Wedding hair transformation PART l

Here we go!! Today is the beginning of a series of blogs until we get to the finishing product of all this hard work on our wedding day!!

I'm sooo excited!

 

...and nervous for this hair transformation

...but still so excited ;)

 

SO HERE WE GO!

 

Today I started the first step to my process and that is creating my own hair extensions!! As some of you may remember, last month I did a blog about link extensions... Well those kind won't be enough for this job sooo today I am showing you how to sew your own hair strands together and add clips for a set of totally awesome extensions that will rock your socks off!!

Lets get started!

 

I own my own 18 inch extensions with the clips already attached. They are the best extensions I have used so far but they didn't carry them in 22 inch sets. With that said, I was instructed to try out a  brand called Satin Strands. They came in my length and were also a little cheaper at $134.99. The catch to the cheaper price is I'm sure due to the fact that you need to sew the clips on yourself. Big deal! That's not an issue unless you are super pressed for time which I have some to spare so I bought my supplies and dipped out! Had I of ordered 22 inch quality extensions with clips already attached, they would of ran just under $200. You can also attach these not only by snap clips but by  weaving/braiding, bonding, or fusion techniques.

Note: You CAN go cheaper than $134.99... but you get what you pay for!! I do not recommend it if you plan to use them frequently! If its only a special occasion use, then knock yourself out and go for the cheaper sets.

I purchased these puppies below:

 

http://www.sallybeauty.com/human-hair-extensions/STNSTR9,default,pd.html?cgid=Hair16-03

 

Click on the link above to be directed to Sally Beauty and check out these extensions (and others!)

 

The supplies you will need are as follows:

 

 

Scissors, your typical hand needles, thread (I bought theirs but feel free to use your own) and 3-4 packets of snap clips. Not pictured: a measuring tape/ruler and needless to say: the hair!

 

Start off by carefully laying the hair out evenly on either the floor or a clean table. Take the tape measure (or what ever you are choosing to use) and measure the desired length of your first weft. I recommend using these measurements:

one 8 inch weft

one 7 inch weft

two 6 inch wefts

and a few 1 1/2 inch wefts (some of mine were 2 inch)

I left one small weft aside from the rest with no clip. It's just for future color testing.

 

Before you cut, fold the hair over so that its doubled. If you left it a single layer you would have a lot more wefts then you really need and that would be a lot more sewing and clips! This way the wefts are fuller and add more volume to your hair =)

 

 

 

Using your thread and needle, tie a double knot at the end of the thread so you are ready to sew!

 

 

Take a clip and make sure the rubber side is the side touching the hair! If not then it will clip wrong so make sure it will clip in to your head of hair the right way =)

Take your needle and thread and either start right next to the clip or in the first hole of the clip and pull it through both layers of the stitching of hair on top and the clip as shown below:

 

 

 

The clips need to be verrry close to the edge of the hair so that the ends of the weft do not stick out while you are wearing them.

 

 When you start to sew into the holes... I would sew through them about 2-3 times to make sure it has a secure hold on the weft.

Here is an example of what it should sort of look like when you are finished. Mine is not exactly perfect but its my first time as well, ha ha.

Those of you who know me or follow my blogs know that I currently have black hair... with that said, why on earth would I buy blonde??
Well if I am planning to possibly go with either an ombre style or a purple... the lighter the hair the better it is to work with! Plus, its easier to color extensions dark but making them lighter is a big NO-NO! Its tough to lighten them without drying them out and/or ruining them. I don't mess around with that.
My next blog about my wedding hair transformation (PART ll) will be the process of coloring my hair and these extensions so that they blend together! If I wore these right now I would look pretty wild!
 Stay tuned everyone!! More is yet to come in the following weeks and the big reveal of course =) 

 

How to put in your own hair extensions!

I was originally going to blog about how red seems to be all the rage lately, not to mention purple! I took this to another level today though. While I was out running errands though, I realized I was near Sally Beauty and thought I'd stop in. You see, I have been coloring my hair black on and off for years but lately decided to stick with it! The only downfall to black is when you want to add color, its a pain in the rear to take the black out. With that said, I thought I would just try to add red colored hair extensions! This way I get the benefit of a little longer hair and a bright new color without the hassle of paying big bucks and a lot of time in the salon.

 

You can add hair extensions a number of different ways: fusion, weaving, bonding, clip-ins, the mini-link method and tape on. The first few methods can cause damage to your hair but last longer. The last few don't cause very much damage if any at all but don't last quite as long either. Its a personal preference and also depends on how much money you are willing to throw down. I create these blogs and try to aim for the everyday person who loves a little challenge, some DIY (do-it-yourself) and who wants to save a buck! With that said, here are the two ways I recommend you go about adding extensions: Clip-ins and the mini-link method!

 

Now, before I explain any further I just want everyone to know that I have actually been working with clip-ins for almost a year now. Here is what I purchased:

 

http://www.sallybeauty.com/hair-extensions/EURNXT02,default,pd.html?cgid=Hair16-03

 

 

I bought brown and later ended up coloring them black. ALWAYS BUY REAL HUMAN HAIR! Synthetic hair extensions cannot be styled with heat! This particular brand has held out for almost a year now for me and they are still going strong! Just take extra care of them! All you have to do is find a good place to put them on your head and literally just clip them in! When you want to take them out, just unclasp them! Its THAT simple! I know someone who went into a salon and paid about $500 to get hair extensions bonded to her real hair and then she tried clip-ins at home as her next method... she said never again will she go back in to the salon. Clip-ins are where its at! I paid in the ballpark of about $150 back when I got mine. The funny thing is, I already have extremely long hair! I was one of those who just wanted to add extra body to my head of hair! For me its not adding length but just more hair, ha ha =)

This is my number one recommended method!

 

My number two is the mini-link method!

This one is appealing because its very affordable and it can spice up your look with little effort!

Here is what you will need:

 

 

The actual hair extensions were just a little over $20 and the links were under $20.

 

Be sure to have pliers!

 

 

I panicked for a moment because I couldn't find my crochet hook but then I remembered my fiance was going to attempt dread locks at one point. He purchased this packet of hooks so I got lucky there!

 

 

You simply put your hook through a bead...

 

 

Pull a very small bit of hair through the bead using the hook. This gets easier and faster once you know what you are doing. It might be a little frustrating at first, ha ha. Just hang in there! It gets much easier!

 

 

Using the pliers, clamp down on the bead as hard as you can so that it locks the top of the hair extension to your hair. Try to do this as close to your roots as possible.

 

 

Make sense? =) Pretty simple, huh?

 

 

The photo above is what it will start to look like! At this point I hadn't even used half of the extensions yet. The more you add, the more dramatic your look!

 

 

 

ROCK ON!!

 

So now you have an idea just how easy the clip-in and mini-link methods are!