hair extensions

A hair extension weave made out of human hair is a beauty investment that, if maintained properly, can last as long as a year and still look fabulous. Sewn right into your own hair, a hair extension weave can be created to be indistinguishable from your own hair while adding the length and volume that you have always wanted. Follow these tips and your magnificent mane of hair will maintain its quality and splendor for months.

1. When combing out your hair extension weave, start from the bottom and remove any snarls gently while holding the hair form the top so individual strands do not fall out.
2. Make sure to comb out any tangles that are in the weave before you wash your hair since much damage can be done when hair is wet.
3. Use a high quality shampoo to wash your hair extensions as the cheaper shampoos are more likely to leave the hair excessively dry while the more expensive alternatives will actually condition the hair. Also, avoid products containing alcohol because it is known to dull the shine.
4. Regardless of the shampoo and conditioner that you choose, rinse thoroughly between the tracks to remove residue and prevent buildup.
5. Even though it feels great to really scrub your scalp when you wash your hair, if you have a hair extension weave, do not rub too hard or you may loosen the tracks. Instead, just smooth the shampoo and conditioner through your hair.
6. Pat your hair dry and let it air dry rather than wrapping it up in a tight towel turban that could pull at the hair extension tracks.
7. While most hair styling products are not recommended for those who have hair extensions, using a good leave in conditioner is just fine. While hairspray, gel, and mousse are difficult to remove and leave hair sticky, a conditioner will make it easier to brush out your weave.
8. Have your hair extension weave professionally tightened every so often to ensure it stays in place. Loosening of the tracks happens gradually so, if you want to make sure not to lose any of your beautiful new hair, have it examined to make sure each extension is in place.
9. Try sleeping on a satin pillowcase so you can move your head freely without disrupting the weave. Then, you won’t wake up to find a pillow full of hair.
10. If you swim, a swim cap is a definite must to protect your hair weave extensions. Not only can the force of the water pull them out, the chlorine in the pool can dry, dull, and discolor your hair.
11. When it comes time to remove your extensions, have a professional do it to ensure that your own hair is not damaged or pulled out in the process.

I haven’t had a fringe since I was at school. I was playing about with some extensions thinking of doing a video about how I use them to create a fringe and use them in updos rather than just plonk them in and wear my hair down. Meanwhile this make up look kind of happened… Since the look reminded me of bridesmaids, I decided to create a look suitable for those all important Bride side kicks!
This is a really simple look that would be appropriate for a bridesmaid!

e.l.f cream eye liner in midnight*
The Body Shop Mascara – navy blue
Urban Decay Midnight Cowboy Rides Again eye shadow
Bourjois Liner Stylo eye liner in black
Sleek MakeUP Oil Free Cream to Powder Foundation in Latte
Bobbi Brown Pot Rouge for Cheeks and Lips in Velvet Plum
Clear Lipgloss

Items marked with * were sent to me for review purposes.

The 18″ Remi Straight clip in hair extensions were sent to me a while ago by Rapunzel Rapunzel. I am a colour 1B which is still slightly lighter than my black/brown hair but it’s as close as I can get without a custom dye.

I have several sets of clips ins, some I keep curled for curly days, others have been cut to fit in with hair styles such as a long bob or choppy layers and fringes. I haven’t cut these ones as they are pretty nice long, they don’t tangle up too much and have a lovely shine.

I think as extensions go they are good for the price (£54.99). The hair itself is soft and doesn’t feel too treated even after washing and styling. Saying that it is going to feel a bit wiry, my hair is baby fine so wouldn’t make good extensions! I find that these blend in quite nicely though. I did still find quite a few white hairs in the extensions, something I always check before putting them in and remove. I still don’t like the fringy bits that bulk out the weft at the roots. This makes using them in styles more difficult as they stick out at odd angles.

The clips are smaller than usual making them more comfortable. The one redeeming feature which sets them apart from others I have tried is this: the extensions are not thinned out towards the end. We can all tell clip ins a mile away because of that tell tale rat tailed look of thin chunky bits at the bottom of the hair. Cheaper extensions mix different layers, so you may think you’re getting 18″ but what you’re getting is 14″ with a few 18″ mixed in. I hate this about clip ins and you won’t know until you get them and open them! Rapunzel Rapunzel extensions have a blunt cut so you don’t get those annoying ratty bits, thus adding to the illusion that it’s your own hair.

A lot of the problems that we experience with our hair can be solved with the help of hair extensions. This may seem like a vast statement to make but think about it; a lot of us often wish our locks were longer or had more volume; extensions solve both of these issues as well as give you the option of experimenting with colour and shape. Think about it, whatever style you want to achieve for your hair you are likely to achieve with the help of hair extensions.
They allow you to wear your hair both up or down with ease and can easily be applied by a licensed professional hair extensions specialist. If you do decide to have hair extensions applied there are a number of aspects that you need to keep in mind, one of these aspects revolves around the fact you look after your extensions in the same way that you would look after your natural locks. You can wash dry and style them quickly and effectively. However it is important to keep these following points in mind; you need to use extra moisturizer on your locks every two to three days, the reason for this comes down to the fact they don’t receive your natural scalp oils so they need moisture added to them with every wash. So what would happen if you failed to provide your extensions with the moisture that they require? Basically your hair would become brittle, leading it to break easily causing you to suffer split ends.
When you are washing or styling your locks, it goes without saying that you should always treat them with respect, this is a thought that is backed up even more when it comes to your hair extensions. Remember, unlike your natural locks they can’t grow back so pulling hard on them with a brush or burning them with a blow dryer could cause severe damage; they cost you a lot of money so make sure you get as much use out of them, rather than overly damaging them.
When it comes to treating your extensions with respect it is important that when brushing them you use what is known as a paddle brush and slowly work your way through the hair. It is important that you ensure you have all of the knots out of your locks before you wash them, go swimming or go to sleep.
Another important consideration to keep in mind where your extensions are concerned is the fact your natural locks will grow on average about 1 to 1 1/2 inches every six to eight weeks. When you have had your extensions in for this amount of time it is important that you return to your salon to have the bonds between your locks and extensions checked for damage; it is also during this time that your stylist will be able to remove the extensions and replace them if you want them placed back in.
Regular aftercare such as the above will ensure that your hair continually looks gorgeous and that everything is still ok with your bonds; this will also ensure that you get as much wear out of them as possible, so make sure you keep all of the above in mind when it comes to gaining hair extensions.

Human hair extensions are the most popular. The hair used for your hair extension is for the greatest part responsible for your looks and the life span of your extension and is therefore of great importance. It is good to know some more about it before visiting a salon. There is a large variety of human hair used for hair extensions. When a poor hair quality is used your human hair extension can become a nightmare. It can result in dry, brittle hair that tangles constantly. When it comes to hair there are two basic sections, the human hair extension and the synthetic hair extension. On this page we explain more about the different types of human hair used for extensions.

Human Hair Structure (the cuticle)
Hair is made of different layers. The outer layer, called the “cuticle”, is made up of overlapping layers of long cells. They lie on the surface aligned in the same direction like the tiles on a roof with their free edges directed towards the tip. The cuticle locks in essential moisture and protects the hair against outside elements. A healthy cuticle is much more than just a protective layer. Much of the shine is due to the cuticle, light reflects from their glossy surfaces. This, together with the pigment within the cortex, gives hair its characteristic appearance. Hair without cuticle would appear dull and lifeless, it would dry out and become brittle.
Human hair extensions

The human hair used in the hair extension industry comes in different qualities. In general we can say that we get what we pay for, the lower the price of your hair extension the less hair quality we can expect. The highest quality hair will still have all it’s cuticle perfectly aligned in the same direction. If the cuticle scales are not facing the same direction, hair will interlock like Velcro, this will lead to matted and tangled hair.
Cheaper hair is very often placed in an acid bath which completely destroys the cuticle. To restore the shine this hair is covered with a silicon layer. It looks beautiful but after a few washes the silicon is removed and the hair matts, tangles, and becomes dry.

European human hair does not necessarily come from Europe. It is a group name for different hair with an almost similar structure. Indian hair, Latin American hair, European hair, the only exemptions are Asian hair and African hair (their structure is very different).
Typical European human hair is relatively thin and has an oval cross-section.
This is a popular hair type for a human hair extension.

Asian hair (mostly Chinese hair) is very often used for human hair extensions. This hair is thicker than European hair and has a round cross-section. It is dark black.
To prepare this hair for use in hair extensions it is usually made thinner (acid bath) and lighter. This hair is less expensive.

Indian hair has a very similar basic structure as European hair. In general this hair type is of a very high quality. However the method of collection is very essential. When different types of hair are mixed with cuticles aligned in different directions this hair becomes of a much less quality and therefore less expensive. To prevent tangling the cuticles must be removed and the hair is covered by silicon. Hair companies in Korea and Indonesia are specialized in this type of hair.
Collected in the right way with all the cuticles present and in the same direction this hair is one of the best hair types available for use in a human hair extension.

Remi hair is a name you will hear when you shop around for hair extensions. They claim to use only the finest and most beautiful human hair in the world with all cuticles in the same direction.

Synthetic hair is man-made fiber that is made to look like your own hair. It produces a different sheen than human hair, moves differently and therefore does not blend with human hair. New fibers are developed continuously that are better resistant to heat and have an appearance closer to human hair. It comes in a large variety of colors. This hair is the most inexpensive. Sometimes this hair is mixed with human hair and a combination is used for a human hair extension. In most cases this is of course not the way to do it. Both hair types need a different after care.

The majority of hair sold today is non-cuticle hair, which is less expensive. So if you want to spend less money on your hair extension this could be fine for you as long as you realize that this hair will probably start matting, tangling and become dry a lot sooner than a higher quality hair.

Overheating is one of your hair’s biggest enemies, the damage can be as deep as the cortex which is in the middle. Be careful not to use too much heat when you use a blowdryer or curling iron. It is best to let your hair dry naturally.
Chemical treatments like color and perm can be harmful as well. Go to your stylist for advise, they should know what is best for your hair. Brush your hair gentle to prevent damage. This is not just better for your hair extensions but it will also keep your own hair healthier.

European and Indian Remi hair is the most popular for a human hair extension but also the most expensive.