Here’s the thing: all A-Listers have hair extensions. If it’s not to add length, it’s to add that tousled thickness one needs when one is constantly being photographer from every possible angle. Extensions have come a long way from those raggedy things popular in the early Noughties - there’s now plenty of real and synthetic hair options available on the market.
Clip-in hair extensions
Clip-ins are great for commitment-phobes: they can be taken out quickly and easily without the need for a stylist, and are a great way to trial a new look. However, they don’t last long, and need lots of care to maintain, so if you’re after a more permanent look, you’re better off trying sewing.
Micro-ring hair extensions
The extensions are attached to your own hair using small silicone or metal rings or loops. A strand of your own hair together with the extension is fed though a ring and then the ring is clamped to make sure everything stays in place. The great benefit of micro-ring extensions is that no heat or chemicals are used in the process. You'll need a return visit to the salon every 2 months to have the extensions moved back up.
Weave
Sewing is a very popular, more permanent method - it’s by far the easiest for maintenance, as you can wash, condition and style your hair pretty much as normal. Your stylist will plait your hair into little cornrow spirals, then ‘wefts’ - strings of hair sewn together - are sewn with a needle and thread onto the cornrow, then cut and styled as you’d like them. You’ll need to get them taken out after a maximum of three months, as your natural hair will have grown up to two inches by that point.
Good to know
Make sure you have a proper chat with your stylist before settling for any of the above - they can assess the state of your hair and talk about your hair goals and also your lifestyle to help you choose the right course of action. All extensions require some upkeep, and they’re not always for everyone, nor necessarily a long-term solution. On the plus side, they get more seamless and natural-looking by the day, making the hair of your dreams that bit more achievable.
