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.