Hair extensions

[jellibelli]

DD (17) is interested in getting some hair extensions as, in her words, she has been trying to grow her hair for 9 years now without success. There is a hardresser's near to us which fits Racoon International hair extensions, but we don't really know the benefits of them or what sort of price they will come in at. Hairdresser has not returned her call not a good start .

DD knows more about it than me but what choices are there with extensions and what are the pros and cons of them? Is a particular brand better than the rest?

How much maintenance by her and a hairdresser is involved?

She has bra length (when wet) curly, prone to frizzing and breaking, dyed hair. What else can she do to help increase it's length?

Thanks in advance.

Bumping in the hope the evening ladies can help

I don't know a massive amount about them as I only looked into them slightly before deciding they were way too expensive for me but what I saw locally to me in the North West was around £300-400 for extensions which would last about 3 months. I bought clip in extensions instead which cost me about £50, and I can just unclip them each night after wearing them.

Well if her hair is frizzy and prone to breaking (probably due to dying her hair), then extensions are not a good idea! Her hair isn't growing because its damaged. Better to grow out the dye and look after her hair. Extensions are just going to weaken it more...

I agree with Vanilla. In order to make the extensions blend she will have to straighten her hair often which will make it worse. I've been there done that. Its a vicious circle.

I seriously suggest babying her hair and it will respond. Ensure she has 2ltrs of water, takes hair growing supplements (the skin hair & nails ones are great and also extra biotin.)

Then develop a good regime. Experiment with different products. My mate has hair similar to your daughters and uses my afro hair with great success. I'd wash with a good moisturising shampoo (blue herbal essences Hello Hydration or the VO5 give me moisture are fab.) Look into cowashing too. It works really well for curly girls.

Then she should deep condition at least 2x a week. Cover the hair with a good conditioner (the hello hydration hair mask, Aussie 3 Minute Miracle are good. Also add a dash of Roux Porosity Control, this will help with the frizz caused by dye messing up the cuticles). Place a showercap over the hair and wrap in a towel. Leave on for at least an hour or ideally overnight. Rinse in cool water.

She should then smooth some argan oil and a good serum through the hair. It might be a good idea to "plop" it

Try and avoid heat styling too. If you must use a dryer, use an ionic one on a low setting and always use heat protectant (tresemme do a good one.)

Just realised I've written an essay - it might sound a bit much but it does work. Good luck!

Wow! Thanks for all the advice, I will pass it on to her. I guess she needs to decide if she wants to go for length or colour...

In her defence she does already drink heaps of plain water and takes supplements, I will get her to check out hair supplements next time she restocks. She rarely uses straighteners and tries to allow her hair to air dry as a matter of routine. She was nicknamed Tracey Beaker at school way before she dyed it for the first time. Her hair actually looks quite like this picture.

I, of course, think she is beautiful whatever her hair is doing. Thanks again.

Just checked out the plopping clip and think I might give it a try myself! but with a turbytowel I think rather than wrestling with a tshirt

I'd recommend the clip in extensions instead. They damage your hair a lot less and can be treated like real hair as long as she uses a heat protectant. I curl mine to make them blend better rather than straighten.The curl is more forgiving.

120g if she has normal hair or 160 for thick hair. The thickest I've found for the best price are Foxy Locks. You can Google for reviews.

Would be a bit wary of extentions if DDs hair is breakable because the weight of them may cause more breakages. When they are removed they can leave the hair looking v frizzy and not very nice at all. I second clip in ones or the way I get round being unable to grow mine is to use clip in and wrap round pieces. I've got some from a company called Hot Hair (have tried a lot and these are the ones I've had the most success with) that even my hairdresser thought were all my own till I whipped them out. They're really easy to use. I've got one like a scrunchy that I put on a chopstick and sometimes use a clip in pony under it. Sometimes I wear just the one or the other. They cause no damage and you can have quite a lot of different looks with them. I've had human and synthetic extentions in the past and they both left my weak hair in a vile state when I had them taken out.

Hi I wear bonded extensions.
Firstly if her hair is prone to breakage, I wouldn't recommend them, neither would my hair dresser. The more natural hair shedding or breakage you have the less time they will last. You will also lose more.
No matter how well they are placed the bond will add a bit of extra weight to the hair and if it is damaged it will further break it.
As for the type, I wouldn't go for racoon. Racoon are fitted but the hairdresser taking some hair and dipping it in the glue then your hair. They have to be really good to ensure the bonds are of equal size. You also get more hair shedding out of this type.
I would go for great length. The bond is attached to the hair by machine, the bond warmed and then added to the hair.
As the hair and bond are done by machine there is less shedding and they last longer.
Great length hair is better quality imo.
to make them last they are high maintenance. Very high maintenance. I am getting fed up with mine and currently I only have some in for thickness not as many needed for length.
I go to gym every day and they are a pita.
She wil have to style her hair everyday, which may increase damage.
I would recommend a consultation at a reputable hairdressers. They will do a free quote speak to her about whether they are a good idea or not.
I would say that is her hair is to her bra strap and she wants it kind you are looking at anything fro. £600-£1000 for a full head done properly. The longer the hair the more expensive each extension it is.
Sorry its long, I hope it helps.

Her hair may have just reached its optimum length, I've heard some great things about argan oil, I'd probably suggest trying that and trying clip in extensions to see how she likes the feel before going for actual extensions. As a fellow curly girl with a love/hate relationship with her hair, I sympathise!!!