BlondeinBlahnik

Instant gratification totally exists. It’s in the form of hair extensions, ladies. Instant increased volume? Check. Longer length? Check CHECK. And whatever unspoken magic that seems to exist with longer hair just making every outfit and accessory seem better: check!!

I recently got extensions from my favorite salon in Jacksonville- Hello Lovely by the FABULOUS Carissa Glico (check out her Insta, @cosmobycarissa)!!! Carissa has been doing my hair for over a year now and I 100% love and trust everything she does. That goes for the entire staff at Hello Lovely too! If you’re local to Jax, give them a try and I’m confident it will become your go-to salon.

To start- this was not my first go-around with extensions. I’ve dabbled with clip-ins over the years (I had them for prom and for other random events) and while I appreciate the flexibility of clip-ins, I always found myself wanting something that lasted longer and didn’t require the daily struggle of placing and attaching my own extensions. After some research, I had Fusion extensions done waaaayyy back in 2012 at a salon in Orlando. Fusion extensions involve a stylist placing individual hair strands with a glue-like adhesive throughout your hair. The bonds are somewhat hidden by your additional hair layers and they have free moving flexibility but they are bulky and can’t be reused and caused a bit of damage upon removal.

When I recently heard Carissa was offering multiple types of extension methods at Hello Lovely, I was all in! I decided to share the details of the process below in case you or anyone you know have been interested in getting extensions. I find it’s always helpful to hear about the process from someone’s firsthand account.

(Disclaimer: I am not a stylist and by no means an expert on extensions and the processes surrounding them! This is just meant to be a personal account along with some tips I think would be helpful for someone interested in going through this fantastic process!)

1. Have a consult with your stylist.

It’s definitely important to learn all about the extension methods out there and to discuss with your stylist which one would be the best fit for you, your life, and your hair! This is also a good time to discuss pricing as extensions can definitely be a hard hit on the wallet depending on the type you want to go for. Carissa and I had an initial consult where we decided that the best fit for me would be the I-tip beaded row extensions (more on these later).

2. Order your hair with the help of your stylist to determine the best texture and color match for a seamless application!

This is important to ensure you get good quality hair and in a color that will look appropriate and blend with your current hair. We ordered mine through Babe Hair Extensions- linked their site here! Your stylist will also be able to help you determine how much hair to order and the length needed depending on your preferences. I got 18 inches for length and a perfect light blonde pack that had an ombré type effect that worked perfectly when staggered onto my hair.

3. Prepare yourself before your extension appointment with necessary products!

I’ve seen most extension hair companies recommend that you use sulfate free shampoos when washing extensions after install, so stock up on that, dry shampoo (so you can prolong the frequency of washing your hair), and fun hair accessories like clips and scrunchies that you’ll be wanting to use once your hair is long and full and glam!

4. At the appointment:

I was told to come to my extension install appointment with clean hair without added product in it, so I simply washed with just shampoo the night before. The install appointment can vary in time length- mine took about 3 hours to install, take pictures, and style and it was worth every second! For the I-tip beaded rows, Carissa used silicone beads that blended seamlessly with the color of my natural hair and she basically clamped these beads to each strand of hair that we ordered from Babe Hair. These are flexible, well hidden, and are easy to style and put up if needed which is ideal for me because I work out 4-5x a week.

5. Come prepared with questions

Normally your stylist will discuss the aftercare instructions for your extensions with you verbally and may give you written material to take home as well. It never hurts to have a list of questions to ask during your appointment so you don’t miss anything! You’ll also want to know about styling tips and tricks to maximize your extensions potential and their longevity of use! A major advantage to my I tip beaded row extensions is that they can be reused and re-applied with proper care! I have appointments every 6-8 weeks to move them up or adjust any strands if needed.

6. Pay attention to necessary aftercare instructions

Depending on the type of extensions you get, your aftercare instructions will vary. For mine, I need to brush them daily with a special brush I received in a kit from Babe that came with my hair extensions! I also need to try to prolong the time in between washes- extensions take much longer to dry and can easily become tangled so taking care when washing your hair is essential after install. Dry shampoo will continue to be my best friend! Babe also sent over a dry shampoo product that I’m excited to try out!

7. A little goes a long way with styling

As with normal hair, I think it’s always a good practice to minimize heat exposure to hair when possible. For curling, extensions seem to hold style REALLY WELL, especially compared to my hair which has the curl holding capacity of a wet noodle. That being said, you could curl your hair at the beginning of the week and just do minimal touch ups when needed to avoid heavy heat exposure on a daily basis.

All in all, extensions require some maintenance but the payoff is so totally worth it! I’m excited to have these throughout the fall and winter, especially since I have several weddings to attend and trips to go on. I encourage you to do additional research and always meet with a stylist you trust prior to getting extensions. Otherwise, here’s to joining the mermaid hair club once again!

(The Grand Transformation!)