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So I was interested to see what wearing them IRL would be like.
Courtesy of Emily Rekstis
And after I talked to celebrity hairstylist and HairDo Brand AmbassadorKristina Barricelli, I was pumped.
“Hair is your accessory.
Hair is the foundation of that,” she explained.
So, I committed to giving extensions a try.
Now, this isn’t the hair-down-to-your-butt kind of weave I’m talking about.
Think more realistic looks that you’re able to pull off on any random Thursday at the office.
But before we jump into my day-by-day experience with clip ins, let’s cover some basics.
What’s the different between synthetic and human hair?
They each have strengths and weaknesses.
Whereas human hair, like the hair on our heads, will need to be restyled often.
So real, in fact, that they’re all I worked with.
Most people just assumed they were human hair until I told them the truth.
How do I pick the right color?
Most women have about three to seven different colors their hair.
If you’re on a budget and just want that one right color, use your middle shade.
But, if you’re able to swing it, incorporate more than one color.
This will create dimension and keep it from looking flat and, well, fake.
How do I wash the hair pieces?
There’s no hard-and-fast rule on when to wash your extensions.
But when they start to develop a smell, it’s time.
After about 10 minutes, massage the hairdon’t scrub.
Finish off with a cold-water rinse.
To dry, you could either lay the hair flat or clip the extensions on a hanger.
Baricelli recommends hanging human hair pieces up so they don’t tangle.
And from my experience, clip-ins can knot upveryeasily.
Now that you know how to find the perfect extensions, here’s how to style them.
This was my favorite way to wear extensions.
Although Ilovemy short cut, I do miss all the fun updos I could make with longer hair.
This pre-made ponytail was the perfect solution.
And it was super easy to put in.
Since the ponytail was a little too long for my taste, I decided to go for a topknot.
Then, I wrapped the velcro section at the base around the ponytail.
I secured it all with a bobby pin.
Now if you’re doing the ponytail, it’s possible for you to stop here.
That’s seriously all you have to do.
It had to sit smoothly in the hair so just a bit of color peeked through.
Play-By-Play Instructions:First, I had to cut the piece.
Barricelli explained that this is the most natural way to place them.
I clipped them in, unpinned the hairs above it to hide the base, and voila!
We’ve seen them on everyone fromGigi Hadidto Kim Kardashian.
A lot of hairstylists even recommend wearing them before committing to the chop.
And Barricelli thinks you’re free to skip the cut altogether.
“As you’re creating a real-life bang, you’re taking away from the bulk of the hair.
The synthetic hair disguised my oily strands and amped up my day-to-day look.
Play-By-Play Instructions:I assumed clip-in bangs were a basic, horizontal piece of hair.
But actually these clip-ins had a triangle shape.
First of all, it was the biggest change from my natural hair.
And secondly, I’ve always wondered what I’d look like with long hair and quirky bangs.
Turns out the answer is about five years younger, according to my boyfriend.
I found it tricky to hide the clips within my flat, fine hair.
I also found them sliding out really easily.
Play-By-Play Instructions:The clip-ins vary in width based on how many clips are attached to the top.
Working from the back of the head forward, I left a thin layer of hair at my neck.
Then, I tied the rest up with an elastic.
I then took the three-clip piece, and clipped them in for the first level of faux-hair.
To finish, I used the two-clip pieces for the sides.
It was a blast to play with them and feel like a different version of myself.
The lesson: Sometimes it’s about enhancing the look you already love instead of changing it up completely.
How to Do Your Own Hair Extensions: Tips From Hairstylist Gad Cohen:
