Monday 25 March 2013

How to put in clip in hair extensions


I often get asked how do you put in clip in hair extensions.  People often think that it's harder to do than it is.

The Rapunzel Secret brand of hair extensions come in either 8 or 10 wefts. I personally use the 120g 20" clip in extensions and there are 2 x 4 clip weft; 2 x 3 clip wefts; 2x 2 clip wefts and 2 x 1 clip weft.

This blog post to hopefully going to help you ladies out there who aren't sure how to clip in you hair extensions.

For those of you with fine hair, freshly washed hair or those who are nervous about their extensions falling out (which they won't if your extensions have good clips).  It can be an idea to back comb your hair at the roots where you will clip the extensions into; this can be done with a teasing comb.  I know some girls like to add a little hairspray to the roots too.  The reason for the backcombing is that it gives the clips a slightly firmer surface to grip onto.

Please remember that backcombing your hair is tough on the hair and does cause damage.

My Hair Type

I have thick hair that comes to the top of my shoulder blades.  When i talk about thick hair not only do i have a lot of hair, making it thick but also my hair strands are thick, as appose to being fine. I also have layers in my hair that finish around my ear lob. My hair is shaped around my face with a sweeping side fringe. 

This is the colour of hair extensions i use 2# 120g Clip In Extensions


Preparatation

When i want to wear my hair extensions i start by straightening my hair, this is ideal to do as it will help with the blending of the extensions to your natural hair.  A trick i learnt is when straightening your hair curl the ends under when you reach the end of your hair. Don't straighten the ends of you hair down.

Once all my hair is straightened i start on applying the extensions.

Apply the Hair Extensions

I have thicker hair, so i don't use any hairspray or backcombing at the roots. Here is my step by step guide to applying my hair extensions. 

The first 5 steps are a general rule of thumb.  Obviously if you have longer layers or hair you will be able to space your wefts slightly further apart.  However, because of the length of my layers, i can't have my wefts too high otherwise you may see the clips.
  1. A take a small section of hair at the nap of my neck about an inch thick. Approximately inline with my middle of my ear. I then tie the rest of my hair up and clip in one the the 3 clip wefts.
  2. Then untie your hair and let it fall on top of the hair extension.
  3. Now take another section, this time approximately inline with where my hair meets my head. Tie the rest of your hair up. Add another of the 3 clip wefts.
  4. Now section your hair again. Making the section approximately inline with top of you ear.Tie the rest of your hair up and add one of the 4 clip wefts.
  5. For the final 4 clip weft i section my hair again. Make this a very thin section. Your 2nd 4 clip weft will sit almost on top the first 4 clip weft. Now let all your hair down and brush carefully. making sure not to tug on the extensions clips.
You will now be left with 2 x 2 clip wefts and 2 x 1 clip wefts. Once your hair is down you will now see that you have lovely long thick hair at the back but your a bit bare at the side. Where you apply your last 4 wefts depends on the length and layers in your hair.

What to do with the remaining 4 clips?

The 1 clip wefts and the 2 clip wefts are ideal for blending the front of your natural hair into your extensions.
  1. I like to put each of the 2 clip wefts on either side of the head above my ear.
  2. I then let my hair fall down and brush it through. At this point i look at where i need some extra hair. I usually apply the 1 clip wefts almost at the at my hair line at the front of my head about an inch above my ear.  This helps blend my front layers in.

After Application

Now that all the extensions are in, i will go over them again with the straighteners to make sure that my natural hair is blending in with them and that i don't have any short layers flicking out.

If i am wearing them curly this is the time i would curl my extensions.  Some people like the curl their extensions before they put them into their hair.  However, because of my layers and the length of my hair, i find it better to curl them when they are in my hair.  That way it is easier to curl my layers into the extensions.

Also if i am curling my extensions i am fairly heavy on the hairspray, ideally a flexible hairspray so that the curls don't look solid.  The reason i do this, is because if my extensions are recently washed the hair is quite soft and the curl doesn't hold as long otherwise.

What to do next?

Now that you have read my blog post on how to put in clip in hair extensions. Why not pop along to the website and treat yourself to some brand new Rapunzel Secret 100g, 120g or 160g clip in hair extensions.





Monday 11 March 2013

Compare Clip In Hair Extensions

I am always a firm believer that you should get what you pay for and this is no different when it comes to hair extensions. Hair extensions aren't cheap and for many of you ladies out there, they are part of your daily routine.

So when i started to sell my own extensions, i was determined they would be of a quality that i would be happy wearing myself, as they are.  I have spent a long time looking a girls who had paid out good money for extensions only for them to look thin and lifeless. Some girls will pay well over £100 for about 100g of hair or less. Which is a lot of money for 100g clip in extensions.  Especially being a most girls need around 120g or 160g.

So that is what i have tried to do.  I now stock 3 weights of full head clip in hair extensions.  This means that each pack is a full set covering all your head.  the lowest extensions we stock are 100g, then we have 120g and lastly 160g.  All of our full sets are the pure hair weight, so these weights don't include the weight of the clips.  Although the clips are already sewn onto the wefts.

I have noticed some brands now selling 215g extensions sets, which is great, but remember the strain that will put on your natural hair. Clip in hair extensions as with any hair extensions can cause damage to your hair, so please bear this in mind.

Below i have attached a video of our brand of Rapunzel Secret 100g hair extension in 18" and next to it is a leading popular brand also in 18".  Both sets of extensions are full sets.  The reason i made this video is to highlight the difference between our extensions (even our thinnest set of extensions) and that of a leading popular brand. I will also highlight, the Rapunzel Secret extensions are of made from human remy hair. Whereas the leading brand is just human hair (as far as my research will tell me). Both sets of extensions are also a similar price. With our 100g clip in hair extensions being £40. I have seen this brand of extensions in this length range anywhere from £40 right up £110.



To order any of our extensions please click on the image below.


How to wash my Hair Extensions

Please find some information below on the best way to wash your clip in hair extensions.

Washing Your Extensions

Our full head hair extensions and many other brands can be washed in a similar way you would your own hair. This is because many brands use 100% Remy Human Hair, and at Hair Extensions Norfolk our own brand uses just that. Because of this the extensions will react to washing the same way your own hair does.

In order to wash your extensions you will need the following things:
  • Access to water
  • A moisturising shampoo & conditioner 
  • Big towel
  • Comb/Brush
  • Leave In Conditioner (Optional)
  • Hair Dryer (Optional)
  • So here is a step by step guide on the best way to wash and dry your new extensions.

Shampooing 

  1. Fill your sink enough so the extensions can be fully submerged.
  2. Now put a blob of the shampoo into the luke warm water & lather it up.
  3. Now fully submerge your extensions.
  4. Squeeze the extensions gently to get them wet and soapy.
  5. Now lift the extension out (by the clips) and put a little shampoo onto the extensions.
  6. Now use a smooth downward motion (start at the clips) and gentle scrunch the extensions to lather up the hair. Try to keep going in the same direction, this helps them not to tangle.
  7. Now submerge the extensions back into the sink and leave for a few minutes.
  8. Empty the sink of water.
  9. Now keep the tap running and take individual wefts and the run them under the tap to clean out the shampoo. After each one put them to the side of the sink.

Conditioning

  1. Put a blob of conditioner into your hand. Take 2/3 wefts and run the conditioner down the hair. Repeat for all the wefts.
  2. Now leave in the sink for 4-5 minutes.
  3. Now rinse the wefts in the same way as you did before.
  4. Once all the hair has been rinsed. Take your full set and run it quickly under cold water. (This helps to restore the shine in the hair and coats the cuticles)
  5. Squeeze the excess water out.
  6. After this stage you can use a protective leave in conditioner on the hair if you like.

Drying

  1. Separate your wefts and lie them flat on a towel. They must be separate.
  2. Now spray them with a heat protecting spray.
  3. Holding the extensions at the clip very gentle comb the hair with either a brush or comb.
  4. If you washed the hair gently there should be no tangles.
  5. If you have time, it is better for the extensions (and your own hair) to be left to air dry.
  6. However, if you are short of time, just can blow dry the extensions.
Your hair extensions should last you a few months, with careful maintenance. Remember you don't need to wash your extensions everytime you use them. Unless you have used a lot of product on them.

Once you need to replace your hair extensions, please visit our website by clicking on the image below.