Hair extensions can give us the length and fullness we long for. But there are a few things you should think about before you make the move and getting hair extensions. To make things easier for you, we have created this list of five things to consider before you head into a salon for extensions.
#1 – What Type Of Extensions Do You Want?
Here are the most common types of hair extension methods:
- Tape-In Hair Extensions
- Clip-In Hair Extensions
- I-Tip Hair Extensions
- Beaded Weft Hair Extensions
- Invisible Hair Extensions
- Braid & Sew Hair Extensions / Hair Weaves
- Fusion Bond Hair Extensions
When deciding which of these extension methods is best for you should consider the following: how much money you want to spend, how much time you are willing to spend applying and maintaining the extensions, and whether or not you want a temporary option that you can take in and out on a daily basis or a more permanent option.
Our professional opinion is that the short term benefits of adding extensions to your hair is greatly outweighed by the long term damage that most hair extension methods can cause to you hair.
The Glamour Locks Hair Extension System is the only patented and guaranteed non-damaging hair extension method available.
#2 – What Type Of Hair Is Best For You?
After you decide which method is best for you, the next thing to consider is what type of hair you want.
The most common hair available at salons across the country is Remy Hair. While Remy Hair is marketed as a premium product, that couldn’t be further from the truth.
First of all, Remy Hair is the most widely used hair for a reason, it’s cheap!
But as the old saying goes, you get what you pay for. Remy Hair is imported from Asian countries and the businesses that export them have no regulations governing where and how they source their hair.
There is a term used in hair extension marketing called Standard Hair (Source). Standard Hair is a type of extension hair that is gathered from numerous sources (like salon floors), bundled together, processed, and then packaged for sale. This type of hair is collected, sorted, coated with silicone and then packaged for sale.
Another issue with Remy Hair is that the vast majority of women who are native to Asian countries have predominantly darker shades and tones of hair color. So if you are purchasing blonde or lighter toned hair extensions; the hair will have been bleached, color processed or chemically altered to achieve the lighter color you are purchasing. This means that they will have been severely damaged by the coloring process resulting in poor quality and dry hair.
Asian Extension Hair Being Dyed Blonde
There are also synthetic extensions, which are made from plastic. Synthetic hair is much cheaper than human hair, but they are not a good fit for women who are looking for permanent hair extension options that look natural. Synthetic hair extension are not able to styled with hot tools, because they will melt. Also, the texture does not feel natural and can be easily detected.
The highest quality hair you can purchase will be:
- Silicone Free
- Single Donor
- Last Up To One Year
- Ethically Sourced
- Mon-Directional & Cuticle Aligned
- 100% Human Hair
Glamour Locks Cuticle Hair Wefts have all these properties and is the highest quality extension hair available.
#3 – How Long Do You Want Your Hair To Be?
Do you want length, volume or both? This will determine how much hair you will need and ultimately effect pricing. We have hair in lengths that range from 16 inches, which would be a little past your shoulders, and up to 24 inches, which would be past your waist.
The volume of your extensions will depend on how many ounces you purchase, most clients get between 4 and 6 ounces of hair. This would also be a good time to decide whether or not you want to change your color.
The price of your hair extensions will ultimately depend on how long and voluminous your hair is and how long you want it to be. You can read more about our pricing here.
#4 – What Type Of Lifestyle Do You Have?
Are you an athlete, work out a lot, surf or just constantly active? These are all things you should consider when getting your hair extensions. Depending on how much you are washing your extensions, either after swimming or working up a sweat, you will want to take preventative measures to ensure that the extension hair lasts as long as possible. We recommend that active women add a deep conditioning treatment to their maintenance services. You have to come in every 6-8 weeks for a hair extension maintenance, so we would recommend you add the conditioning treatment to that service. This will keep your extension hair looking natural and full bodied.
Another thing to consider is working out with your extensions. Is this something you can do with them? The answer is YES. But only if you get a system that will last through your workouts and not become loose. The Glamour Locks Hair Extension System is very lightweight and durable and can handle pretty much anything you throw at it, even swimming! So your hair can continue looking great even after a workout.
#5 – Are You Ready To Commit?
Just like any other service, maintaining your extensions will be necessary. You will want to come in for a retie or re-tab depending on the type of extensions you have in. Retie appointments are necessary, because as your natural hair grows, the extensions will become loose and will hang down where the new hair growth is. You will want to come in every 6 to 10 weeks depending on how fast your hair grows.
With so many things to consider, getting hair extensions might see a little daunting. But it’s not, just remember you always want to get a system that causes zero damage and you want to choose high quality hair so that it lasts long and looks as natural as possible. Other things to consider are the time it takes to apply and maintain the extensions and whether or not your lifestyle will required additional care of your extensions. If you are interested the Glamour Locks Hair Extension System you can request a free consultation here.