Pixie cuts are on the list of every girl who’s ever watched America’s Next Top Model. It’s amazing to watch the girls transform namely Yoanna, Brittani, Marjorie and Eve from gorgeous to spunk and seeing your favorite stars such as Natalie Portman, Carey Mulligan and Emma Watson pull it off so effortlessly deludes you into thinking, yeah I could look that good too. So you head to the salon after months of consideration thinking this is it but as you walk out of the salon, you can’t help but think that this brilliant idea of yours probably wasn’t so bright in the first place.
You soon realize that growing back your hair isn’t going to be a fast process. Human hair grows at an estimated 1.5 cm a month or 6 inches a year. At this rate, you’d be pulling out more hair than having it regrow faster. Fortunately, there are other methods than hair tonic to quickly regain your luscious long locks and no, we’re not talking about wigs. Why not try hair extensions? Hair extensions are not only used to change your looks from short to long hair but also to add volume and length. It’s also a great way to add highlights or lowlights to your hair without actually coloring it.
There are two types of hair extensions namely those made of synthetic materials or real human hair and can last up to three months or more if done well. Synthetic hair is available at most hair accessory shops and come in a myriad of colors which are great to wear for a night out and are usually clipons. The best part about human hair extensions though they cost much more and take up to 8 hours for the application process is that they can be shampooed, conditioned and combed just like your normal hair.
For more permanent hair extensions, you can opt for glue bonding, fusion or weaving, all of which has its pros and cons. The fusion method is the most difficult and time consuming method whereby small sections of hair are applied strand by strand to the natural hair roughly about 4 centimetres from the scalp using professional adhesive.
The weaving technique involves the extensions being braided around the head close to the scalp and are very natural. However, just like tying a ponytail for long periods of time, these cornrows can create tension on your real hair and can cause breakage especially when your hair is wet. It can also be difficult to dry your scalp thoroughly which may lead to scalp infections in the long run.
You may feel slightly uncomfortable when sleeping during the first week after getting your extensions and you will be advised to not wash your hair more than twice a week. Many complain that it can be hard to maintain as it requires plenty of combing to ensure it does not look messy especially after a shower.
Hair extensions cost anything from RM20 to the thousands depending on how many strands you opt for and the method of application. Always survey quality and prices before you decide which salon, color or method to do you hair extensions. You must also be prepared for the extra care and costs required for your hair post-extensions.If you have very short hair namely the pixies cut, make sure to let it grow out a bit so that it will look natural when blended in with the extensions otherwise you’ll only end up looking like a Q-tip.
