Hair extensions. Has anyone had them?

[loo]

Hi Just thought I would add my story. I decided after having a bad hair cut and trying to grow it I would have hair extensions the prob was I was quoted £500 and something for a full head but I saved and saved and thought it was going to be worth it. I had Great lengths hair extensions put in. When the lady ordered the hair it was pre bonded but she cut the bonds in half to make more strands but they were very thin. The result was my short chin length bob still showed as a bob even with all the long hair extensions in and I was realy dissapointed and had to go away looking like it wasnt even finished. I phoned up and aksed if the could order some more as I wasnt happy with the effect it didnt blend in with my own hair thickness I had to pay another £300 and still it didnt look right so in the end the hairdresser had to cut and thin out loads of my own hair to make them blend, which ruined all the growing I had already done. After a while they bacame matted and the individual strands were all tangling together where the roots were in the bond and had grown down. By the time they were taken out my har was thin and straggly. I couldnt leave it so I had a set somewhere else hoping they would be better this time it was cheaper and the girl who did them for me glued the bonds in herself and the hair strands were made much thicker. It looked great when it was done but again after a few weeks even after using the right shampoo's etc they started to look dull and a bit false as I found them hard to style. Its been ages and I still have about 30 bonds in and I cant wear my hair down as the need to be removed they have grown down and the bonds show now and they have got matted again. They have got to the point where they are desperatly in need of being taken out but it takes hours of soaking them with acetone to remove them soaking each individual bond in a bit of cotton wool with acetone. I dread that part. Again my hair is looking straggly and it has ruined my hair even from the first time they havent recovered. I wish my hair was how it used to be natural and long I think if you are going to have them done dont leave them in too long when people say you can have them left in for about a year with top up's I have no idea how as my hair got far too tangled at the root and the bonds were getting tangled together. The do look lovely as in the second time I had them done but they need to be cut well after to make them look natural and also they are very high maintanence and I cant cope with them now.

xx

 

[Sassy Hassy]

Natalie had some done for Christmas. They were in a strip and the lady made two tiny plaits and then sewed the strips onto the plaits. It was brilliant. She could wash and straighten it and it lasted for weeks. I'll try and get a pic in my gallery (done it!). It cost about £20 for the hair and £40 for her to put it in. And no damage whatsoever to her natural hair.

 

[nemotail]

I had Racoon extensions put in a few weeks ago and love them, no probs so far, I just treat them like my own hair. My hairdresser said I might be aware of the bonds when I go to bed but havent noticed. I can blowdry, straighten, curl them what ever I want really the only thing I have had to do different is to tie my hair back when going to bed and use a different brush - thats it. I have the Racoon shampoo/ conditioner but have also used my own MOP shampoo/ conditioner and a few different styling products and it hasnt affected them at all.
I cant imagine being without them now.
KxXx

 

[BABSann]

Ive got hair extensions at the moment.I had them put in in November, they were glued and I have had no problems whatsoever. They are easy to look after. They were done by a lady called Jackie who has a home salon In Petersfield, Hampshire. She was recommended to me and I would give her 10 out of 10. I havn't lost a single extension. You have to use a special brush and not use any products which contain Panthenol as it weakens the bonds.The first week I had them put in was a pain as I have a sensitive scalp and found the bonds a little uncomfortable but I have now grown used to them.. Cost me 280.oo Real Russion hair which supposed to be the best for quality.

 

[BABSann]

Sassy I'm in Fareham, where did your daughter go as my daughter would like this and bit cheaper for me?

 

[fificharlie]

I have actually got hair extensions in NOW. I had a hairdresser come round to my house to do it, they took 3 hours to put in, and my Blonde hair went from jaw length to bra strap length, and it was amazing! It cost me £350 - Iwas quoted £750 in luton for blone human hair. I told this to my hair dresser who advised a really good company called 'American Dream' - Trust me, this hair is amazing. Ive had them in for three months now, none have fallen out, they are put in using the glue in single bonds. I find them just as easy to wash as my natural hair, I use normal everyday shampoo - my hairdresser was really honest with me and said that hair salons 'say' that you have to use special products, but I havent and my hair is as good as the day it was put in! Glossy , soft, great! I would def reccomend you have them done, if you use a soft bristle brush it goes right through like normal hair!

Go for it girly, get those amazing locks
hope this helps xxx

 

[Sassy Hassy]

Sassy I'm in Fareham, where did your daughter go as my daughter would like this and bit cheaper for me?

Elegance in Fratton hun.

 

[tink18]

Iv got 16inch hair extensions, can do anything to them because they are real i.e colour them straighten them etc.my extensions start a bit lower down at the back because my hair parts on my crown sometimes, (mostly when it needs washing! lol) the rest are where they normally are, nowhere near the hair line parting etc I have them taken out and put back in every three months due to the fact that they get matted. When i wash my hair i comb them through and seperate them, with my hands because they can get attached together. I can still colour my hair and give myself conditioning treatments, im a hairdresser too hope that helps

 

[tink18]

Hi Just thought I would add my story. I decided after having a bad hair cut and trying to grow it I would have hair extensions the prob was I was quoted £500 and something for a full head but I saved and saved and thought it was going to be worth it. I had Great lengths hair extensions put in. When the lady ordered the hair it was pre bonded but she cut the bonds in half to make more strands but they were very thin. The result was my short chin length bob still showed as a bob even with all the long hair extensions in and I was realy dissapointed and had to go away looking like it wasnt even finished. I phoned up and aksed if the could order some more as I wasnt happy with the effect it didnt blend in with my own hair thickness I had to pay another £300 and still it didnt look right so in the end the hairdresser had to cut and thin out loads of my own hair to make them blend, which ruined all the growing I had already done. After a while they bacame matted and the individual strands were all tangling together where the roots were in the bond and had grown down. By the time they were taken out my har was thin and straggly. I couldnt leave it so I had a set somewhere else hoping they would be better this time it was cheaper and the girl who did them for me glued the bonds in herself and the hair strands were made much thicker. It looked great when it was done but again after a few weeks even after using the right shampoo's etc they started to look dull and a bit false as I found them hard to style. Its been ages and I still have about 30 bonds in and I cant wear my hair down as the need to be removed they have grown down and the bonds show now and they have got matted again. They have got to the point where they are desperatly in need of being taken out but it takes hours of soaking them with acetone to remove them soaking each individual bond in a bit of cotton wool with acetone. I dread that part. Again my hair is looking straggly and it has ruined my hair even from the first time they havent recovered. I wish my hair was how it used to be natural and long I think if you are going to have them done dont leave them in too long when people say you can have them left in for about a year with top up's I have no idea how as my hair got far too tangled at the root and the bonds were getting tangled together. The do look lovely as in the second time I had them done but they need to be cut well after to make them look natural and also they are very high maintanence and I cant cope with them now.

xx

this sounds like the hairdressers fault not the extensions, extensions don't ruin your hair.The hair that would naturaly fall out can't fall out with extensions in so thats why you have them taken out and redone every three months. it isn't possible to 'just have top ups' because you'd see the bonds! and you'd look like Shakira! bushy matted hair lol! when you wash your hair you should sit and seperate the bonds that have attached themselves together. extensions don'thave to be high maintence when put in properly and taken care of. this wasn't the extensions fault im sorry you had a bad experience with them

 

[paula1973]

I also have hair extensions at the moment it's not the first time and won't be the last, i love em!! i've never had any problems, but i do use the right products and follow my after care advice, i have a full head of real european hair, have tried asian b4 but wasn't as good a quality,
It's like everything you get what you pay for, and like with nails, if the technician/hairdresser isn't properly trained and experienced yr not gonna get a good job.

 

[Ms.Matrix]

Natalie had some done for Christmas. They were in a strip and the lady made two tiny plaits and then sewed the strips onto the plaits. It was brilliant. She could wash and straighten it and it lasted for weeks. I'll try and get a pic in my gallery (done it!). It cost about £20 for the hair and £40 for her to put it in. And no damage whatsoever to her natural hair.

That's the best way to have them done in my opinion, and they are very easy to do, I've done my own on a few occasions...saves $$$$$$$

 

[Beautiful Manes]

That's the best way to have them done in my opinion, and they are very easy to do, I've done my own on a few occasions...saves $$$$$$$

Sorry Ms Matrix I disagree, with all respect you may do yours very nicely, but if putting hair extensions in was that easy I would not have spent the amount of money I have on training. I have seen many disasters from people trying to do their own of getting their friends to do them - The best advice is to leave it to the professionals.

 

[FlybyNight]

Sorry this is a late addition, but I have had Racoon extensions for about 2yrs. They take getting used to and at first I used to get a couple of little dreadlocks, but not any more. I miss putting the brush straight through the whole lot and only get a good scrub on the scalp when they remove them all every three months. I dont have maintenance as I like them all out and all in. I dont think maintenance saves you much money. They reuse most of the longer ones, but the shorter ones get thrown away!!:cry: I find I have to buy more hair each time. I use european as it is better. Stay away from monofibre as you will end up a Barbie doll, especially if heat gets near it. Cost is high. Working on them is up from £50/hr last yr to £60 this yr. I have to book 3hrs. Then add on the cost of hair which is normally about £100-150ish. This is every 3months!! Having said all that, I would not be without mine. I have fine hair and it saves me spending hours trying to style it and ending up a frizz bomb. I swim with it, but pin the hair up high. Dry it as soon as you can afterwards. When on hols, arrange the appts so you can have them all out and in again on your rtn. Then you dont worry about leaving them wet for a bit!! I would love to give Cinderella a go, but there isnt anywhere here that does it, so I just stick with what is tried and tested. My hairdresser specialises in hair loss cases. It is amazing what she can do to poor peeps with huge bald patches. Check her out on www.wattzinternational.co.uk or www.hairextensions.co.uk. Donna the Chameleon does mine!!

Good luck hon.

 

[Beautiful Manes]

Sorry this is a late addition, but I have had Racoon extensions for about 2yrs. They take getting used to and at first I used to get a couple of little dreadlocks, but not any more. I miss putting the brush straight through the whole lot and only get a good scrub on the scalp when they remove them all every three months. I dont have maintenance as I like them all out and all in. I dont think maintenance saves you much money. They reuse most of the longer ones, but the shorter ones get thrown away!!:cry: I find I have to buy more hair each time. I use european as it is better. Stay away from monofibre as you will end up a Barbie doll, especially if heat gets near it. Cost is high. Working on them is up from £50/hr last yr to £60 this yr. I have to book 3hrs. Then add on the cost of hair which is normally about £100-150ish. This is every 3months!! Having said all that, I would not be without mine. I have fine hair and it saves me spending hours trying to style it and ending up a frizz bomb. I swim with it, but pin the hair up high. Dry it as soon as you can afterwards. When on hols, arrange the appts so you can have them all out and in again on your rtn. Then you dont worry about leaving them wet for a bit!! I would love to give Cinderella a go, but there isnt anywhere here that does it, so I just stick with what is tried and tested. My hairdresser specialises in hair loss cases. It is amazing what she can do to poor peeps with huge bald patches. Check her out on www.wattzinternational.co.uk or www.hairextensions.co.uk. Donna the Chameleon does mine!!

Good luck hon.

Hi,

I would just like to say that it seems as though many people are being ripped off. You have stated that you are charged 50/60 per hour - I only charge 35, which makes it affordable. Maintenance is very important if you want your lovely extensions to continue looking good. All my ladies come for maintenance every 6 weeks and they last between 5 and 6 months because of it. It is no different to having nail maintenance and I am sure all will agree maintenance is important.

 

[Bunny]

For mine, I go to the Ace hair shops in Peckham Rye or Catford, buy a pack of human hair (20" is £24.99, 24" is £29.99) & a bottle of glue (£2.99). It comes as about a metre wide strip of hair which I cut into inch wide strips & my friend, who isn't a hairdresser but has been doing this for years, glues it in for me. I looks really good & the first time I had it done, not many people noticed as it was a little longer than my own hair but made it look much thicker which I liked but then I decided to go for it with the longer hair which was down to my behind! The glue is made of latex & they stay in for about 3 weeks. You can feel as they grown down the hair you've glued it on with so then I just use glue remover (£1.99) & the glue remover shampoo (£1.99) to wash away traces of glue. However, I've had them in for longer than 3 weeks, just having to reglue the odd one back up to the roots. I'm really happy with them & wouldn't be without them. My advice to anyone is to condition them well to keep them looking nice as I guess they don't have the natural oils my real hair has.

 

[Beautiful Manes]

For mine, I go to the Ace hair shops in Peckham Rye or Catford, buy a pack of human hair (20" is £24.99, 24" is £29.99) & a bottle of glue (£2.99). It comes as about a metre wide strip of hair which I cut into inch wide strips & my friend, who isn't a hairdresser but has been doing this for years, glues it in for me. I looks really good & the first time I had it done, not many people noticed as it was a little longer than my own hair but made it look much thicker which I liked but then I decided to go for it with the longer hair which was down to my behind! The glue is made of latex & they stay in for about 3 weeks. You can feel as they grown down the hair you've glued it on with so then I just use glue remover (£1.99) & the glue remover shampoo (£1.99) to wash away traces of glue. However, I've had them in for longer than 3 weeks, just having to reglue the odd one back up to the roots. I'm really happy with them & wouldn't be without them. My advice to anyone is to condition them well to keep them looking nice as I guess they don't have the natural oils my real hair has.

The best thing to do in all honesty is to get a professional person to apply them for you. Positioning is very important so that the hair flows correctly with yours, so that they are comfortable, not damaging on your real hair and also so they do not look like extensions. If you are planning on applying them by someone who is not trained then you would struggle to put them in properly on your own so you would need a friend to assist. Most importantly do not get the glue on your scalp and do not position them too high on your head, make the highest point top of the ear level.

With regards to conditioning the extension hair, you have to be careful with conditioner, but as the extension hair is dead and is not receiving the nutrients of your body like your real hair it does need feeding or it will become dry and corse. You should apply condition to the midlengths and ends and not right up where the glue is. It is advisable to use a gentle shampoo such as herbal essence not harsh shampoos like head and shoulders or panten (never use intensive conditioners as they travel up the hair shaft and into the glue, making the glue soft).

Wefts are ok, but are designed really for afro carribean hair and will not last as long in european hair as the single bonding methods.

 

[nailcouture]

After a disastrous cut at Rush in the Centrale in Croydon, wne in with shoulder length curly hair, came out with it up by my ears after asking for some of the weight to be cut out of my hair.....................i HAD to go and get extentions put in as my hair looked bloody awful!!

Anyway i am now wearing racoon extentions, which are great, the curl match is really good, as my own curl is tight without products in it.

I use bumble and bumble in my hair and my extentions, and it hasnt interfered with the bonds (as yet anyway)
I find them easy to maintain and easy to wash and dry, just do it as i would my normal hair really, apart from running my fingers thru my hair to seperate the extentions, i get my partner to usually do this bit lol.

I am going to keep them in i think, but i might go into the hairdressers and get them to blow dry it all straight for a change.

I see it as just a routine in maintaining them same as my cleanse and tone and my cuticle oil daily fix etc.................

 

[dotty]

Hi there,

I have had hair extensions in the past, and have tried different company's like Cinderella, Hairaisers and Racoon. They all use the same method which is fusion and I really think that is the best. I have also tried pre-bonded Balmain which was the worst and the hair was dreadful. I love Racoon extensions as there european hair is great, I can also recommend a very good lady who has been doing my extensions
for a while and her prices are very reasonable, and the thing I like the most is she comes out to your home. She does my hair and a few of my friends and none of us have had any problems. One thing I will say extensions do take a bit of getting used to, and they take a couple of weeks to settle in.

Dotty

 

[lisaloveliness]

OMG this post sounds like an advert NOT to have them done,!!! Bless ya :lol: funny though, suppose if you do end looking like the jacksons or anyone else having a bad hair day there is very little you can do about it, dont know what to do now, people have said good and bad things about them. will let you all know what i decide but im abit scared now :Scared: .

Hi iv had hair extensions in a few times now and my hair has been fine i put them in myself use human hair and glue it in the hair can be washed so its not like you are distreating your own hair.The longest i kept mine is was about 2 months but as i do them myself if any need replacing i would do it.Saved lot of money as well i have a picture i will try and upload it

 

[xniceyloux]

WOW, im soooo shocked that as many people on ere have had a real bad experiance with extensions! i have worn them for what seems like years and years..lol i agree that most salons that are in my area only use fusion method...and in my opinion theres nothing wrong in that..if they are applied correctly! the sad fact is most of them are not! i have worn fusion method for around 9 months they were great the first time i had them out then put back in...the second time i had them out my grown hair had gone all thin with mega!!!! split ends.
i then started my research,hours and hours of it about 7 months worth..then felt brave enought to try out an extension method on a friend..turned out it was the best thing i ever did..i used the micro ring method..no glue involved. my friend wore these extensions for nearly 3 months and take down was a breeze...that was it i was hooked i was armed with my trusted block head to practise on and loads and i mean loads of willing subjects:biggrin: i had been doin my research and other peoples hair for a year then decided to take a course in hair extensions.i am now a qualified hair extensionist and have about 18 clients on my books and counting!!! so it just goes to show you if the passion is there and you really want to do hair extensions you do not need to be a pro!! i have totally converted my clients that normally have fusions to shrink links now or micro rings if any of you ladies would like info on any of these methods or i can share any of my experiances with you just pm me.. i cant think of anything else id rather talk about...lol
oh thanks for reading this essay hehehe