To ask for your experiences with hair extensions.

[GetMeOffThisCycleOfMisery]

Basically that.

I have a consultation tomorrow. My hair is really getting me down, I'm not vain, but my hair is affecting my confidence as I hate how it doesn't grow (okay, it does grow, but being blonde and using straighteners means it gets damaged) past shoulder length. I feel so ugly with over-processed, crappy shorter hair.

I don't want to change hair colour completey, as I look so pale when brunette, that I look ill. I also like being blonde.

So I haven't done my roots this month and thought I'd go for an ombre style (even though I don't like ombre) as it would reduce the chemicals on my hair and the extensions can be fitted to the regrowth / healthy hair.

There's just so many options the hairdresser offers, nano rings, micro rings, LA weave, tape-ins and I'm sure there's more.

Just after some insight if you've had / have extensions please. Any tips, recommendations for which system, any dos and don'ts, or anything you'd wish you knew when you first got them?

Thanks in advance.

Oh and I've got Caucasian hair, straight-ish, but needs straightening.

The thing people never tell you is that they itch. I wouldn't have them but I would go for a gentler blonde, with more highlights around the face or ombré/bayalage

Hair can look very blonde and actually mostly be brown IYSWIM

Thanks @Chloe9. Is the itching constant, or just after fitting?

I know the ombre will look awful when I get it done tomorrow, until next Thursday when I get the extensions.

Have you had any damage to your hair from extensions and what system do you have?

I’ve had them a few times, the first time over a decade ago for my brother’s wedding. They were magnificent and so easy to look after and I loved them. (I was also a carefree 29 year old please bear in mind)

Second time was last year as a treat/mid life crisis for my 40th. Same brand of hair from same hair salon but it was a completely different experience, I hated them from the moment the girl finished and I got them out after 3 weeks, total waste of money.

The quality of hair has gone down SIGNIFICANTLY in the last 10 years because the demand has gone up. That makes a massive difference to looking after and maintaining them. There is also a push to give you more than you actually need because that’s the style at the moment. The skills in putting them in have also been diluted and that has an effect on how they are placed on your scalp and how they are cut to work with your own hair.

To be honest, I wouldn’t have them if I were you.

Or if you really want to try it have them but keep them short. Used them to fill out a long bob (which is actually more stylish just now than the cascading Cheryl Cole look) and if they suggest for example 150, tell them you only want 125.

Do not get a weave - it itches and it also SMELLS because you can’t get under it to wash your own hair and scalp properly.

Bonds are better than micro loops although the plus side of micro loops is you could get a friend to take them out easily for free if you really wanted to!!

I meant last time not second time

Thanks @Sadie789 that's really insightful. I'm strong towards tape,-ins and I'm not wanting LOADS of hair or having it really long, I'm 42 and would feel a bit daft with Barbie hair down to my bum. Not that there's anything wrong with that look, it would just look ridiculous on me.

I just want to feel more feminine and think this is the only way I can get long hair again without going back to being brunette. So I think it's worth trying.

The extension stylist has rave reviews and her work looks fantastic. So fingers crossed on the hair quality.

erring towards (not strong towards!)

I have had them a few times - had the bonds and super long hair when I was younger and they drove my mad. They do itch, I was craving a good scratch of my head for the 3 weeks I lasted till I had them out!

Had them done again a few more times because I convince myself I will cope. The last time was the best - I had tape weave with shoulder length hair. I used to forget I had them in, they were fab and no one knew I had them unless I told them as the length was so natural! That said, I got drunk and tried to remove them myself and now have a bald patch on the back of my head (luckily covetable!) so it wasn’t all roses

What struck me from your post was the amount of compromise you were going for - you want to walk out and feel amazing! What has the hairdresser recommended you go for?

I’ve had bonds a couple of times and loved them, but found they knackered my own hair (despite being correctly removed and looked after). The biggest difference I found was the time it took to dry my hair. From 15 minutes beforehand to a good 40 minutes afterwards! Mine never really itched, but they did feel right for a few days after getting them put in.

I had a full on weave and I swear it was like having a face lift at first. They have to do them so tight as they will loosen up. Very uncomfortable to sleep in and when it started to grow out, you're supposed to go back and get them tightened but it's expensive.
I actually found that investing in a couple of sets of really good clip in extensions was much better. I would wash them like my real hair, style them and everything, didn't take ages to put in and looked really good. Also, it meant I didn't have to have them in every day and way more comfortable at night.

Have had them for around 9 years now, non-stop, always bonds and have dyed blond hair with root regrowth done every 6 weeks.

My natural hair has shortened a little bit in this time but this time around I'm going to put oil on the ends before I straighten it. And maybe use some hair masks.

Amazingly, I have never suffered from an itchy or sore head or had any real problems with them. I never get more than 75 put in - I have no idea how anyone fits over 100 on their head!

I had a new set put in last week, and my hair looks amazing right now.

I use bonds. I did think of changing to microbeads as it might be kinder to my hair but my hairdresser swears they cause baldness so maybe not!

I have micro rings and have done for years now. I love them so much! They look really natural and no one knows I have them! They also last for 2 months until I need them re fitted which is fab!

I have tried loads of methods. An a'LA weave' is my favourite and causes least damage to my hair.

I first had them about 15 years ago, my hair literally only recovered fully in the past 4 years

Thanks everyone. When people say bonds, is that glued or taped-in?

@twirlypoo - I guess I sound like I'm compromising, which I am, but I feel I have to. I dislike ombre as I think it looks untidy, like people can't be arsed to do their roots! I do my roots every 4 weeks, I feel scruffy with roots, so the ombre look is a magnified version of that! I will get over it though.

If I carry on with the blonde roots, then adding the weight of extensions, I think it would become more brittle and ruined, so by doing the ombre, gives it chance to repair and hopefully grow.

@Guineapiggiesmalls Oooh good tip about the drying time.

@Pizzaaddict sorry to hear that. What type of extensions were they? What did they do to ruin your hair?

I had bonds glued in, had about 250 all together, my head was so sore for like 2 weeks after, ended up with spots on my scalp from how tight the bonds were to my scalp, when I got them taken out I had literally no hair left it was so thin it was a few strands I was absolutely distraught, taken a year to get my hair back to normal 😩

I had nano rings or micro rings, whichever is smaller I can't remember. All I can say is go to somebody reputable. Ask questions. Research and know exactly what to ask. I rushed into it and was left with completely destroyed hair.

She put around 300 separate beads in, and she didn't use the silicone lined beads. They were pure sharp metal and they cut my hair like scissors. When I went back for maintenance she took each bead out and put it straight back in, so I didn't get any idea of the extent of the damage until I was 6 months in and decided to take a break. 3 times I had to go back to her to take some out as it was heavy and painful. I spoke to a different hairdresser, after I'd had them removed and they were trying to salvage what was left of my hair and they were horrified at how many had been put in and that they weren't lined. I had an absolute horror story with it all. However I know people who have had the same type of extensions and had no problems, so it's not unavoidable as long as you really check everything out in advance and make sure the beads are lined!!!

Just found looking again at photos of their work. My hair is very similar to the before photo, but slightly shorter and thinner at the ends.

I had various types, initially it was glue in ones (diy) which totally destroyed my hair by tearing honestly 60% out, and because of that I wouldn’t dream of leaving the house with none in, then I went to clip ins which were not as bad but still led to some hair loss as it was so fragile anyway. And finally micro loops. Very itchy and uncomfortable although much less damaging in my experience x

This was my hair with my tape extensions. You really couldn’t see the join at all, where as with bonds I always felt a bit conscious of them?

The second photo is the damage I did when I tried to remove them myself... clearly a lesson there not to get drunk and think you are a hairdresser, but it does also show how weak / thin my hair was that it came away so easily.

OMG @twirlypoo!! You poor thing.

I had wefts of hair (hair on a strip) attached by micro rings.

They are heavy, they hurt and my head didn't feel properly clean untill I took them out because you can't get to them to wash properly.

@GetMeOffThisCycleOfMisery not sure if it's temporary or constant as both times I've had them I took them out fairly quickly (within a week despite great expense)