I’d say a better question is: what are you willing to do for your extensions? Hair extensions are a bit of a commitment and an investment, but they are totally worth it if you are willing to take care of them properly. Let’s take a quick look at some considerations.
Why do you want hair extensions?
Perhaps you want them for length, thickness, or a color change. Maybe you’re growing out a bad haircut. There might be a special occasion like a wedding or graduation coming up, and you want to look and feel your best. This is the question where you really decide how much you’re willing to pay or do to maintain a hair extension lifestyle.
What is your long-term goal for your hair?
I want to make all your hair dreams come true. But I have to ask this question to make sure that extensions will be helpful and not hinder your goals.
How often do you like to change your hairstyle or color?
If this is a spontaneous decision, and you will want to change your hair again in two weeks, extensions might not be your best friend. But if you would like to maintain a certain color for about 6 months or more, extensions would be great.
Have you ever had extensions before?
This is where I get to hear about all the horror stories of bald spots, breakage, uncomfortable placement, outdated methods, and more. Or, if you’ve never had extensions, this is where we talk about the real day-to-day lifestyle of it.
What chemical procedures have been performed on your hair in the last 3 years?
This is a great time to discover if your hair is healthy enough to support extensions, and if you are likely to stick with a style long enough to make the extensions worth it. We can tone extensions, or do a gentle demi-permanent color to go a shade darker. But, from personal experience, I've learned that hair extensions should never be bleached or permed.
Have you researched any extension methods?
Maybe you already know exactly what kind of extensions you want, or maybe you have no clue. I deal with extensions all the time, so I can answer as many questions as you have.
What products do you use on your hair currently?
I don’t ask this question to be a spammy salesperson. I ask this question to make sure that the hair is going to be in a good condition when I see it next time. Even if you are only using professional grade products, we might need to tweak your routine slightly to tailor it to the specific needs of hair extensions.
What does your current hair routine look like?
If you’re a wash’n’go or a wash’n’sleep kind of person, you might want to opt for clip or halo extensions. If you like to spend 2 mins or less on your hair, extensions will probably be more pain than beauty to you.
Do you style with heat? If so, how often?
Heat is not great for your hair or for extensions, but as long as you are careful, it’s totally fine! Just make sure to keep the heat as low as possible, use a heat protectant, and leave-in conditioner or oil to keep your lengths nourished.
How do you typically style your hair?
If you like to wear it in a slicked back ponytail, a clip or tie-on hair piece would be a better fit than tape-in extensions. You can still easily do a loose top knot or a low ponytail with extensions. As a general rule of thumb, if it hurts your scalp, it will hurt your extensions.
How often do you wash your hair?
If your hair gets super oily, and you can’t use dry shampoo, and you have to wash it every day, your extensions will wear out faster, and you will be doing a lot more work to maintain them. But again, it’s not impossible. This goes back to how much you are willing to do.
How much time do you spend on your hair daily? Weekly?
Keep in mind, having hair extensions is like having double the amount of hair you’re used to. That means twice as long to wash, and twice as long to style. However, a typical hair extension routine looks like 1 or 2 washes per week. So this is where dry shampoo comes into play. It will be a great time saver between washes. Drying your hair will take longer. If you can let it air dry somewhat before hitting it with the hair dryer, you will save time and an arm workout. :)
What is your natural curl pattern like?
If your hair is naturally a 3A or curlier, you will probably have a hard time finding human hair extensions that will match with your curl pattern. If this is your case, you might consider a weave, or a wig. (I’m a no-shame wig wearer myself).
Do you have a sensitive scalp?
It’s normal to take about a week to get used to having hair extensions. You’ll have to brace yourself for the extra weight when it gets wet in the shower. They should be snug, but not pinching when they are fresh. Some hairdressers recommend taking pain medicine before your hair extension appointment. I personally don't recommend that, because I have a sensitive scalp. So I don’t want to cause you pain, since I know how it feels.
How often do you work out, participate in sports, or swim?
If you like to swim, that’s fine. Chlorine isn’t healthy for your extensions, but it’s not healthy for your hair either. So, anything with proper precaution is okay. If you’re going to swim, keeping it to a minimum will help your extensions last longer. Before you get in the pool, the ocean, or a lake, get your hair wet with fresh water, and apply conditioner. This creates a first-layer barrier of protection. Then, put your hair in a loose braid. This will protect you from getting dreadlocks and it will make detangling so much easier after you’re done swimming.
Do you spend a lot of time outdoors in the sun?
If so, just be sure to use a UV protectant and keep a travel brush with you on the go, to prevent dreadlocks and massive tangling from the wind.
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