Extensions Granted
Project Growout proceeds apace. No, I still have not purchased a tripod, which accounts for the slightly out-of-focus, taken-in-the-mirror portraits, though I have naught to blame for the dorky expressions save my own anxiety in front of the lens.
(The end result was a bit redder as you can see above, but my hair tends to take color that way. It will probably take a few coloring sessions to tone the red down.) Brian cut some layers into my chin-length bob to add some dimension and movement. He then suggested that I try some extensions to add some volume, not length, to the sides. (“Just a few.”) I was a bit hesitant, but as it’s always been my impossible dream to have thick, luxuriant hair, I crossed my fingers and gave the go-ahead. The effect is subtle but I can definitely see the difference. The strands of hair extensions are bonded to a very thin strand of my own hair with a small piece of something that looks like wax, which is heated with something that looks like a curling iron (but does not burn) to adhere. The attachments are secured to the underneath layers, and so are totally invisible.
I drove home, my brain dancing with Sugar Plum fantasies about growing my hair out past shoulder length with a little boost from these Hirsute Helpers.
One week in, and I’m still on the fence. I’m not used to the feel of these. Forget about running one’s fingers through one’s hair…it’s easy to catch on the attachments and it pulls uncomfortably like a bobby pin that’s caught a stray hair in the wrong way. I have to use a special brush designed not to catch and pull on the extension attachment points. They’re supposed to last 2-4 months; I’m not sure if I’ll last that long.
According to Brian, actresses and performers these days rarely are photographed without some type of hair extensions, whether “permanent” like mine, or clip-ons. That includes models in hair product commercials! (Just as it’s perfectly legal for models in mascara commercials to be wearing several sets of false eyelashes.) I had 6 on each side. Some get as many as 200!
Have you tried hair extensions? If so, how did you like the results? Did it take some time to get used to them?
SJP photo from Elle.com
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I’ve had extensions frequently, though usually in highly unnatural colors. ::grin:: Yours look very natural indeed.
If the attachment points are annoying you now, they will only be worse when they’re an inch from your scalp. That’s about the point where if I can’t rush to the hairdresser, I grit my teeth and start pulling them out. Not only do they catch on my fingers/brushes/themselves, my hair has started to dread at the root, and the wax has picked up every stray bit of dirt it’s been near.
You know how people describe the best two days of a boat owner as the day they buy the boat and the day they sell it? I think the best two days are the day I get the extensions, when I think, “Ooh, what luxurious, fun hair!” and the day I pull them out, when I think, “Ooh, what sleek, clean hair!”
Your hair looks like it is growing longer in a very stylish way. I would never have known extensions were involved! Brian must be a skilled hairdresser!
I too have weight and hair “issues” and am now wearing goggles… easier to read the scale with!
As your other commenters have said, your hair looks very natural — I’d never have guessed that wasn’t all your own hair.
For myself, I can’t imagine adding another layer of upkeep to my hair routine — it’s enough to do the colour/highlights routine every 5 weeks!
I’ve never worn extensions, but I think they’d make me crazy. How would the clip-on extensions do for occasional volumizing?
I’ve never tried extention, not that I need them with long hair, but they are very common.
Yours look totally natural, are they a problem when you brush your hair?
personally, I like Wendy B’s fauxny tail.
I love it, I love it, I love it. It’s modern, flattering, feminine. You’re looking extremely pretty, I must say.
Tishx
Looks divine, Miss Pseu. Miss J cannot tell at all.
Miss J hasn’t tried hair extensions.
It looks great. You are so brave. I have always thought that my princess-and-the-pea tendencies would cause me to rip them from my head:(>
The extensions do look remarkably natural; perhaps you’ll get used to them after a few more days. I’ve done a couple of pink extensions once just for fun, but proceeded to get rip roaring drunk at my birthday party and yank them out by accident. I’ll definitely try them again, but with the clip-in kind.
It looks awesome. You’ll get used to them. Tough it out! There’s no burning need to run one’s fingers through one’s hair 🙂
You know how I feel about my faux-ny tail!
Are you kidding? What did you pay for this torture? Models and actresses have to do these kind of things to themselves to make a living. The rest of us would be insane to copy them.
Your hair looks absolutely natural. Do you have a `before´picture ? I have never even thought about extensions, might start to think now;)
You look very nice!
I agree with the other commenters that the extensions look fantastically natural, but they sound like a bit of a pain.
My problem has always been too much hair, so I’ve never tried them out myself!
That “dorky” expression is called “a smile” — and you look adorable, and happy. Must be those extensions!
There may not be a burning need to run YOUR fingers through your hair but wouldn’t DH like to? Enjoy the extensions while they please you.
I admire your red-with-gold, your colour – so vibrant! Dorky is the last thing you look.
metscan – unfortunately no before pic, as I hadn’t planned to do this until I was in the chair. Without the extensions, the hair on the sides would be much wispier.
Gwen – that’s so funny about the boat owner’s expression, have heard that from DH’s family as they’re boat people. I’m noticing they but me more when I haven’t washed my hair for a couple of days.
Sal – they’re really not any more work than my natural hair, just have to take some precautions.
hostess of humble bungalow – thanks! Brian is very good with the extensions, and with color and styling too.
sisty – thank you! I need to work on feeling more comfortable in front of the camera.
materfamilias – it didn’t take a lot of time, but yes, a bit more time (30 min?) added onto the color and cut.
Nancy – unfortunately, my hair is too fine for clip on anything. Even those little plastic kiddie barettes just slide right out of my hair.
Belle – they’re not a problem when I brush my hair, as long as I use the special brush on the areas with the extensions. Wendy’s faux-ny tail is fabulous!
tishjett – merci bien. You are too kind!
Miss Janey – thanks so much!
LPC – thank you! I have those same PinP tendencies, but so far no ripping.
Audi – thank you. Every day I notice them a bit less.
WendyB – thanks! I remain in awe of your faux-ny tail! I promise I will give these at least until my next hair appointment, another couple of weeks. I do like how they look.
Anonymous – you can holster that snarkonator, buckaroo. They are by no means “torture” nor was my motivation to have “celebrity hair.”
Cindy Kay – thank you!
Duchesse – I’ll just direct him to the safe finger-running areas. 😉
LBR – I so enjoyed our lunch today! There are few things in life that a glass of champagne won’t make a bit better.
Your hair looks great, but I think the feeling of having something woven close to my scalp would make me crazy.The idea of clip-on extensions sound appealing though; whenever I have a beauty treatment that makes me dependent on another individual to maintain or remove, I feel slightly claustrophobic.But that’s me—your hair is really pretty.
Your hair looks amazing: the cut, colour, and volume. I would have never have guessed you had extension. They look so natural( just having seen you today I feel in an expert position to say).
p.s. Thank you soooo much for the lovely lunch! It was a real treat. Champagne at lunch is decadently wonderful. Merci!
I think you look great- your hair looks natural and your expression is very pretty. Let us know if you think the process is worth the hassle….Maureen
Love your blog (I am a daily reader) and think your hair looks lovely. I don’t think I could go the extention route, even though I also have fine and thin hair. I am 54, and have grown my hair to tailbone length and absolutely love it. I have so much fun with quick and easy up-do’s and my hair stays neat and tidy, it’s much easier to care for than when short. You can grow your hair long if you wish too.
I got one pink hair extension as a breast cancer research fundraiser last year (run by my salon). It was annoying — I too kept catching my brush in it, and as Gwen said, it got more annoying as it grew out. I finally picked it out. I don’t know how anyone could tolerate 200 of them.
On the other hand, I got lots of compliments on it because no one expects a 50-year-old who dresses from Talbots to have pink hair. And yours look great also, very natural. So it’s a tradeoff.
I’ve always wondered about the idea of extensions–esp as my own hair is fine and thin. And I have curly hair, so I haven’t brushed it in goodness knows when…
I’m pleased to hear that you are happy with them, and I look forward to hearing about upkeep and growing out.
Good for you, and enjoy! You look fab!
I feel your pain as my own hair is thin and limpy-gimpy. I think your hair looks great – style and color both. I have a modified bob (shorter in the back and longer on the sides). I did have a single pink extension put in this past October for BCA but after 2 weeks, I cut the darn thing out. I couldn’t brush my hair nor did my scalp in that area feel really clean. I cannot imagine a head full of extensions. My answer is great product to give volume and body. I currently use Redken AERATE 08 BODIFYING CREAM-MOUSSE and I recommend it. Good luck!
I did extensions for 2 years–loved the look when it was new, but needed to have new ones in every 2 months. It got really expensive, and worse still, the glue damaged by hair. I’d caution you to have them removed when your hair has grown about 1 inch; after that, you can see the bond and it no longer looks natural. I did enjoy the versatility they provided–I got instant length and volume, which I’d always wanted. But I wouldn’t do it again because of the damage to my hair. Bonne chance!
Thanks for sharing this – I have very thin straight hair and have dreamed of extensions myself but thought the attachments would bug me and, honestly, just didn’t want to pay the money. Yours look great, but I’m interested to see how you feel about them in a couple months!
I have very thick hair and lots of it……all of it baby fine of course! To get any sort of volume I have to curl it, since the heat makes my hair more coarse. I’ve considered getting some extensions just to get out of having flat hippie hair (since I tend to wear it long and be lazy about keeping layers cut in).
You look absolutely fabulous! I do hope you get used to them, you look simply radiant!
I never thought of hair extensions to add thickness, only thought of them for adding length. Your hair looks great. I would never have guessed you have extensions put in.
your hair looks great – your hair could be described as gossamer, which needs a precision cut.
I have clip in extensions that I put on when I want a long ponytail, they don’t really work when my hair is out as my bob hairstyle is too blunt to blend. I wouldn’t want to wear them all the time, but they are fun!
I love the colour on you!
I think you need to be very careful with extensions as they weaken the root of the hair due to the sudden extra weight. I’ve never liked the idea.
In the UK they are seen very much as an American thing. Only young 20 somethings bother with them here.
I’ve also always been very critical and over attentive of my hair. But in the last few months, with so much happening in my life, I’ve tended to leave it well alone, apart from washing of course. The result has been a string of compliments from friends, family and strangers.