Hair extensions... good? Bad?

[MedusaIsHavingaBadHairday]

Having had my hair cut short in August, I hate it. It's not particularly hideous but I don't feel like me (never had any idea that a hair cut could make me feel this way... learning experience and all that!)

It's very short. Growing but of course half an inch a month is going to take me years just to get it down to my shoulders again. I am seriously considering extensions as soon as there is enough hair to grab hold of. I rarely spend money on myself and am not particularly trendy or anything but I just want some hair while mine grows! Every morning I see myself in the mirroe and think 'shit.. still look like Elvis Costello...'

Has anyone had them..if so what type? How long does natural hair have to be to get them? I have an old school reunion to go to in February and am hoping by then I'll have enough hair to get something done... I'm not talking ridiculous flowing locks but just enough to have hair that makes me feel feminine again.

I'm in Oxfordshire if anyone has any recommendations!

I've had micro rings and just no! The maintenence was a nightmare to deal with. And they ruined my hair. I now use clip in extensions for special occasions just takes a bit of practise to learn to cover them but a lot nicer on your hair. I would just say go for top quality hair. A shop assistant talked me into cheaper hair once saying I wouldn't be able to tell the difference. I could they didn't curl properly and washed terribly.

DONT do it! I also had micro rings. They are uncomfortable and ruined my hair. I paid a huge amount for top quality hair but it still felt awful. Just perserve. Use Lee Stafford hair grow shampoo and conditioner. I wish I had listened to friends.

I have keratin bonds every 6 months. My hair is wispy, fine Bee-Gee type hair in it's natural form that's more like fluff than hair. The extensions aren't super-long, I have them cut down to just past shoulder-length, but they add volume and make my hair look like human hair (yay).

I would say this though; find someone incredibly good before you go ahead. A friend of mine thought that mine were too expensive and went for a cheaper woman who came to her house to fit them, and they were just beyond awful, great big clumps of glue and a completely different colour to her natural hair. Check previous customers, check reviews and ask for examples of their work. And never use off-the-shelf shampoos and conditioners on them; proper extension shampoos don't cost the earth but do make them last much longer.

Bad.

They rarely look like real hair, rarely look good and cost a fortune.

My friend has just had hers out and now has severe traction alopecia which is really obvious.

I shaved my head 20 months ago and now have shoulder length hair. I know how frustrating it is to have to grow out your hair but it will get better.

P.S. I thought your short hair looked fab.

I had bonds and I loved them, but they were major £££ and even with top quality hair you've got lots of maintenance to keep up with so after about a year I went back to clip in hair extensions, I used Luxy Hair, Foxylocks and Dirty Looks, Dirty Locks were my favourite.

In terms of length, if you can get your hair in a little ponytail its long enough for extensions.

Ugh...but thanks for your honest opinions! I guess just sitting it out is the way to go. Nottoday... that is amazing growth! I am taking Biotin supplements.. don't know if it helping my head hair but I'm having to shave my legs every morning

I don't think that anyone else thinks I'm hideous... but I truly hate my short hair. Objectively it has been interesting to discover than I, not particularly vain (I'm 47 and no oil painting!) feel so unlike myself and grim over something as daft as having short hair... but I do. I swear to god I am never having short hair again....

How did your hair grow so fast Satan did you use anything in particular?

Sorry to hijack

My friend has just had hers out and now has severe traction alopecia which is really obvious

I've got an LA weave , where they braid the hair and sew the weft in

As an adult I've only ever once had short hair. I was 27. Never, ever again. I felt like a boy. They were called elfin cuts I believe.

It suited my face and everything, I have high cheekbones and my hair was coloured a dark glossy auburn, so everything was in place...just me it wasn't!
So, I know exactly what you mean op.

So since then my hair has never been shorter than jaw length and always blonde highlighted, now in my 60s it's past my shoulders and blonde highlighted and it's staying like that for as long as possible.

I need to look in the mirror and have the comfort of 'me 'looking back. I'm definitely not one for a lot of chopping and changing. My daughter has long brown hair and has done for years ...and looks like my daughter. My son after years of brushing his hair forward has started brushing his hair back. I suppose I'll get used to it.

Do people find a hair style that ticks most boxes and seem to stick with it most of their lives? I think most do as they get older.

So maybe you stepped out of the box. Thankfully it will grow. I would concentrate on keeping your hair healthy. Good nutrition and a six week trim. Could you look into a hairpiece. I remember in the 70 s my friend who had glossy jet black hair used a hair piece on a band and it looked amazing. Course they will be better now. I'd also try a few wigs on . If only for a bit of fun. Even if you only wear one around the house...or vice versa, whichever gives you the most confidence.