What I do and Do not love about my extensions

This was originally going to be a Valentine’s Day post but after I had my extensions removed last week, I knew I needed to share my thoughts while they were fresh. But I guess the topic is a bit of a love story… in its own way.

As most of you know, my hair has been very short for many years. It’s been platinum blonde and it’s been fiery red. Color and cut clearly do not scare me away from trying new things with my hair. But at the end of 2018, I decided I wanted to try growing my hair out again. (There’s a whole long story about why I chopped it in the first place, but I’ll retell that one another day.) Growing was going really well and then I was inspired to do my hair a little differently. The color would be more golden with a deep root and I wanted to try to have something longer. So Jason and I discussed what we could do and as soon as my hair was long enough to hold beaded row extensions, we went for it.

Truth be told, I was getting impatient. And so many people I know have or had extensions and love them. So I wanted to give them a shot. Part of what I really love about Jason is that he is always honest about what to expect with whatever we’re doing. He told me that it would be a really big change for me to go from short hair to really long hair over night, which can sometimes be overwhelming. And he also told me that because my hair was so short, we would require three rows of hair for the first round, which is also a lot to take all at once. Again, hair doesn’t make me nervous so I said let’s do it. And off we went.

What I love about my extensions

Long hair. Boom. I wanted it and I had it instantly. I had something to play with again. I could do little buns at the nape of my neck, I could pull everything back into a ponytail, I could wear a hat and still feel super feminine. The hair Jason uses is so luscious and healthy. It added a lot of volume to what I already had. The change was dramatic, which is something I always love. One of my coworkers even told me unprompted that he wished he could instantly look like he was in his 20s again. Holy shit. I don’t know that I’ve ever received a more flattering comment!

What I did not love about my extensions

Jason was spot on when he said it would be a little overwhelming. I had no idea what to do with all of this hair that I knew wasn’t mine. Showering was such a challenge. I had three rows of beads and wefts sewn into my head. So I had to shampoo on the top and then in between each row. It was so weird and annoying. I never felt like I could really get in there to clean my hair. The extensions can be a little itchy. No matter what you do, you still have something that’s not part of your body secured to your head. I found myself thinking about them constantly, even when they weren’t itchy.

When the extensions are first sewn in, they’re pretty tight and the beads are right next to the scalp. I could really notice them the first few nights until they grew out a bit. But even then, whenever I went to yoga, I could feel them pressing into my scalp when I was on my back. It was distracting. When they were grown out, they felt a little floppy, which is to be expected. But still rather irritating. Also, because my hair was so short and the extensions were so long, I had to put a wave in my hair so that they would blend in. Otherwise you could clearly see where my hair ended and the extensions began. After I had them lifted and trimmed, the contrast wasn’t as bad but it was still noticeable.

Getting extensions is a long and expensive process. Again, I had three rows the first time, so that process obviously takes longer than just one row. That said, the first time we did this, we started the process at about 10:30 in the morning and I was leaving the salon around 4:00. We were all exhausted! When you factor in purchasing the hair itself, the color/cut and then the obvious skill it requires to do this correctly, it’s expensive for a reason. You want quality hair and you want someone like Jason who knows what they’re doing. The cost is going to vary based on how many wefts you need to purchase, how many rows you’re getting, etc. But be prepared to spend $1,200 or more for that first sitting. The good news is the hair can be used repeatedly and, if you care for it properly, will last up to a year. The cost therefore goes down when you have the beads lifted, which should be done about every six weeks.

In the end

By the time I made the decision to try extensions, I was entering the dreaded “in-between” phase of hair growth. The extensions were something fun and different to try. They turned out to be the bridge I needed to get to the other side of “in-between”. For that I am thankful. But I’ve decided extensions just are not my thing. At least not right now. I may revisit them some day if I’m able to grow my hair out more fully.

I’m also thankful for the new perspective the extensions gave me on my own hair. I’m working on getting it more healthy and trying not to fight its natural tendencies. I started to understand that my hair needs a higher level of care than I used to believe. It needs less cleaning, less heat and more moisture to behave properly. I honestly don’t know if I would have come to that conclusion if I hadn’t tried extensions.

Hair is such a deeply personal experience. I completely understand why women love extensions and I fully endorse the process for anyone who finds joy in them. But I think it’s important to remember that everyone’s hair (and situation) is different. It’s absolutely critical to use the right kind of extensions, to work with a skilled professional in having them put in and to understand that it’s a major investment.

I hope my experience helps you decide if extensions are right for you. If you’re curious about extensions, particularly beaded row extensions, explore your options. Talk to a professional. I obviously recommend Parlor Six based on my experience. Jason is one of the best in the business and he will never, ever push you into something that isn’t right for you.

Have a question I didn’t cover here? Ask me anything! I want to help you if I can. Leave a comment or DM me.
xo

This post was created in partnership with Parlor Six. I received a discount on my services.