I’ve been jealous of girls with long, thick, silky hair my whole life. However, not too long ago, I discovered a special kind of hair extensions. The world of hair extensions can be so overwhelming! They are known to go hand in hand with the words high maintenance, expensive and damaging. Extensions opened a whole new world of possibilities for me, seriously! It is actually possible for me to get my dream hair! I held off for soooo long on extensions because they seem so unrelatable and intimidating. Let’s be honest, in the North East, NO ONE has hair extensions. I can’t name one person I know IRL! However, with my wedding day approaching, I knew that if there was a time for me to get extensions, the time was now. I did my research and finally got these special extensions a little over a month ago, and today I’m sharing all the details on what kind of extensions I got, the process, the cost, and if I’ll keep them after the wedding!

Hair Extensions Before and After:

All photo credit: Kelsey Morey

What kind of extensions did you get?

Kelsey Morey, Owner of Haus of Pretty in Westport, CT created my extensions. If you’re from the area I highly recommend Kelsey for all things hair! I have known Kelsey for a while (we actually met on IG), and I knew if I was going to trust anyone with my extensions, it was her! I went in for a consult and we talked about all the extensions options out there. Kelsey pretty much only recommends two kind of extensions depending on the needs of her clients. She recommends her version of Natural Beaded Row extensions the most because they are the least damaging and most easy to care for. 

Natural beaded row technique (NBR) is a process created by Master Californian Stylist Danielle K. White for putting in extensions. Kelsey has applied her knowledge of this method to create her own adaptation of this technique which integrates custom colored and handmade hair extensions. Basically, the process starts with clamping non-damaging tiny beads to strands of my hair in a crown shape. The hand made and custom colored extensions are then sewn on to the beads so as my hair grows out, the weight of the extensions is distributed to the beads instead of my hair. The special beads cause no damage and are easily placed in and removed. No heat, no glue, no keratin needed.

The sewing and bonding techniques used by Kelsey are damage and pain free. I can’t believe how easy it is to remove the extensions– the thread is removed and the beads literally just pop out with a specific tool! I have two rows of extensions on my head and they are the 18″ length. This is the shorter option of the two I was debating between. Next time I will definitely be going longer! I’m obsessed! They weren’t bothersome to sleep on and the way they are applied makes it easy for me to put my hair up in a ponytail for Crossfit!

How Long do Extensions Last?

These special extensions are moved up every 6-8 weeks to account for hair growth. Each set of hair lasts about 6 months (3 cycles). I was told when the hair gets old, I will know it’s time to replace it. I can definitely see that because I can already see the ends splitting a little and getting a little coarse. Talk about justifying: I will need a new set of hair just in time for the wedding so I timed my extension trial pretty well, haha!

The process of putting in the extensions is only a couple of hours. I experienced minimal discomfort. It feels a little tight and awkward for about a day, but now I can’t even feel them. I worried about working out with extensions, but I really don’t even notice them.

How do you Care for your Extensions?

The care process intimidated me pre-extensions. However, I realized it’s not too much of a hassle. The little extra work required is well worth it to me! Kelsey also advised me of every possible scenario and gave me a silk pillowcase the day of my extension application to help keep things perfect! This is my hair care routine:

Wash: I wash my hair every 3-4 days. Pre-extensions I was washing it literally every day because of how much I sweat at Crossfit. My real hair is impossible to style after it’s been sweaty.

Product: I didn’t change up my products too much! I use sulfate free shampoo and conditioner and dry shampoo. I also started using this “beach waves” texture spray and styling oil on the ends. 

Brushing: The frequency I need to comb my hair is probably the biggest change with extensions. I now know what “tangled” means! I comb my hair thoroughly at least twice a day-usually after the gym and before bed. Keeping my hair tangle free is the number one rule for having these extensions and keeping them in perfect condition.

Styling: I use the same T3 Micro tools I’ve been using all along. The only changes I’ve made in styling are I’ve started using the 1.5″ barrel for my curling wand when before I was using the 1″. I also blow dry my hair in smaller sections than previously.

General Care: Overall, I am much more gentle on my hair now than I was before so I don’t rip out the extensions. My extensions have stayed tangle and dread-free (yay). I also sleep with a silk pillowcase religiously, even when I travel. It definitely helps both my hair and my skin!

What is the Cost of Extensions?

I was aware extensions were going to be an investment. I was totally okay with that! If you are planning on getting extensions, I would expect to pay around $1,000-$1,500 initially depending on where you live. To me, it is 100% worth it to invest in custom colored, handmade and ultimately damage free extensions and I am absolutely in love with my hair. I don’t think I will ever go back to NOT having extensions!

I hope this post helps answer some of your extension questions! Both the cost and the process of extensions intimidated me at first, but overall I am so so happy I made the leap to getting extensions. I am 100% committed to maintaining these extensions as long as possible! I feel great knowing my natural hair isn’t being damaged and in the meantime my hair looks amazing!

Let me know your extension questions below- have you ever considered extensions?

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