Going to Great Lengths

Extensions are the quickest (and for some of us, only) route to long, lush hair, and many times best way to try out a look before making a long-term commitment. There are a wide variety of options out there, so how do you pick the one that’s right for you? Well, you should start by consulting with a professional stylist trained in all of them who can guide you to the best color and texture match for you, but here are a few things to consider first.

Synthetic or human hair? Synthetic extensions are the least expensive and hold their style regardless of weather conditions. They do not look as natural as human hair though, and they tangle more easily, can not be heat styled or color treated, and generally need to be replaced after 1-3 months. Human hair is more costly and requires styling as often as your own hair, but lasts up to a year and can be treated and styled like your own hair. There are two types of human hair extensions: Remy and non-Remy. Remy refers to extensions that are made entirely from a single donor with the natural cuticle preserved and all hairs in the same direction. Non-Remy comes from multiple donors processed to match and assembled with the hair in different directions. The natural cuticle is stripped, making it more prone to tangles and mats, but also take color more easily, which makes it the best choice if you're going to color match to your own hair. They are often coated with silicone for shine, but it will be gone after just a couple washings. You get what you pay for on this: Remy is unquestionably better, but it is also significantly more expensive.

What type of bond? Fusion and micro-link (aka micro-bead or micro-ring) are the most expensive and time consuming, but last the longest - they only need to be removed and replaced every 3-4 months, but they can not be reused. Fusion uses small keratin adhesive tipped wefts that are heat bonded to your natural hair. Micro-link is the same, but uses a tiny silicone-coated bead that clamps around tiny sections of your natural hair rather than an adhesive. Tape-in is one of the quickest methods, and is more affordable than fusion or micro-link. Larger wefts (often the entire width of the head) are attached to your natural hair with wide strips of special double-sided tape. They have to be redone every 6-8 weeks or so, but the same extensions can be used multiple times. Weave or sew-in is the least expensive of the semi-permanent options, but it also needs the most upkeep, requiring a salon visit every 4-6 weeks. The natural hair is braided in rows across the head, and the extensions are woven into the braids. This method is really only suitable for thick, curly or kinky natural texture, like African-American hair - we fine, straight haired white girls are out of luck on this one. Finally, clip-in extensions are a completely temporary option, using pressure sensitive clips that you can put in yourself and take out daily.

Do they require special care? Conditioning can loosen all types of bonds, so it is best to only condition the length and skip the root area. Heat can loosen all adhesive bonds, so keep the dryer and curling iron away from attachment points as much as possible. All human hair extensions should be routinely washed, conditioned at the ends, and styled with gentle products (no sulfates!) as often as your natural hair. Synthetic should be washed and styled as little as possible.