QuoteReplyTopic: Need Advise Please Posted: October 29 2006 at 12:49pm
I have Greath Lengths in. This is my third install. My hair is damaged but that was to be expected. I have fine hair and I was getting damage just from the hh clip in's I was using. BUT I absolutely love my extensions. They give me the confidence that I have always been looking for.
So my question is what hair product do you recommend that is best to slow the hair damage by making your own hair stronger? Have you had luck with Nioxin? Or should I just use a good weekly protein masque or both? I do color my hair but try to limit it to a demi-color for less damage. My hair is brunette. Healthy but very prone to breakage. Suggestions anyone? Thanks!!! Oh btw I started taking vitamin b-6 and prenatals too.
you know, it really is impossible to change the density of your hair, that's determined by your genetics, i know there is all kinds of stuff to make your hair LOOK like its stronger and healthier, but whatever diameter each strand is its going to stay that way.....
with that said, in my opinion, if your current extension installs/removals are causing damage to your hair, and you keep getting the same exact installs/removals, it's going to keep breaking (i know, im sorry)
im not a hair pro, im just speaking from experience of my own bleaching damage and going to salons seeking some magic formula to make my hair strong.....it finally sunk in that the bleaching was making it damaged and it wouldnt stop breaking until i stopped bleaching so harshly (my hair is too fine)
an important question for you to consider i think: what specific thing about your extensions are causing the breakage? (daily brushing, removal,??)
hopefully someone else will chime in with a magic potion that i dont know about (and i'll have to go get some of whatever it is too!) good luck!
cashi
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Hmm Good answer. I'm not sure what is causing the breakage. I may be pushing the time Im wearing them too long. They are expensive and I try to push 4 months but I may have to go to three. I see alot of extensions fall out during the 4th month. My hair has always been prone to breakage. The shaft gets quite a bit thinner towards the ends. As I get older (i'm 43) the thinner the shaft gets thinner. But I do believe there is something that I may be missing (either in diet or hair product or both) that can assist in the strength of my hair. Otherwise we would all be using Suave shampoo if products didnt matter. I'm just curious if anyone has had luck ?
You might want to try silicone lined micro rings. I think rings in general can be much easier on fine hair.
I too have fine and thin hair and it's going on 16 years of me wearing extensions. I have tried many methods, and for me the shrink links and the silicone micro rings did the least amount of damage.
Some people, like me, will almost always get some damage from extensions because I just have genetically 'bad hair', but for me a little damage is worth it. There's no way my hair looks decent without extensions in.
Good luck and try to learn to do the extensions yourself or have a friend help you do it. You'll save a bundle of money.
Thanks Metalgirl, I will check into the extensions you are talking about. Your right, I do need to do them myself....this is really eating at the pocket book. But it's worth every penny...
Were there any products that you tried that made a diffence such as nioxin? Just curious.
cashi
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I have thought about the protac but they seem too sensitive to different hair products. In addition I have to color my hair too often since it is so pourous and I only use a demi-color. I have heard you cannot color your hair with the protacs in. What has been your experience?
I have Greath Lengths in. This is my third install. My hair is damaged but that was to be expected. I have fine hair and I was getting damage just from the hh clip in's I was using. BUT I absolutely love my extensions. They give me the confidence that I have always been looking for.
So my question is what hair product do you recommend that is best to slow the hair damage by making your own hair stronger? Have you had luck with Nioxin? Or should I just use a good weekly protein masque or both? I do color my hair but try to limit it to a demi-color for less damage. My hair is brunette. Healthy but very prone to breakage. Suggestions anyone? Thanks!!! Oh btw I started taking vitamin b-6 and prenatals too.
you should use the gl products or another product made for fusion (like cinderellas line or socaps line) it is important to use this for the extensions and your own hair! also you could use a sulfate free shampoo. make sure that when you have them removed that it is done properly and carfully, also do not leave then in longer than 2-3 months. if you dont do those things you will wreck your hair. if it is done right your hair will grow out nice with out damage. oh also you should be getting checl ups about 1x a month to make sure your hair is ok. a good time to do this is at your hair retouch color appt.
the metal links will be just as damaging if they are not applied right and removed right(just like fusion and bonds). i hope this helps.
i was offering gl at my shop but due to there crappy customer service and lack of having what i need in stock i am fazing them out, but socap balmain hair dreams cinderells all are pretty much the same with care and removal so again with any of them it has to be done right and with care! and removed that way too!
good luck!
tbctbc
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From what I understand...mainly based on what I have read, Great Lengths are damaging BECAUSE they are so expensive that people leave them in for longer than the 2 or so months that they really should...
Also, Great lengths put a lot of pressure on small regions of hair, so when the bonds grow out, it gets to be a lot of weight on very few hairs...
And, its so expensive!
DOn't get me wrong, there are many professionals on here who do a great job with strand extensions...but I cant afford those, and I feel like I can do a pretty darn good job myself!!
I have VERY thin hair, have my whole life, and I swear by the wefts...because wefts cover a wider area of hair, single strands are not pulled on nearly as much...
I used clipins at first, but they pulled a LOT on my hair (cause I had to rat up my hair to get them to even stay in), were bulky, and sometimes hurt my scalp...plus they were really time consuming every day to put in...
I've spent about $1000 TOTAL on hair extensions ($100 of that being those clip ins which I dont use any more!!), and I have two drawers full...I have my short lengths extensions, my mid-length extensions that I have in now, my long length extensions that I like having fun with...my super long extensions that make me feel like a mermaid when I go on vacation...and my extra-super long extensions (which I haven't actually worn yet, but I got them:)) and I got lots of extras which I play with...
I install myself, and yes, it sounds hard but it is NOT, Sherrie, and amm, and them really know what they are talking about...I'd NEVER dream of doing it myself if I thought it was hard, it just ISN'T!!
Protac wefts are so much thinner than clipins, it is really like you dont have them in at all most of the time...
And, I take them out once a month...so my hair isn't harmed at all...or should I say, three wraps of a ponytail holder still gets me a ponytail with no extensions, just like it did before I started using extensions...
The more I put them in, the better I get...I can install in about an hour now, and take down in about 30 minutes...
I've been wearing hair extensions for a year now...and I do not have the damage that so many of you single strand people are talking about...
Get some wefts, at $100 or so for the cheaper ones (for a full head of them)...and about $5 worth of Protac tape (I've heard good stuff about liquid gold also, but I'm too clumsy for that)...and see what you can do!! Heck, its probably about what a TIP for Great Lengths would cost!!
PS- I noticed that you are brunette...if you are a bit red, I got 4oz. of 14" double wefted auburn (brown with red when you look in the sun) weft- a bit wavy from Wagmus that I've never used, and I'd be willing to sell for $25 shipped - even if you just want to play with it (it was selling for $46 when I got it)...it isn't as perfect as Amms elite (it does tangle if you swim a lot and dont use good consitioner - ME!), but its human hair, and not half bad to play with - and its a whole lot cheaper than Great Lengths, LOL!!
Edited by tbctbc - October 29 2006 at 9:48pm
envoy13
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I noticed that you stated you do a weekly protein masque. But sometimes, as hard as this sounds, too much protein can cause your hair to become brittle. If you are doing this treatment because of damage make sure to find out, if your hair is lacking protein or moisture. NOt all conditioners fix both, in fact most are designed to handle one problem over the other. If you are not sure, my advice is that you alternate between a protein treatment and a moisturizing treatment, that way your hair is not becoming brittle due to excess protein .
good luck
cashi
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You know you just made me think! As often as I color my hair it would be easy to just take them out (protac method), color my hair and then reinstall. Much cheaper too! I was quite the expert when I used my clip-ins. I did so for over a year but HATED to have to take them out every night. Actually I liked the fullness of the clipins better then GL but the convieniece of GL is what made me switch.
I'm going to do a lot of research on here about the protac method and maybe I think I will wean myself into that method.
What hair have you had the most luck with? Who sells the best indian hair?? That seems to work best with my own.
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cashi wrote: