Create Instant Beautiful Long Hairstyles with Hair Extensions

The state of our hair very often reflects the state of our health. Long, silky, healthy hair can radiate beauty, fitness and youth!

Hair extensions are becoming an increasingly popular way of instantly getting that long beautiful hair some of us can only dream of! Growing your hair long takes 5-6 years at an average of 1 cm per month! Hair extensions can give you around 21 inches of thick hair in just a few hours!

There are two main types of hair extensions. Hair extensions can be made out of synthetic fibers and are referred to as synthetic hair extensions or out of human hair and referred to as human hair extensions. Human hair extensions tend to be the preferred kind of hair extensions because they look and feel a lot more natural then the synthetic kind. Also, heat cannot be applied to most synthetic fibers causing some inconvenience if a person needs to use some hair appliances. The downside of human hair extensions is that are usually much more expensive then the synthetic ones! Notwithstanding, there is no fixed price for human hair extensions because this differs according to the quality, style and length of extensions required. Hair extensions that are untreated and uncolored usually cost more because they are more durable!

A change of hairstyle is often enough to make you look more sophisticated, younger or simply different. Hair weaves are a good idea for those who fancy some braids, dreadlocks or simply a fuller head of hair and a different look!

Hair weaves are another form of hair extensions and can also be made out of synthetic or natural hair. There are three types of hair weaves:

(1)Bonded Hair Weave - This is the least durable kind of hair weave and only lasts 1 month until it would need to be replaced. This kind of hair weave gets glued to the scalp

(2)Braided Hair Weave - This is a 2 step procedure. The natural hair is braided along the center of the scalp (under the hair) and then the hair weave gets sown into the braids. This type of hair weave normally lasts around 2 months.

(3)Fusion Hair Weave - This is the most lasting kind of hair weave, since it needs be changed every 3 months. This procedure involves waxing the hair weave to the natural hair.

Both hair extensions and hair weaves require considerable maintenance. The hair need to be treated with gentle respect and cleaned and moisturized daily with a good conditioner. Remember, that while natural hair gets the necessary oils and moisture from your scalp, hair extensions and hair weaves don't! Also, depending on the style and procedure for your hair extensions/hair weaves, you might also have to visit the hairdresser every 6 weeks to fix your hair extensions due to your natural hair re growth.

Whichever kind of hair extension you choose, always consult your hair specialist for advice, and pick the safest procedure. Finally, enjoy your beautiful hair!

Natalie Aranda is a freelance write. She writes about family, love, relationship, hairstyles, and beauty. She has enjoyed the convenience of hair extensions to create instant beautiful hair weaves.

Hair Extensions - the Truth About Instant Long Hair

Hair extensions - a few hours in the salon and you have long hair that looks like a dream. But is there a downside? Professionally made hair extensions can completely transform your appearance without affecting the health of your hair, but if they are done wrongly extensions can seriously damage your hair. You should know what to expect before going to the salon.

Would hair extensions cost a fortune?

Yes, extensions done by a professional hair extension artist and made from high quality hair would cost you several hundred dollars. The price really depends on the quality of the hair used - Asian hair is cheaper, while European hair costs 2-3 times more. If you want good looking hair - especially blond hair - you will have to pay for European material.

Online you might find hair extension 'starter kits' with complete instructions, which aren't difficult to apply. So if you feel adventurous, you can buy a do-it-yourself kit and save significantly. If done correctly, this type of hair extension looks as good as any salon made one. If you decide to follow this route, though, make sure that you order high quality hair.

What types of hair extension are available?

The two major types of hair extension are individual strands and wefts.

Individual strands, as the name implies, are attached one piece at a time to your own hair, usually using glue, or with waxes and polymers. The problem here is that most of the attachment methods require coating your natural hair with rather unfriendly chemicals. Attaching these extensions isn't a problem, but removing this type of extension can seriously damage your hair.

Wefts, on the other hand, are braided into your hair, so no chemicals are needed. A weft looks like a curtain of hair held together at the top and hanging freely toward the bottom. It is braided into your hair around the midline of your head - about ear level. It is safer for your hair but, on the downside, as you own hair grows wefts have to be rebraided - about once every two months.

What materials are used for hair extensions?

First, hair for extensions can be either synthetic or real human hair. Synthetic extensions are cheaper, of course, but you get what you pay for - they look like artificial strands attached to your hair. They're not very pleasant to the touch, either.

Human hair used for extensions gives better results. Human extension hair differs by origin. The most common are hair from India and Asian countries. They are great, if you are an Asian woman yourself. Unfortunately this type of hair has a noticeably different texture from a Caucasian's natural hair, so on Caucasian women they just don't look right.

European hair is of better quality, usually originating from Spain and Italy, is of better quality but costs more. The only problem is that its natural color is usually coal black. To make a blond extensions out of them, Italian or Spanish hair needs to be heavily bleached.

There are also so-called 'raw' or 'virgin' hair. This is European hair coming from Central and Eastern European countries, like Russia and Poland. The advantage of this hair that it is naturally light and of a very high quality. However, this type of hair is difficult to find and costs an arm and a leg.

Tanya Turner is wig and hair extensions expert and a founder of http://www.WigsGuide.info, where you can find unbiased information about all types of wigs and hair extensions with pictures of most popular wig styles