Why hair extensions matt and how to avoid it
It’s a topic that many of us don’t like to talk about, however it is a common problem faced by hair extension wearers, and often occurs as a result of not being provided with the right information on how to look after your hair extensions and prevent this from happening.
So what is the problem?
Matting is where a combination of hair extension hair, and our own hair has not been cared for correctly, and as a result has been allowed to cluster at the scalp. Over time more and more hair will become untangled within the matted section, slowly growing larger and larger. At the beginning of the matting processes the hair can very easily be untangled and corrected, however the longer the hair is left, the more matted the hair will become.
Why does this happen?
The most common cause of matting is sleeping with the hair extensions damp or wet. It is absolutely vital that hair extensions are completely dry before sleeping, and secured in a plait so that the hair does not tangle when sleeping. The second most common cause of matting is not separating your bonds. Throughout the day, and during washing, naturally each of the extension will touch each other and nature fiction will occur. This is perfectly normal, however if the bonds are not pulled apart by hand daily, to ensure they are separate, across a period of a few days the extensions will slowly intertwine with each other. It is absolutely essential that the bonds are separated daily to prevent this from happening, and only takes a couple of minutes.
Prevention – Our top tips to stop matting are:
Never sleep with the extensions wet or damp
Do not massage the scalp during washing, slowly stroke the shampoo into the hair
Wear hair in a plait when sleeping
Separate the bonds daily – try to get it into your morning routine so that you do not forget
Use the correct hair brush and aftercare products
What do you do if you have matting in your extensions
If your extensions have matted we would firstly recommend that you call the person who has fitted them to discuss the problem. They should then arrange a time, ideally as soon as possible, to remove and replace the matted hair extensions. The most important thing to do is to act quickly, and not panic. Matting can be corrected if dealt with early, do not leave the extensions hoping it will go away, as unfortunately it will not.
Taking the time to separate and care for your extensions will increase the duration of time you can wear the extension, but will also protect your own hair, therefore it is beneficial to follow the correct advice and care for your lovely long hair.
6 tricks to thicker hair
Every girl at some point in her life will dream of having beautiful healthy, thick hair; however for some of us it is very difficult to make this dream a reality. Due to environmental factors and genetics, unfortunately some of us are lumbered with thin, wispy hair that is difficult to manage and never looks quite right. There is however a solution, with these 6 handy tricks you can style your hair so that despite its natural thin appearance, it can look volumised and thick.
Tip 1 – Consider a fringe
If your hair tends to be thin at the crown but thick at the front, try having a heavy fringe for a fuller look. To create even more volume with a fringe, ask your hairdresser to slice the fringe and dye the underneath layer darker. This will make your fringe appear deeper and in affect, give the illusion of thicker hair.
Tip 2 – Think about those layers
Ask your hairdresser to cut the under layer of your hair half an inch shorter than the top to create fullness. If the hair dresser comes at you with a razor you must be strong and say no. This will create a frayed look on the ends which will make your hair look wispy. The blunter the ends the thicker your hair will appear.
Tip 3 – Try highlights
Due to the chemical properties of peroxide each strand will nearly double in terms of its thickness when it is exposed to this chemical. It will swell the hair shaft making it physically thicker. Additionally, a mix of colours in your hair will add a new dimension and create a look of density, again making the hair look and feel thicker.
Tip 4 – Mousse Mousse Mousse
Mousse added to the roots will boost and add volume to your hair without it looking sticky or full of product. Avoid creams and gels, as these will weigh your hair down making it look limp. Add the mousse to your hair when it is damp, and comb through so that you have coated every strand.
Tip 5 – Gentle on the blow-drying
Try to leave your hair to dry naturally as much as possible, the less wear and tear your hair is exposed to the better. Once the hair has dried 80% use a blow-dryer to take the edge off of the rest, but use it on the lower heat setting. Also part your hair on the opposite side before blow-drying. Once you are finished you can flip it back and have a beautiful bounce and volume in your hair.
Tip 6 – Hair Extensions
Hair extensions are perfect if you have naturally thin hair. They can be added to give extra volume but also extra length for long luscious locks. Try micro rings as these are better for your hair, and will not cause any damage to your natural hair throughout the time you are wearing them. Generally, micro ring hair extensions will last around 3-4 months before you require a new set, and cost around £200.00.
New look for Britney
Arriving at Elton Johns AIDS foundation Oscar party Britney could be forgiven for thinking her plunging 
neckline would catch the attention of her peers, however it was in fact her newly dyed brown locks that caught everyone’s attention.
Sporting her new hair colour which is a glossy brown hue, Britney looked ever so elegant when posing on the red carpet.
We have become very accustomed to seeing Britney with her blonde locks and unkempt hair extensions, so this more mature look was a breath of fresh air.
Taking years off her and looking fresh faced we truly hope the brown hair is here to stay, as we think she looked incredible. Thoughts everyone…?
Celebrity Extensions Revealed: Kim Lomas
This weekend the beautiful Kim Lomas was pictured fresh faced after a shopping trip on Sunday afternoon, and 
something very strange had happened to her hair. During the time between images posted on Saturday night and Sunday morning, her had had grown considerably in length, and in volume. She had of course been to have her hair extensions fitted.
A common misconception amongst celebrities by hair extension clients is that those with long hair have hair extensions, and those with short/medium length hair must have grown it naturally. This simply isn’t the case, with many celebrities including Kim Lomas and Kimberly Walsh, opting for hair extensions to add just a little length, and a lot of volume.
The 36 year old actress looked flawless even with minimal make-up and her raven locks even more stunning than usual with their added length and volume.
Celebrity Extensions Revealed: Kimberley Walsh
Considering the length of Kimberly Walsh’s hair at the moment you would be forgiven for thinking it was all 
her own, however during a visit the ITV studios with her hair tied back, Kimberly revealed to the world that she too needs a little help adding volume to her hair.
What clearly appear to be micro ring extension were visible around her temple as she tied her hair in a loose bun, seemingly on her way to hair and makeup for her appearance on Loose Women.
She later looks absolutely stunning, with her long bob looking natural and effortless with her dip dyed tips.
What do you think of Kimberly’s hair, were you fooled or did you suspect she was gaining a little extra volume from some beautiful hair extensions?
It happens to the best of us Sarah
We are very much used to seeing our lovely celebrities looking as though they have just stepped out of a music 
video, with their hair perfect and make-up immaculate, and some of us would even be forgiven for believing they just wakeup that beautiful. However as Sarah Harding demonstrated at the beginning of this week, celebrities are human too, by experiencing that dreaded moment when a beautiful hair extension comes loose in public.
As extension wearers know this can happen from time to time, however we can just slip the hair into our handbag and it goes unnoticed, however for poor Sarah this wasn’t the case, and the mishap landed on twitter for all to see.
Looking at the images it would appear that these are a glue based extension method, where shedding is quite common. More secure methods such as micro ring will reduce the risk of this happening, and as an added bonus are far better for your hair as they involve no heat or glue.
Has this ever happened to you?
New look for Charlie Brooks
After a 6 month break from one of the nation’s favourite soaps, the actress we love to hate as her role as Janine Butcher is back, and sporting a new hair colour.
The 31 year old actress who is usually seen with her honey blonde locks has opted for a more mature deep red, and it looks fabulous!
Debuting her new look at the Radio Times cover party yesterday evening she teamed her new style with a black dress, matching boots and leather jacket.
What do you think of the new look, did you prefer Charlie’s trademark blonde style, or are you loving the change?
Blonde or Brunette
It’s a dilemma we all face, usually at least once a year, if you’re brunette you are curious what you would look like as a blonde, and if your blonde you wonder what you would look like as a brunette. Some of us have tried the change, often with mixed results, however more often than not it is a celebrity’s change of hair colour that influences our own hair makeovers.
It goes without saying that the far more sensible option is to go to a hairdressers to achieve your desired colour, however more often than not many of us opt for the home DIY kit, hoping we don’t ruin our hair forever.
But in general, what do we think is better, are you not happy unless you have beautiful blonde locks, or do you prefer a more sultry brunette hue. Here are some celebrities who have braved the change to help you decide.
Top buy for Hair Extensions– Argan Oil
We are often asked for products which are good for use with hair extensions, and our answer is always the same. If you are looking for a treatment that will leave your hair looking, feeling, and smelling amazing, looks no further than argan oil.
Argan oil was discovered thousands of years ago by the Berber tribes of Morocco (hense Morrocan Oil), and these tribes found out something miraculous about the Argan tree. They found that the oil which is extracted from its fruit has the most incredible cosmetic properties for both hair and skin.
Years ago, this oil was used by the tribes quietly to protect their hair and skin from the harsh semi desert living conditions, however now recently introduced into the western world, Argan oil is the hottest hair product on the market.
The oil works as an amazing hair conditioner, as it is rich in essential fatty acids and omega 9 to improve strength and health. The oil also contains sterols that penetrate the hairs pores, locking in moisture for soft, non-greasy hair that’s full of shine and life.
Argan oil is suitable for all hair types, but works particularly well with hair extensions. The best time to apply it is after you have showered, when your hair is still wet. After towel drying your hair, dispense a small amount, no bigger than a 20p piece at first onto your hands and work through the end of your hair. You may need more if your hair is longer, and you can add slowly as you go as to not waste any product. Be careful to only put the oil through the ends, as you do not want it affecting the bonds and cause them to detach. The oil works as a heat defence so you can then dry your hair, and you will be amazed at how soft your hair now it.
So if you are looking for a product to work well with your hair extensions, head down to your nearest Boots to pick up a bottle of this incredible product.
Another hair style change for Jessie J
Ever since bursting onto the music scene in early 2011 we have seen Jessie J sport some pretty interesting fashion and hair choices. From body suits to dip dyed purple hair, its fair to say that Jessie J isn’t afraid to experiment with her look.
Then in a shock move a few months back, the Voice judge decided it was time to tone down her look, changing her trademark harsh black bob to long soft brunette curls. The Essex born singer looked lovely with this more demure style, however it hasn’t lasted long.
Earlier this week Jessie J has tweeted pictures of her hair re-style, dying it back to black and cutting her locks into a short bob.
Although we absolutely loved her natural brunette look, we have to admit, it wasnt quite her, and her new style is much more like the Jessie J we have grown to love.
We will be seeing a lot more of Jessie in the New Year as she has recently confirmed she will be returning to the Voice for the second season. We cant wait to see what new fashion styles and statements she will be bringing to the show next year.
