What Hair Extensions are the best?

Have you ever had hair extensions? The are such a fun way to cheat! You can have Long, Thick Hair overnight. They're fantastic, but...... Extremely high maintenance and if you want the best quality they can be extremely expensive and you can pay as much as $3000 for a maximum period of 6 months.

There are some things you should now when choosing which extensions are best for you.

Firstly remember, when you are regularly getting any type of extensions please remember to give your hair and scalp a break every now and then. Having an extra set of strands on top of yours can get heavy and weaken the follicle roots over extended periods and the result can lead to hair loss or thinning.

Secondly, types of extensions:

Great Lengths bonded strands. These are amazing great quality extensions that work best on courser darker hair. The look natural and are easy to manage and can last up to 6 months. The don't put complete strain on a concentrated area of your scalp and follicles. However in some cases where the hair is finer, or frizzier naturally, they can matt up over time and be quite painful to remove. So if you go down this path remember to take good care to wash and comb your hair well. Only getting them styled at a hairdresser is also a great option but becomes a very high maintenance solution.

Tape in extensions are fantastic. They are cheaper and you can get amazing quality hair. They don't really last as long as they fall out easier but that just means they aren't putting very much strain on the follicles at all. They also don't matt up and are a low maintenance option.

Weaves.  These are my favourites. They always look natural. Depending on the quality of the hair you buy and who sews them in they can last a very long time. They can strain your follicles in a concentrated area as you are  getting the weft re-sewn to a tightly braided area under your crown every 6 weeks. Prices vary depending on the quality of the hair and the experience of the hairdresser who applies them.

Lastly is the cheapest, easiest, longest lasting and low maintenance option. Clip in wefts. You can buy a pack of one or two great quality wefts with clips attached for under $350. They aren't permanently sewn or bonded to your hair and you can clip them in and take them out whenever you please. They are easy to style as you can clip them to a hanger and straighten or curl them out of your hair before you attach them. You can wear them for special occasions only so no damage or strain ever comes to your scalp or follicles. No commitment necessary. And depending on how well you look after them and how often you wear them, they can last years.

Top 10 most damaging ways to treat your hair and ways to recover from them

These are the top 10 most damaging ways to treat you hair. They are in no particular order and most are regular ways of treating your hair so I don't expect anyone to avoid them all completely.

1. Styling with thermals. Hair dryers, hair straighteners, hot rollers, etc. We all love looking good and we all should if that what we want. But trying to minimise how often we style and the amount of heat we apply to our hair (especially when its not boy short and we aren't getting regular haircuts) is going to pay off when trying to keep your hair at its healthiest. Also using protective products before you apply thermals is going to assist in damage control. Try a leave in conditioner or a protective shine spray like Keratin Complex Thermo Shine.

2. Shampoo. While shampoo cleans your hair (and regularly cleaning your hair is obviously necessary) it also strips your hair of its natural oils. On going this can become extremely damaging. So the less you was your hair, the better. For more info on this topic read this.

3. Lightening your hair colour. Colouring your hair is not always damaging. Semi permanents can even add shine and smooth your hair temporarily. When you lighten your hair however, you always need to use an ammonia or other harsh chemical to penetrate the follicle and lift the hair colour.  This is always going to damage the hair but to what degree is up to you. The less often you lighten your hair and make sure the chemicals you use aren't too strong, the less damaging. Not leaving the colour chemicals in your hair too long is also going to prevent over processing. For more info read this.

4. Chemical straighteners and perms. These are two kinds of chemical treatments I don't provide for my clients. Simply because I believe that the result they produce for the damage they cause is just not worth it. If I wouldn't do it in my hair, I wouldn't recommend it to anyone. The reason they are so damaging is that they change the natural form and shape of your hair permanently (although it does grows out). Please feel free to leave any comments or questions on this one as I'm not going into it much further in this post.

5. Extensions. There are so many different types of extensions. Some are far less damaging than others and to whom's hair they are damaging to all depends on who is doing it and the person getting it done's hair and also how well the extensions are taken care of. So if you are planning on getting extensions, shop around and go off recommendations. Pay a little extra for better quality hair. If you still aren't sure but want to try them, my favourite option is a clip in hair piece. You can ask your local hairdresser or wig maker to find you one that is the right length colour and thickness for your hair and show you how to clip it in and out so you can wear it whenever you like and it won't damage your hair at all.

6. Tying your hair tightly when you sleep. This puts a lot of strain on your follicles and eventually you will get some breakage. I recently had a new client who did this and was wondering why her hair always broke and started looking like a mullet. If you can't sleep with your hair out, then plat it loosely and loosely tie the end.

7. Dry shampoo. I love dry shampoo. You can get away with the oiliest mess of hair when you're in a rush. But using it regularly really dries out your hair and scalp and it can take a while to recover from. So use in emergencies only.

8. Brushing. If your hair is long, brushing regularly is a must and you should, once or twice a day. But always start from the ends and work your way up to the roots. it you start at the roots your going to end up with some serious breakage. Especially if you have product in your hair like hair-spray or dry shampoo. Combing your conditioner through in the shower or combing it after your hair is towel dried with a wide toothed comb is going to help you avoid knots generally also. For more info, read this.

9. Weather. The weather really only has a small impact on your hair. High, strong sun exposure can damage your burn and bleach and strip your hair somewhat, but its a slight gradual process. Wearing a hat and using a leave in treatment/moisturiser will create a barrier between your hair and the sun and protect it. You can even find some with UV protection, like sunscreen for your hair.

10. Stress & Diet. Kind of two things but they go hand in hand. The better you take care of yourself the more lovely you look. Stress can cause your hair to fall out and become quite brittle. As can getting sick and taking certain medication. Theres some extra info here on the subject. The more protein in and vitamins, minerals, oils and good fats you consume, the shinier, thicker and stronger your hair will be. Also taking supplements like Silica will help improve the strength and appearance of your hair. So don't stress, eat well and just take care of yourself.

The Truth about Treatments

Have you ever been sold a treatment on the promise it will repair, reconstruct or restore your damaged hair permanently? I'm sure this doesn't happen often because the promise is empty. While a treatment of any sort may well improve the feel and manageability of your hair temporarily, it will have no permanent effect of any sort. Ever.

Damaged hair is damaged hair unfortunately.

But don't feel cheated. Treatments are still amazing products for, as I stated earlier, make your hair feel stronger, softer and your hair will become much more manageable for a short time after they have been used on your hair. A long time if we're talking Keratin Treatments which are a semi-perminent type.
When you use any sort of treatment, from protein kinds to moisturising kinds, it not only improves the feel and manageability of your hair but it also protects your hair from the day to day damage of sun, wind and styling. When you regularly treat your hair well, it will grow out healthier.

So don't hope for improved hair after one treatment. Unfortunately you will be disapointed

Long Hair? Avoid tangles and knots while protecting your hair from damage!

If you have long hair that you’re styling daily and it’s always knotting and matting up you need to start using a leave in moisturizer and serum. Try to find one that’s right for your hair type. Many of these improve the condition of your hair, but this isn’t the main reason to use it. They also detangle the hair and protect it from styling thermals that you use day by day some even adding a finishing shine. Unfortunately using a supermarket brand may not always be the best choice but don’t run out and buy the most expensive product on the shelf. Be very careful to buy the right product, as everyone’s hair is different.

If your hair is fine and limp you may want to avoid it, but if its also very tangled the a light spray leave in treatment is best.

If it is damaged and course then try an Argon or Macadamia oil based product. These have moisturizers and proteins. Try Moroccan Oil products

If your hair is in perfect condition and just gets a bit frizzy just use a shine serum.

Because these products are for daily use the less cosmetic and more natural based brands are recommended. Try Silicone-Free Hair Repair from the karpati natural hair care range. That's also a good one if your hair is damaged buy fine as it doesn't weigh your hair down or make it oily.

Summer Frizz

Summer has arrived! 
Loving that its hot enough to swim. The salt water is giving my hair a great beach wave but when I'm not at the beach the humidity is sending my hair into a ball of frizz!

The best solution for this problem is products. 
There are so many frizz repelling products out there from sea salt sprays which absorb the moisture in your hair, to shine serums which calm and smooth out the frizz. There are even anti-humidity hair sprays. But the most powerful product out there is the Keratin Treatment.
This product, in addition to eliminating frizz and adding long lasting strength and moisture to your hair for around 3 to 6 months, used to get your hair super straight also.

In the last year there has been a lot of controversy over Keratin treatment products. Mostly surrounding one brand in particular. As a result, all brands took their products off the shelf and reformulated to meet OHS standards. I was very disappointed (as were my clients) to find that after this reformulation, the once perfect and long lasting, smoothing straightening treatment, was not as good and in some cases not working at all. So I had to give some refunds and re-dos. I wasn’t going to give up though. 

Which Keratin Product works best?

I took it upon myself to sample several different brands and start stocking the best one.

I’m very excited to have found it! Global Keratin. Its not as great as the original product in the sense that it doesn't straighten the hair as well, but it and definitely reduces frizz, improves the condition of the hair and lasts around 4 months. 

But, I am continually testing out brands as they come out so if I find one that works better I promise to update this post.