oh it just means - let the buyer beware. you seem comfortable with the risks and benefits and seem to trust your stylist and you've heard the concerns here.
i usually wear pinchbraids (a different type of strand-by-strand application) and if i had my set of perfect circomestances i'd have them redone every 4 weeks because i like the attachments close to my scalp. at 2 months the bonds are hard to conceal with about an inch of regrowth which, for me, doesn't work. now, my hair does grow fast but not freakishly so lol, but for me keeping any system in for longer than around 6-8 weeks is just not feasable.
I had one client leave in her extensions for 18 weeks, and in between that time, she also had bleached her hair, working around the extensions.
So after 18 weeks, her bleached hair had litterally melted into giant dreads. When she called me crying that she wanted her extensions out, I refused to work with her. I told her that since she ignored my advice about when to remove them that I wasn't obligated to service her anymore.
She was crying and said then she'd have to cut them out herself. I told her that's not my problem anymore.
I don't like people who don't follow my professional (and yes I'm licensed for 15 years) advice, screw up their hair and then want me to fix it. I just won't go there!
My stylist said the same thing to one of his clients.. I was in getting my extensions taken down and having them redone (at the proper 12 week interval ), and another one of his clients had an appointment to have her extensions taken down that same day as well.. Only she had worn these extensions nearly 6 months!!!!! When he began removing the extensions and ATTEMPTED to comb out her hair, he was PISSED.. Her hair had matted so badly that he had to DRENCH her hair in conditioner to help loosen the knots.. When he finally got her own hair combed out (and he did manage to save her hair) he told her two things:
1. She was going to have to pay EXTRA for the work he had to do to save her hair. (Her hair was really a mess..)
2. He would NOT do this again.. He told her that if she refused to follow his advice about when to remove the extensions again, that she could do her own extension removal OR she could get someone else who didn't care how she took care of her extensions to do her hair PERIOD!
Now when Jonathan does extensions for a client, he tells all his clients the same thing.. (Except me.. he KNOWS I am religious about caring for my extensions..) So now he marks on his calendar when it's time for a client to remove their extensions, and he calls to remind them.. If they don't come in within 2 weeks of his reminder, he will not do the removal.
I was talking to the woman, and she told me that the only reason she left her extensions in that long was because she thought that if her hair still looked good she could wait on removal/reinstallation.. (I have to admit that her hair did look good before I saw the mess underneath the EP hair) So she really thought that she could wait.. The ONLY reason she came in to have her extensions redone was because she decided she wanted longer hair.. THAT's the only reason she came in to have her extensions redone! Can you imagine how long she would have waited if she didn't decide to make a change to the hair length!????? and what the heck would her own hair have looked like????
Edited by Divavocals
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PaulaJayne1
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at 2 months the bonds are hard to conceal with about an inch of regrowth which, for me, doesn't work.
Why pay all this money to have them in only like 2 months? She explained the process to remove them to me. They also charge $50.00 an hour to take them out. She said a month prior to removal to stop using the Anti Tap solution that was provided by great lenghts because they will be begin to loosen up so her removal would be easier. I am not saying that I am waiting the whole 6 months. I will see how my hair goes. I would never go past 6 months. That is crazy.
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Divavocals, are those extensions Great Lengths type, fusion, what type are you referring to that the person had? Just curious.. Thanks for all the information. I don't want a mess on my hands so I will see what goes on...
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So, on 4-18-06 if they are not growing that long and I feel that my hair is in danger of matting, etc. then I will take them out. If not, I may go to 5-18. We will see how it goes. Believe me, I do not want to damage my hair at all.... Also, I wear the extensions curly. I dry it upside down and scrunch it. So you really cannot see in there because it is fluffy and curly. So I may be able to make to the 4 month area. I hope!!!
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i hope you don't think i'm bashing here, you seem genuine and i do wish you luck..you are doing homework and i have to say i'm biased because...as you pointed out...i know an inch of regrowth bugs me, there's no other way around it. so as you said, if you are paying $1500 for a system that will only last 2 months it's outrageous. that's why (in my biased opinion) the 6 month thing comes up - it doesn't sound so expensive budgeting it out over 6 months now does it?
i guess, being the cynical cynical person i am, i really do wonder if there's not that much regrowth on your stylists hair if those very bonds are the ones that have been in for a few months now, or if they have been replaced. i know your friend had a good experience, which is great..and you seem dedicated to protecting your hair, which is great. i looked into the GL's many moons ago .... the more i researched it, it seemed that regular routine maintenance (for a fee, of course) was the norm and not the exception. so really over a period of 6 months there would be the initial steep fee, then a routine 4 or 6 week fee for maintenence...so by the end of 6 months and removal it wasn't really $1000-$1500, it was much more. add on top of it the special GL shampoo, anti-tap, conditioner, etc etc etc.
but of course for GL to say this would be less attractive than saying oh here is a system that lasts 6 months for a little over $200/month...i am only talking about the practicalities of the money and regrowth and you are fortunate that you are forarmed and forewarned...many many women come here posting about their scary removals and trashed hair and stylists who don't look out for their clients best interest...it's from this perspective that i am biased. do a board search here and you can read about these experiences yourself..also you can read about how to remove the extensions yourself if/when you are ready and don't want to pay the fees for removal.
again, good luck, i hope it works out for you!
p.s. please post pics. we all love to see install pics :)
cheryl
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PaulaJayne1 -- I gotta agree with Cheryl. You did your research on Great Lengths, and you seem very committed to the system. In the world of extensions, there is no one method or type of hair that works for every stylist or wearer.. We do what works for each of us.. So good luck, and enjoy your new hair. That said, at the risk of coming off like I am bashing you, if I had to guess, I would say this sounds like your first run with wearing extensions.. (no offense.. :o) )
PaulaJayne1 wrote:
Thanks for the information. The GL products came with the deal. That is the least they could do for that price...
The cost of ANY system is based on many things.. (installation, cost/quality of the hair, maintenance, etc..) Some of these costs (usually hair) may be built into the cost the stylist charges you to install your extensions.. BUT you seem to be under the impression that your monetary commitment to your extensions ends with the $1500 you paid your stylist to install your extensions.. Honey, that's where your costs BEGIN. You have to maintain ANY extension system in order to ensure the health of your own hair and to ensure the longevity of the entensions themselves. Lets assume GLs claims are true and they really last for 6 months, the ONLY way those extensions will last that long is with some SERIOUS maintenance (look around this forum, GL stylists will tell you this is true).. and I promise you maintenance is NOT free.. Your stylist is going to want to be compensated to maintain your hair.. And since the GL hair is not resuable, if you lose some strands you will have to replace them, and I KNOW you don't think that's free do you?? Now whether you attempt to maintain your extensions yourself or see your stylist for regular maintenace appointments, IT'S JUST NOT FREE.. IMO you are looking at all of this from a very short sighted perspective.
But you posed the question about why would anyone pay so much money for extensions only to take them out and get them redone in 2 months... Here's the answer.. What most of us here pay in a year to put in our extensions, remove them in 12 weeks (3 months if you will), and have them reinstalled may cost THE SAME in ONE year as you paid for ONE Great Lengths installation.. (Ask any of the stylists here what they charge for their strand by strand extensions..) The point is, you need to stop looking at price as your guide for how long your extensions should last.. High cost does not necessarily = high quality or longer wear.. High cost is just that.. HIGH COST.. It does not ensure anything else.. (Look around this forum.. there are also PLENTY of reputable stories from ladies who paid a high cost for extensions/hair and got crap in return..)
PaulaJayne1 wrote:
Divavocals, are those extensions Great Lengths type, fusion, what type are you referring to that the person had? Just curious..
DO you REALLY think that the METHOD is what caused this girls hair to mat?? All strand by strand methods (including GL), along with any extension methods which involves braiding your hair will require regular maintenace, and cannot be worn for longer than 12 weeks in general because your NATURAL hair will be subject to matting and tangling.. PERIOD.. How many stories about matting hair do you REALLY need folks here to share to believe this?? Because if you typed in matting and looked around on this forum you would find more stories about matting hair.. Make no mistake.. no matter what GL says, their "system" is just another a strand by strand FUSION method using fancy terms like "De-Pigmentation", "Keratin" and "Cold Fusion" which in Earth speak means "color treated hair human hair we glue to your hair with heat".
You keep asking different versions of your same questions as if you are looking for the answer you WANT to hear. Perhaps this is because you are scared you got ripped off.. (remember how you started THIS thread???) SERIOUSLY.. STOP belaboring this point by asking about what method was used, if you're a licensed stylist, or did you get your hair done by an expert.. You will not convince the experienced licensed stylists, experienced DIYs and long term extension wearers here in this forum to see this through your eyes!!!! So take the feedback you got here from the ladies and myself in the spirit in which it was delivered (one extension wearer trying share information to help another) You don't need to sell anyone on the virtues of GL or even justify what you paid for your extensions to anyone here.. (I buy Extensions Plus hair, and it's VERY expensive.. I don't need to justify to anyone why I would rather pay that much for hair.. I am however willing to explain why I think it is worth the cost..) So exhale girl and good luck.. Keep everyone here posted, and post pics in a few months so folks can see how your GL experience is working out for you!!!!
LOL... I hope that's a good thing.. I'd hate to think I wore my welcome out already.. Especially since I still haven't finished my "Welcome to the neighborhood" cassarole..
Edited by Divavocals
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Divavocals...anytime someone says that you remind them of our Jenny-RR.....take it as a HUGE compliment! Jenny (who has her own beauty website now and doesnt make it to this board much these days) was always an incredible fountain of knowledge, and always posted so much useful and factual information. She done so much research and posted so much valuable info here. She was the one who created the extensions 101 thread and the overview thread, among many others.
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), and another one of his clients had an appointment to have her extensions taken down that same day as well.. Only she had worn these extensions nearly 6 months!!!!! When he began removing the extensions and ATTEMPTED to comb out her hair, he was PISSED.. Her hair had matted so badly that he had to DRENCH her hair in conditioner to help loosen the knots.. When he finally got her own hair combed out (and he did manage to save her hair) he told her two things:
PaulaJayne1 wrote:
Jenny (who has her own beauty website now and doesnt make it to this board much these days) was always an incredible fountain of knowledge, and always posted so much useful and factual information. She done so much research and posted so much valuable info here. She was the one who created the extensions 101 thread and the overview thread, among many others.
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