Hair extensions - all you need to know

Many of us dream of flowing, Rapunzel-length locks but sometimes, long hair just isn’t attainable without hair extensions. Good quality hair extensions are the secret weapon of many celebrities; Cheryl Cole, Elle MacPherson and Liz Hurley all get a helping hand in the hair department.

Hair extensions are a big commitment, involving a lot of time, money and maintenance, but when done well, they can look incredible. They are also a great solution for anyone who’s suffering from hair loss or thinning – great hair can really improve confidence. So if you’re thinking of taking the plunge with extensions, Lucinda Ellery and Feleny Georghiou have the answers to all your burning questions.

Lucinda Ellery
Lucinda Ellery first opened her salon doors in 1985, since then her London studio has grown phenomenally and Lucinda now has a salon in the North, offering help to women with fine hair and hair loss. Lucinda has developed many ground breaking hair extension and hair loss solutions, and as a result her work is endorsed by the NHS.

Will extensions hurt when they're applied?
The application process does not hurt at all.

How do I maintain hair extensions?
Looking after hair extensions is very much like looking after your own hair: regular washing about 2 to 3 times a week, regular brushing throughout the day and being careful not to condition the bonds or run straighteners directly over them.

How often will I need to have my extensions maintained?
The extensions last around three months because the hair that they are attached to is continually growing at a rate of approximately half an inch a month,  therefore after three months they are 1.5in away from the root and harder to hide, so it is time to remove them.

Do extensions have to be the same colour as my natural hair colour?
Hair extensions are individually colour matched as they are put in using a processing of blending several colours together to achieve the perfect colour. If you are having them for volume you can choose colours that contrast with your own if you wish, but if you are having them for length it is essential that the perfect colour is blended to match your own.

Are your clients worried about extensions damaging their own hair?
There is no reason at all that extensions when attached properly should damage your hair. The horror stories of extensions causing damage are usually related to bad applications such as when too many hairs are attached to too few supporting hairs.

Are real hair extensions ethical?
We use hair that is sourced from the temples of India and given away to the temples for religious regions by the people of India. This is a very ethical supply of hair as it generates money for the temples and the temples help the people.

Will real hair extensions blend well with my own hair?
When done properly hair extensions should blend seamlessly with your own hair. No-one should be able to tell that it's not your own hair from root to tip.

What's best, real or synthetic extensions?
Real hair is better because it looks, feels and behaves completely like your own natural hair. Synthetic hair has its drawbacks, such as it feels unnatural when it is wet and is restrictive when it comes to using styling tools such as hair straighteners.

Is there a particular hairstyle that looks best for someone wearing extensions?
It's important that the extensions are cut into a style that blends with your existing haircut so that you don't look like you have two different haircuts - this often involves having the extensions feathered from the point where your natural hair length finishes.

How long does my hair have to be to have extensions added?
If you have six inches of your own hair before you start, you can achieve virtually any hairstyle that you could possible imagine.

My hair is really fine and thin, will it be able to support extensions?
We would always insist on having test extensions first to see what's best for your hair. When hair is very fine the size of the extensions is adapted to be appropriate for that hair type. It's possible to have hair extensions that are so tiny, you can barely see them when looking for them.

I have a missing patch of hair, will extensions be able to disguise that?
Quite often placing additional hair in the surrounding areas can help, but if the patch is really prominent then we would recommend using an Intralace, which is a fine lace placed over the area of hair loss secured to the surround hair and then filled with additional hair to make the missing patch completely disappear.

Which celebrities do you think have really natural looking extensions?
Cheryl Cole always wears her hair looking beautiful. Blake Lively also wears her extensions very naturally.

Which celebs do you think have bad extensions?
I think Katie Price often has very obvious extensions. Paris Hilton and Lindsey Lohan also have made some very poor extension choices.

How much do extensions cost?
Extensions can cost from £5.50 per bond and some people have as few as 10 bonds. The average someone spends on thickening their hair with extensions is £250 - £300, and the average that is spent on lengthening is £600 - £800.

Can I add extensions gradually to make the process more natural?
You can if you want volume but not if you want to lengthen your hair, because an incomplete set of hair extensions (http://www.handbag.com/hair/hairstyles/celebrity-hair-extensions-85166) would look really odd, like straggles of hair hanging below your natural hair.

Lucinda Ellery salons

Feleny Georghiou
Feleny Georghiou is a world-class expert in hair extensions. She has been tending to A-list locks by adding body, movement, length and texture to their hair for the past 25 years. As the co-founder and Creative Director of Connect Hair System, Feleny is the go-to extensionist when celebrities want a glamorous style transformation. Counting Victoria Beckham, Sharon Stone, Cheryl Cole, Penelope Cruz and Lulu as clients, Feleny creates mega-star looks.

How do you apply extensions?
Connect Extensions are attached to the natural hair using a specially formulated plastic seal that almost resembles a tiny bead.

How long will it take to apply extensions?
The amount of extensions needed depends on your desired style. If you want length and lots of volume then you will need to have around 150 - 200 extensions fitted, which will take approximately four hours. If you require just a little volume then between 30 minutes - 1 hour should be enough time.

What is the best way to add volume to my hair with extensions?
Around 30 - 50 hair extensions are ideal for adding volume. If you opt for a style with soft waves, this tends to give hair more bulk, and you also need less extensions.

What are your top tips to prevent extensions damaging your hair?
Check your stylist’s qualifications – also, picking and pulling at the bonds will cause damage.

Are some forms of extensions more damaging than others?
Weaves can sometimes cause a lot of tension on the hair if they are attached too tightly to the natural hair (it can result in the natural hair breaking.) Glue can be a problem too, if a company says you can use conditioner and oils on the roots, then the glue they are using is too strong. Each Connect Hair System extension is securely and safely sealed using their specially formulated plastic, which means you can only use conditioner or oil through the ends of the hair and NOT at the root as this will loosen the hair.

Can I wear my hair in a ponytail if I have extensions?
Definitely. A good stylist should know not to attach the extensions too close to the hair line so that the hair can be worn tied back or up.

Do I need special shampoo and styling products to use with extensions?
You can wash your hair normally using regular products but you must ensure that they are oil-free. Oil-based shampoos and conditioners can weaken the plastic and cause the extensions to loosen. Choose ph balanced shampoos that don’t contain any oils or conditioners (shampoo that's for normal or greasy hair is recommended). Conditioners must be used but apply only from the middle of the hair down to the ends – never on the root area. Heated styling tools are also great to use on hair extensions – as long as they are kept away from the connected area and you should dry the hair on a medium setting.

Can I swim when I have extensions in?
You have to be careful when swimming, although chlorine or seawater does not affect the connecting seal, they will make your natural hair and extension hair dry and possibly fade the colour. Therefore it is recommended to shampoo and condition immediately after swimming. And a few drops of Argan Oil will replenish the hair resulting in shiny silky hair.

What looks could I achieve with extensions?
Your existing length will determine how you can transform the style of your hair. Lots of length and volume is never recommended on very fine hair, however around 50 extensions will transform your hair into a healthy looking mane that is easier to style. For medium to thick hair then lots of length and volume can be added creating a total transformation.

Which celebrities do you think look great with extensions?
Nicole Scherzinger looks amazing. Long, dark and shiny is definitely the look at the moment. Lulu, who has a few short blond extensions attached to give her style, body and texture.

I have really curly hair but I’d love long straight hair, is that possible with extensions?
The only way to have straight extensions when you have curly hair is to have your natural hair straightened first, Or a Brazilian keratin blow-dry to straighten your curls.

Are clip-in extensions safe?
Clip-in extensions are fantastic and ideal for a busy lifestyle. However they are not advisable to wear for long intervals or to bed as the clips can rub against the scalp and may cause damage to the root area.

What is the best way to style clip in extensions?
Clip-in extensions should be styled before you attach them. Human hair type clip-ins and the high-heat fibre ones can be styled with heat; therefore they can be straightened or curled before application.

Can I have extensions just for a special occasion then have them removed?
Clip in extensions are a better choice if you only want them for a short time, especially as the more permanent extensions should be worn for at least a month to enable the connecting seal to have softened (this makes removal process easier on your natural hair).

Feleny Georghiou at Connect

Related articles:
Celebrites with hair extensions
How to make your hair grow faster
Step by step guides to party hair

Content provided by handbag.com