Can we have a 'hair extensions for grown ups' thread?

[MorrisZapp]

I'm fifty. Been trying to grow my hair for three years now but it won't go past the top of my shoulders, with the front being quite sparse. I have my hair highlighted with bleach but after lockdown experimentation I'm not going to go natural, though obviously this would probably make it grow more.

I want hair extensions. But I don't want anyone to say 'wow great extensions!', I want them to think it's just my own growth. Looking for just a couple of inches over my shoulders, nothing long long.

Has anyone had this? I think Sali Hughes does. I'm not overly worried about the cost, but I guess there's a lot of upkeep. Will it be good or bad for my own hair? Hairdresser says I've got fine hair but lots of it.

I had hair extensions in the 90s/00s and ended up with bald and thinning patches due to stress on the roots. I wouldn’t recommend them.

I was very tempted - post menopausal, thinning hair - but the ethical side of it makes me really uncomfortable.

Oh no! Did your own hair grow back? I think they have new techniques now, hope so anyway.

They never look natural, you can always tell. It's not a good look imo. And the damage to existing hair, even with the newer techniques. Then there's the upkeep.

Your hair can grow with bleach, if you look after the ends. Possibly it's breaking off on the ends. If you're not bleaching the ends, just the roots, and don't use heat. Loads of other threads about hair growth here anyway.

@thousandrealms

They never look natural, you can always tell. It's not a good look imo. And the damage to existing hair, even with the newer techniques. Then there's the upkeep.

Not true. If they're human hair, well fitted, the colour match is perfect and the hair is blended, they're undetectable. You just see a lot of artificially shiny synthetic ones, poker straight, which is very unforgiving of the 'step' between natural hair and extension, or in Barbie curls at the ends, and at the generic 18 or 20 inches. All avoided by a decent stylist.

They almost always cause damage though.

Fair enough that I might have only spotted the bad extensions. You can see the old hair blended in, but I suppose that's badly done.

The damage would put me off. I saw someone who was using them for sparse hair on the scalp, but it was making it worse and more dependent on the extensions.

Look at toppers instead.

I currently have shoulder length hair with extensions for volume. My hair was so thin after pregnancy so I got extensions to add some thickness, they are the same length and colour of my own hair. I wouldn’t be without them now, and I find I need to wash and style my hair a lot less as the volume just sits better so probably doing my own hair a favour. No noticeable damage to my roots and I would like to think they look natural, my DH says so and he’s usually brutally honest!

I have naturally fine hair and have extensions (bonded, real hair) which is the same length as my hair just to give thickness. I don't get much put in, just half a pack, and it looks really natural. Worn them for a few years now and never had any issues, wouldn't be without them.

Go for it, you'll wonder why you waited so long. Good luck x x

Have a look at Lucinda Ellery. They have a few locations. Extension specialists, and can add volume, or length, or both. They are expensive, but truly brilliant.

Badly done, they can look terrible, and can also cause traction alopecia.

Rather than paying for a full head, I got my hairdresser just to add a bit of length to my graduated bob to give it a bit of length and volume. Just to see what they were like.

I didn’t like the extensions used. Tiny wee micro loop things. I couldn’t imagine them all over my head. I found them difficult to wash and dry.

I do like the sound of tapes but I think they need a visit to the hairdresser every 4 weeks or so. Might be good for a special occasion or holiday though.

I have seen halo on tik tok. Intrigued by that.

I have had tape extensions for a couple of years now. My own hair never recovered after pregnancy. It's perfectly matched colour wise, isn't a ridiculous length and my mum still thinks my hair just started growing better 🤣

My technician suggested tapes as being good for thinner hair, there's far less stress on the root. I've had new hair replaced obviously and my own hair was no worse than it was when I started having extensions.

There is some upkeep but it's worth it imo. I have quite frizzy natural hair so I have a mix of Brazilian and Russian so I keep to a similar texture.

Oh and for pp asking about tape maintenance, my hair grows quickly so I have them maintained every 8 weeks but I think the usual is around 10 weeks.

I kept them in through lockdown 1, so realistically they can go a lot longer without being looked at. I look after them well and had no matting etc.

I'm 41 and I get bonded hair extensions and they're awesome. I highly recommend. I get shoulder length ones that perfectly match my own hair . Go for it !

I am booked in for this - I am having mini tip extensions to give my hair volume not length. I found a lady who’s work looks lovely and she got exactly what I meant.

So it is possible.

I’ve always bought halo hair extensions (the officially UK ones, there are a lot of knock offs now) and I love them, but I tend to find they don’t reach the full width of the head so you’re left with short bits at the front