Oh, hair extensions…we have had such a long long ongoing relationship. It’s been moments of highs and some serious lows but you have come such a long way since we first met.
For those of you suffering from diffused hair loss, hair extensions can be a good option to add fullness to your hair. After my first was born and I went through my first major shed, I started to search for options to create more fullness. You can read more about my hair loss journey and diagnosis by clicking here…My Hair Loss Story.
Hair Extensions have been a huge confidence booster for me. They have helped get me through some dark moments, from instant help with clips-ins to more committed methods like weaves to tape-ins…I have tried them all.
For the past few years, I have been using a different method through a hair extensionist and hair loss replacement specialist located in Calgary. You can check out her Instagram here, Si Belle Hair Extensions. If you live in Calgary and are suffering from any type of hair loss, I would highly recommend checking her out.
Here’s the thing, as my hair loss progresses and my follicles stop producing hair after major sheds, hair extensions won’t be the solution best suited for me. I know that and as much as it freaks me out, today more than ever, there are some pretty amazing options for women losing hair. For now, I am still ok pulling off the hair extensions although I most recently had an insane shed (I still think I am going through it sadly) and lost a ton of hair on my crown. see caption…
My most current shed. You can see I lose most on my crown and upper half, My extensions lay well below this. There isn’t much I can do about this loss, except maybe hair fillers/powders or a full on hair topper.
Now I want to point out to all the readers wondering if maybe the hair loss is due to my extensions, it’s not. My hair loss is all over but mostly visible on the upper half and the crown of my head. My extensions have never sat that high or on my crown. I am very careful about where we place the hair, how I style my hair and how I color it. I am losing my hair because I have chronic telogen effluvium. You can read more about Chronic Telogen Effluvium here: CTE Canadian Hair Loss Foundation
So let’s chat extensions…So many of you want to know all about the different methods I tried – what works and what didn’t. So here we go!
First off, Clip-in extensions.
There are a million reasons why I am not into the clip-in hair extensions for women suffering from hair loss. Yes, it’s nice you can clip them in and take them out whenever you like but personally, I was looking for something that was a little more permanent. Clips-ins can be expensive, heavy and the little clip in teeth can cause a lot of damage to your hair when your hair is thin and fine. I think for a fun night out, something you don’t want to commit to long-term…sure these might work but if you are looking for something to wear daily, I would avoid these.
The Weave.
The weave…the worst. I don’t even want to talk much about how bad this method was, especially for thin hair. First of all the hair was heavy and expensive. The install took forever. The weave was so tight against my head that the first 4-5 days I cried at night and had to take Advil. It stuck out, created a major bump of hair whre it lay around my head, looked fake and when my hair would part naturally in the back you would totally see the weave. IT WAS BAD. Taking the thing out was even worse. From washing and sleeping and life….it got very matted and when she took it out I lost a TON of hair. NEVER AGAIN. I don’t recommend for fine to thinning hair (or at all).
Tape-in Extensions.
Tape-in’s were all the rage a few years back when they were introduced to the market. Tape-ins use a medical adhesive tape to stick to your natural hair. They lay super flat on your head and can be strategically placed. You can wear them for a long time with minimal damage to hair. I had Tape-ins for several years. I really didn’t mind them as they didn’t hurt, didn’t really pull and if you spent the money and got great ones like Glam Seamless they looked really really good. I did run into two issues though, the first being that as they grow out with your hair, they absolutely do get matted and tangled at times. the glue between the two pieces would get sticky and loosen and the two pieces would slide apart causing more matting. Secondly, taking them out can be really hard on your hair if not done by a professional. When I would put my hair up you could see the adhesive, especially cause my hair was thin, I was really limited on how many and where I could place them. I don’t mind these and if I didn’t have my current method I would probably go back to a high-quality tape-in. Be prepared to splurge, the hair isn’t cheap and the install every two to three months also comes with a hefty price tag.
The Undercover Method by Chantal at Si Belle Hair Extensions.
This is the most current and the best extensions method I have been doing. I actually asked Chantal to share with my readers a little bit about her method and story…
Hi Dina and Readers, I want to tell you a little about my Undercover Method that uses undetectable attachments and lightweight wefts. I created my method after having studied different extensionists methods that were damaging to hair. I can genuinely understand my clients because I too suffer from alopecia. Because of this, I didn’t want to do any of those damaging methods to my own hair so I decided to create my own unique method! What sets me apart from other extensionists is that I specialize specifically in female hair loss but am also happy to do this method on any woman looking for some length or volume! I take my time with your hair, I learn about each client’s unique situation. My hair is lightweight, and we color match perfectly to get a very seamless and natural look. Clients can go 6-7 weeks in-between tightening. The best part is that you can even tie your hair up without any of the attachments showing.
Thanks Chantal!
Chantal does an amazing job and is so passionate about what she does. My hairdresser has been very aware of my hair loss, keeps an eye on it and has been watching the extensions for any damage…she loved my results so much that she too went to go see Chantal for extensions!
I can honestly say this has been the best method ever. I have no pain when it gets tightened, it’s light, the hair has lasted me for over a year and I have actually dyed it and style it regularly. Chantal uses only high-quality Remy Human Hair. Nobody has ever said…I can see your fake hair..or extensions. If anything, over the last year or so, I have had so many people ask me what I have been doing to my hair because they want to try it out. When I tell them it’s extensions, they CANNOT BELIEVE IT!
This is a close-up shot with a lot of lighting so you can see the lightweight hair weft that is placed and you cannot see how it’s held up it’s so tiny. There is no glue, no adhesive, no keratin bonding! It’s impossible to detect when my hair is down and it lays flat on my head.
Hair down! don’t see a thing!
Hair up! yes, I can totally put my hair up!
So there you have it. My extensions method. I am going to share next week some of the products I use in my hair to help with my hair styling, blow dry and keeping my hair healthy. Any comments you want to share, or have a question…ask!
until the next post,
moveplaymom
