First of all, HUGE shout out to Martha (@50shadesbalayage) for always doing such a great job on my hair. She is the best at what she does. I always trust her work, extensions and color! Go check out her page and give her a follow!
How often do you have to go in for maintenance?
It will be a little different for everyone since everyone’s hair grows at different rates, but generally every 6-8 weeks you will have to go in for maintenance. You just go in and she moves up the hair and then you’ll be on your way. Super simple and not near as long as the initial process of putting them in, about half the time.
Is the hair heavy or make your head feel heavy?
Honestly, I don’t feel like it is heavy. The only time I could tell a difference in the weight of my hair is whenever I put it in a bun on the top of my head during the first week. Other than that, I have not had any issues with my hair being heavy. I will say, it is A LOT of hair so fair warning. Lol! My hair is so thick now (which I LOVE) but it was also pretty thick before, so that might also be the reason I can't really tell the difference in weight. But if you have thinner hair then you may feel like it is heavier than those with thicker hair. Martha (@50shadesbalayage) also offers handtied extensions now as well and that is supposed to be a good option for people with thinner hair, so you might look into that if you have thin hair.
How long does the process take?
Whenever I went in to get my hair done, I got my hair color first and then she put the extensions in. My appointment was at 11 and I left the salon by 4:30. No, you don’t have to color your hair before you get you extensions, but it was just time for a little touch up to my roots, so we just decided to do it all in one day.
Generally, it takes about 2-3 hours for her to install and style the extensions (which I don’t think is bad at all considering that is how long I am usually there for a typical color appointment with my real hair... I have alottt of hair)
Can you wear your hair up or will you see the beads?
Yes, you can wear your hair up! This is a question I got a lot. You can for sure wear your hair up, just be aware of where your beads are. I will say, I have medium-thick hair so for me it’s not super hard to hide them. I just throw my hair up in a pony tail and you can’t see them at all. I have done a few different kinds of braids and not once did I see any beads. I know it is different for everyone, but I think once you just get use to your hair and figure out what works best for you, you shouldn’t have any problems with seeing beads.
How long does the hair last?
It all depends on how you take care of the hair, but they say 8-10 months and possibly up to a year.
How much do they cost? (Oh, the burning question everyone wants to know.)
It varies from person to person and depends on how many bags of hair you get. Most people get 4-5 bags, I got 4 bags and it was a lot of hair and perfect for me. The mermaid extensions start at $1,500 and the more bags you get the more expensive it will be (obviously). Honestly, it is a big investment up front but the hair will last you up to a year. So, yes you pay for the hair upfront and then every 6-8 weeks you just pay a small “move up” fee. That just entails her moving the beads up because during that time they grow with your hair.
How do you take care of them?
You treat them just like it was your own hair. It is 100% real hair. So, any products or hair tools are perfectly okay to use.
Do you recommend?
YES! I love them so much. I feel like I was made for extensions (hahaha! High maintenance?) but no really, I have always wanted super long hair so it’s been so fun having that option now. I would recommend them for sure!! Martha (@50shadesbalayage) is so so SO good at what she does. She knows what she is going and is very thorough. Cannot say enough good things about her. She is also a breath of fresh air just to sit and have a conversation with. Definitely go check out her page!
What are your go-to hair products?
These are all things I use and love! Can't recommend these products enough. This is what works for my hair and what I was using even before extensions. Also, all of these things smell AMAZING. I'm such a "smell" person, so if it doesn't smell good then I'm not likely going to use it.
