We’re all heard of hair extensions, one way or another. From the celebrities who flaunt them on the red carpet, to this summer’s most beautiful weddings. Success stories, horror stories and misconceptions abound. The one thing to keep in mind, is that if so many people are talking about them, then a lot of people are using them. Furthermore, they’ve been around forever. But how do you make sure you’re getting the best hair extensions on the market?
But First, A Bit of History
Hair extension were first used in Ancient Egypt (3100 BC) by both men and women to enhance their looks. By the 17thcentury (1650 AD) wigs were big fashion in European courts. Extensions, on the other hand, grew in popularity in the 1950s when hairstylists to Hollywood stars started including them in their hair services to bolster their clients’ sex appeal. The underground beauty accessory style gained even more momentum during the 70’s disco era when big, fabulous and fluffy hair was all the rage. At the turn of the millennium, the go-to hairstyle was ultra-long, super-smooth platinum or ebony hair extensions. And since then, extensions have only continued to grow in popularity and evolve in terms of quality and appearance.
Different Qualities
Of course, hair extensions are available in a variety of qualities and at different price points, as well. They can even be made from synthetic strands. But who would really want that, right?
So, other than the artificial variety, you can find on the market hair extensions made from 100 % human hair, Remy hair, and Remy Virgin (also called Virgin Indian Temple), which is the highest grade and considered to be the finest quality. Yes, this last type of hair does in fact come from Indian temples where devotees offer their locks as a gesture of complete religious devotion to the gods. It’s not uncommon for temples to collect tons of hair throughout the year from the heads of pilgrims, which is then sold, treated, coloured, and shipped around the world to become true high-fashion accessories.
What makes Virgin Remy hair stand apart is that all the hair is intact, has never been permed, dyed, coloured, bleached or chemically processed in any way. It also means it comes from one single donor and, as such, all the cuticles run in the same direction from root to tip. This ensures that the extensions maintain their natural texture pattern and direction, which eliminates tangling and ensures long-lasting wear. In fact, with the proper care and regular maintenance visits to the salon, extensions can last a few months.
Fabulous Fashion Flair
If hair extensions were initially mainly used to add many long inches of length to clients’ manes, technology and hairstyles have evolved and they are now part of any good hairdresser’s arsenal to add more volume around the face, create instant sexy fringes or to give the illusion of fuller hair and depth to a thinning scalp.
The best hair extensions, such as Great Lengths and Hotheads, are also are available in a wide variety of lengths and colours that are then expertly blended to achieve a stunning, natural look. During your consultation, one of our Pure salon experts will evaluate your specific needs and discuss your desired goals to decide the length and colour of extensions required to achieve your dream hairstyle.
And if you want to delve even further into full-on creativity with extensions, look no further than Unicorn or Rainbow Color Sensations extensions from Great Lengths, or the breathtaking collections designed by award-winning international hair artist Angelo Seminara, as show here.