As spring breathes life back into our systems, I notice that I crave newness and freshness in my own life that usually unfolds in the form of my hair. After winter and all the dryness, messy buns, and burying myself deep under covers and mass amounts of reality tv, I feel the need to evolve into a productive, motivated, girl boss-somehow I equate mermaid-like hair with this girl boss image (don’t ask). So around this time of the year, my stylist puts in my trusty tape-in hair extensions for the instant confidence boost so that I can start the takeover of my empire.
So, let’s say I’ve convinced you to get extensions (you’re welcome), how does the process work? First, you would make a consultation with a certified stylist to discuss a plan for how much hair you need, what your hair goals are, color matching, etc. You discuss the price, the ordering process, hair care, and make your appointment to tape-in said extensions. Super simple.
The current surgical-grade taped in situation on top of my head includes two different brands of hair: Bellami hair and Babe hair-both 22″ and 50G. I think they’re both outstanding when it comes to staying put on my strands, but I think I prefer Babe a little more because the adhesive top part of the extension looks like more realistic hair roots, therefore allowing the extension to look more natural than the Bellami ones. It’s a minor detail, but I personally like that. Both brands use quality hair that is super thick, healthy, and shiny, which obviously adds that instant healthy glow to your strands.
Tape-in extensions do come with some dos and dont’s for upkeep. You can absolutely wash your hair and have your hair wet, but you must use sulfate and paraben-free shampoos and conditioners. Otherwise, the harsh salts will break down the taped bonds. That also goes for lounging in the ocean! Funny detour story: I had extensions for my honeymoon, and being the super committed person that I am, I wore a SWIM CAP OVER MY HEAD to protect my extensions at the beaches we went to. Yes, picture my noggin with an EXTRA LARGE leopard swim cap over it, trying to be a sexy new wife with her husband and random beach-goers awkwardly staring at the massive beehive-looking leopard cap on top of her head. Don’t worry, you can absolutely laugh at me. Looking back, I was wayyyyy too committed to beauty, lol. Beauty is pain and embarrassment, at times. SO, keep that in mind if you have any beach trips or salty encounters coming up. Also, it’s advised to get a softer bristle brush and gently brush extensions so that you don’t rip them out. I use a brush from Babe when I wear my extensions and gently brush-typically holding the adhesive root part of my hair when brushing to not pull too hard on the hair. Honestly, maintenance is pretty common sense and minimal, which make tape-in a more affordable, manageable hair extension option.
The cost is very dependent on each person and your hair goals-how many packs of hair you need, the time it takes to put them in, your location, etc. On average, I believe it runs around $500-600. The hair lasts for about eight weeks, so it’s a good investment, in my opinion. Then, you can deep wash your hair, re-tape your extensions, and leave them out or tape them back in. Your call.
So, are they worth it? YES. If you haven’t already figured that out, let me be clear: I FRIGGIN LOVE MY KIM K HAIR!!
Yes, they do give your neck a bit of a workout when you first put them in. Your head feels heavy, for sure. It feels a little like something is pulling at your strands, as well. But, personally, all that is minor and fleeting in the grand scheme of things. For the price, aesthetic, and minimal upkeep, I think they’re worth it. If you decide to go this route, give it time to adjust to the new length, volume, and feeling of having the extensions in. If you do, I think you’ll totally fall in love with them like I did. Another piece of advice, either be prepared or don’t wear extensions if your summer weather gets super hot and humid. It can get pretty frustrating to deal with wooly mammoth amounts of hair on your neck and back when it’s 90 degrees and humid out. Trust me, I’ve been there and it’s not pretty. But otherwise, they’re amazing to invest in, because again, you can reuse whenever you want.
Hopefully my tips and thoughts are helpful if you’ve considered extensions before. If you have any other questions, please shoot me a message and I’ll answer quickly and as much as I can from my experience. Thanks for hanging out with me in my closet, and I’ll talk to you babes soon!
XO,
Sarah
