Did you know that your hair has a terminal length? This is the point where your hair simply gives up, stops growing and starts disintegrating at the ends. Clients complain about this in my chair every day and despite them only getting “just a trim” for the last few visits their hair simply wont grow. It is nearly impossible to have long HEALTHY hair down the middle of your back unless you are just super blessed (high five to those of you born with gorgeous hair). For the rest of us, we may need a little help if we want those Pinterest worthy locks we are all coveting and it’s easier than you think to achieve!
Because I simply cannot talk about something I haven’t experienced myself, I decided to be the guinea pig here and share the good, bad and ugly along the way (I know, I know…I’m such a giver). I enlisted Whitney from the salon to help me out and put mine in for me. She even ended up getting some for herself (yep, they are THAT good). At this point, I’ve had mine in for almost three weeks and so I wanted to jump in with my thoughts so far as well as some FAQ’s regarding my extensions. Keep scrolling for everything you need to know about tabbed extensions…
WHAT KIND OF EXTENSIONS DID WE USE?
We used Hot Heads tabbed extensions in two different colors to create dimension to blend with my color.
WHAT IS THE APPLICATION PROCESS?
You take a small slice (section) of hair and sandwich it in between two “tabs”. You should leave this to the professionals and have them help you figure out how many you need and where to place them to achieve your desired look. Once they are in (takes about 30-45 minutes) they will likely need to be cut so they blend with your haircut.
WHO ARE THEY GOOD FOR?
Extensions are good for people looking to add length, volume, experiment with color or all of the above. Extensions aren’t just for people wanting Rapunzel like length. They are also great for people that just want to add some volume or density. Some people might only need a few around the front to fill in sparse areas. Additionally, you can use these extensions to play with color without risking damaging your hair.
WHAT DOES IT FEEL LIKE?
If you’ve had clip-in extensions, they are SO much lighter and they lay completely flat. They felt just a little tight on the first day (similar to having a ponytail in for too long) but that goes away. Over time the tabs actually become more flexible and are very comfortable. Depending on how many you have, it can feel a little heavy but it’s a small price to pay to have the hair you always wanted!
HOW LONG DO THEY LAST?
They should last about 8 weeks and at that point you should have them professionally taken out (so you don’t damage your hair) and then re-tabbed and at that point you can put them back in. If you take good care of them they will last you several uses! This is one of the things I’ll be experimenting with in the coming months.
HOW DO YOU CLEAN THEM?
Brush your hair out before you get in the shower and then you wash them with a really good shampoo and conditioner. I use Living Proof No Frizz Shampoo and Conditioner and lean back slightly so you can really get in between them in the back and gently cleanse so you don’t tangle them too much. Focus your shampoo on the scalp and conditioner on the mid-lengths and ends. When you get out, start detangling from the bottom and work your way up carefully. I swear by the Tangle Teezers!
WHO SHOULD SKIP IT?
If you have extremely fine or damaged hair I recommend trying a halo or possibly even clip in extensions. Your hair needs to be strong enough to hold the weight of the extra hair and dense enough to camouflage the tabs.
ARE THEY HARD TO STYLE?
I find if I take the time to blow dry them and curl them then it will last for SEVERAL days. Literally wake up, brush it out (maybe touch up slightly) and go! A little more high maintenance to fix on the from end but then you have gorgeous hair that last for days. Because Living Proof doesn’t have silicone and oils my hair stays clearer longer (with or without extensions) and now they have added Dry Shampoo that actually cleans so once your hair is fixed it REALLY stays!!
WHAT’S THE INVESTMENT?
You know when we use the word “investment” it’s not gonna be cheap. You are paying for both the hair AND the expertise to perform the service. This is serious stuff and if you put them in wrong it could result in bald spots so this is not the time to cut corners. At Mirror Mirror, for the first round you can expect to pay anywhere from $600-$900 depending on what you want (unless it’s just a few filler pieces). When you take them out and put them back in your are just paying for the service, not the hair, so you can expect to pay about $300. They can be used 2-3 times so you can really get your moneys worth out of that first initial investment (see, there’s that word again). If that’s out of your budget, you can try clip in extensions for about half the cost!
HOW DO I GET MY OWN?
If you are in Austin and want to schedule a consultation give us a call to get on our books at (512)420-8868. Once we match your hair and make a plan based on your goals, the hair takes anywhere from 4-7 days to arrive unless you pay extra to rush it!
CONTRIBUTORS:
PHOTOGRAPHY: Melissa Glynn has spent the past six year developing a style that aims to show off just how fantastic you are. This self proclaimed “Texas girl” loves creating images that are classic, timeless, and lovely. When she’s not behind the camera she loves playing with her pup “Nolte”, riding bicycles, traveling, yoga, and a really great glass of red zinfandel!