trying to grow out hair - extensions??

About a year ago, I decided that I wanted to cut my slightly-past-shoulder-length hair off to a little above my shoulders with a cute layered thing that I saw in a magazine. I brought a picture of the cut to the stylist here in my hometown, and she ended up cutting my hair about 4 inches too short. Now, a year later, my hair is just getting back to that awkward, not-quite-to-the-shoulders stage. I have strange hair. It`s thin, baby-fine, oily, and CURLY. But at this length, it`s so light that it won`t curl up all the way, and it`s not heavy enough to wear it straight because it gets weird wavy kinks in it.

I`m *really* getting frustrated with it. I`m a senior in high school and don`t have the time to do anything with my hair. However, I was really hoping that my last year in high school, I could do *something* with my hair besides throw it up in a sloppy messy ponytail. I don`t want to cut it off again, mostly for fear that I`ll end up nearly bald like last time. However, I don`t know if I have the patience to grow it out, and I would *love* to be able to wear my hair down every once in a while. I`ve seriously thought about getting extensions, kind of just to get my hair to the *long* point without all the waiting time, and then as my hair grows out more, I can cut the extensions away.

I was wondering what your opinions on extensions are, if you guys know anything about the cost, upkeep, etc. I really don`t know what else to do, and I`m tired of having to worry about my hair all of the time, because I have too many other things to worry about already. :) So...any help or advice or suggestions you guys could give would be *really* appreciated. Thanks!

Hey! Thank you so much for all of that information! :) I had no idea that there were so many options. I knew that you could either have them woven in or glued in (sort of)...but I didn`t know that there was so much to consider. Thanks again!!! :)

- kat

Hi Kat,

I currently wear extensions and have for nearly two years. Previously, I`ve worn the pinch braids but just had a weave put in.

The experience and expertise of the stylist makes a HUGE difference in how the hair will look. Also, if you want the hair to look anywhere near natural, you`ll looking at at least $600+. The hair alone that I use is nearly $700. and it`s ~200-$400. for the stylist`s time.

If there`s any more information I may be able to share, just ask.

Jennifer

Hi Linda,

I`m so sorry about your experience. I really think your stylist should have explained what would happen.

An average head of hair loses about 100 hairs a day. However, when the hair is literally "tied" up at the scalp, those hairs do not fall off of the head -- they are still braided in the extension. I personally get my extensions tightened about every 8 weeks. Thus, 100 hairs a day X 7 days a week X 8 weeks = 5,600 hairs!!! When the tiny braid is removed and the section of hair is combed, you obviously noticed that a lot of your natural hair was removed. But, unless something unusual was happening, those hair are just what would have naturally fallen out over the course of however long you wore the extensions. But, if this was never explained to you, it is a VERY scary experience to see all the hair that you "lost!"

Also, something that I never knew until I had extensions (and I nearly had a heart attack when I saw my natural hair!) is that after the natural hair is combed out after having been in a braid for several weeks, it is naturally very frizzy. Thus, if you ever have all of your extensions removed at the same time (either discontinuing to wear the extensions or having a new batch of hair put in), your head will be one big frizz ball! It looks horrible, and it looks like the hair is ruined. I was extraordinarily relieved after I washed my natural hair (without the extensions). It looked totally normal then -- very soft and silky!

I think the longest time I`ve gone between extensions in the past couple of years is three days. Obviously, it will always be best if you don`t wear extensions at all, but if you comb your hair gently and try to condition as much of your natural hair (below the pinch braid, of course) as possible, I really don`t think you`ll ruin it at all. Actually, everyone`s hair is different, so I obviously can`t state that last sentence as fact, but I can say as a fact that my hair is in very good condition with nearly constant wear of extensions over two years.

I was quite happy with the pinch braids but decided to try a weave. First of all, I tried a salon very near my home that I just learned now does weaves! I was very excited but very much LESS than excited after the visit. Apparently, the stylist had only done them a couple of times in beauty school and not professionally......

She made the cornrows way too bulky. Also, with the extra natural hair at the end of the cornrow, she tried sewing it back into the cornrow. More bulk. She had a good idea that she wanted to make sure that the weave did not "show" at all, but she left WAY too much hair out at the top. It looked like I was wearing a cap on top of the extensions! She also didn`t use nearly enough hair in the cornrows, so I had this super long very thin hair. I had an appointment to go back and she would try to add more hair, but I knew that I simply had to go to someone with more experience.

My hair does look much better now. The new stylist added more hair and a few pinch braids here and there. However, she cornrowed my hair WAY too tightly, and it really hurt for nearly a week. I`ve never experienced that with pinch braids at all. I think the pain had more to do with the technique of the stylist than the method of attaching the hair, however.

But, the hair is starting to grow out of the cornrow, and I don`t like the feeling nearly as well as the pinch braids. I think it`s easier to get a hairbrush "caught" in the area between the scalp and the weave, and that isn`t good at all.

I`m tempted to take out the cornrows and pinch braids at home just before my next appointment and just cut the hair off of the weave and have a full head of pinch braids next time, but I`m not quite certain yet what I want to do.

How often do you wash your hair? I wash mine about once every three days. Often, the night before I wash it (when I`m not going anywhere between then and when it will be washed), I`ll apply a generous amount of conditioner (not the leave-in variety) on my hair and just leave it in the hair! I use it almost like hand lotion on my hair.

Two of the three salons that I`ve had do my extensions recommended Kerasilk conditioner. Really, it`s just fine, but I found a much better one --- Infusium 23 revitalizing conditioner (I use the moisturizing formula for normal to dry hair). Yes, it`s the one for $4 - 5 at the drugstore! But, honest-to-God, this stuff is incredible. Once, I did something really, really stupid. I went for a run without first braiding my hair in one long braid down my back (btw, my extensions literally reach my rearend). When I returned, my hair was an absolute tangled MESS. I was mortified. You`re always supposed to get out the tangles before you wash it, but it was impossible. So, I wet the hair, shampooed it, and then thickly applied the Infusium 23 and was shocked that I was able to get a comb through it (while the hair was still wet with conditioner)!

Jennifer