Hair extensions... gimme what you got!

[Glamourcide]

So... I'm getting super sick of my shoddy short hair (cut short on a whim, then damaged from bleaching/colouring so cut far too short to be flattering on me!), and I'm considering extensions. I'm not sure what type I want to go with yet, and will be calling around a few local salons tomorrow to enquire about prices, but in the meantime, I'd love to hear from anybody who has/has had extensions and can tell me about them!

I know there are a few types, and I'm leaning towards the wax/keratin ones to avoid further damage to my hair - I'll probably only get one set applied so I have hair that's a nice length while I wait for my natural hair to grow out, itms? Then in 6 months or whatever, when it's time to have them reapplied, just get them out and be done - I just want some longer hair while my hair grows back, it's sooo frustrating having it scraped up in a little pigtail *every* day because it's too short to leave out!

If you've had extensions, how much did you pay? (A friend of a friend works in a salon and they charge around $400 for a full head, seems a little excessive to me?) I have super-thick, dead-straight hair, would a half-head be an option seeing as I just want some extra length, not volume/body? How long did your extensions last, and if you had them applied and then cut them shorter, did you consider it to be kind of a waste of money (I'm planning on getting the shortest extn's possible to save on $$ but most salons seem to stock 24", I only really want shoulder-length)?

Thanks in advance for any experiences and advice you can give me! I'm not 100% sure I'll be able to get them (gotta sit down and chat with DH about it as he's about to start a new job which is paying a bit less than we're used to, and this is a pretty big amount of money to blow on my vanity!), but I'd like to know as much as possible before I commit to it Thanks girls! xx

[~TT40~]

I got them for my wedding basically to thicken my hair.. i have long hair but its very fine and thin. they were glued/waxed and i loved them lasted about 2 months. i then went and got them redone and the next lot lasted over 3 months. i dont know the brand tho... But the 2nd lot were a little more expensive but heaps better quality and from someone in Melb. i want to get them again but cant afford to. they are expensive. ive seen someone with the beaded ones and they were so obvious. these wax ones you could tell at all even with how fine and thin my hair is.

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[Harriet]

I had my hair cut and coloured on a whim a few years back. I wasn't lucky enough to be able to tie it up it was so short, and combined with my glasses I managed to look like Valma from Scooby Doo (not the look I was going for)!
At the time I was quoted around $600 for extensions, can't recall any details. This was well out of my price range, so I ended up going to Hairhouse warehouse where I bought a fake one piece extension for $40. Next time I went to hair dresser I got them to match the colour. Nobody ever realised I was wearing the piece, and seeing as I change the colour of my hair often, I now have a collection of clip-in extensions of different types. Some are real hair and ten piece sets, however the fake one piece remains my favourite.
Could this be an option for you until your hair gets a bit longer?

[AliBaby]

I got them for my wedding basically to thicken my hair.. i have long hair but its very fine and thin. they were glued/waxed and i loved them lasted about 2 months. i then went and got them redone and the next lot lasted over 3 months. i dont know the brand tho... But the 2nd lot were a little more expensive but heaps better quality and from someone in Melb. i want to get them again but cant afford to. they are expensive. ive seen someone with the beaded ones and they were so obvious. these wax ones you could tell at all even with how fine and thin my hair is.

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I have had the same ones done. they dont cause damage to your hair which is good.

I dont think you will find shot hair extentions. they all seem to come in the same length and then are trimmed. If you are wanting them for length is will cost you a lot more than if you want them for thickness. For thickness you only need a few added. I have had them put in now for thickness and I needed 9 sections. For length you would need to get a full head otherwise it will look like you have a mullet with your shorter hair coming over the top of them IYKWIM. the price you were quoted for a full head sounds reasonable to me.

When I had mine put in a few weeks ago, they were heaps long and it looked really odd with my hair cause of the mullet type look. They cut heaps off them but left maybe an inch of length on them. After i get married I wont be able to maintain them as its too exensive to upkeep. The only reason I could afford them was because my sister paid for it. i will need to get them re-applied when I get my hair coloured next (they will take them out and put the same ones in but closer to my scalp as they have grown down with my hair).

The only other thing I will add is that I am probably getting a drier scalp then usual as I cant eally wash my hair properly as I dont want to damage them so I cant give my scalp a good scrub in all areas but other than that I love them.

[Emma09]

I've had the wax ones.
LOVED them!
I had a super short bob- and my hairdresser blended them super well :-)
They cost $800 though and lasted for about 4 months- then I was over long hair.
I've seen some shockers around- so be careful.

[Freya]

I just recently got tape extensions. Cost me $450 for a full head (and they put in extra for free because I have really thick hair). My natural hair is just aboveshoulder length. Now its down to just below my shoulder blade. Their great but alot of maintenence goes into them to keep them good. So far its been 5 or 6 weeks and I'll probably have to get them moved up soon. I will take them out after that last lot of time because Im just wanting my hair to get past my shoulders.

I have to ditto Alibaby, thats the only issue I have to, a dry scalp. But my hairdresser said to use a good cleansing shampoo every second wash and get it as close to my scalp as possible to try and combat that.

If you want to see pics, pm me your name on FB