Well, I think my dreams of having extensions professionally installed are fading.  I just don't think I have the money to invest in them.  So, I'm leaning toward my first plan.  Haha.  Of COURSE. 

My first plan was to purchase clip-in extensions.  I'm a girl on a budget and I don't plan on wearing them everyday.  Just for fun every now and then.  I'm kinda leaning towards synthetic since they're less expensive but if I'm going to spend money I want them to look nice.  So far the only ones I really know of are the HairUWear PutonPieces.  The pics look cute (of course) but I was wondering if anyone knew anything about these?

Any suggestions on a good set of clip-in extensions (synthetic or human)? 

 I'm kinda looking for the Christian Aguileria//Shakeria look.  Haha.  I'm thinking about buying some synthetic clip in highlight colors.  Something funky like black//pink//red.  I'm blonde so I think that'd look cool. 

ooo.  Okay, okay.  I know that clip-in's aren't exactly a happenin' subject but if anyone had even the slightest bit of advice it would be MUCH appreciated.  Although, now I'm swingin' back to wanting a professional install.  I just don't want to pay 1000+ for extensions that will only last me 2-4 months (at least that's what my hair stylist told me today...).  BUT, the lady I'm going to see for my consultation said they can last to 6 months...even some 8 months who took AMAZING care of them.  I would pay 1000+ to look/feel pretty for 6-8 months.  I think it's money well spent.  But NOT 1000+ to feel pretty for 8 weeks.  NO WAY.

Sooo...any suggestions??? 

If anyone tells you that you can leave extensions in your hair for 6-8 months without removing them (and the shed hair and any matts) than I would RUN AWAY very fast, as they definitely don't know their stuff when it comes to extensions.

Most professional (good) extensionists agree that to ensure your natural hair stays in a healthy state, 12 weeks is the MAX time you should go before having them removed (and then reapplied it you want)

As for the subject of clip ins, we do talk alot about that here actually.  I for one, am a big advocate of clip in extensions.  I have tried just about every method on myself and my clients, but for me, clip ins are the easiest way to get an awesome head of hair.  I do offer that option to my clients, but most don't want to be bothered with putting them on everyday.

I have worn clip ins on a daily basis for about 4-5 years now.  I have made myself many sets of clip ins over the years.  In fact, I'm working on a new set tonight!

I would say that the most affordable way to go, is to buy wefts of synthetic hair (either Wa Wa from  Ebay seller Vixen Wigs or  Plastik Haar.)  I wrote directions on how to make wefts into a set of clip ins, that our great Jenny RR has archived somewhere on this board.

I have worn the Wa Wa hair, Plastik Haar, and human hair as clip ins, and I liked all of them a lot.

Good luck!

oR welcome to the board...you've come to the right place to find all the info you need, lots of great help and advice here too!

And take metalgirls advice...if anyone tells you that you can wear extensions for more than 12 weeks without removing & re-intalling....RUN AWAY very fast.

Wow.  Thanks everyone!  I feel like I'm actually learning!  That was a great thread about clip-ins! 

So, after about 12 weeks the extensions would need to be reinstalled.  Does this mean a reinstallation of the hair that was previously in or would I need to purchase an entrie set of new hair?  I guess too what I'm asking is, is that part of the maintance process or is that the end of those extensions and the beginning of a complete reinstall (in other words, haha, out $1000+ every two weeks)?  Because I know that the lady I spoke with said that I would have to come in every so often for maintance.

Hair extensions should be only worn for 12 weeks at a time to prevent damage to your real hair.  With some hair extensions systems, you can reuse that same hair, and with other hair extension system, (like way over priced Great Lengths), you can't reuse the hair, thus you must buy new hair each time. 

 But that's why GL stylists lie to you and tell you that you can wear them for 6 months, because with their system, you must rebuy hair each time, and they know darn well most people wouldn't 'buy' their system if they told you that you would need to spend $1000-2000 every 3 months.

I only use extension systems where the client can reuse the hair at least 3+ times.

Dang 6-8 months??? How can they lie with a straight face!!!!

I was planning on making at least 2 clip on tracks. I'm getting my hair done this weekend....a sew in but I want to clip the very top tracks in b/c the braid tends to look lumpy and I want it flat. Clip-in's are a great idea. You can get the clips at Sally's for cheap and sew them on wefted hair yourself like metalgirl suggested.

I wish I had more options in Oklahoma besides Great Lengths.  I feel so clueless trying to figure things out on the internet.  My hair's a pretty funky shade of blonde so I'd have no idea what color I'd need and my hair's a TINY bit above my chin and a semi-bob so I KNOW it'll be hard to camoflague.  Sally's Beauty Supply has hair in their store.  It's the only place I've ever seen hair and I was literally in that isle looking at it and just in total awe, haha.  I know that's probably terrible hair since it was VERY cheap.  But, do you think it'd be a good idea to buy some of that and a few clips just to kind of get an idea about extensions?  I've never even SEEN real hair extensions.  Haha.  Just as kinda a baby's first extension's type of thing?

& THANKS so much for telling me about the ebay store!! 

Thanks everyone!  I'm sorry I'm so annoying about this.  I'm from a VERY small town and basically have no idea about anything that has to do with extensions.  I'm learning...at least I'm trying<3.

Actually, I have read a LOT of the posts and I have used Jenny_RR's overview.  But sometimes I feel like I'm reading Japanese with all of the hair extension jargon.  To me, getting hair extensions is VERY exciting!  It's something I've wanted to try for a long time and just never have had the funds until now.  I'm sorry if I'm being overly annoying and asking a million questions but I just want to make sure and pick the right method, and the right hair.  This is all so interesting to me.

Anyways, sorry Syren123.