Hair By Paul & Daniella K

So you have picked your colour theme and that all important dress but how about your wedding hair?

Your hair is important enough on a daily basis but when it comes to your big day it takes on a new level of importance. Whether you want a soft romantic up do or some full on glamour, hair extensions could help you achieve this.

When I got married I wanted to fit my wedding hair to the vintage theme I had so carefully planned.I chose a really elegant up do but with not much hair to speak of my hairdresser needed to use an abundance of clip-ins to achieve the beautiful side bun she so cleverly created. Whilst my hair looked great it didn't feel so fantastic as the clip-in extensions felt heavy and had to be fixed to my hair with what seemed like hundreds of hair grips and about three cans of hair spray. No pain no gain, right? Wrong! I spent the night having my heavy hair tugged on by both my veil and my friends and family who of course wanted to congratulate me with LOTS of hugs. The relief when I eventually managed to deconstruct the careful scaffolding my hairdresser had created was immense.

So what is the alternative? Semi permanent hair extensions have come a long way and can add anything from subtle volume to significant length. Whatever look you choose, one (ok two) thing I can guarantee is that they can be completely camouflaged allowing you to choose to wear your hair up for your big day and, most importantly, no one even needs to know it's not your own hair! With so many methods now on the market there will be one to suit all hair types and lifestyles. 

If you do decide to choose hair extensions for your big day I would advise the following:

1. Have them installed a few months before your wedding day to give you time to get used to them being in your hair and so you know how to look after them.

2. Have the hair extensions installed prior to your hair trial so that your hairdresser has time to find a style that is both comfortable and also hides any tell tale bonds.

3. Keep up regular maintenance appointments in the lead up to your big day to ensure your hair looks as good as when it was first fitted.

4. If you decide not to keep your hair extensions after your big day ensure you have them removed within the time frame your hair extension technician advises and only have them removed by a qualified hair extension technician.

If your wedding day is fast approaching and you would like to discuss how hair extensions could work for your wedding hair, get in touch for a no obligation consultation.

So you have taken the plunge and invested in hair extensions to give you that beautiful mane of hair, you have waited so long to have. So how do you keep it looking that way? Read on to find out...

When investing in hair extensions there are a few things to keep in mind:

1. Hair extensions have been heavily processed before they get anywhere near your head so they will need a lot of TLC to keep them looking and feeling soft and shiny, this is especially true if you are a blonde!

2. That old saying you pay for what you get is especially true when it comes to hair extensions. The less you pay the more chance there is that the hair is also lesser in quality and the more you will have to invest in looking after it. 

3. Hair extensions do not benefit from the oils your scalp produces like your own hair does so it will need extra attention to keep it moisturised.

So now you know all this what do you need to keep that beautiful mane in tip top condition? Your hair extension toolkit should contain the following:

1. A good salon grade shampoo and conditioner - if you can find it in your local supermarket it is not the shampoo you should be using on your hair extensions! High street shampoos can be very harsh and will strip hair of moisture and with hair extensions this will lead to tangled and hard to manage hair. My personal recommendation is the Wella SP range. It has a shampoo to suit every hair type, my personal favourites being Wella Colour Save for you hair dye addicts and Wella Hydrate for hair that is in need of a little extra moisture (those who like heated styling tools take note!)

2. Argan oil - my personal favourite is the Athena Argan Oil which is made especially for hair extensions. It doesn't weight hair down and is great and keeping hair silky smooth. If you ever do find your extensions get tangled use some organ oil to ease out any knots. You can use Argan Oil on wet hair before you blow-dry it and then on dry hair to tame any frizz and keep hair silky smooth between washes

3. Good hair treatments - use a good hair mask once a week on mid lengths to ends avoiding the bonds of course! Your thirsty hair extensions will thank you!

4. Olaplex - your own hair as well as your hair extensions will be kept healthy by using this miracle product at least once a week. If you can leave it on overnight even better as the longer you can leave it in the hair the better

4. A hair extension brush - a loop brush will stop any of your bonds being snagged potentially causing them to become loose. With a loop brush you can brush through the hair firmly helping to avoid any of that dreaded matting...

It will take some time to adapt to your new head of hair but by following the tips above you will be well on your way to keeping that new head of hair in the same condition as the day it was fitted.

So go on girls swish your new hair down to the shops to pick up your hair extension tool kit!

The world of hair care can be a vast and confusing one, with so many products promising to nourish, strengthen, volumise, well the list is endless really...

However, there is one product which is outshining the others and that is Olaplex. There is no other product quite like it on the market and rather than just add moisture to the hair, as many other treatments do, Olaplex rebuilds the hair from within by linking broken bonds that are usually caused by using heated tools and of course our love of bleach.

Olaplex is made up of three steps, two of which are done in the salon and one being a take home treatment that you use at least once a week. Over time you will notice stronger hair that is no longer brittle and prone to breakage. This is especially important if you would like hair extensions as your own hair has to be strong enough to be suitable for the application of hair extensions. Excess breakage will have your extension technician turning you away and asking you to come back when your hair is in better condition.

So can you use Olaplex on hair extensions? The simple answer is yes! Your hair extensions will respond as well to treatments as your own hair does and as extensions are heavily processed, prior to being fitted to your own hair, they will thank you for a little extra TLC!

So now all there is left to do is book in your treatment and then use your at home treatment at least once a week. You can now also purchase Olaplex shampoo and conditioner to give your hair that extra boost.

So what are you waiting for...?

Find a salon offering Olaplex treatments near you by visiting www.olaplex.com

One thing I think we will all agree on is we want good hair days everyday!

How we achieve that is very personal - a good hair mask, regular hair cuts and of course, for some of us, the use of hair extensions to enhance what we already have.

There are so many different methods to choose from and one of them is now the tape extension or tape weft as it is sometimes referred to. This method has taken the hair extension world by storm but for those not familiar with this method it is not always an obvious choice, when making your mind up about which hair extension type to go for.

If you are wondering how these extensions are applied let me explain. Your natural hair is placed between two tape wefts and the tape is sealed at the top with very strong tape that will not come away. 

So lets take a closer look at tapes and go through the pros and cons.

Pros:

• They are great for fine hair, with no need for heated tools or glue
• They don't take long at all to put in so those long sessions in the chair are a thing of the past
• They are very discreet with the tapes lying flat on the head
• You can barely feel them in your hair - my clients will often tell me how surprised they are at how light they feel
• You can create lots of volume with only a couple of packs of hair
• Hair is reusable
• Removal is quick with no damage to your own hair 

Cons:

• Regular maintenance is a must - tapes will need to be moved back up from anywhere between 6-10 weeks
• This method may not be suitable for those with very oily hair

Trying something new can be daunting but as a tape extension wearer myself and from the feedback I have had from clients this is definitely a method worth trying! 

You can contact me for more information or to book a consultation to have tape extensions fitted. Prices start from £120.

So you have made the decision to have hair extensions but now you have to decide on which type to choose. With so many options available how do you know you are making the right decision?

The key to helping you with this decision is to consider these three factors:

1. Your lifestyle - are you a die hard gym fan or do you love swimming daily? If the answer is yes then certain types of hair extensions will be more suitable.

2. Your hair type - do you have very fine or damaged hair or are you blessed with thick hair and just want some added length. Your hair type will be one of the deciding factors on what method is most suitable for you, so ensure you have a detailed consultation with your extensionist before deciding which method to choose.

3. Your budget - It is important that you think carefully and realistically about the budget you have to work with. You have short hair but want to have 24 inch top grade hair extensions installed with LOTS of volume. Anything can be achieved (within reason) but going from short hair to very long hair with added volume requires a lot of hair ,which in turn, require a considerable budget plus the cash to maintain that beautiful new hair. Don't try and find a 'bargain' as you may end up with poor quality hair that does not blend. Instead, work with your extensionist on how they can enhance what you have with a budget that works for you.

Now that you have considered the points above lets go through the most popular methods available and the pros and cons of each one.

Tape Weft - a newer method to the market and one that has rocked the hair extensions world. Perfect for fine hair, super discreet, no heat required and reusable for up to a year. These are suitable for most hair types and are especially good for creating volume for fine hair. If you are extremely active or suffer from very greasy hair these may not be suitable for you as the tapes may slip.

Micro Rings - One of the most popular methods which requires no heat. Suitable for all hair types other than very fine hair and hair is reusable for up to a year. Extremely secure but may not be suitable if you have very greasy hair or are extremely active.

Nano Rings - Extremely discreet which makes this method a popular choice, especially those with fine hair. If you have very silky or oily hair these can slip so speak with your extensionist to see if your hair is suitable for this method.

Fusion Bonds - The most secure individual method on the market so one of the best options for those who are very active or have very oily hair. This method uses heat to fuse the keratin tipped extension to your own hair and hair can be kept in the head for up to 4 months before maintenance is required. Hair is not reusable.

LA Weave - A newer method which has now replaced the original weave which required braiding of the hair to secure the weave. This previous method was often too harsh for European hair and led to breakage or even bald spots due to the increased tension on the scalp. The LA weave has replaced the braid with micro rings and is much kinder and more comfortable. Extremely secure and the even placement of the weave makes this a comfortable option to wear. Hair is reusable and length and volume can be created in no time at all.

So now you are armed with everything you need to know about hair extensions all that is left to do is book your appointment and enjoy your new hair!

We all want to find the best deal but can that deal come at a price? If that deal relates to hair extensions then the answer is yes! Good quality hair cannot be found at bargain prices. Hair extensions are an investment and if you invest well you will have hair that blends, can be treated as your own and will look as good the day you have them fitted as the day they are removed.

So next time you receive a quote for that set of micro rings and you think it sounds a little steep ask for more information. I try to offer the fairest prices I can but I will only deal with hair I know my clients will love on day 90, not just day 1.

I decided to embark on a career fitting extensions because I know how great they can make you feel (I am a self confessed addict!). Of course we all have to make a living but the prices most extensionists will charge will be as fair as possible. So next time that quote comes in a little high, let us know! I will always try and work with someone’s budget so let’s work together to make you feel fantastic...