Fast Ways To Fix Your Hair

Whether you’re regretting cutting your hair or just
desiring to add a little (or a lot) of extra length or
volume to your hair, hair extensions can change up
your looks radically and immediately. Blessing Ukemena
writes with report from totalbeauty.com
How do you think celebrities are able to change their
looks so often? If you’re considering taking the plunge,
use this hair extensions’ guide for the most popular
methods to look glamorous, their pros and cons, and
what type of hair each works best on.
Here are the most popular hair extensions:
Brazilian: This is the most sought-after hair in the
market. This hair is coarse in texture and heavy in
density. Perfect if you want thick, bouncy hair that
comes in rich brown to black hair colours.
Indian: Great; if you want shiny, straight hair that
comes in very long lengths and mimics most hair
textures, get the Indian hair.
Chinese: This is thicker and stronger than European
and Indian hair. This hair type is hardest to curl when
it’s bought unprocessed. Chinese hair is best for those
who want thick-straight hair and have naturally thick
hair. Typically, it’s a bit higher in quality than Indian
hair.
Peruvian: One of the most exotic hair types, Peruvian
provides you with the strength and body of Brazilian
hair with the smoothness of European hair. It tends to
be more expensive than Brazilian hair as well.
Malaysian: This one is great if you’re looking for
naturally wavy or curly hair extensions. It’s mostly
available in darker colours and can be expensive.
European: This type of hair is perfect for those of
Caucasian decent seeking hair that is similar to their
natural hair type. Since lighter hair tones are typically
more expensive, this (along with being very rare,) adds
to its high price.
Here is another list for the ladies to work with:
Clip-In Extensions – These are temporary hair
extensions that are quick to apply and come in a
variety of lengths and widths. Installation takes about
10-20 minutes and lasts for two to three days (though
daily removal is suggested to prevent pulling or tugging
of your hair overnight).
Variations: You can buy clip-in extensions or sew the
clips onto the hair yourself. (Hint: If you’ve ever fixed
a hole in your sweater or sewn a hemline, this will be
a cake-walk). Clips may come in a variety of sizes,
typically small and large.
Pros: The least damaging form of extensions for your
hair; they can be taken out or put in quickly and easily
-- no professional required. Clip-in extensions work on
all hair types and lengths.
Cons: As easy as they are to apply, clip-in extensions
can be expensive and hard to maintain for hairstyling
novices. The clips often need to be taken out daily as
they tend to slide out, and they can tug on hair
uncomfortably if not placed correctly. Extensions
should be washed separately from your own hair.
How to do it: First, style your hair as you normally
would, whether it’s curling, straightening, or waving.
Then use a comb to part small sections of your hair
starting from the back. Tease each section gently at the
root, then place the clip-in pieces right at the teased
roots to secure it. Snap them in place, and repeat as
needed.
Tips: Remove the clip-ins by unsnapping each clip and
gently sliding them out of your hair. Remove them in
reverse order of how you put them in to ensure pieces
are placed around the same section each time. Remove
the highest-placed extension piece first, put it down on
your counter, then remove the subsequent pieces,
placing them on top of one another to form a neat pile.
Tape Weft Extensions – For the Intermediate/Pro: It is a
semi-permanent hair extensions that are quick to apply
and come in a variety of lengths and widths. A
transparent keratin tape bond is connected to the base
of each hair weft. Installation takes about 20-40
minutes and lasts up to six weeks.
Pros: Tape weft extensions can be taken out or put in
fairly quickly and easily, and feel more natural than
clip-in or sewn-in extensions. They do minimal
damage, work on all hair types and lengths, and don’t
necessarily require a trip the salon (though it’s helpful).
Cons: While they can be washed when installed, the
extensions tend to slide out after conditioning, and can
be high-maintenance to hairstyling novices since
sandwiching the two pieces typically is best done when
you have a friend there to help.
How to do it: Starting with your hair straight, use a
comb to part small, horizontal sections of your hair
starting from the back. Sandwich the tape wefts
between a 1/4-inch thick section of your hair close to
the roots. Press firmly to secure at the roots. Repeat as
needed.
Tips: Place the wefts as closely to the roots of each
section as possible as you go. For maximum hold, put
aside strands of hair that aren’t sticking to the tape
before sandwiching the second piece onto it.
Get it if you’ve mastered the clip-in technique and are
looking for something a little more permanent but that
is still easy to remove and reapply. These work much
better for up-do hairstyles, as the tape is flexible yet
sturdy enough to be tugged in different directions.
Weave Hair Extensions – For the Pros: This is a semi-
permanent, but long-lasting hair extensions that
typically require a professional stylist to install. The
extensions can take anywhere from 30 minutes to
several hours depending on the type of style desired.
Once styled, they can last for six to 10 weeks.
Variations: The sew-in technique can be used for full
head or partial weaves.
Pros: They last for weeks at a time; can be washed and
styled normally, and hair can be tugged on without the
extensions slipping out. Another bonus: Your hair type
doesn’t have to match the extension’s type, texture or
length.
Cons: These extensions can be considerably damaging if
not properly maintained; they take much longer to dry
after washing; the installation and removal process can
be lengthy – and typically requires a professional stylist.
How to do it: Natural hair is tightly braided close to
your scalp. The patterns of the braids vary depending
on the style and preference of the stylist.
Tips: Treat and repair your hair thoroughly with
conditioning masks and moisturisers to minimise
damage. Stay away from chemical processing or heat
styling your hair for three to four weeks prior to
getting a sew-in weave. Allow the hair along your
hairline to remain out of the braids so you can conceal
the wefts when you style you hair in an up-do.