what to do when you get great lengths

that was a really great list of what to do and what not to do. I wish I had that the first time I got my extensions! Question though, baby powder on your hair? Do you just put it in the middle of your head? or do you rub it in? I'm confused on that, but would like to know what to do with the powder. Because I think one of my problems last time I had the GL extensions was that I washed my hair too much. Thanks!!

I have had my Great Lengths in for about 2 months, and I love them. They blend perfectly. I paid $1150 (includes $150 tip), and it took about 5 hours to put them in. I have currently about 200-250 strands on my head (full). The extensions (after I washed them) feel the same as my regular hair, which wasn't that great to begin with. In actuality, these make my hair feel better than it did - don't know why. I use the serum that they provide, and a flat iron, and I wash them every other day. I also have my hair colored (blonde-blonde) every month, and so far have only had 2 extensions fall out, and I snipped one out myself yesterday because it was hanging on for dear life by a hair or two and I just couldn't bear the thought of brushing it out of my head. Before I got the ext. I had choppy, shoulder-length hair that had a TON of breakage from the years of coloring (blonde) and washing/drying my hair everyday. My hair is also VERY thick and has a sort of funky permed-almost-grown-out thing it does when it air dries. It's funky, I tell ya. I actually brought photos of my hair from 1 year ago to each stylist, and the length was exactly the same. I also have grown out bangs that are shorter in the front, but add some dimension to the hair. I got the 18" length at 5 bundles. And yes, the longer your hair - even if it's not all one length - the better it will blend.

Here are some tips that my stylist gave me, and some I have:
1) Wash every other day, using a shampoo with no silicone and no sulfur. I use the GL because it is no more expensive than stuff I bought before.
2) Do not air dry. Mine poufs up to this awful permed-looking thing normally, and the extensions dry the same. I have to flat iron it every time I wash/dry them, but that smoothes the hair down pretty well.
3) Be sure to use the anti-tap. If there are some of you who were just as confused as me as to how mto mix it, take 1 part (one section of the little black lines on the side of the bottle) anti-tap and 1 cup water. I fill mine in a spritzer bottle.
4) I use both the energy conditioner (LOVE) and the Conditioner 1 provided by GL. To me it gives a little extra conditioning that I need, but again, I color my hair from dark brown to blonde-blonde normally, so it gets dry.
5) You can use different smoothing serums, but again, make sure that there is no silicone or no sulfur in them. I love the GL stuff, but only because it is not greasy like other serums.
6) Use a soft, boar bristle brush. GL provided mine to me, but a found just as good of ones at Wal-Mart.

Here are some things I learned for those of you considering them, but not sure yet:
1) Interview with at least three stylists. I did a lot of research on the net, and still wasn't too sure, so I called around, set up appointments, and talked wtih actual clients.
2) A good extensionist will not pressure you to get them. Usually they are the ones being sought by clients, not the other way around.
3) Ask for references. All but one of the three I talked with gave me numbers of clients to call, and/or had a "head" that they worked on. In the case of my extensionist, I got to feel the extensions on someone who had them for 7 months. She was another stylist that worked right next to him, and she gave me a lot of realistic information about them to help me decide.
4) This is something that I considered, but not everyone is like me, so it may not be relevant. I had my stylist color and cut my hair first. The reason being that I knew extensions would be upkeep - heck, my haircoloring alone is upkeep! I wanted to make sure that he sould get my color right, and I was happy with the results of a simple procedure like that before embarking on something expensive and detailed like this. It is kind of like a preview of their other work before you have the hoss job of putting in extensions.
5) Make sure your stylist gives you numbers and hours to reach them. I have my stylist's cell phone and work number, along with the number of the lady who he works with that had the extensions - just in case there is a problem. I wanted someone who was employed out of a salon, as well, in the event that I wasn't happy, I would have some sort of "chain" of managers to go to for results. That's just me though.
6) Most extensionists should give you a pricing sheet of charges for repairs, basic maintenance, and the initial cost for the hair. If they just say something like, "um, I'd say about $____", without even touching your hair - run away, far away. The first stylist that I ventured to just looked me in the face and quoted me $1500. She didn't give me prices for repairs, or really anything, and said that that's usually what they charge. She was also doing someone's nails at the time, and wasn't too attentive. She didn't even touch my hair to feel the thickness of it. I also didn't know that they had to measure your head (which this lady did not do either) to determine how many bundles it will take. Keep this in mind.
7) Make sure they are licensed as a cosmetologist, and that it is current.

I hope that this helps anyone who may need information. I love my extensions. You can email me if you have any questions. I am in the Nashville, TN area.

I paid $1500 for 12 inch GL and I live in Michigan! What a rip! Yeah the hair was beautiful but when he blended the cut it ended up only being 1-2 inches longer than my real hair!! I told him up front I wanted "breast length" hair, and it ended up just past my shoulder......

Is $1,300 for 16" GL a reasonable price?

what brand of powder do you recommend? thank you for the list