is the easiest in which to camouflage extensions. You will experience both an increase in length and volume. My first experience with keratin extensions was when I had long hair. The connections were invisible, even when I put my hair in a ponytail, because there is enough of a “halo” of natural hair left without connections so that you can style your hair in anyway without the connections showing through.
2. Are my extensions going to damage my real hair?
Many girls search for articles that demonstrate the negative long-term effects of using hair extensions. The unfortunate thing for us is that there are a lot of articles that are unverified with misleading information and myths. I can personally attest that my natural hair was not damaged by my keratin extensions, and I had them for over a year. With the proper installation, and proper care, there is no reason for this time in your life to have a negative long-term effect on your natural hair. If you have any concerns about caring for your extensions, consult our article on care – it contains tricks and tips to ensure not only the longevity of your extensions, but the safe maintenance of your real hair to prevent damage.
3. Are hair extensions going to be inconvenient or mess up my daily routine?
You have to first assess your routine as it is- how often you wash your hair, how long it takes you to wash/rinse your hair when you do wash it, how often you do a simple style (like a ponytail), how often you do a complex style (like curling or straightening), how long it takes you to blow-dry your hair and how often it’s necessary (for example, if you work in the mornings and you shower and blow-dry your hair every day). Regardless of the length of your natural hair, you are going to have increased volume, which will take longer to blow-dry. If you have short hair, as discussed before, you may need to take extra time to style your hair to hide your connections. If you’re like me and have medium length hair, your extensions will open up your styling choices, so although they may not increase your daily routine, you’ll be tempted to try more new styles. Personally, I can’t wait!!
We are always looking to help women learn more about their hair extension options. If you read this article and are still unable to decide whether or not extensions are right for you, feel free to comment with your questions and we will make another post for you. As always, anyone is welcome for a consultation and you can call us anytime with your questions- we look forward to helping you on your hair journey!
Written by: Hannah L.
