Long Hair Tips

There is nothing more fun than spontaneously chopping long hair into a stylish above the shoulders cut. Yet, when the novelty of a "new you" wears off and you start missing those luscious locks, there is nothing in the world of beauty more painful than waiting for it to grow back. And then there are those of us, who no matter how long we grow our hair can never achieve the fullness of Jackie Hernandez because we are under the curse of thin and stringy strands. Be it because of the regrets of an impulsive hack or purely bad genes, hair extensions may just be the daring new look you need.

Tips:
Extensions can last as long as four months, but only if you treat them delicately. Here's a few tips on how to care for those newly adopted locks:

Forget those steaming, hot showers. Anything hotter than lukewarm water will loosen the bonds and will shorten the lifespan of your extensions.

Skip the heat. Just like hot showers, steer clear of the hot air from your blow dryer. If you still want to straighten your hair with your extensions in, be sure not to let the straightener's plates touch the bonds or they will melt in an instant.

Careful with the brush. It's easy to pull the bonds with your brush, and doing so will only cause long-term damage to your hair, and ultimately make it thinner. Take it easy and go slow with the combs and brushes!

Keep In Mind:

Style is Key: The last thing you want is for people to know you are sporting a head of hair that is not your own, so style accordingly. The disadvantage of gluing someone else's hair into your own is that you can't get away with all the half-up, half-down styles you can do when all you've got is your own hair. After styling, to check the back of your head with a mirror to make sure none of the bonds are visible.

The Fall-Out: After the first two months, check the bonds daily to see if they are starting to feel weak. If they feel pliable, you'll know they are about to fall out. The last thing you want is to run your fingers through your hair on a hot date only to find a handful of "your" hair has come out! That's a sure-fire way to scare your date!

Funk'dified
If you want to make a statement or just want to be young and have fun, funky coloured extensions are a good way to do it. Instead of adding flare to your hair with dyes and peroxides, strategically placing a few fire-engine red or lightning blue synthetics is a good alternative that will keep your natural locks healthy and strong.