Before You Get Hair Extensions, Read This

On the red carpet, celebrities like Selena Gomez andBeyoncé have shoulder-grazing lobs one day and long, luxurious strands by the time they hit the next carpet. These stars don’t have super genes; rather, they turn to extensions to switch up their length whenever they feel like changing their look. Luckily, hair extensions aren’t just for the red carpet and you can easily

achieve your own mane transformation with a little help from your own glossy set. Tempted yet to add some length to your strands? We spoke with Lisa Richards, Co-Founder and Managing Director of RPZL Hair Extension And Blow-Out Bar in N.Y.C. to get all of the vital information you need.

Do Your Research

Choosing the right stylist to help you achieve your ideal length is essential if you want the final look to truly blend with your natural hair. Richards recommends matching with a stylist by asking what methods of hair extensions they’re trained in, and discussing your lifestyle to distinguish what type of extensions will be best suited for your desired look, and how dedicated you’ll be to extension upkeep.

Pick a Method That Will Work Best with Your Hair

Whether you’re looking for a temporary length fix or a long-term commitment, your hair’s texture comes into play in what method of extensions your stylist will recommend. “Our Headmasters at RPZL offer the best way to pick the right color and texture for your hair: that's to match the hair extensions to the color at the end of your hair. This way, when the extensions are applied, there is a seamless transition from the roots downward, and the extensions blend nicely with your hair, giving you a natural look,” says Richards.

Three popular methods of extensions include: clip-ins which are the most non-committal option and can easily be taken on or off depending on your mood; tape-ins, which are connected by clamping your own hair between wide bonds that look like Sellotape; and keratin-bonded, which fuses the extension to your hair with keratin bonds using a little heat tool or ultrasound technology.

Maintaining your hair’s health is a top priority. If your hair is chemically relaxed or natural, Richards says she suggests clip-in extensions using 100% Virgin Remy hair (non-chemically treated hair), and if you’re active or like to wear your hair in various styles like high-ponytails and braids, she suggests keratin-bonded extensions because they’re the most flexible.