Best extensions
Printed From: HairBoutique.com
Category: Hair Extension Topics
Forum Name: Hair Extensions
Forum Description: Hair Extensions can be the quick fix for short hair.
URL: https://talk.hairboutique.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=60838
Printed Date: July 27 2025 at 3:23am
Topic: Best extensions
Posted By: TomLong Hiar
Subject: Best extensions
Date Posted: May 04 2008 at 2:09am
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Hi,
I just got my hair trimmed to all shoulder length to straighten out the ends a bit. I told the hairstylist my goal is as long as I can grow it out. She sugessted I try extensions and see how I like it and told me about your forum. She is skilled in several different types of extensions. She also said I could be part of an upcoming hair show she is in and I would only have to pay for the cost of the extensions. I don't want to hurt the growth that I have waited so long for thus far. Any suggestions would be very helpful.
Thanks alot,
Tom
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Replies:
Posted By: krimsa
Date Posted: May 04 2008 at 9:50am
| Hi Tom. May I ask what the natural texture of your hair is? Would you describe it as thick, course, fine soft, medium? How much hair do you have overall? Are you prone to breakage? Would you call your hair weak? Tensile strength is another name for that. I ask these questions because depending on the method of attachment used in the placement of hair extensions, you can have problems with breakage upon removal. If you are having no trouble at all in growing your own hair to extreme length, you might want to take that into consideration or only wear the extensions for the show if you choose to participate. |
Posted By: TomLong Hiar
Date Posted: May 04 2008 at 10:53am
| Hi Krimsa, thanks for the response. May hair is very healthy. I would describe it as fine soft to medium in texture with a slight wave to it. Most of it is to the top of my shoulders and a little shorter in the front and ear areas. It is pretty strong as I have not noticed any breakage. There is one extension method I have heard of where the bond turns to a sand like substance after being squeezed with a plyers for removal. Does this sound safer than other types? Thanks again. |
Posted By: krimsa
Date Posted: May 04 2008 at 11:01am
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Your hair sounds healthy enough to do well with extensions. I am a fan of the "sew in" method in which the wefts (they look like little curtains of hair) are sewn in. I have been wearing this attachment now for nearly a year and LOVE it. You can get a lot of hair in safely and it seems to encourage growth. At least in my case my natural hair has grown now several inches and it’s healthy. Amazing.
The fusion and strand by strand methods are more expensive and time consuming but the results can be great. Just not my preferred method. I am unfamiliar with the "sand bond" you are referring to but I’m sure someone here will know. There are many stylists on forum either pro or not. Good luck! |
Posted By: TomLong Hiar
Date Posted: May 04 2008 at 11:09am
| I will see if the sew in method is on youtube. Thanks again for the help Krimsa. have a great day. |
Posted By: krimsa
Date Posted: May 05 2008 at 9:06am
| I think there is all kinds of videos for the sew in method, however, be aware there are many ways they can actually do the attachment. You will probably end up seeing some online. They can also use glues and tapes to install wefts. I have never tried that before. Mine is actually sewn directly onto my hair not using a braid or cornrow and then the rest of my loose hair is lying on top of the wefts so you can not see them and it just all blends together. A good stylist will be able to tell what will work best for you. Good luck and let us know what you get. Take some photos! We need more men on here. |
Posted By: TomLong Hiar
Date Posted: May 05 2008 at 9:19am
| It looks like they are at least 6 different ways to get extensions. It is a bit confusing. I think I will try your method since you are so happy with it. I definitely do not want them to show especially if I can do a ponytail. I'll send pictures when I get it done. I have never been able to tell if anyone has extensions so I guess they do hide them pretty well. I'm told men get extensions but it's not common yet. Thank you. |
Posted By: metalgirl
Date Posted: May 05 2008 at 10:32am
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There are more than 6 different ways to get extensions, more than a dozen for sure! But that's good, since it gives you more options. ------------- http://www.Godiva-Hair.com - http://www.Godiva-Hair.com http://www.MetamorphosisHairDesign.com - http://www.MetamorphosisHairDesign.com |
Posted By: krimsa
Date Posted: May 05 2008 at 10:49am
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I was just going to say I think there are a few more than 6 to choose from. Maybe a dozen or more ways to attach them but once you get into brand names and all of that, it’s a pretty substantial number!
Extensions can be trial and error also. Many of us have worn several different methods as well as a few different types of hair before we found what worked the best for us individually. Since your concerns seem to revolve around the least amount of damage to your natural hair, then I think a sew in would be a good option or simply not wearing the extensions for a very long time. |
Posted By: TomLong Hiar
Date Posted: May 05 2008 at 11:10am
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Thanks Metalgirl. Your links are very informative. I have not been able to find other pictures of guys with extensions. Apparently just rock stars and movie actors. I would say my hair is between Kimberly and Sara's on the 1st link or between the 3rd and 6th models on the Metamorphosis link. I would like to get midback length like theirs if it is undetectable. I have a bit of wave and would like it straight. Do you need to do the chemical straightening for that?
Lastly, the girl that just trimmed my hair says she is an extension specialist. How do I know for sure?
Thanks again.
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Posted By: TomLong Hiar
Date Posted: May 05 2008 at 11:20am
| Hi Krimsa. You are right. I keep coming across more and more methods. This is big business. I need to see if the girl that trimmed my hair is really an expert with extensions or a recent "specialist" cashing in on the popularity of extensions. The sew in method sounds good to me. I will probably wear them for a year or 2 and if it helps my own hair grow faster all the better. Did you say how long they last? Also is there a website showing the sew in method? I tried a search but came up with braiding sites. Thank you. |
Posted By: krimsa
Date Posted: May 05 2008 at 11:53am
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The sew ins vary for how long you can go in between maintenance. I am easily able to go about 8 weeks or so before I need a tightening and redo. Even by then they are loose but I can still get by. I prefer the tight feeling though and having them right up close to my scalp.
So it really depends how fast your hair grows. I have been wearing the same hair now for almost a year (a year in July) and it is still very nice and silky. The reason on that was I spent a lot and got virgin hair that matched my own texture perfectly. You don’t have to do that but you want to find a close match to be happy with the results long term and have the hair hold up well. I don’t know of any good sites that show this method in particular. I asked my stylist and she said with my type of hair, the best way was not trying to do a cornrow and just sewing in right on the hair. You may want to use a cornrow though. I recommend going to a salon that KNOWS weaves and braiding techniques and have them look at your hair and get an idea on texture and what they feel is the best route for you to go. You can do full weaves (all of your hair braided and under the extension hair) or a partial like I have where most of my top hair is loose and exposed and lying over my wefts. I have three levels of wefts. I could probably do a 4th for more body which is what I am trying out in July. As far as this lady claiming to be a specialist, can you ask to see her portfolio and photos of her clients? I would start there. |
Posted By: TomLong Hiar
Date Posted: May 05 2008 at 1:00pm
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Well I just spoke to her and she said the sew ins are always coming loose. I asked her which type she does and she said Great Lengths and 1 other type with a bond. Some expert. I think she said sew ins get loose because she does not do them. I think I will skip her offer and go elsewhere.
Some of the stylists on this site should get together and open an extensions only salon with all the different types. This way a customer could get the best for their hair type. I would travel to get it done right.
As far as cost, I want the best hair so I will pay the price. If I get them tightened every 4 to 6 weeks how much does that cost?
Thank you so much for your patience in answering these questions.
Tom
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Posted By: SkyBrie8
Date Posted: May 08 2008 at 6:20pm
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Tom, Speaking from personal experience, stay away from Great Lengths! They tell you it is keratin (a protien yor hair already has) but it is still mixed with glue. I am still trying to get my healthy hair back from a fusion experience 9 months ago. I wish I would have done the research/read the forum before I did it. |
Posted By: krimsa
Date Posted: May 08 2008 at 6:27pm
| I really tend to agree. I only wore the GL for 3 months but I did have some breakage around my ears (my hair is probably thinnest in that area) and it was damaging compared with other methods I had tried. Yes that entire keratin protein song and dance they give you might be true, but its still glue! And when it dries, it feels hard, like grains of rice in your hair. I hated that feeling and it bugged the be-Jesus out of me. Not to mention that GL is much too expensive for the results which are marginal at best. |
Posted By: TomLong Hiar
Date Posted: May 08 2008 at 8:58pm
| Thanks Sky and Krimsa. I think I will try the clip ins for now. |
Posted By: krimsa
Date Posted: May 09 2008 at 6:14am
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That’s just personal experience from a couple members however. If you want to give GL a whirl, go for it. I also was not happy with the quality of their hair vs. cost. She might allow you to choose another type of hair if needed but I’m not sure how that works and if it MUST be GL's hair that they are required to use. One thing I didn’t like about it was I was told that they could not give me bone straight hair which is what I wanted but sort of failed to clue me into this until the hair had arrived! A slippery sales tactic. But your natural hair has a wave in it so maybe it will work out fine.
Clip ins won’t give you grief as far as damage and you can’t get any more versatile so it is one option based on your needs. |
Posted By: TomLong Hiar
Date Posted: May 09 2008 at 11:09am
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Hi Krimsa,
I have been searching online for extension stylists portfolios and I find it amusing that some of them have the exact same before and after models. Obviously not theirs so I'll clearly stay away from them. Since I am going to try clip ins human hair extensions first I am now searching for the best ones and a stylists that can match, cut and style them so they look natural. I'll let you know how it turns out. If anyone has suggestions please let me know.
Thanks again for all of your advice.
Tom
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Posted By: krimsa
Date Posted: May 09 2008 at 11:33am
| Good luck. Bumping this up for advice. I cant help you with the clip ins, sorry. Ive worn a set and they were okay but too much trouble for me. |
Posted By: KrystalR
Date Posted: May 09 2008 at 6:03pm
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Tom,
Are you sure your ready to take this on? Haven't you read about all of the maintenance and upkeep we go through here? And, how we become addicted to this hair and just keep looking for better hair and better ways of attaching it? Are you sure you want to go there?
 Well, alright then... Welcome.
You may like the clip ins. Many of the people on the forum make their own clip ins. It takes a little sewing but it's not that hard. I wore clip ins until I started using Supertape and LG, which is something else you might want to look into.
Do a search on tape and LG (Liquid Gold) if you are interested.
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Posted By: TomLong Hiar
Date Posted: May 09 2008 at 8:03pm
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Thanks Krystal. I hear you loud and clear. That's why I am thinking clip ins to see if I like my hair really long and want to continue growing it. If so then I'll check out the other methods. I'll look into the tape and LG. Thanks for the suggestion. Like most guys I am pretty low maintenance so if I go that route it may be a short trip unless I figure out an easy way to do it. Come on ladies, we guys are not lazy, just a little maintenance challenged. Especially if a game is on TV. Gotta go, Lakers/Jazz game is about to start.
Tom
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