Hair Extension Tips for Beginners
Wonder World of Weave!
Hello Bitty luvs! I had meant to blog and post this about 2 weeks ago, but as usual, my life is pretty crazy. 
I remember growing up as a kid, how I would watch my T.V. idols like Mariah Carey and Madonna..and see Cindy Crawford on the covers of fashion magazines. I had always thought that the celebrities really looked that way all the time in real life. I loved Mariah Carey and her beautiful hair. Later as I got older, I found out all of the famous ladies wore hair extensions to get those lucious locks!
I heard about hair extensions, yet I was always scared to try them..but I started doing research on them and watched some videos online, read consumer reviews before I made the decision to purchase some for myself. I had long hair when I was younger, but now that I am older, I can't manage to grow my hair too long. I guess it's because of my desire to always change up my look every so often.
I must admit, I'm still fairly new to the weave game..I only own two pairs of hair extension sets, and both are from Bellami. I've been wearing them for about a year and a half..on and off..mostly during the fall and winter months when the weather gets cooler and I like to think it helps my head stay warm. :) I hate to wear my extensions in the summer time, I personally get too hot.
I personally wear Bellami clip-in hair extensions, in colors off black and mochachino brown, both at 160 grams, 20 inches long. They retail at $159.99 plus shipping and any taxes. You can find them here at http://www.bellamihair.com/collections/shop-all. They work well for me as my hair is about shoulder length and I am fairly short..so 20" length is enough for me.
I know there are different types of hair extensions out there, but I am familiar with clip ins. I prefer wearing clip-in hair extensions because they are easy to use, and I like the flexibility of being able to put them in and take them out as needed. They're fairly easy to take care of, and if cared for properly, they can last you anywhere from 6 months to a year or even longer. I also like them because they add volume and length. Long hair just seems sexier to me because you have the ability to wear them big, curly, braided, straight...the styles are endless.
Now you can purchase your weave at many different places. You can go to your local Sally's, or purchase online. There are a few online stores I prefer that sell Remy- real human hair. Stes like Bellami, SKR Hair, Hello Gorgeous to name a few. Price ranges anywhere from $100- $300 depending on the style and quality you choose. They do require a pretty penny, but to think of it, they're reusable, and cost you as much as a hair style visit from a good hair salon. Just make sure to budget yourself and do your research, and remember...you get what you pay for. Cheaper does not always mean better.
Please please do not wear cheap extensions. You do not want to look crazy and ratchet! If you decide to wear them, take care of them and don't abuse them..otherwise you may end up on a picture meme posted on social media and nobody wants that.
Below are a few tips I've learned along my journey in the wonderful world of weave using remy clip-in hair extensions.
1. When you purchase your first hair, take it out of the package and wash it before wearing. This will help ensure you wear clean hair, and will help remove any packaging odors. When you purchase real hair, sometimes the manufacturer dyes the hair, and puts some other chemicals on it to preserve the hair. So by washing it, you will ensure you get all the chemicals out before you first wear it.
2. Invest in a detangle brush. You can pretty much purchase a detangler brush at your local pharmacy store, Walmart, Target, Marshalls, Burlington, and many other places. They are fairly inexpensive, about $5-$10 for a good one. You want to make sure you invest in a good detangler brush to help detangle your extensions. Because Remy hair is human hair, they tend to tangle and you do not want to use your regular hair brush to take out the tangles. It will pull the hairs out and will cause your wefts to thin out over time.
3. Washing your hair extensions are pretty easy. I try not to wash my hair but maybe once a month..even if that. I don't use too much product on my extensions, and I find that you don't need to wash them like your regular hair unless they start to smell funky and if you sweat in them a lot. If you do wash them, I like to take the steps below.
- Use your detangler brush and brush out any knots. Take the wefts of hair and put them together and secure with a hair tie at the top near the clips so you have a pony tail.
- Use cold water and rinse out the hair. Gently squeeze the water out of the hair.
- Use your shampoo and cover the hair and work through the hair in a downward motion. I prefer to use sulfate-free shampoo so it does not strip out any of the hair dye in the extension, and rinse thoroughly until the hair rinses free from soap bubbles. Gently squeeze the water out of the hair.
- Next, take your conditioner and cover the hair, working it through the hair. I like to use a deep conditioner that hydrates to put moisture back into the hair. I leave it in the sink for about 5-10 minutes so the deep conditioner soaks into the hair. Then I rinse it with cold water until I feel there is no product in the hair. It is important to rinse out all of the conditioner. If you leave conditioner on the hair, it can weigh it down and make it feel slimey. Who wants slimey hair? Ew.
- Gently squeeze any excess water out. Take a clean dry towel and squeeze the hair dry. The last step is optional. I like to take some leave in conditioner spray and spray it on the hair extensions and let air dry. You can leave it on top of the towel or you can hang it dry. It usually takes about a day to fully dry. DO NOT use a hair dryer to dry your hair. It will damage your hair and dry it out too much. It's better to let your extensions air dry. Using a hair dryer will dry out the hair and cause breakage and make it brittle. I also like to use a little bit of Argan oil on my extension hair tips. It helps keep the moisture in.
4. When styling your extensions, make sure they are completely dry. Use your detangle brush and brush out any tangles and knots in the hair. There are a few ways to style your hair. You can clip them in, and style normally. If you decide to curl your hair, it may be easier to curl them before you clip them in. You can curl your natural hair first, then take your extensions and use a dresser drawer to hold it down and you can use your curling iron to curl them before clipping them in. I find it easier if I do it that way and a lot faster, although it's personal preference. The key is to make sure your extensions are completely dry when curling, and blending them with your natural hair. Try playing with the placement of the hair extensions and see what looks best for you.
Remember, hair extensions are not your natural hair. You don't have to wash them as much if you don't use as much product on them..like hair sprays..gels..etc. I find that curls stay longer with hair extensions..so no need for a lot of styling products. If you do wash them, use the steps I mentioned above, and it will definitely extend your wear life with them. Make sure to use youre detangler brush. It will keep your hair feeling soft and look beautiful. I like to keep one at home and one in my purse for quick touch up brushes while I'm at work. Hair extensions look great if worn properly.
I hope that you find this helpful. If you have any helpful tips on taking care and wearing hair extensions, please feel free to comment and leave feedback. I would love to hear your tips!
