QuoteReplyTopic: Just got Extensions--- Advice, Please.. Posted: October 25 2006 at 9:14am
Hi there ---
Just a brief background--- I've always wanted long long big sexy hair! & I've been trying to grow out my natural, thin hair for years--literally! -- (it's like watching grass grow)-- It's now stalled at just slightly above the bra line -- I'm naturally dark and have been lightening it way up for years -- (so i know that the ole bleach is prob main source of my issue here) But I digress.....)
I live in a relatively small city w/little to no extension options -- Recently I was turned on to a local gal who sews in the wefts --- I was ecstatic to find somewhere and decided that life's too short to have a bad hair day every day! LOL --
We went w/18" wefts --- After she styled my hair-- curling it -- I darn near cried b/c i felt so beautiful!! Now my problem is this.... (aside from the tracks itching)-- The problem is that the extensions look very thin and spinly on the ends -- very thin --- and i know this is amplified b/c i'm not styling it as well as she did -- Any styling tips? (i'm thinking of next time i go in to have her do more tracks to create thickness)---
Any advice GREATLY appreciated!
DharmaType
Members Profile
Send Private Message
Find Members Posts
Add to Buddy List
Junior Member
Joined: September 15 2006
Status: Offline
Points: 113
I use to have problems getting pics on here...you need a site like photobucket to load your pics in....then you can copy and paste the address into the key above that has the world and a camera on it.
Yeah, I find that with my extensions too, the ends are usually thin and don't look so good. What I usually do is go a little longer than I actually want, in your case, probably about 20 inches, then you can cut those scraggly ends off.
I've found on most human hair extensions then middle is thick and nice, but towards then ends, they get thin. Also, you could have her put in a few more wefts, just be cautious, because sometimes it will be too much and give you a major headache! (I know from experience.)
does anyone else find some difficulty in getting the hair to curl w/an iron? -
Ya know, i totally feel like a kid in a candy store w/this website! I've probably spent hours going through old posts ---
But overall...as a complete novice here, for long term usage, how do you think sewn-in wefts compare w/other methods? I mean, this itching underneath the weft alone is drivng me NUTS!!
malibu
Members Profile
Send Private Message
Find Members Posts
Add to Buddy List
Senior Member
Joined: February 17 2006
Status: Offline
Points: 1531
try the seabreeze, you canget it at sallys in the skincare section. You can also use a rat tail comb with the metal handle to itch under the track carefully...repeat....carefully! The itching should get better, how long have you had the weave?
Sometimes even human hair can be curl resistant, especially if it is "silky straight" in texture.
I also go a couple inches longer then what I want to end up with so I can trim off the thin ends....
My first experience with extensions was with tracks and I had some itching also so I guess you can take some comfort in that it's "normal". LOL
How long have you had them in now? Itching was one of the things that made me decide to look for another method but that's just me. It wasn't BAD, but I wanted improvement and more flexibility to put my hair up. I'd still use them in addition to fusion, shrinkies, etc. or to play around with some funkier colors.
The thickness I had with them was great. I had 4 rows of double wefts so if you're thin on the bottom I'd also say you need to have her install some more.
Welcome to the world of track extensions and the board. You will find a lot great information, but also ask. You may want to use a a heat activated styling hair to control the silky straight hair. It will give it a firm hold yet control. When the hair is naked, without product, it will be hard to control and tame. So a styling aid is needed. When curling with a barrel iron just spray section you are curling, then pin it to let it cool. When you have done all sections and they have all cooled off go back and release your pins. That way your curls won't be so tight. Hope this helps.
Shiry
http://www.myspace.com/texashairextensionqueen
Naked Eye
Members Profile
Send Private Message
Find Members Posts
Add to Buddy List
Member
Joined: October 18 2005
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 732
I've found too some extensions just don't really curl well, and don't really hold it well. You can try different products, they will probably help, also try a smaller barrel.
In the end, you might just want to try some different hair...
And the itching, yes, very normal, with any weft method I have it for some reason. That why I always take down and redo often! I'm a total sissy when it comes to itching!
DharmaType
Members Profile
Send Private Message
Find Members Posts
Add to Buddy List
Junior Member
Joined: September 15 2006
Status: Offline
Points: 113
I love all the feedback!! Thanks so much, girls --- I've had them only a little over a week & have a feeling that this is gonna become a way of life for me... I've said it before, but life's too short to have a bad hair day every day! LOL
hmmm...i've read about the various extension methods: shrinkies/etc.... perhaps that would be a better fit long term... I think i'll check around in my area --- Oh, I live in CR IA --- yep ---- out in cornfields LOL
sherrie215
Members Profile
Send Private Message
Find Members Posts
Add to Buddy List
Super Elite Member
Joined: December 21 2004
Status: Offline
Points: 4424
smaller barrel iron so when the curl loosens it ends up the size you want. And as Shiry said, clip the curl til cool and it will help to give a longer lasting curl.
It's just a regular weft that has been folded over onto itself so it was doubled when she installed it. So for 4 rows I had the thickness of 8 wefts of hair instead of 4. I think it's pretty standard to use more than one weft per row. Even when I reinstalled them later with glue I kept them doubled. Does that make sense? Hope it helps. Sometimes it's tough to describe without visual aids!
cat_goddess
Members Profile
Send Private Message
Find Members Posts
Add to Buddy List
Junior Member
Joined: January 11 2005
Location: San Francisco
Status: Offline
Points: 140
Welcome to the board and to the wonderful world of extensions! Addictive, no?
I had a tracks sewn in for about a year, but my hair lady got lazy and started doing shoddy work, so I took them out and stopped going. Anyway, I found in my year of hunting for the best hair and what worked and didn't work was the following:
- You should definitley have more than 4 tracks of hair in. I used to use two packs of the Hollywood Hi Yacky hair. It's expensive (about $140 a pack, but you can get it cheaper on line) but its good hair. I even tried the Bohyme hair that everyone on this board raves about....and frankly, was disappointed. It didn't last anywhere near as long as the Hollywood hair. I also used to curl it and straight iron it a lot, and it was amazing. Stayed beautiful and I even re-used it sometimes (I had my hair rebraided and sewn about every two months due to growth, but the hair always stayed looking great).
- The itching you experience is completely normal but horrible the first time. I freaked out my first time because I thought all my hair was being pulled out at the root! It wasn't of course. The more you have it braided and sewn, the less it will itch. Eventually it only itches a tiny bit. Even now, you will find that the itching will subside in a few days (if it hasn't already). Whatever you do, don't scratch! It can pull you own hair out at the root and leave you with bald spots. I found that taking an antihisthemine helped, too.
Good luck with your extensions!
DharmaType
Members Profile
Send Private Message
Find Members Posts
Add to Buddy List
Junior Member
Joined: September 15 2006
Status: Offline
Points: 113
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot create polls in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum