Beauty

November 24, 2024

The Perfect Stocking Stuffers for Gorgeous Hair

When it comes to shopping for the holidays, stocking stuffers are the perfect way to show thoughtfulness in small packages. For the hair care enthusiasts in your life – or anyone who loves a good hair day – choosing the right tools and products can make all the difference.

This year, skip the predictable gifts and go for practical yet luxurious items that elevate her hair care routine. From new styling tools to nourishing treatments and fun accessories, these stocking-sized gift ideas pack a big punch in keeping her hair looking fabulous.

In this guide, we’re rounding up your must-have hair tools and products that are perfect for Christmas stocking stuffers. Whether they’re after silky strands, voluminous curls, or a flawless blowout, these picks will leave them feeling like they just walked out of the salon.

**This post contains affiliate links! That means if you purchase anything from this post today – I’ll receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. I only share products that I know and love! Thank you so much for your continued support.

Christmas Stocking Stuffers for Good Hair Days: Products & Tools They’ll Love

Stocking Stuffer Hair Products They’ll Love

Fairy Duster Volumizing Dry Shampoo Powder

This Fairy Duster volumizing dry shampoo from Dae is a lightweight, talc-free formula that refreshes your hair while absorbing oil and adding instant volume! It’s infused with clean, nourishing ingredients and it always leaves your hair looking fresh and full of life – without residue.

Not to mention, this tiny bottle lasts for 600 pumps! (That’s the equivalent of four aerosol bottles!) This compact dry shampoo powder makes the perfect stocking stuffer, offering a practical yet fun gift for anyone who loves a quick and effortless hair refresh on the go!

Living Proof Perfect Hair Day (PhD) Dry Shampoo

This dry shampoo from Living Proof is their best-selling, salon-grade formula that cleans your hair by absorbing oil, sweat, and odor. With a few sprays, your hair is fresh and revitalized without water. Its advanced technology ensures your hair looks and feels clean with no visible residue.

This dry shampoo is a must-have for busy days. Its travel-friendly size is the perfect stocking stuffer for anyone who loves effortless, salon-worthy hair on the go.

Elixir Ultime Refillable Hydrating Hair Oil

The Kérastase Elixir Hydrating Hair Oil is a luxurious, multi-purpose oil that nourishes, smooths and adds radiant shine to all hair types. Its lightweight, refillable design makes it both eco-friendly and convenient for travel.

This elegant hair oil is a great stocking stuffer, offering a touch of indulgence and professional-quality care for anyone looking to elevate their hair routine.

Amika Un.Done Texture Spray

This texture spray from Amika is a fun stocking stuffer for haircare enthusiasts! It’s a lightweight styling spray that adds instant volume, texture, and a tousled beachy finish to any hairstyle. Infused with nourishing ingredients, it enhances your hair’s natural movement without weighing it down.

Beach Club Volume Texture Spray

Another amazing texture spray is Beach Club from IGK. This is another lightweight, buildable spray that creates effortless volume, texture, and a beachy tousled look – without the crunch or dryness! It’s perfect for all hair types. We love this texture spray because it delivers a soft, matte finish while enhancing natural hair movement.

This travel-friendly bottle is a great stocking stuffer for Christmas – helping them add a touch of glam to any haircare routine!

Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray

The Dry Texturizing Spray from Oribe is a cult-favorite styling product that adds incredible volume, texture, and a tousled finish while also absorbing oil at the roots! It’s infused with Oribe’s signature fragrance and leaves your hair looking effortlessly chic.

If she’s never tried an Oribe product before, this is the perfect stocking stuffer and product to get her hooked on their incredible line of haircare. There’s a reason we’re always recommending Oribe to our clients!

Antisocial Leave-In Dry Hair Mask

This leave-in hair mask from IGK is a unique product that works as a ‘dry’ hair mask! It’s a time-saving, no-rinse treatment that repairs and strengthens your hair overnight. You’ll wake up to soft and smooth hair by morning. Its lightweight, bond-building formula works without mess or residue, making it perfect for all hair types.

Compact and convenient, it’s an excellent stocking stuffer for Christmas, providing a thoughtful and practical gift for anyone who loves effortless haircare solutions.

Mini Honey Infused Hair Oil

We love this infused hair oil from Gisou; this mini size is the perfect stocking stuffer! The Gisou Mini Honey Infused Hair Oil is a nourishing, lightweight oil that is enriched with sustainably sourced honey to deeply hydrate, repair, and add shine to your hair.

Its compact size and luxurious formula make it perfect for on-the-go haircare and maintaining healthy, silky locks! As a chic and practical stocking stuffer for Christmas, it’s a delightful gift for beauty lovers.

Style + Treat™ Hair Styling Sleek Stick

As someone who is always slicking back her flyaways, this product is a must-have! This is the style and treat styling stick from Briogeo. Not only does it tame flyaways and smooth edges, but it also adds shine with a blend of nourishing oils. Perfect for touch-ups and achieving sleek, polished looks. Plus it’s suitable for all hair types.

The compact size means she can easily throw it in her bag – making it the perfect stocking stuffer for Christmas! It’s a practical and stylish gift for anyone who loves quick and flawless hair fixes.

All Grip No Slip Alligator Hair Clips

The Mane “All Grip, No Slip” Alligator hair clips are durable, professional-grade hair clips that are designed to hold the hair in place during styling and sectioning. There’s a reason we use these exact hair clips at the salon! And we always recommend to our clients for styling their hair at home.

With their strong grips and versatile use, they’re ideal for all hair types and perfect for home (and salon) use. They’re definitely a practical and thoughtful stocking stuffer for anyone who loves styling their hair – which is pretty much everyone, right?

Untangle Me Brush

Designed to actually detangle your hair (and safe to use with extensions) this is our very own Untangle Me Brush! This classic brush has gentle, metal needle-like teeth which make detangling your hair extensions easier than ever. Use it in the shower for detangling wet hair, shampooing, and massaging your scalp to distribute conditioner. It’s the ultimate detangling brush designed by our very own hair extension specialist, Christina Oliva.

The Loop Brush

Ready to keep your hair extension bonds tangle-free? Then you need this loop brush! Our loop brush has been carefully designed with plastic loop bristles to prevent the snagging that ordinary brushes cause. This brush is a must-have for all hair extension stypes – especially our strand-by-strand techniques.

If you know anyone with hair extensions – this is the perfect stocking stuffer for their Christmas!

Stocking Stuffer Haircare & Beauty Sets They’ll Love

If you’re looking for something extra special this holiday season, shop these beauty and haircare sets. These products are perfect because they’ll let her try a variety of new products (that we know she’ll love!) Plus sets like these only really come out around the holidays – so you should probably grab a couple for yourself as well.

Social Butterfly Hairstyling Trio Value Set

The Social Butterfly Hairstyling Trio from Dae is a versatile haircare collection that’s been designed to create effortlessly polished styles. It includes a trio of Dae’s signature products:

Cactus Fruit 3-in-1 Styling Cream
Fairy Duster Volumizing Dry Shampoo Powder
Dual-Edge Styling Brush

These are perfect for taming, styling, and adding shine. This set makes a thoughtful gift, providing all of the essentials she’ll need for achieving salon-quality looks at home!

Sephora Favorites Holiday Hair Must-Haves

Get her the ultimate hair care starter kit full of Sephora’s favorite products of 2024. This kit makes sure she has the chance to sample all of the best products of this year. The Sephora kit comes with:

COLOR WOW Xtra Large Bombshell Volumizer
amika The Kure Intense Bond Repair Mask
dae Fairy Duster Dry Shampoo
Gisou Honey Infused Hair Perfume
Kérastase Paris Elixir Ultime Hydrating Hair Oil
Living Proof Full Dry Volume & Texture Spray
Moroccanoil Treatment Hair Oil
Oribe Gold Lust Transformative Mask
Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Joia Milky Leave-In Conditioner
Vegamour HYDR-8 Leave-In Conditioner

This is an incredible value and the perfect opportunity to discover which products she loves the most.

IGK Hair Set

If you’re not sure what to get her for Christmas, we recommend shopping for some of our favorite hair sets! They’re the perfect way for her to test a range of new products and see what she loves best for her hair. This IGK “As Seen on Social” Hair Set is a range of their most popular products.

This incredible set comes with:

Expensive Clear Gloss Topcoat
Antisocial Bond-Building Dry Hair Mask
Good Behavior Spirulina Protein Smoothing Spray

K18 Biomimetic Hairscience Set

Another amazing set you could get for Christmas is from K18. It’s their Ultimate Reset + Repair Hair Mask and Shampoo Set. It comes with their Peptide Prep Detox Shampoo and a full-size Leave-In Molecular Repair Hair Mask, which together will give you smoother, softer, and healthier hair in just four minutes.

Vegamour Haircare Set

For someone looking to upgrade their haircare routine, get them this haircare set from Vegamour. This incredible haircare set helps with hair growth in as little as 90 days. Plus these aren’t testers! These are full-size products for an amazing value.

This haircare set from Vegamur comes with:

GRO Revitalizing Shampoo
GRO Revitalizing Conditioner
GRO Hair Serum

Gisou Value Set

If they’ve never tried Gisou products, they’ll be thanking you forever for this value set. This is the Honey Gloss Hydration Heroes Hair Value Set and it comes with Gisou’s most popular products that help with hydration, frizz control, shine, and heat protection.

This set comes with:

Honey Infused Hydrating Hair Mask
Honey-Infused Hair Oil
Honey Infused Hair Perfume in Original
Honey Infused Hydrating Lip Oil in Watermelon Sugar (clear-pink shimmer)

Oribe Sets

Oribe makes some of our favorite haircare products of all time. We are always recommending them to our hair extension clients! If she’s never tried Oribe before, she’ll be hooked after trying either of these incredible holiday sets they’ve put together for Sephora.

Both of these sets are new and limited edition (so you might want to pick one up for yourself as well!)

Hair Alchemy Strengthening Collection Set

Oribe’s Hair Alchemy set comes with two full-size products making this the best value for money we’ve ever seen! This set comes with:

Hair Alchemy Shampoo (Full Size)
Hair Alchemy Conditioner (Full Size)
Hair Alchemy Treatment Serum (Travel Size)

Gold Lust Repair & Restore Hair Collection Set

Once again, a set we’ve never seen from Oribe before – sharing their bestselling Gold Lust products. The Gold Lust set comes with:

Gold Lust Repair & Restore Shampoo (Full Size)
Gold Lust Repair & Restore Conditioner (Full Size)
Gold Lust Nourishing Hair Oil (Travel Size)

Stocking Stuffer Beauty Products They’ll Love

We love recommending the best hair care products on the market, but there are a few beauty products that we really love as well! These additional beauty products would also make for perfect stocking stuffers for the beautiful women in your life.

The Holiday Lip Butter Balm Set

The Holiday Lip Butter Set from Summer Fridays is a festive collection of their popular lip balms that provide intense hydration and a soft, smooth finish. Featuring a variety of shades and flavors, each balm is packed with skin-loving ingredients like shea butter and vitamins to keep your lips hydrated. This set makes a perfect stocking stuffer, offering a luxurious self-care treat.

Dior Addict Lip Glow & Le Baume

Speaking of lip care, this Dior set is definitely on our Christmas list this year! This is another luxurious lip care dup that provides hydration, color, and beautiful shine. This set includes the iconic:

Dior Addict Lip Glow: a color-enhancing balm that adapts to your lips’ natural tone.
Dior Le Baume: a multi-use balm that adds extra hydration and comfort to your hands, lips and body.

Perfect for the holiday season, this gift set delivers both beauty and care, making it an ideal present for anyone looking to pamper their lips with a touch of Dior elegance.

Dior Addict Natural Glow Set

Speaking of Dior elegance, this Natural Glow set from Dior is a great stocking stuffer for the women in your life. The Dior Addict Natural Glow Set is a festive holiday gift set designed to enhance lips with a natural, radiant finish. With this set, she’ll get:

Dior Addict Lip Glow (shade 001 Pink)
Dior Addict Lip Maximizer (shade 001 Pink)
Mini Dior Addict Lip Maximizer (shade 038 Rose Nude)

Shop this Dior set for the perfect pout all season long.

When it comes to Christmas gift-giving, the little details can make the biggest impact – and these haircare products and sets are bound to make an impact in her life this year. These stocking stuffers aren’t just thoughtful; they’re practical, pampering, and perfect for anyone looking to elevate their hair game.

From nourishing hair treatments to thoughtful haircare sets, each item is designed to help your loved ones achieve their perfect hair day.

Whether you’re treating someone special or adding a little extra to their holiday haul, these haircare gifts are sure to bring joy, boost confidence, and deliver beautiful results. This season, give their gift of gorgeous, healthy hair – it’s the stocking stuffer that keeps on giving.

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Lifestyle

November 10, 2024

Christmas Gift Guide for Hair Goddesses

Christmas is right around the corner and it’s time to start shopping for the incredible women in your life! Take the stress out of holiday shopping this year with our favorite hair styling tools, accessories, and products. Finding the perfect gift doesn’t have to be complicated.

There’s something on this list for girls with curls, straight hair babes, and hair extension obsessed. Let’s make 2025 the year of perfect hair.

Christmas Gift Guide for the Woman With Perfect Hair

10X Pro Ultralight Speed Dryer

This is the lightest hair dryer we’ve ever used! It weighs less than 1lbs and dries hair in under 10 minutes. Bio Ionic also uses Moisturizing Heat technology to keep your hair healthy and hydrated.

Featherweight StyleMax Professional Hair Dryer

The Featherweight Hair Dryer from T3 is one of people’s favorite hair dryers. This hair dryer has various settings for your hair texture (fine, medium, or coarse) with its automated heat programs. You can also choose rough, dry, smooth, diffuse, or volume. And we’ll be honest – we love the color!

Shark FlexStyle® Hair Blow Dryer & Multi-Styler

If you want to invest in one of the best hair dryers on the market, the Shark Flexstyle Blow Dryer is our top recommendation. Finally, a way to achieve the perfect blowout from home.

Long Barrel Curling Iron

This curling iron from Bio Ionic is 2” longer than the average curling iron, which is why it’s the number one curling iron we recommend to our hair extension clients. In other words – it is the perfect curling iron for long hair! We recommend the 1-½” version for a looser curl or wave and the 1-¼” version for a tighter ringlet.

Switch Kit Curl Trio Interchangeable Curling Iron with 3 Barrels

This interchangeable curling iron comes with a 0.5” wand barrel, 1.25” wand barrel, and 1.5” clip barrel, meaning you can create endless looks – without having to buy or keep multiple curling irons. This is the perfect Christmas gift with women who love options and are always styling their hair in new ways.

SinglePass Smooth X Professional Flat Iron

We love this flat iron because its extra long plates make it perfect for our hair extension clients. It has 9 heat settings and a smart microchip that keeps temperature fluctuations in check. Keep your hair shiny and beautiful with this professional flat iron.

Kitsch Satin Heatless Curls Gift Set

If you want to curl your hair without the heat, we love this heatless option from Kitsch. This gift set comes with everything they need to achieve voluminous curls. Their satin heatless curling rod is perfect for all hair types and this kit also comes with satin scrunchies, an oversized claw clip, and an additional roller for your bangs.

Kitsch Satin Heatless Curling Set

Another alternative for heatless curls is this satin curling set (also from Kitsch!). This slightly simpler version comes without the bangs curler or claw clip. It’s easy to use and the satin prevents your hair from becoming frizzy.

We highly recommend both of these Kitsch heatless curling products to our clients!

Slipsilk™ Skinny Scrunchies

Speaking of silk, did you know that silk scrunchies prevent your hair from kinking? If you’re looking for the perfect holiday stocking stuffer, look no further. These skinny scrunchies from Slipsilk are just what they need.

IGK Hair Set

This incredible set comes with:

Expensive Clear Gloss Topcoat
Antisocial Bond-Building Dry Hair Mask
Good Behavior Spirulina Protein Smoothing Spray

K18 Biomimetic Hairscience Set

Vegamour Haircare Set

This haircare set from Vegamur comes with:

GRO Revitalizing Shampoo
GRO Revitalizing Conditioner
GRO Hair Serum

Gisou Value Set

This set comes with:

Honey Infused Hydrating Hair Mask
Honey-Infused Hair Oil
Honey Infused Hair Perfume in Original
Honey Infused Hydrating Lip Oil in Watermelon Sugar (clear-pink shimmer)

Oribe Sets

Both of these sets are new and limited edition (so you might want to pick one up for yourself as well!)

Hair Alchemy Strengthening Collection Set

Oribe’s Hair Alchemy set comes with two full-size products making this the best value for money we’ve ever seen! This set comes with:

Hair Alchemy Shampoo (Full Size)
Hair Alchemy Conditioner (Full Size)
Hair Alchemy Treatment Serum (Travel Size)

Gold Lust Repair & Restore Hair Collection Set

Once again, a set we’ve never seen from Oribe before – sharing their bestselling Gold Lust products. The Gold Lust set comes with:

Gold Lust Repair & Restore Shampoo (Full Size)
Gold Lust Repair & Restore Conditioner (Full Size)
Gold Lust Nourishing Hair Oil (Travel Size)

No matter who you’re shopping for this year, there’s bound to be something for her on this list! From our favorite hair styling products to haircare sets of the best products and brands – make this Christmas the Christmas of beautiful hair.

And if she really wants 2025 to be the year of the best hair of her life, book her a consultation for hair extensions with our founder, Christina!

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Beauty

November 3, 2024

Chatting With Our Clients: Hair Extension Tips

What’s it *really* like having hair extensions?

We’re the experts, and we love hair extensions. We can answer your questions about the logistics of hair extensions, and we can share the pros and cons of various techniques, but it’s our clients who can share what it’s really like to have our hair extensions.

So today we’re starting a new series where we ask our girls about their experiences, styling techniques, and favorite products.

Meet Laura Galebe! Laura started coming to us for hair extensions a couple of months ago. She was looking for length and volume and she wanted hair extensions that looked natural and wouldn’t feel heavy throughout the day.

How do you like our hair extension technique?

“I really love the I-tip extensions because they can be individually placed strategically around your head, allowing for more personalized styling. Whether you want more volume or length in specific areas, this method makes it possible to target those spots, giving a natural and customized look that blends seamlessly with your own hair.”

Laura’s had other hair extensions in the past, so we wanted to see how our technique compared to what she’s used to.

How is it different from the tape-ins you’ve previously worn?

“Unlike tape-ins, which can limit how you wear your hair, I-tips offer much more flexibility. With I-tip extensions, it’s easier to put your hair up without worrying about the tapes showing. They are super lightweight and evenly distributed, reducing tension on the scalp and giving a more comfortable, long-lasting wear.”

What do you love the most about our technique & brand of hair extensions?

“What I appreciate most about your technique is how safe it is for my natural thin hair. The installation doesn’t require glue or heat, which keeps my hair healthier in the long run. Plus, your brand of extensions being 100% human hair is a huge benefit because it ensures the most natural appearance and feel. The extensions also match my natural hair color perfectly, making the overall look more cohesive and effortless.”

Lastly, we wanted to know about her styling tips!

Name one hot tool & product you can’t live without.

“Mini straightener from Baby Liss & product I would have to say Kristin Ess Dry Shampoo.”

If you want to see more photos of how Laura styles her hair extensions, make sure to follow her on Instagram or TikTok! She’s your Glow Up BFF sharing the best of life in New York City.

What is your favorite hot tool & product, if you can pick one?

“My all-time favorite hair tool is the Bio Ionic 1.25 ceramic curling iron. It creates the perfect beach wave for your hair because it has a longer barrel than what a regular curling iron has.

One of my favorite products to use is any type of texture spray to give those curls some volume & shape. The one I use and love the most is the Amika un.done volume and texture spray!”

What’s your number one styling tip for extensions?

“My best styling tip would be to always use heat protection when doing your hair and to always alternate your curls until you get to the top and last section when curling.”

If you want to see how Jordyn styles her extensions on a day-to-day basis, make sure to follow her on Instagram and TikTok. We love her glamour nights in New York and travel inspiration.

Lastly, meet our beautiful client Carson Light. We asked Carson to share with us how extensions have changed her life! We also wanted to know how she styles them and what products she can’t live without.

How have our hair extensions changed your life?

“They make me feel so much more confident. I love that every day I can just wake up and feel beautiful and feminine! They completely elevate my confidence every single day. I’m obsessed with them.”

Do you find them easy to style and manage?

“Yes! I don’t even feel them. I feel like styling is so much easier because your hair just looks good no matter what! They also look good air-dried.”

What do you love most about wearing our hair extensions?

“I have so much fun styling them in different ways! I just LOVE having them & they are basically invisible.”

If you can name one hot tool & product you can’t live without, what would they be?

“Oooooh. My hot tool is definitely my clamp curling iron from Hot Tools, which is 10 years old 😂. The product would be Fekkai full-blown volume texture spray!”

If you want to see how Caarson styles her extensions around New York, make sure to follow her on Instagram. We love watching her life in the city!

Do you want our clients to answer your hair extension questions? Head over to our Instagram (@oliviachristensensalon) to ask us your questions, and we’ll keep this series going. In the meantime, shop their favorite products and book your consultation appointment with our founder, Christina!

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News

October 29, 2024

Era’s Tour With My Mini Bestie in New Orleans

My daughter Simona and I flew from New York to New Orleans this past weekend for the Era’s Tour. We stayed at the Ritz Carlton on Canal Street and the Era’s fun started when we walked through the door with friendship bracelets from the hotel! My daughter Simona is a huge swiftie, so I loved how much effort everyone put into the weekend.

Day 1: New Orleans Era’s Tour

In the beautiful hotel courtyard, we met other Swifties, sipped mimosas, and traded friendship bracelets. The hotel had a list of fun events for the weekend, a neon sign for photo opportunities, and a complimentary beignet card for guests.

After getting settled into our hotel, we headed straight for Cafe Du Monde to finally try their famous beignets. This cafe has been on my bucket list ever since my family visited almost 10 years ago! I am a huge powder sugar fan and these were piled in it. If you’ve never had beignets, they taste like a hot funnel cake or zeppole.

Our next stop was to see St. Charles Skeleton House which was decorated with all of the Taylor Swift Eras. The whole city really went out of their way to show their love and support to Taylor and her fans.

After sightseeing around the city we ran to Sephora to stock up on glitter and goodies for the weekend. We needed a gem styler and glitter to complete our looks. We came across Danessa Myricks’s Sweet Tooth Infinite Chrome Flakes which we are totally obsessed with!

Then we went to the mall where we met another Swiftie from San Francisco who greeted Simona with a friendship bracelet. My favorite part of the trip was how friendly everyone was! Everyone was so eager to meet new friends and trade their bracelets, it was really sweet.

Our night ended at the hotel with room service, a new skincare routine, and a movie night!

Day 2: New Orleans Era’s Tour

We woke up today dreaming of beignets and decided to give Cafe Beignet a try. To our surprise, they had the “Taylor Version” of beignets with pink and blue sprinkles, so of course, Simona ordered that.

We strolled through the antique shops before heading back to our hotel early because we knew we had a long night ahead of us (and an early flight to catch in the morning!)

Then it was time to get ready for our night.

We used a body oil that Simona picked out called Patrick Ta Major Glow Body Oil and the body brush by Patrick Ta to paint it on. We then applied glitter on top and it stayed nicely throughout the night – I highly recommend it!

For our hair we used IGK Good Behavior Prep Spray for detangled, it’s one of my favorites and it smells so good! We also used IGK Disco Disco Clear Gloss Shine Spray that gives your hair that ultimate glass hair look.

I painted the Danessa Myricks SWEET TOOTH INFINITE CHROME flakes onto Simona’s hair in a balayage stroke with an eyeshadow brush. This was the finishing touch that really tied her look together.

Just like that, we were ready to go! And we couldn’t believe the moment was finally here.

Arriving at the Super Dome

When I tell you that New Orleans went all out for Taylor and her fans, I was not kidding! The entire Super Dome was wrapped in a friendship bracelet – it was so cute! We opted not to get any merch (the lines were crazy long!) and instead grabbed some cotton candy and headed to our seats.

We wanted to be surprised with the opening act – and when Gracie Abraham came on stage we immediately fell in love! Her voice is so unique – we are now huge fans!

When Taylor came on, Simona’s face dropped in awe. Taylor came over to our side of the stage and looked straight at Simona as she sang Cruel Summer. I get goosebumps just thinking about it. What a memory that neither of us is ever going to forget.

This was by far one of the best experiences and memories created with my daughter – and it’s the ultimate girl’s trip. I highly recommend creating these memories together that will last a lifetime.

I hope you enjoyed this blog as much as I did creating it! Thank you for letting me share our experience and memories with you!

XX Christina

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Hair Extension Care

October 13, 2024

10 Things You Didn’t Know About Hair Extensions

Extensions are a fast way to add length, volume, and style to your hair, but more importantly, they’re one of the fastest ways to boost your confidence.

Over the years, we’ve seen hair extensions change women’s lives from regaining their confidence after cancer treatments to falling back in love with themselves just by looking in the mirror. We’ve helped thousands of women on their hair extension journey.

Still, hair extensions aren’t something you should rush into. It’s important to know the different types of extensions and the upkeep and maintenance they require.

Today we’re going to share 10 things you probably didn’t know about hair extensions.

10 Things You Didn’t Know About Hair Extensions

#1: There are many different types of hair extensions

(and they’re not all created equally)

When most women embark on their hair extension journey, they’re not really sure what style or type of hair extensions to go with. In reality, a lot of women don’t realize just how many choices they have!

In this post, we do a deep dive into the various hair extension techniques and the pros and cons of each style.

These are the most typical or popular hair extension installation methods:

Clip-In
Halo
Tape-In
Sew-In (Weft/Weave)
Keratin Fusion (K-Tips)
Microbead Extensions (I-Tips)

We love I-Tips because they’re the safest and most natural-looking extension. This is because you’re taking smaller portions of extension hair and attaching it to your natural hair. This causes a lot less hair loss and matting and it alleviates that feeling of hair extensions being ‘heavy.’

#2: You get what you pay for

Not all hair extensions are created equally. That’s just the honest truth of the hair extension industry. There’s simply not enough hair for the demand, which means you can end up with synthetic hair extensions or hair that has been wrongly stolen from women around the world.

This is why it’s so important to go with a salon that’s sourcing quality, real-human hair from distributors that are compensating women fairly. At Olivia Christensen Salon we source all of our hair from Eastern Europe and India and it’s always high-quality full cuticle hair.

This also means with proper care and maintenance, your hair extensions should last for years to come!

#3: Extensions require a bit of extra care and attention

Each of our clients leaves the salon with detailed instructions on how to care for their extensions. Luckily, because we use full-cuticle human hair, installed using i-tips, you can style and wear your hair like normal. You can also exercise as normal, but you will need to take extra care when washing and maintaining your extensions.

Our clients come in every 6-8 weeks for maintenance appointments and there might be certain products you can’t use anymore.

#4: Good hair extensions should look like your natural hair

Another place you’re going to see the difference in the quality of hair extensions is in how they look when you’re wearing them. In other words, quality hair extensions should never look like hair extensions. They should genuinely look like an extension of your natural hair.

We love that each client who walks out of our salon looks like she has fuller and longer natural hair. Even with transformations like this one.

#5: Hair extensions aren’t just for length

One of the common misconceptions about hair extensions is that they’re just for women who want longer hair. When in fact, a lot of the women who come to see us want volume just as much (if not more) as they want length.

Hair extensions help your hair look healthier and fuller, so if you’ve always struggled with volume, reach out to see how we can help!

#6: Hair extensions are faster to install than you think

At this point, you’re probably loving the idea of getting hair extensions yourself, but the time commitment feels overwhelming. That’s because it’s a common misconception that hair extensions take a lot of time.

Our first-time installation can be done in an hour-long appointment. And your routine maintenance can be done in an hour, every 6-8 weeks. It doesn’t have to be a huge commitment to have full beautiful hair, you just need to make sure you’re choosing the right salon.

#7: Hair extensions should be comfortable

A lot of our clients who switch from weft or weaves to i-tips comment on how much lighter their extensions feel. Here’s the thing… hair extensions shouldn’t be heavy. They shouldn’t leave you with a headache at the end of the day. That’s a sign that they haven’t been installed properly or that it’s not the right hair extension technique for you.

If you’ve never had comfortable hair extensions, get in touch with our team. We’ll be able to show you a whole new world of extensions.

#8: Good hair extensions won’t damage your natural hair

One of the first questions women ask me when they enter the salon is this, “Will hair extensions damage my natural hair?” The truth is, that hair extensions should promote your natural hair to grow and be as healthy as possible. When installed properly, hair extensions actually protect your natural hair and help improve its appearance.

However, if you get poor-quality hair extensions or you have them installed by someone who doesn’t know what they’re doing… that’s a surefire way to ruin your natural hair.

#9: Hair extensions can be good for your hair

We already touched on this one slightly, but hair extensions can be really good for your natural hair. We’ve seen women post-cancer treatment come in for extensions and over time see their own hair grow back beautifully alongside the extensions.

When you have extensions, you’re likely going to be caring for your hair so much more than normal. You’ll be attending regular maintenance appointments, you’ll be using products that are better for your hair and you’ll be more conscious of decisions that affect your hair – all leading to stronger, healthier natural hair.

#10: Hair extensions require different haircare products

Lastly, when you have hair extensions, you’re going to need to use a few different products – and there are going to be products that you need to avoid. Going forward, you won’t be able to use hair oils and you’ll need to be careful with things like hair masks because they can cause your extensions to slip.

Your best bet is to always go over a haircare routine with your stylist before leaving the salon. And make sure to pick up any products that they recommend! You’ve just invested in beautiful, high-quality new hair extensions. You’ll want to make sure you have the products needed to make them last.

Whatever your reasons for wanting to get hair extensions, remember that this is a great chance to try a new hairstyle, regain your confidence, and fall back in love with yourself. We’ve seen hair extensions help thousands of women regain their confidence, and we’d love to help you too.

At the end of the day, the health of your natural hair is the most important thing, so don’t compromise! Make sure that you’re choosing the right salon and buying quality hair extensions. When you invest in high-quality extensions and expert installation, you can expect amazing results.

If you’re ready to explore getting hair extensions, make sure to book a consultation with our team.

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Beauty

October 6, 2024

Upgrade Your Fall Hair Care Routine With These Tips

Autumn is here and it’s bringing with it cooler weather, falling leaves, and pumpkin spice. We love fall in the city, and along with everything we love about this new season, it also brings new challenges for your hair. Fall and winter can cause problems for our hair, such as dry scalp, split ends, and even duller-looking hair!

Today we’re going to take a fresh look into your shower and bathroom, to make sure that the products and routine you’re following are aligned with what your body and hair need this season. Together we’ll build the perfect fall hair care routine.

Upgrade Your Fall Hair Care Routine With These Tips

1. Book a Trim

Kick off the fall season with a trim! We often hear that people feel the same way about booking a trim as they do about going to the dentist, but with Olivia Christensen extensions, you don’t have to worry about losing any length this fall.

Summer sun exposure, chlorine, and saltwater can rough up our hair cuticles. Getting an end-of-season trim can help leave your hair healthier and ready to tackle cooler weather.

2. Treat Your Hair to a Deep Conditioning

Fall tends to be a lot dryer than summer, so one of the best ways you can rehydrate your hair for the season is with a deep conditioning treatment.

When deep conditioning your hair with i-tip extensions, you need to take extra care, otherwise, the extensions can slip. We recommend:

Avoiding the bond/attachment points: when applying the deep conditioner, focus on the mid-lengths and ends of your hair. You should never apply the product directly to the i-tip bonds (where the extensions are attached) because oils and heavy conditioners can weaken the adhesive or cause slippage.
Use a Sulfate-Free and extension-safe conditioner: make sure to choose products that are safe for your extensions. When in doubt – always ask your stylist what products they recommend.
Detangle carefully: after applying the treatment, gently detangle your hair using a wide-tooth comb. Be mindful of your i-tip bonds and avoid pulling or tugging.
Rinse well: make sure to rinse out all of the product to prevent any residue that could cause buildup or tangling.
Dry carefully: pay your hair dry gently with a towel and avoid excessive rubbing. When blow drying, use low heat.

However, you can always book a deep conditioning treatment on the day of your regularly scheduled maintenance appointment. This would be a great time to get a conditioning treatment and trim for the fall season.

3. Use Protective Hairstyles

Chunky braids, buns, and hair accessories can actually help protect your hair during windy, rainy, and cold fall days.

Tucking your hair and loose ends away can help protect your hair from further damage in the elements. We recently shared a post with our favorite fall hairstyles and accessories. If you need inspiration for your hair this autumn, read this post next.

4. Use a Clarifying Shampoo (Sparingly)

Summer can leave your scalp with a lot of build-up, and a clarifying shampoo can be just the reset you need as you move into fall. Clarifying shampoos are designed to remove product buildup, oils, and impurities, which can be helpful for both your natural hair and the extensions. However, they can also be harsh and potentially dry out your hair and the extensions if used too frequently.

That’s why we only recommend using a clarifying shampoo sparingly (no more than once per month, or once per every two months).

As always, remember that you need to avoid using the product on your bonds themselves, choose sulfate-free shampoos and rinse well.

5. Upgrade Your Pillowcase

Upgrading to a silk pillowcase is one easy way to take better care of your hair this fall. We always recommend that our clients use silk or satin pillowcases. Silk pillowcases help alleviate friction and damage to your hair while you sleep! And they’re also great for your skin.

While fall is one of our favorite seasons in the city, it can be more challenging for your hair. As the leaves change, so does the nature of your hair and its needs. That’s why transitioning from a summer to a fall hair care routine can make all of the difference.

If you’d like to learn more about how you can fall back in love with your hair this autumn, book a consultation with us today to learn more about the extensions that we offer. Extensions aren’t all about length, we also love them for volume and confidence! Because hair really is everything.

Book a consultation with us today.

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Beauty

September 29, 2024

10 Fall Hairstyles That Will Be Everywhere This Year

Autumn is here in New York City, and we are loving it! We’ve seen fall beauty and fashion take over social media, and today, we’re going to share our favorite fall hairstyles and accessories with you. From messy buns to hair accessories and jewelry, these are the hottest hairstyle trends to look out for this fall.

One thing you’ll notice this fall is more updo hairstyles. High ponytails, slicked-back buns, and hair accessories to spice up your look. We love extra-long ponytails wavy curls, and chunky braids that all look beautiful with your hair extensions.

1. High Pony Tail w/ Pony Cuffs

One of our favorite looks for fall is the high, slicked-back ponytail, accessorized with pony cuffs. A slicked-back ponytail is perfect for those days when you just don’t want to wash your hair. But you can dress it up with these simple, yet stylish cuffs. They are the perfect way to elevate your day-to-day ponytail. If you’d like to jump on another fall hair trend this year, you can pull two pieces of hair out of the front of your ponytail for a face-framing style.

2. Slicked Back Bun

Speaking of ‘slicked-back’ looks, we also love the slicked-back bun. It’s clean, simple, and super stylish for fall. You’ll definitely be seeing this bun all over social media. For us, it looks like autumn in the city. Of course, you can always trust Bella Hadid to help us uncover the best hair, beauty, and fashion trends of the season.

3. Embellished Barrettes

If you want a way to style your slicked-back bun, try this fall hair trend: embellished barrettes. Fall is all about thoughtful embellishments and gold accents. We’re seeing it across beauty and fashion trends this year. Barrettes are an easy way to jump on this trend. They can be embellished with gems, rhinestones, or simple gold accents.

4. Scarves and Bandanas

Scarves and bandanas are the best fall accessories for when you’re not quite ready to wash your hair yet. They’re a more toned-down look and follow the popular trend of cottage-core, but that doesn’t mean you can’t elevate the look. For a more sleek style, go with a silk scarf, and for a more toned-down look, a classic bandana.

5. Chunky Braids

Speaking of braids, one fall hair trend that we are seeing everywhere this year is chunky braids. Perfect for our hair extension girlies who come in for volume and length. You can add accessories like ribbons, chunky bobby pins, or thick scrunchies to your braid for extra style.

6. Curtain Bangs

Curtain bangs are another trend we’ve seen growing this fall. They’re a beautiful way to frame your face, whether you’re wearing your hair up in a ponytail, down, or pulled back into a braid.

7. Messy Bun Styled with Face Framing Strands

Our beautiful client Carson Light has already been rocking a messy bun with face-framing pieces this fall. We’re seeing a lot more updos and messy buns are in the mix. We love our effortlessly chic hairstyle looks. You can style it with an oversized claw clip for an even more fall look.

8. Classic Blowouts

You really can’t go wrong with a classic blowout. A blowout is one of the top ways to look runway-ready, even when you’re just off to the office.

9. Oversized Scrunchies

Scrunchies are back and here to stay! Who else loved big scrunchies back in the day? We love to see this trend come back around because you can show off so much personality in a simple hairstyle. This fall we’re seeing a rise in bigger, silk scrunchies (silk accessories are everything for fall!)

10. Curls and Ribbons

One of our favorite trends of this year has been girls who love to be girls. We’re talking about girly accessories, lots of pinks, coquette styles, and ribbons. To achieve this look curl your hair in long waves and style strands with ribbons tied into bows.

If you’d like to incorporate this trend into a pulled-back look, loosely braid a ribbon into your plait. This style is giving “drinking wine in the Italian countryside.”

Which one of these fall trends are you loving? Our favorite just might be #1! If you love these long, wavy hairstyles and trends for fall and you’re ready for a hair refresh, make sure to book a consultation with us today.

Don’t forget to follow us on Instagram @oliviachristensensalon to get inspired by our recent client’s hair extensions. We can’t wait to help you with your transformation!

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News

September 22, 2024

September News from Olivia Christensen Salon

Every month we’re bringing you the latest news and updates from the Olivia Christensen Salons. Here you’ll get an inside peek into who visited the salon this month and you’ll get gorgeous hair extension inspiration for your appointment. September was another exciting month with some new faces and returning favorites!

You can read our August update here.

September News from Olivia Christensen Salon

Here at Olivia Christensen Salon, you never know who you might meet or catch a glimpse of. Over the years we’ve helped the celebrities, models, and icons of New York City have their healthiest, most beautiful hair.

In September we had Victoria Kalina, a Dallas Cowboy’s Cheerleader come in for her first appointment. She was looking for highlights, volume, and length – and she left looking gorgeous! Victoria has just moved to New York and we were so happy to welcome her in.

We also had visits from the beautiful Carolina Freixa and Carson Light who both left with inches, volume, and refreshed fall colors. Brooke Wyatt came in for a full 12 inches and is loving having thick, healthy hair!

Our client Kaylyn Kyle Heath, Olympic medalist & Presenter analyst for MLS came in for her first maintenance appointment and we were thrilled to learn that she loved having i-tips (on her previous appointment we had removed her weft and done her first i-tips installation).

We love all of our clients and feel especially grateful for the ladies who joined our hair extension family in September! We are seeing lots of fun fall hairstyles and hair refreshes for the season.

Make sure you’re following along over on Instagram at @oliviachristensensalonnyc so that you never miss a thing! And for more life updates from our gorgeous founder Christina, make sure to follow her @hairgoddessofny.

If you’re ready to explore getting hair extensions, make sure to book a consultation with us today.

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Beauty

September 15, 2024

Common Hair Extension Questions

Welcome back to Olivia Christensen Salons. We’re passionate about helping women regain their confidence and fall back in love with their hair, through our high-quality real-human hair extensions. Today we’re going to be answering your TOP hair extension questions!

Since our early days, our founder Christina has developed a unique technique for installing and maintaining beautiful hair extensions. We love seeing each of our client’s transformations and it turns out that you love seeing those transformations as well!

Over on Instagram, we’ve been collecting your top questions about hair extensions – and today we’re finally going to be answering them all for you. Keep reading to get your hair extension questions answered!

Common Questions About Hair Extensions

How long do hair extensions last?

First things first, how long do hair extensions last? This is probably one of our most asked questions. We source high-quality, real-human hair extensions which means they can last up to 1-2 years with expected upkeep and regular maintenance appointments every 4-8 weeks.

During regular maintenance appointments (every 4-8 weeks) we remove the extension strands, comb through the shedded hair, and retip and install your extensions. This ensures the highest care for your hair and extensions!

How much do hair extensions cost?

The price of hair extensions varies depending on where they’ve been sourced and what type of hair extensions they are. At Olivia Christensen Salons, we install microbead or i-tip extensions with our unique blending technique which means you’re getting the most natural, lightweight extensions on the market. Our hair extensions cost between $1,500-$6,500.

Are hair extensions heavy?

A lot of hair extensions tend to be extremely heavy – but that’s what makes our technique so unique. We hand blend bundles of hair to attach to your natural hair with i-tips. This means we’re able to use smaller bundles, evenly dispersed across your natural hair. This is extremely lightweight, especially compared to other techniques.

How do hair extensions stay in your hair?

The strands are individually beaded through your natural hair. We take the hair extension strands and securely clamp them to strands of your natural hair using i-tips. This means no heat, glue, or damage to your natural hair.

Will the hair extensions match my natural hair color?

That’s another part of our technique that is so unique! Because we carefully bundle your extension strands to your natural hair, we’re able to custom color blend multiple colors in one strand for an identical color match. This hair extension technique ensures you have the most natural-looking extensions possible.

Can I style my hair extensions like normal?

Yes! You can style your hair extensions using any hot tool of choice. We source our hair from Eastern and Western Europe and match it directly to your texture helping you to style your hair like normal. Since our hair extensions are 100% full cuticle human hair, you can treat it just like your natural hair.

Can I exercise with my hair extensions?

Yes, you can work out with our hair extensions! We always highly recommend washing your hair after an intense workout. If you are the type to sweat excessively on the scalp, then we recommend washing your hair after each workout. However, if the workout is light (for example, Pilates) then you wouldn’t need to wash your hair after.

This is simply because our hair extensions are applied using a small capsule (called a microbead) and any sweat or natural oils could cause the hair extensions to slip out.

How long do the hair extensions take to install?

You can expect to spend 1 hour in the salon having your hair extensions installed.

How do I care for my hair extensions?

We recommend washing your hair 2-3 times per week to avoid any oil buildup on your scalp. You can get regular blowouts and style your hair like normal using any hot tool.

We also recommend braiding your hair at night and sleeping on a silk pillowcase. We carry a small curation of products and brushes that we recommend our extension clients use. If you’d like to learn more about the products and brushes that we recommend, let us know and we can do a post on that specifically!

How can I book my first hair extension appointment?

The first step is to book a consultation with us! At your consultation appointment we’ll discuss the goals you have with your extensions, we’ll also be able to answer any additional questions that you have and make a plan for your hair extension installation.

You can book your consultation appointment here.

Don’t forget to follow us on Instagram @oliviachristensensalon to get inspired by our recent client’s hair extensions. We can’t wait to help you with your transformation!

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Hair Extension Care

September 8, 2024

Different Hair Extension Techniques

We’ve shared before that not all hair extensions are created equally. At Olivia Christensen Salons, we always use the highest-quality, real human hair for our extensions, but the quality of hair extensions and the various hair extension techniques can vary wildly across the industry. In fact, this recent post exposed some of the darker sides of the hair extension industry.

Today we’re going to dive into the various hair extension techniques so you can get a clear idea of what style is right for you.

Different Hair Extension Techniques

These are the most typical or popular hair extension installation methods:

Clip-In
Halo
Tape-In
Sew-In (Weft/Weave)
Keratin Fusion (K-Tips)
Microbead Extensions (I-Tips)

Each of these hair extension techniques can be divided into three main types:

Temporary: are taken in and out daily
Semi-Permanent: lasts for 6-8 weeks
Permanent: remain in your hair for a couple of months

Of course, there are pros and cons to each of these different hair extension techniques, so let’s dive in a bit further. We will start with temporary extensions and move our way into the more permanent extension techniques.

Clip-In Extensions

Clip-in hair extensions are a type of hair extensions where the hair is attached to a clip, that is then clipped into your hair. Because clip-in extensions are usually mass-produced, it’s important to know where that hair comes from. Here we shed more light on why human hair extensions simply can’t be mass-produced.

Also, because clip-in extensions tend to be mass-produced, this hair extension technique won’t match your hair perfectly – each strand won’t be blended to match your natural hues and shades. This means that they often look like extensions, instead of looking like real hair.

The biggest con about clip-in extensions is that they can cause hair loss, especially for anyone with thin/fine hair. My client with baby-fine hair was using clip-in extensions which ended up causing bald spots from hair loss.

The pro of clip-in extensions is that they can be taken in and out at home, which means you can play around with length and style whenever you want to wear your extensions. They also tend to be the cheapest hair extension technique.

Clip-in extensions should last for years with proper care because you’re able to take them out and keep them brushed, cleaned, and stored properly.

Halo Hair Extensions

Halo hair extensions are very similar to clip-ins, but in our professional experience, we recommend these above clip-ins. Halo extensions are worn like a headband, which means they’re less damaging than clip-ins that weigh your hair down and cause hair loss.

They’re made up of multiple wefts sewn together to create a thicker weft. You then wear it under your natural hair like a headband. You’re able to take these extensions out each evening, meaning with proper care they should last for years.

However, because Halo extensions are pre-made unless your hair is in one natural color, they’re not going to match perfectly. As with clip-in extensions, halo extensions make it look like you’re wearing extensions as opposed to more natural hair extension techniques.

Tape-In Extensions

Tape-in extensions are a semi-permanent extension solution that came on the scene after clip-ins. They’re 1-1 ½ inch sections of hair that are pre-taped. Then a stylist will use a medical grade glue to attach the extensions to your natural hair.

This is not a DIY extension technique, you do need to have them professionally installed. They need to be applied to clean, dry hair to ensure that the adhesive sticks and is sandwiched between your natural hair. However, they’re a fairly easy installation process requiring no tools or chemicals.

Tape-in extensions will last anywhere from 8-10 weeks depending on your natural hair growth and the quality of the extensions. It’s important to note that they also need to be taken out by a professional, using a specific tape-in remover solution.

It’s recommended that you buy the extensions “pre-colored” because the tape cannot get wet. This means this hair extension method will not likely match your hair perfectly.

Sew-In Extensions (Weft/Weave)

Sew-in extensions are often referred to as a weft or a weave. They’re a hair extension technique where the strands of hair are sewn onto a super-thin cloth strip that is attached to your head.

There are hand-sewn and machine-sewn weft extensions. Machine sewn extensions are cheaper because they’re made faster while hand-sewn extensions will take longer but can be better customized to your hair. Once again, you will need to have these extensions installed by a professional, if they’re installed incorrectly they can cause headaches and hair loss.

In all the years our founder Christina has worked as an extension specialist, she has seen a lot of hair loss/tension from wefts sewn into her client’s natural hair. This happens because the wefts are bulky and heavy. They weigh down your natural hair, causing tension and alopecia.

Sew-in extensions will usually last around 6-8 weeks depending on how you care for them and how quickly your hair grows.

Keratin Fusion (K-Tips)

Keratin fusion or K-tip extensions stand out as a hair extension technique because they use keratin bonds to attach individual strands of hair to your hair. They’re called ‘Keratin’ but the bonds are still made with glue. The term ‘keratin’ is misleading because it often leads clients to believe there won’t be any damage to their natural hair – but glue is typically more damaging.

With this technique, your stylist can create unique strands of the extension hair to perfectly match your natural hair. When the technique is done correctly, you should be able to wear these extensions for 8-12 weeks without the hair slipping down.

Microbead Extensions (I-Tips)

Lastly, we have microbead extensions, which are the style of extensions that we use at Olivia Christensen Salons. We take individual strands of hair to create bundles that we then bond together. These become your extensions, that then get beaded onto the natural strands of your hair.

To see an example of what this looks like, watch this video.

Like keratin fusion, this technique allows our stylist to perfectly blend your natural hair with your extensions. With microbead extensions, you can do everything you would normally do with your hair, especially because we only use the most high-quality, human hair.

This ensures that your extensions behave exactly like your natural hair. Our clients need to come in for regular maintenance appointments (every 6-8 weeks) but because we rebond the extensions each time, your extensions should last for 1-2 years. This technique is truly unmatched in the industry.

Microbead extensions are the safest and most natural way to achieve fuller, longer hair with extensions. When it comes to the pros and cons of various extension techniques – the only con you might find for microbead extensions is the cost. They are going to be the highest cost extensions on the market, but like we always say “Quality isn’t expensive. It’s priceless.”

When it comes to the various types of hair extension techniques, you might be tempted to cut corners and choose a more cost-effective method. When you’re just starting out on your extension journey and you’re not sure you want something permanent, that’s OK.

But when you’re ready for natural-looking extensions, microbead (i-tips) is the best direction you can go in.

Wefts v.s. Microbead (I-Tips)

When it comes to the age-old question of wefts vs microbead extensions, we can tell you that wefts tend to be heavy. We often hear from clients when we help them switch from a weft that our microbead technique makes their head feel lighter and can help with occasional headaches caused by the weight of previous extensions.

We also know that all that weight isn’t healthy for your natural hair. Our microbead technique keeps your extensions light and doesn’t cause tension on your natural hair.

If you’re ready to make the switch, or you’d like to explore getting extensions for the first time, make sure to book a consultation with us today. For more hair extension inspiration and recent updates from our team, follow us on Instagram @oliviachristensensalon and our founder Christina @hairgoddessofNY.

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News

September 1, 2024

August News from Olivia Christensen Salons

Each month we want to bring you the latest news and updates from the Olivia Christensen Salons! Here you’ll get a chance to see who’s visited the salon this month and get some gorgeous extension inspiration for your own appointment. August was an exciting month with a lot of our clients coming in for volume, length and full-blown hair makeovers. Here’s our August Recap.

August News & Updates from Olivia Christensen Salon

At Olivia Christensen Salon, you never know who you might meet or catch a glimpse of sneaking out of our private room! In August, we had Jessica Markowski from the hit Netflix show Owning Manhattan come in. She stopped in for some inches and volume and left looking absolutely gorgeous (as usual!)

Our client Kaylyn Kyle Heath, Olympic medalist & Presenter analyst for MLS came in for a full head of highlights and some inches. She left looking beautiful with some soft beach waves.

And if you stopped by in August you might have seen Dorothy Wang from Bling Empire New York sneaking out after a trim and extensions maintenance appointment or the stunning Zarah Kelleher leaving with new color and volume.

In August we also had visits from Lauren Raymond (who left with beautiful 26 inche extensions!), Emily Totten, and Laura Galebe who had her hair extensions put back in.

We love all of our clients and feel especially grateful for the ladies who travel to the city for their maintenance appointments like our client Christina who flew in for the day from Miami. We also had our very own Serena and Blair besties come in for some gorgeous inches. Their transformations were stunning.

If you’re ready to explore getting hair extensions, make sure to book a consultation with us today.

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Hair Extension Care

August 26, 2024

The Importance of Hair Extension Maintenance

Let’s talk about the importance of hair extension maintenance. Quality hair extensions aren’t cheap but when they’re properly cared for, they should last for years.

We recently talked about the importance of quality hair extensions and why it’s so important to know where your extensions are coming from. But we also shared that our extensions typically start at $1,500 and can go up to $6,500.

We recognize that your hair is a big investment and that’s why we send all of our clients home with detailed (and pretty strict!) care instructions and follow-up, maintenance appointments. So let’s dive into why maintenance appointments are so important – and what you can do at home to better protect and care for your extensions.

The Importance of Hair Extension Maintenance

Did you know that you shed around 45-98 hairs each day? YUP. When you feel like you’re constantly ‘shedding’, it’s because you usually are.

However, when you have extensions, that shedded hair gets trapped in the small beads/links that are applied to hold the extension strand. That’s why it’s so important to come in for regular hair extension maintenance appointments.

We have our clients come in every 4-8 weeks depending on how well they maintain their extensions at home.

When you come in for your hair extension maintenance appointment, we comb through the ‘shedded’ hair. It may feel like a lot of hair fall – but remember that all of this shedded hair is from 4-8 weeks.

Once we’ve combed through the shedded hair, we then apply a new bead or link and retip the bonds to ensure that they are encapsulated and secure. This process helps keep your hair extensions intact so that they can be reused. But it also means that each time you come in for your hair extension maintenance appointments, we have to essentially start from scratch.

We do this to maintain the quality of your hair – so that you can continue to use these extensions for years to come!

How to Care for Your Hair Extensions at Home

Besides your regular maintenance appointments, we also send our clients home with strict care instructions.

At Olivia Christensen Salon we use only real, quality human hair extensions, which means that you can style them as you would your normal hair. However, you need to take better care of your extensions and your hair overall when you have extensions.

Here are some of our top tips for maintaining your quality hair extensions so you can wear them for years to come.

Attend Regular Hair Extension Maintenance Appointments

As we said above, one of the most important things that you can do to maintain your hair extensions is to come to regular maintenance appointments. Our clients come in every 4-8 weeks for hair extension maintenance. We schedule these appointments to comb out the shedded hair but also to protect the bead/link of each extension.

If you leave your hair extensions in too long with these maintenance appointments, the beads can bend and distort. This can lead to the extensions getting ruined and in some cases, natural hair loss as well.

Have Your Hair Extensions Installed Properly

Similar to the sentiment that not all hair extensions are created equal or of the same quality – how you have your extensions installed is just as important.

At Olivia Christensen Salon we’ve developed a special installation technique that blends your extensions to naturally match your hair. This technique also ensures that your extensions are being installed correctly every time.

Wash Your Extensions Carefully

Oftentimes people feel like they can’t wash their hair when they have extensions in – but that’s far from the truth. In fact, it’s important to wash your hair like normal – but you need to wash your hair less frequently and with greater care.

We recommend brushing your hair carefully before washing, being extremely gentle with your scalp, and avoiding harsh chemicals in your products.

Sleep on Silk or Satin

Whether or not you have extensions, we recommend that you switch to a silk or satin pillowcase. Silk pillowcases prevent dryness and hair loss. We also recommend against sleeping with your hair in a bun, or ponytail or leaving it flowing freely. Instead, put your hair in two loose braids and wrap a silk scarf around your head.

Avoid Using Too Many Products

When it comes to the number of products you use on your hair – more does not equal better. We recommend using fewer products on your hair and instead focusing on the quality of those products and how you use them. Things like dry shampoos should be used sparingly (because they tend to dry your hair out) and we don’t recommend using a heat protectant as most of them contain harmful ingredients that may cause the extensions to slip out.

Brush Your Hair Often

Lastly, make sure that you are brushing your hair often. There’s nothing worse than tangles and knots in your hair extensions. So one of the best (and easiest) ways to maintain your hair extensions is simply through brushing them. Brush your hair when you wake up, when you style your hair for the day, before you shampoo, and before bed every night.

Different types of hair brushes work well for different hair types, so make sure to ask your stylist what they recommend for you.

With proper care, your high-quality hair extensions should last you for months. It’s so important to make sure that you are attending your hair extension maintenance appointments and following strict hair extension care instructions to maintain your beautiful new hair.

If you’re ready to take the leap and get high-quality hair extensions, make sure that you book a consultation appointment with us today.

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