OMG !!!..Im kinda scared now

I thought I wanted hair extentions, and and three weeks ago made an appointment for this upcomming monday morning...and now Im scared. My gal pal got extentions from this person several weeks ago..they look good and seem secure...but now I have tons of questions for my hair girl. I have Thin, color processed, fine hair..and I really dont know the method that she uses so Im going to describe it as best I can from what I remember of my gal pals and hopefully one of you can tell me exactly what to ask this girl and at what point I should run out of there.

From what I remember the "seal" look like a little clear tube at the base of the hair shaft...she does use real human hair, and she SAID iI wouldnt have any damage to my own hair...now I realise that simply isnt true...I dont mind loosing a little hair but I dont want to loose alot either cause thats the reason im getting it done in the first place....

Any questions to ask...or any warning signs that I should jump ship and run is greatly appreciated.

Janine....Thanks so much for your prompt reply.

I called my gal pal and sure enough it sounds like fusion to me. She said that it was applied with some kind of "glue" and that when they are taken out she uses a solvant oil of some kind. My husband is laughing up a storm cause Ive gotten myself worked up into a tizzy about this today. Im just really worried that there will be permanant damage to my hair!

Im am paying less than 800.00 for a few reasons, firstly Ive sent TONS of business to this gal for years...and shes always tried to talk me into having this done...she has many clients that she does this on and Im not worried about her experience level, I do believe she knows whats shes doing. Shes worked in some of the top Salons in our State...I just got a little nuts when I read so many mixed messages here...and Jeeze Louise there are so many types and kinds and gadgets that go's along with em...Cinderella, monkey, braided and sewn...cripes my hair will be grey by the time I weed through all the info.

My husband says hold off if Im unsure but being a typical American...I want it and I want it NOW. Thanks again for your really great reply...and if anyone else has anything to add Id be greatful. I will continue to check in and Ill sure let you know what I decide.

Hello-
My suggustion would be to have a consultation with your stylist. Tell her your concerns and see what she says- Doing your research is wonderful but seeing and feeling hands on is the real test.
I researched for over a year until i found the method and stylist i felt comfortable with and trusted. I have not regretted nor had any problems with the Hairlocs method.
There are many methods and many people with good and bad results with ALL the methods out there. If you go to a seasoned and professional stylist, she could tell you whats best for YOUR hair type. What may work for one person, may not for someone else.Everyones hair type and textures are different. Some methods stay in someones hair great and another person using the same method it doesnt work for them. This board is for gaining info and then making an iformed decision, just like anything else you do in life. My opinion is that there is No for sure great fail proof way-
Good luck and read read read!
Your doing the right thing by checking out the web.

I used to go to a young lady in la jolla. Francoise. She introduced me to "great lengths" shortly after becoming a "certified" beautician from the class in L.A. they were in the process of mailing her certificate.

The pictures, brochures and, of course, her going on and on about them, i figured, "Heck, why not?" She was very excited about it, and so was I. I now understand her excitement: $1500 per session.

At first the GL's were wonderful..but i was warned that if my hair was fine and colored, etc., i should stick to the traditional (braiding) method, or something safer. Also, the company had beauticians complaining about the epoxy formula possibly being changed from time to time.

This came from my usual extension company. I figured because great lengths uses their own extensions, my co. was doing the "sour grapes" routine.

Well...they were right. I have called them up and apologized for being hard headed - but i had to learn somehow.

By the time Francoise had finished yanking the extensions out of my hair to replace them, i looked like whip-it-poof! being an athlete...you probably have an idea what was going through my mind.

She didn't want to spend extra money on the epoxy remover, and at times was losing patience. There is also an instrument that is used to "crack" the epoxy. Well, I guess she didn't wish to pay for that, and used pliers. The extensions didn't come out as easily as she thought they would, and i saw a lot of my hair stuck on to the extensions/glue she had taken out. Her usual clientele were not willing to pay $1,500 for the sessions (including matched hair extensions), thus, i was the only one she would experiment on. (at my expense, of course)
. I also noticed that though, when we placed the extensions, the glue was the same color as the extensions, after a few weeks, it turned dark brown. Which, needless to say, if you have light extensions in your thinning hair, the dark glue looks as if several large roaches have decided to make their home on yo' head.

I've found a beautician now, who is older, very experienced and totally condones the old fashioned method. Since, i've gone to her (and my old extensions company) - "Extensions Plus, of Reseda, California" they are the best! - My hair has grown back and then some.

I believe the GL method would not be great for fragile hair. Especially porous hair (I'm bi-racial) if you're trying to grow it out. Maybe something temporary, But as for long-term hair growth, I'll stick my beautician.

Make sure that beautician has the experience necessary to place this new technology, and most of all do a lot of research. Talk to the clientele. Ask the beautician to have recipients call you and tell you confidentially what they think. And yes, wait and see what your friend looks like in a couple of months.

good luck