Day and night, women are preoccupied with keeping their hair clean, groomed or braided. However, there are days when it simply doesn’t look the way women want it to. If you’re one of them, then what you need is hair extensions. No. Rapunzel didn’t have them, but the celebrities you look up to sure do while showing off their irresistible hair on the red carpet. Good news is that you can have this look, too. All you need to do is carefully pick your hair extensions, apply them and use high-quality hair straighteners and brushes to maintain them.
Ready to add a few more inches to your hair and glow with elegance wherever you go? Here’s how to choose the best hair extensions.
GO FOR REMY HUMAN
First of all, you should check which type of hair extensions you’re buying. The market is full of synthetic, non-Remy, Remy and human hair. The question is which one to get. And the answer couldn’t be simpler. Remy human hair is always the best choice.
The first advantage is that it lasts longer than the synthetic one. If made from human hair, your extensions will live through a lot of events and rainy days. They actually look like your real hair and are treated the same way. You can dry them, use hair straighteners on them as well as go swimming. Opposing to that, synthetic hair extensions cannot handle something like this.
What’s more, Remy human hair is the healthiest out there. It’s picked one strand at a time and keeps the ends and roots in the right direction. No wonder, it’s considered the highest hair quality. Although this means that it’s pricier than the rest, but it’s definitely worth it.
CLIP-IN VS. TAPS-IN EXTENSIONS
CLIP IN
If you are looking for a quick DIY hair extension system with no long-term bonding, then you have found it. Clip-in hair extensions are easy to attach and can be perfectly matched with your own hair. They give you longer hair, lowlights, highlights or added volume. All clip–in hair extensions come in one or multiple pieces (wefts) of various widths. These extensions can be clipped–in or out in minutes and are virtually undetectable. I believe this is a great solution to having longer hair with less damage. You can wear them only when you want or for a special occasion. No need to commit to high maintenance hair extensions which require regular salon visits to fix and maintain them.
TAPE IN
Tape-in extensions are the latest hair extension trend on the market. Tape-in hair extensions are thin tape wefts, 1-inch wide pre-taped hair wefts, that get “taped-in” in between your own hair in “sandwich” like bonds. Nowadays, this is the most popular hair extension method in salons worldwide. This method is 100% natural, requires no tools or chemicals, and lasts up to three months. The hair is reusable. It takes less than an hour to apply an entire head with zero damage.
The application of tape hair extensions is pretty simple. You section your hair into a thin straight line, remove the backing tape seal and place it under a small section of your natural hair, as close to the scalp as possible. It is advised to use as little hair as possible as the sticking strength of the tape will be much higher, the more hair you stick it to, the less likely it is to hold. You then need to smooth your hair onto the tape using the end of a tail comb. The next step is to take another piece of tape hair, remove the seal and press it directly on top of the previous piece. It is then recommended to leave your hair unwashed for at least 3 days so the taped hair has enough time to set.
Finally, whatever type of hair extensions you choose, remember to familiarize yourself with the products beforehand. Also, try to go for the best quality you can afford. It will pay off in the long term. After all, it’s your look you are investing in.
CHOOSE THE RIGHT COLOR
When you go shopping for real hair extensions, another very important thing you need to pay attention to is the color. You don’t want to add blonde curls to brown hair.
Always, compare the extensions’ color to your natural one until you find a match. It’s better to do that during the day, though. Natural daylight will reveal all the shades, allowing you to make the perfect choice.
If, by any chance, your hair isn’t one-dimensional, look for dual-blended or tri-blended colors for your extensions.
FIND THE BEST HAIR TEXTURE
The real goal when choosing hair extensions is to make sure they perfectly blend with your natural hair. That includes matching the texture, as well.
Each type of real hair extensions is suitable for several hair textures. For example, Chinese hair fits hair with medium density, while Russian hair usually has better denier. In any case, if you apply extensions that don’t follow the texture of your real hair, you risk looking messy despite all the effort.
That’s why you should touch your hair and examine it closely before buying extensions. If it’s curly, then don’t take a straight extension unless you want to experiment. In that case, you can wear the curly real hair extensions and then use hair straighteners to turn them straight. Cool idea, right?
DECIDE ON LENGTH AND OCCASION
Not every length suits every person. So, while choosing your hair extensions sort your priorities, first. Your comfortability plays the main role here. If you prefer having short hair, don’t buy very long extensions and vice versa. It’s best to have a clear picture of what you want your hair to look like and abide by it when picking.
Aside from this, make sure you imagine where and when you want to wear the extensions. They’ll be on for quite some time, so have all the occasions in mind.
A FINAL THOUGHT
In a nutshell, hair extensions are precious additions to your hair. They improve its density and appearance, giving you the look of your dreams. However, before applying them, make sure you choose the right ones. Look for certified stores for selling hair and its products that own respectable and reputable brands. Don’t trust anyone with your hair. And that includes your hair stylist. Go to one that has an expertise in hair extensions to apply yours.
