Who Has Hair Extensions?

Part 38 in a series by Karen A. Stevenson, President, Studio K Salon

In a world where extreme makeovers are the ordinary, and plastic surgery is a common word, you may equally wonder if long, luxurious hair on some women is real.  Women on the west coast have been getting hair extensions as commonly as the women on the east coast get highlights.  Slowly but surely, the trend for hair extensions has made it to our area, and it is in HOT demand!  

Who would get hair extensions?  Women with short hair that have always wanted to have long, flowing hair.  Women that merely desire a change.  Women that have fine, thin hair that simply won’t grow to any significant length.  Women that have beautiful normal or thick hair that desire length.  You can add volume instead of length, length and not volume, or both volume and length!  You can have highlighted extensions so you are creating dimension.  You can get just a few strands of fashion red, or blue highlights on the side of your hair as a small statement and splash of color, partial extensions for slight thickness and length, or a full head, for all of the above!

Women that get hair extensions are professionals desiring longer, beautiful hair.  It is in demand for brides, bridesmaids, prom night, even waitresses and bartenders!  Extensions are worn by women that have no patience and want longer hair as their natural hair grows out.  Teenage and college age girls get extensions as a gift, or purchase them themselves so they will have the longer hair they desire.  Women that are having professional portraits taken get hair extensions.  Women that know their holidays are filled with formal events and prefer a longer look for their evening gowns. 

If you ever go to places like Legend’s in South Myrtle Beach where they have the Elvis and the Janet Jackson impersonators, you will see extensions all over the stage.  The back-up dancers wear extensions, there are extensions worn by ballet artists.  Stars like Brittany Spears, Jessica Simpson, and Faith Hill.  What you see is not always their natural hair, matter of fact, it usually is not. 

Extensions come in 10” length, 14”, 16”, 20” or 24” length.  You must have at least 5 inches of your own hair for the extensions to be hidden appropriately and look natural.  Extensions blend with your hair in color, as well as cut, and they create a long, flowing, beautiful layered look.  You can curl your extensions, flat iron them, as well as perm them.  You blow dry your extensions, let them air dry, shampoo them as you would your own hair, and even tie your new hair into a pony tale!  Extensions are NOT harmful to your own hair, and are easy and quick to remove once your event, or six months is up.

Quality extensions are made of 100% human hair and last in your hair for approximately six months.  At the end of the six months, you simply have them removed by a easy process your designer can perform in less than an hour.  No damage to your hair, clean, and easy removal.   Quality extensions never have a stringy appearance, and always blend perfectly.  When extensions are put in your hair, your stylist should be scheduling regular six-week appointments to have you come in for a check-up to be sure you are taking care of your investment.  During this check-up the stylist will be looking to see if you are brushing your hair enough, making sure you are spending time every day or so, separating your bonds that connect the extensions to your natural hair, by merely taking each bond in your fingers, and verifying their individuality and not trying to ‘marry’ the bond next to it.   Quality extensions are bonded into the hair with a special machine, and use a nylon spandex like bond that is smooth and flat against your own hair.  Nothing about having extensions placed in your hair hurts.  They are comfortable, and painless. 

If you are considering extensions, be sure your stylist is certified with the company they purchase their hair from.  Ask to see a sample of the hair they purchase, so you can see how smooth, silky, and authentic it appears.  Feel the hair, and be sure it is soft, and shiny.  If you have just anybody place your extensions, they may hurt when you lie down, or they may not look professional thus your confidence on a windy day will be out the window.  The reason they would be uncomfortable when you lie down would be because they were placed crooked and not straight down in the hair. 

Our salon offers the top extensions in the United States.  There is always a commitment contract to be signed that indicates that you will be responsible in taking care of your investment in a responsible manner, for the best wearability and greatest success of your extensions.  Extensions are a partnership with your salon so that your experience will be happy, positive, and glamorous.