Hair extensions; the good, the bad and the ugly.

People with straight hair wanted curly hair, so perms, rollers and curling irons were invented. People with curly hair wanted straight hair, so straightening chemicals and straightening irons were invented. People with long hair wanted short hair, so they got it cut and people with short hair (or people who thought they wanted short hair) wanted long hair, so they invented hair extensions!

Hair extensions might seem like they have only been around for a few years, but in fact they go as far back as the Egyptian days. They were worn by both men and woman for cosmetic adornment as well as being used to avoid infections like head lice. These days hair extensions are worn mostly for fashion purposes. They are used to add different colours, as well as thickness and length to the hair.

We all have ourselves or known someone who had/has hair extensions, but do we know which are the best?

Clip-in extensions - These are the gentlest and easiest types of hair extensions to work with. To attach them, hair should be split into sections from the bottom, working your way upward. The number of clips used depends on the volume needed. Firstly tease your hair a little at the base, then open the clips facing them to the scalp and snap them into place. They are easily removed and don't damage your hair.

Weaves - Weaves are tiny hidden braids that hold hair extensions against the scalp. These hair extensions can apply tension and add uneven weight to natural hair where they're attached. This is a concern when washing hair, swimming or participating in other activities where hair gets wet, as it is hard to dry hair that's under the braids. Some people with weaves don't wash their hair as often because of this.

Tape-in extensions - Tape-in extensions are attached using a glue that that is used in medicine so it is completely safe for the hair. They are applied by taking a thin section of the person's hair and attaching one hair extension to each side with the glue. This way, the glue attaches to itself as well as the pieces of hair. These can be worn for 2.5-3 months before they need to be redone again.

Microbead extensions - Microbead extensions are one of the popular methods used for hair extensions. They cause little damage to the hair as they are attached by linking a small bead (can be metal or plastic), to the extension and using pliers to squash it and join it to the real hair. No chemicals are used.

So there are a few different methods of hair extensions, which have you tried?
Which did you prefer/which would you recommend?
Let me know in the comments below.

Remember, the only makeup you need is a smile.