QuoteReplyTopic: First DIY! Posted: April 24 2008 at 4:23pm
Well, you learn something new every day! I had no icea that the darker hair was double processed! This makes my plan to go blonde for the summer seem like an even better idea!
Fakeizme - thanks for the tips - I'm definetly going to try them all...maybe this hair has some life left in it after all.
SkyBrie8 - What is your routine for your hair? What kind of shampoo/conditioner/leave-in/silicone, etc do you use? Do you wash the hair in cool water? Do you blowdry or flat iron? I can't believe that your hair is like the first day after 2 months!!! I want to be you!!
SkyBrie8
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I wear the tease hair and have loved it. I wore my first install of dark brown for 3 months with little problems, then I went blond and have been weazring it 2 months and it is like the first day I got it. See if what fakezime suggested works, if not contact Kristen. I have always had a great experience with her hair
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Steph, I am going to give you some opposite advice from what some may have offered so far.
What I would try on your hair NOW is: definitely a clarifying shampoo (you may have buildup), then a deep conditioner (on ends) left on for about an hour. THEn, put some leave-in conditioner on and top it with silicone serum. Then blowdry and flat iron or just flat iron with a ceramic iron. When the hair is getting as you described, I find the ONLY thing that will help it is HEAT and silicone! A ceramic iron has a way or sealing the cuticle to make it appear smoother at least until the next wash.
The trick here is to continue to clarify with EACH wash if you do this because the conditioners and serums will buildup in between. Heat can be your best friend if used correctly, but don't try it on dirty hair.
Also, I have noticed some of my worst hair experiences have been with darker hair. This could be that it is bleached FIRST to get to a particular level and then it is coloured back to the tone you bought. This is double-processed hair; it just doesn't LOOK that way. #613 hair is usually just bleached one loooooong time to get to blonde, but it is not recoloured. I have two packs of brown hair, level 8, that break every time I comb them!
I really hope this helps and everything works out for you. Keep us updated! OH...BTW...I wash my hair twice a week. Works for me!
The clarifiers are more concentrated and soapy so they clean much better. They can be a little harsh so you don’t want to use them on extension hair but if your own hair gets oily up near your roots, it will take care of that problem. I have to be honest with you. I use drugstore shampoos very often like Hello Hydration on the extensions when I do a full head in the shower. There are some excellent products out there but I am wearing virgin Russian dark brown hair that was not processed so it barely needs anything. Otherwise, you might want to use better quality products and I’m sure you can get many excellent recommendations on the forum.
I live in New England so I know exactly what you are talking about as far as winter cold. It DOES take an extra toll on the hair because it’s so drying and then you come inside to a heated house and that’s bad also. What you can do is use a slightly heavier leave in conditioner just when you need it during the winter and especially on your ends. You will notice the hair will drink it up so it won’t feel greasy. That really helps.
Edited by krimsa - April 24 2008 at 12:29pm
stephsims
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The hair I have in is the Tease from YHS. They are 18" I-tips. It seemed to have decent reviews (although some did have problems). I know that yourhairshop has a pretty good reputation, so I believe that it's decent hair...it is dark brown (not blonde) so I would assume that it has gone through less processing than a 613 or something would.
I'm going to follow your advice and just stick the top of my head in the sink and shampoo the top that way except for once a week when I'll do the whole head of hair in the shower.
I live in Canada, and the winter weather here is still very harsh (we just got another foot of snow) so I'm wondering if that is a contributing factor as well. I know it is terrible on my skin - I'm always dry and flaky it seems! Makes sense that it wouldn't be nice for hair either....
Thanks for the advice!
One other question...you mentioned washing the top of my hair with a clarifying shampoo...why would I use that instead of a regular, moisturizing shampoo? Is it better? Does it keep it clean longer? What do you reccomend as a good shampoo/conditioner?
I know some people can get away with washing more frequently but in general it isn’t recommended. I’m not exactly sure what kind of hair you had installed but I know that in the past, when I have worn processed hair or hair that was silicone coated, I never had good luck with it and even minimal washing with gentle products would cause it to tangle. The reason for a silicone coating is it will give a soft, tangle free, shiny appearance to extension hair. It also adds additional weight to the hair so less actual hair can be sold for more money. So once you begin washing your hair that silicone will wash off a little more each time until eventually you are left with a head full of straw that looks like crap. There is no restoring it at that point and all you can do is get new hair and start over.
If that isn’t the case and you purchased better quality hair from the start, what I do is just lean over the sink and wash all of my top hair with a clarifying shampoo and leave the extensions alone. The extensions should not feel dirty or tangly unless you are having that silicone issue. In that situation, the hair can look and feel poorly at a month or even less.
Edited by krimsa - April 24 2008 at 11:37am
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Uh-oh! I had no idea about that - I've always been told that twice per week was ok....It's usually every 3rd day unless it's really dirty. I also try only wash the top where my natural hair is, because it starts to look unbelieveably greasy after 3 days. Of course, the whole thing gets wet, but I just put conditioner on the rest. Any suggestions on what to do if it starts looking super greasy (I think that after a whole week without washing it will look really dirty...) besides washing it? I have tried that Bumble & Bumble product that you're supposed to put on to make your roots look less greasy, but wasn't all that impressed with it.
I did put a leave-in treatment last night and a hair thickener (both just the Shwartzkopf got2b brand ) and it seems to be only about half as tangly as it was before. Both products have that co-polymer whatever-it-is listed in the ingredients (maybe those work well? I seem to think I've heard good things before, but I can't remember exactly where).
I also have been very careful to wash only in cool water to avoid drying it out as well.
Any suggestions for how to stretch it out between washes for a whole week?
You say you shampoo every couple days? That’s a bit too often for most extension hair. Even a very good quality hair type or silky, all that soap can cause premature drying, tangling and mats. The thing about extension hair is of course it is not growing from your scalp and being coated with natural oils so it begins a drying process as soon as it is cut from the donor's head. Leave in conditioners can be effective but stay away from a lot of heavy goop as that will make your hair feel dirty/oily and look the same.
I seriously recommend shampooing only once a week tops. You might want to also try diluting your shampoo a bit. You know. Take a little bit, put it in another bottle, add water and shake it up good and then lather gently. That way it is not so concentrated and stripping.
Edited by krimsa - April 24 2008 at 10:35am
Poose
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Also, I have purchased and installed some more Bohyme in the same color, length and texture as the hair I had issues with and this new hair is like completely different hair. Its the way Bohyme hair should be.
I didn't order from the same seller, however, as I want to work things out with them before placing any further business there.
KrystalR
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Stephsims, I feel for you. I know it has to be disapointing that the hair isn't doing so well after spending 8 hours on your install.
I didn't spend 8 hours on my install, but had a similar hair experience as of late. I contacted the seller and the distributor directly. They asked me to send the hair back (for proof that I wasn't trying to pull a fast one) and once they get it and take a look at it, they will let me know how we can resolve the issue.
Maybe you can work something similar out.
Poose... the hair I had trouble with was Bohyme. I normally love that hair, but, my last order was tangled and matted the instant I put it on my head. I think even good hair can have a bad batch every so often.
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Sorry no pics yet guys, but i'm flat broke till I get paid next week and can go pick up my camera from the repair place! (Don't you just hate it when there's more month than there is paycheque???)
Anyways, I do have an update on this hair....and I'm wondering if it's maybe just me and something I'm doing wrong??? Because the news is not good...
It was absolutely awesome right up until I had my stylist trim it a bit and add some layers...she used scissors, (not a razor) to do it, because I had read somewhere that razors can give split ends. It was ok after that until I washed it....and then much to my disappointment it's been a yucky, tangly mess since then! What a disappointment - it was so wonderful for the first week!
Could the haircut have caused it? I didn't let her wash it because I had just done it myself the night before...so there was no strange shampoo or conditioner used on it.....I myself use Tigi Dumb Blonde shampoo and conditioner, as well as a Joico leave in conditioner/detangler. I only wash it every second day at most, and have NEVER blow dried it. I have used straightener and curling iron on it, but not excessively. And my straightener is fairly decent...it's a ceramic one...a CHI.
Sigh. I cannot believe this after only 1 week - there's no way that's right! I wonder if there's something I'm doing wrong? Now it's gone to that stage where I have to put a ton of product in it just so it looks ok, and if I don't brush it every 20 minutes, it starts to REALLY mat & tangle. Not that matting that happens near the nape of the neck mind you (that's the WORST!) but more the shorter layers on top....
I have ordered some cassia obovata (it's a clear henna) which my friend swears by as being a miracle hair gloss (it BETTER be, I paid $40 for it!!!)that lasts for about 3 weeks. I should get it by the end of this week or early next week. I'm praying that it works....does anyone know anything about it or have any of you tried this? I also read on the forum about someone trying Biolustre....any updates on how that worked?
This is so frustrating! Next time, I'm staying away from my stylist...no idea if she had anything to do with it or not, but that's when things went south is all I know!
I'm so upset But I still refuse to give up on it - there must be a way!
Oh Steph, I'm so glad everything went great for you and you are loving your hair. I have been eyeing the Tease hair (machine weft silky straight) and will try it some day. It keeps getting mixed reviews.
Sounds like it was a long and arduous install! 8 Hours. LOL. It's all worth it though. You know how much money you saved; not to mention all the heartache dealing with stylists who don't know what they're doing!?
Can't wait to see your pics -- I forgive you for making me wait!
Love clip-ins and tape!
stephsims
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OK - I did it! Actually, I put them in a week ago but still haven't got any photos (my camera's suffering from some damage due to me being my usual clumsy self and dropping it).
It went GREAT - It took me about 8 hours in total to install them (with mocrorings), but that was because I was going very slow and careful. I'm not sure my sectioning job was the best, but it was the best I could do. Things went much easier after my hands learned what they were supposed to do.
First off, the Tease hair is GREAT!!!! It's miles above the quality of the hair I had before, and it is so manageable. I got the body wave i-tip hair, and while it does straighten a lot after the first time you wash it, it curls again beautifully with an iron. And I didn't find that you need to add a lot of product to keep it's curl. I also have noticed almost no shedding, and it's so soft that I could go for 2 days just finger combing it and not encountering anything worse than a little tangle. NO KNOTS! And that's without using anything in it but some leave-in conditioner after I washed it. I've also straightened it and it looks great that way too. So far, I've washed it 3 times (in cool water), and it keeps looking great every time.
I did go to my stylist for some layering...I bought the razor to cut it myself but chickened out....I was too afraid I'd wreck it. I bought 7 ounces of hair, but only would up installing 5 ounces...and I'm not sure how I could have fit more in even if I wanted to! And that was for length and volume - my own hair is super short...and very fine, but I have a fair bit of it.
The only problem I encountered was how sore my hands got from the pliers! They were actually swollen for a day after I did my install...I sure do feel for those who do these all day - you must have hands of steel!
I'll post pics as soon as I get my camera back from the repair shop!
Thanks everyone for all your advice - it really was invaluable!
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...I also noticed that she attached a lot of the bonds to only 5 or 6 pieces of my own hair...I'm sure that's also why they're falling out so bad. I'm kind of worried to see my hair after I take these out...I'm expecting to see little bald spots because she attached fairly big bonds on to such tiny bits of my own hair....but I'll let you know how it goes. That is the LAST time I pay somebody to do it for me. ...
I feel you my bleaching-disaster sister!!!! I, too, am growing my hair out and healthy after doing something stupid with 40 vol. peroxide and bleach. I still do my roots with bleach,though; now I know what I'm doing!!!
I just want to say kudos for you for researching and not giving up after a bad experience with extensions. This stylist sounds like she doesn't know what she's doing!! I really hope you do not lose hair from it. At least if you do it, you only have yourself to blame!!
Hopefully, others can help with your important questions on fusion and tipping. I am still learning in that arena. Good luck!
Edited by fakeizme - March 24 2008 at 4:52pm
Love clip-ins and tape!
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Yeah, I wish I hadn't been so excited just to be getting it done...I probably would have taken more notice of what she was doing at the time....I also found this forum AFTER I got them unfortunately....
I also noticed that she attached a lot of the bonds to only 5 or 6 pieces of my own hair...I'm sure that's also why they're falling out so bad. I'm kind of worried to see my hair after I take these out...I'm expecting to see little bald spots because she attached fairly big bonds on to such tiny bits of my own hair....but I'll let you know how it goes. That is the LAST time I pay somebody to do it for me. (it took her 5 hours and she charged me $100/hour plus the cost of the hair which was $300 for 6 ounces) At least I know that if I do it myself I can make sure it's done properly.
I have high hopes after reading all the info on this site though for my won DIY...I can't wait for my hair to arrive!
One more question for you guys....with the extended links, does that mean I'll have to crimp it down the full length, or just once? I haven't seen the pliers I ordered yet, so I can't tell how wide they are...I just want to make sure that they are secure cause I've read a lot here about people having problems with slipping. My own hair is quite fine and straight, but it's also very short - I had a bleaching incident that resulted in having to cut most of it off so now it's only about 4 - 5 inches long. Not too much length for them to slip too far!
I'm also planning on getting some Bohyme weft hair and tipping it myself once I'm a bit more confident and have a better idea about how big to make the tips. I just thought that more economical hair like the Tease would be better for my first time.
I was also wanting to ask what you all think about the way she did the install...she just cut the hair off the weft and used a glue gun to put some glue into the ends before she rolled it onto my hair. Maybe she didn't do it properly or use enough glue? I'm hoping that using pre-tipped will cut back on the AWFUL shedding I have now.
ugh picking hair up off the floor that is downright wrong, not to mention illeagal!! its against state board to say the least. can you go back and get a refund?
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A ceramic iron has a way or sealing the cuticle to make it appear smoother at least until the next wash. 
KrystalR wrote:
Oh Steph, I'm so glad everything went great for you and you are loving your hair. I have been eyeing the Tease hair (machine weft silky straight) and will try it some day. It keeps getting mixed reviews.
That is the LAST time I pay somebody to do it for me. ...
At least if you do it, you only have yourself to blame!! 