Hair Extensions 101

Hello friends! Today I am sharing allll about hair extensions: the different types, the process, the cost and the pros + cons. I have personally had extensions since 2013 {whoa} and have tried several different methods/types. It really takes a lot of trial, error and time to find the perfect type of extensions that work best for you {and your hair}. Today I wanted to share with you what I’ve learned in my 6 years of extension experience {lol} so that you can make an informed decision on which method would be best for you if you decide to go the extension route.

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Types
There are lots of different types of extensions. I have personally had keratin fusion {aka glue-in}, PerfecTress Connections {microbead}, Hotheads tape-ins and currently Habit hand-tied! I’d say that the hand-tied are my favorite type with tape-ins coming in second. Keratin fusion extensions, or glue-in, are small bundles of hair that are chemically bonded all over the head. They were good for about a few months until they grew out and needed to be completely redone with new hair. But, they were by far the cheapest. Microbeads were a lot better than fusion, but each small weft of hair is attached to small sections of your own hair by a bead that you tighten. Since there were lots of these, and my real hair was fine and thin, they are easily seen. Tape-ins seemed to work better for my fine + thin hair, but I wear my hair up in a bun during the week when I teach. That means that the tape-ins are also showing. With hand-tied extensions, the wefts are added to your hair by beading and then are hand-tied to your natural hair in a few rows. These are almost invisible in my hair! I can even wear my hair up and not have to worry about them showing. Read on to learn more about the Habit hand-tied extensions!

Cost
I won’t lie to you…extensions are expensive. For hand-tied extensions, the price ranges from $700 to $1200 depending on stylist’s price & location, amount of hair needed + length, time it takes, color, cut, etc. Move-ups {see below} can cost anywhere from $75 to $125. Your first appointment {after the consultation} will be the most expensive because not only do you have to pay for the hair they are going to use, but you also have to pay for the initial installation.

Process
The initial installation includes placement and measurement of each row as well as the cut and color to blend the extensions into your natural hair. This appointment is the longest and can take anywhere form 3 to 5 hours. Like other methods of hair extensions, they will have to be moved up every 6 to 8 weeks. This process is a lot less expensive because you are only paying for the stylist’s time to move them up. A move up consists of my stylist, Taylor from Halo Salon {she’s amazing}, removing the rows and then resetting them. This takes about 1.5 to 2 hours.

Pros + Cons
Pros: These extensions have been amazing for my fine, thin hair! They have added so much thickness to my hair and are nearly invisible. When I first got extensions several years ago, I got them solely to add thickness and not length. This time around, I decided it’d be fun to go longer! Tip: if you are only wanting extensions for thickness, and not length, this will cost less! If you want thickness and length, this will add to the cost because you will need more hair. Another pro {for me} is that they are always in. I don’t have to spend the time every day to put them in myself {plus I was never good at putting in clip-ins lol}.

Cons: Extensions are a lot of maintenance. You have to get them moved up every 6 to 8 weeks {I can sometimes go about 10 weeks} because it can get uncomfortable. You’ll need to make the time to get them moved up and budget for this added cost. Another con that I wasn’t always used to before having extensions is that they take a lot more time to style. Since I have a lot more hair now, it takes me more time to blow-dry. Extensions can also be damaging to your hair. This really depends on the type of extension you choose to get. The hand-tied extensions have been much better for my hair than other types I have tried. Just make sure that you do your research to find the method that would work best for you!

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At the end of the day, I love love my extensions! I have only had the hand-tied method for a few weeks but I am already so impressed {and in love} with them compared to other methods I’ve tried! I don’t think I’ll ever go back to my extension-less days haha. If you have any questions at all, just let me know! I’d love to help you with extensions in any way I can!

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