All About My Permanent Hair Extensions

Hey guys! In case you missed my last few posts on Instagram, I got (semi) permanent hair extensions! For the last few months, I had been toying with the idea of getting clip-in hair extensions. I was looking to mix things up with my styling and do fun braids, long pony tails, and big, bouncy curls. I hadn’t really considered anything beyond clip-ins, I just knew I wanted a change and to try out something different.

When the opportunity came up to work with Jordan at Chicago’s Arsova Salon and get fusion (aka keratin) hair extensions, I did my research, and decided that this would be a much better fit for me than clip-ins (which I’ll explain why!). I’ve had them in for a week now, just enough time for me to get get used to them and be able to give you guys the full low down on what to expect with permanent hair extensions. Scroll down to see more close up pictures of my new hair and to learn everything you need to know about them!

Dress // Shoes // Bag // Earrings

 

 

Why Get Hair Extensions?

Like I mentioned, I decided to get hair extensions because I wanted to try out a different look and be able to do cool styles with my hair. I hadn’t had long hair in forever, and even when my hair was close to this length, it never had this kind of body and volume. Hair extensions are great for anyone who wants to simply add some length to their ‘do, but they also are perfect for adding a little oomph to thin hair, or adding texture and thickness to long hair that may be a bit stringy at the ends. I think a lot of people associate hair extensions as being really fake and unnatural looking (I know my mom was nervous when I told her I was getting them, ha!) but depending on what kind you get, and who is doing them for you, you can get amazing, believable results.

What Are The Different Kinds of Permanent Hair Extensions?

So, I say “permanent” hair extensions in comparison to clip-ins, which as you can guess, clip into your hair and can be removed at any time. These can be a great option because they give you a lot of flexibility, (you can curl/straiten/whatever you want to do to them), and are way less expensive. The downside is that depending on what brand you get, they might not look as real as the semi-permanent types. Often, the hair pieces will all be the exact same color and length, which can be a dead giveaway. Just something to keep in mind. If you’re thinking of heading in this direction, I would suggest doing your research and finding a brand that has great reviews!

There are several different types of semi-permanent extensions, all at different prices, installation times, and “lifespans.”

• Keratin/Fusion/Bonded
  • These are the kind I got. My stylist Jordan will only do this type for his clients; he says they are the most natural looking, long lasting (they will last up to 5-6 months), and best for your hair. They are individual strands of hair that get attached to your natural hair with a keratin glue and heat tool. Each strand has a small, flat, square-shaped bond tip that holds all of the individual hairs together. Your stylist will take tiny, tiny sections of your real hair and place the extension bond over it, about an inch from your scalp, and use a heat tool to mold and shape the melted keratin around your hair.
  • These bonds are attached strand by strand, row by row, staring at the base of your head and working upwards. The concept is that your natural hair covers up all these bonds so they are super discrete. It also means that you can wear your hair up in any style and you won’t be able to see them! These kind of extensions are definitely the most labor intensive, (it took about 3 hours to do mine but can take longer). I ended up having 160 individual strands of hair attached to my head. Jordan ordered 4 different shades of blonde, two of which had kind of an ombre thing going on to blend with the darker, underside of my hair, to ensure everything looked natural and you couldn’t tell the different between my real hair and the extensions.
• Tape-In
  • I know that these are a really popular kind to get. The extension is on a “track” of 2-4 inches and sandwiched between two pieces of bioadhesive tape. These will last for about six to eight weeks. A plus side is that they take way less time to put in, around an hour; however, apparently you are somewhat limited with styling choices, as the tracks will show in a high bun or pony.
• Sew-In (aka: weave)
  • These hairpieces are woven or even glued into your natural hair, after it is tightly braided, using thread. These are apparently the most damaging for your hair.
• Microbead
  • Similar to keratin extensions, individual strands of hair are attached to your own hair with tiny microbeads, which are clamped/locked onto the real hair sections. There’s no heat or glue used to fasten them, so you can reuse the hair extensions once your real hair grows out. This process is also relatively quicker than keratin extensions, around 1.5 to 3 hours. Your stylist will just move them back farther up your head. You’ll probably need to go in to get this done every 8 weeks, so definitely more upkeep involved here.

How Much Do They Cost?

I wish I had a better answer for you guys here, but… It really depends. It depends on the actual hair (which my stylist ordered for me), the price your stylist charges to install them, and the cost of maintenance and upkeep. Permanent extensions are going to be significantly more expensive than clip-ins, but it’s an investment. Overall, and between all the different types you can get, the price can range anywhere from $400 to $3,000. The kind I got will typically run you back around $1,000-$1,500. If you really wanted, there are hair extensions out there that can set you back $150,000 (aka the kind I got! JKJK). I know a lot of salons will offer complimentary consultation appointments, so this is a good time to get a sense of cost, and figure out what will be best for you. From what I’ve been told, this isn’t the kind of thing you’d want to spend less than that minimum. If someone is saying they’ll do permanent extensions for $100 deeeeef run the other way…

What Can I Expect? How Long Will It Take To Get Used To Them?

First things first, you’ll want to schedule a consultation at the salon with your stylist. Your stylist will walk you through the process, and he or she can see what hair the need to order for you. Like I mentioned, I saw Jordan at Chicago’s Arsova Salon (312) 371-0773. 

After that, you’re all set to schedule your appointment! Make sure you keep in mind the time it’ll take to have your extensions put in. I wouldn’t recommend scheduling it before you have an event or other kind of commitment as ya can’t rush these things!

The actual process isn’t painful or uncomfortable. Well, maybe my legs were a bit stiff after sitting for so long, haha. But my head never hurt at any point. Be sure to grab some water, your charged phone, and magazines while you sit to avoid boredom 🙂

That first night though! Ah! Fair warning, when I first got home, my scalp was definitely feeling a bit tight and pulled at, not too mention heavy (duh). I was absolutely in love with how the extensions turned out, and spent a good 15 min looking at them in the mirror and snapchatting my friends (as one does). I eventually sit on the couch, lean my head against it and… well it’s not the most pleasant feeling. At this point, the bonds are feeling hard and plastic-y, and they are super close to my already sensitive scalp. I run my fingers through my new hair and it kinda feels like there are 100 bobby pins all over the place. I genuinely worry if I’m going to be able to sleep that night, but I ultimately am able to get comfortable. (Pro tip, gather your hair at the base of your neck into a low ponytail for sleeping, it’ll help the bonds lay flat and not dig into your head). It takes a longer than normal to fall asleep, but I make it through the first night.

At this point, a part of me is wondering if this is how life is gonna be now. Sure, I now have this crazy amazing hair, but at what cost?!? My sanity?!

The second day is weird as well; they only feel uncomfortable if I’m laying my head against something, and running my fingers through my hair is still like the most bizarre sensation.

… BUT! The good news is that I totally got used to them! Woo! After 3 night’s sleep, they officially didn’t hurt or feel at all uncomfortable when I laid down. They were a tad bit itchy for another couple of days, but by the time I was a week into having them, I didn’t even notice them anymore. I was used to the new weight on my head, used to showering and blow drying this new hair of mine, and even running my fingers through them and feeling the 160 bonds. I think this may depend on how fast your hair grows however; mine has always grown like a friggin weed, so a week was the perfect amount of time for the bonds to loosen up a bit and not pull so much on my scalp.

The good news is, regardless of how fast your hair grows, you will get used to them, and they will stop being uncomfortable after that initial beginning phase. Besides all that, they truly feel and look like real hair, so there was never any weirdness with the texture or color or anything.

How Should I Care For Extensions?

• Brush your hair! Gently. Because the extensions are attached to your real hair, you want to be careful not to overly yank at your hair; start at the bottom and work your way up. Extension hair can be more prone to tangles, so I’ve started brushing my hair about twice a day with my Wet Brush
• Don’t wash your hair too often. Dry shampoo has been a total godsend (this BedHead one is my FAVE. It makes my hair smell incredible and means I can go days without washing it).
• Use a sulfate-free shampoo
• Sleep in a low ponytail or braid to prevent tangles
• Talk to your stylist and set the expectation of when you need to go back for touchups/re-installation/etc

A huuuuge thank you to Jordan and Arsova Salon for my lovely new head of hair 🙂

If you have any additional questions you want me to answer, shoot me an email at theblondeinpink@gmail.com