A few words from Brittany Messner of Life Set Sail: Did I ever think I was the type of person to get hair extensions? No. Well, here I am…one of the many girls with extensions, turns out I had a pretty skewed idea of what they could be and now that I have them, sold. Now just over a month in, I wanted to share my experience with you!
The lovely Vanessa at Hedkandi Salon has been doing my hair for about two years now. I remember the very first time I went to see her and she told me that she had extensions, which really took me by surprise because she had the cutest lob cut and honestly looking at it I would’ve never guessed that there were some extra pieces hiding in there! I was intrigued, that applied correctly, extensions could simply assist your hair in looking fuller…they didn’t have to be a mile long and look so obviously fake! My mind was blown.
As someone with very fine hair herself, I’m always looking for ways to make it look fuller with styling products, but there’s really only so much a girl can do! So this year, before Justine and I headed out to New York, I got Vanessa to apply some extensions for me…and I kind of (really) love the result! I’m not gonna lie, it felt kind of odd the first couple of days before I washed my hair (think about how your head feels when you’ve been wearing a ponytail all day). But after I washed it that feeling went away completely…like I cannot feel them at all unless I’m running my hands through my hair. Amazing!
As for care and upkeep, there’s actually not much to it. The only rules are that you don’t condition your roots (who does this anyway, really?) so that the bonds don’t loosen and don’t use heat tools (blowdryer is fine) at the base of your extensions (again, not an issue for me). Vanessa sent me home with a small brush to keep in my bag that I whip out anytime I see some separation in my hair (it happens, it’s not a big deal) and the special teeth allow me to run the brush straight from root to tip without catching on the bonds…
So what are the bonds made of exactly? It’s basically a keratin protein polymer, and don’t worry, no, it does not damage your hair. I’ll have to keep you updated on the removal part (they use a solution of alcohol and oils), but these babies usually last 3-4 months so we’ll see how long I keep them in before that point!
Overall I am thrilled with my extensions! I had two bundles applied (mermaid hair girls probably have about 4). Vanessa used Great Lengths to fill in some of my sparser parts (mostly on the sides) and put a few through the back to add a little length (about two inches longer than my natural hair).
So far the only downside about getting these type of extensions is the cost (it’s not cheap), but if it’s been something you’ve been considering for a while and are afraid to take the plunge, don’t be! They are seriously wonderful.
Thank you so much to Hedkandi and Vanessa for always taking care of my hair needs and helping me get camera ready! If you’re a YYC local and haven’t yet visited one of our Hedkandi locations, be sure to use me as a referral (Life, Set Sail) and you’ll get $20 off your first visit!
