I've always had fine, thin hair. No matter what I'm eating, exercising or using on my hair, this never really changes. Sure some products can add texture and make my hair appear thicker, but honestly nothing I've tried has made a huge difference for me.
I'd contemplated using hair-extensions in the past and heard horror stories of them being glued to scalps and growing out awkwardly - think Brittany Spears. So when I was contacted by Irresistible Me (link), who offer clip-in hair extensions, I thought what do I have to lose?
They ship using FedEx which is a huge bonus for me, as tracking was a breeze and they arrived packaged nicely and very hygienically wrapped. Being a science graduate, it's easy to be a germaphobe, so I'm glad this put me at ease. They have a slight smell to them, but nothing offensive.
I also appreciate that in a small pouch to the side, they have a single weft that you can use to conduct a colour comparison and check the quality of the hair. Truthfully I was pleasantly surprised at how close and natural the colour was - and the feel of the hair. I ended up choosing the Royal Remy Hair in Royal Medium Brown, 140g and in 14 inches (link). Included in the package was 8 pieces: 1x 4 clips (7.5"), 3x 3 clips (6"), 2 x 2 clips (4") and 2 x 1 clip (1.2").
I was so excited I immediately wanted to throw them in and enjoy lustrous long hair. However, with my fine hair, it soon became apparent that it wasn't going to be as simple as clip and go. After lots of trial and error, I found a group of products that added some oomp to my hair that enable me to clip in the extensions, without them being seen through my hair.
Another important factor, is not being tempted to use them all. For those with fine, thin hair, being select with just a few hair extension pieces made all the difference in disguising them within my own hair. In the end I found the best fit to be with using one of the 3 clip toward the middle nape of my head and two of the 2 clips on the middle to back on each side of my head.
So here are my tips:
- Ensure that your hair is prepped to handle the hair extensions - volumising products and clean hair
- Use texturising spray at the roots to give the clips something to adhere to
- Be fastidious when it comes to sectioning your hair
- Do your best to clip the hair extensions as close to your roots and as flat as possible
- You don't need to use all the extensions at once and you may be better off picking and choosing for the best end product.
I also thought it would be best to show you how these look applied to my hair without any extra styling. This way you can see what the raw end product would be and let your imagination run wild with the possibilities. You can also see an added fullness to my hair that wasn't there before. Obviously, as I have quite a blunt cut/an old colour growing out on my natural hair, the gradient with the extensions is a bit noticeable. However, to combat this I found curls to be a god send. It helps to mix in my natural and extension pieces together and help them intertwine.
For me, to make this look completely seamless, I'll probably take these to my hair dresser to have them cut and styled.
So although apprehensive, I was completely bowled over by how natural these extensions are. A bit of practice and work to get going to begin with, however ultimately in the end the process is quite simple and straight forward. To me, they are a fun addition and I can't wait to try out new and different ways to use them.
Ellen Rozalia xx
** Disclaimer: The hair extensions were sent to me by Irresistible me, however as always my opinions remain honest and entirely my own.
