Thinking About Extensions? Here's What a Real Transformation Looks Like

I need to show you something because I think it'll help you understand what extensions can actually do.

Last month, a woman came in for a consultation. Her hair was in a bob, maybe chin length, and she showed me a photo of someone with hair down to their waist. She said, "Can you make my hair look like this?"

I said, "Yes, but it's going to take extensions and it's going to be expensive and it's going to require maintenance. Are you ready for that?"

She hesitated. She said, "I don't know. Will it look fake?"

This is the conversation I have constantly. People want long, thick, beautiful hair, but they're scared it's going to look obvious or fake or too high maintenance.

So let me show you what's actually possible and what it takes to get there.

I'm Danielle, I work at Rock Paper Scissors in Chino, and I specialize in extensions and color. Here are some real transformations I've done and what actually happened.

Transformation 1: Adding Serious Length

The woman I mentioned, her name was Jessica, wanted long hair for her wedding. She'd had a bob for years and she wanted to completely change her look.

We did a full install of hand tied wefts. This is a method where the hair is sewn onto small beads attached to your natural hair. It lies really flat against your scalp, which is important when you're going from short to long because you need the extensions to blend in.

The whole process took about three hours. We used Bellami hair because it's good quality and it lasts. We needed a lot of hair because she was going from chin length to past her shoulders, so the cost was around $1,500 total for the hair and installation.

When I finished and turned her around to the mirror, she started crying. Good crying. She said, "Oh my God, this is what I've been wanting for years."

Her wedding was two months later and she sent me photos afterward. Her hair looked amazing.

But here's the reality: she had to come back every six to eight weeks for move ups, which cost about $200 each time. She had to brush her hair carefully every day. She had to use sulfate free products. She had to sleep with her hair in a loose braid.

It was work. But she said it was worth it because she loved how she looked and felt.

Transformation 2: Just Adding Volume

Not everyone wants length. Some people just want their hair to look thicker.

I had a client, Monica, who had really fine hair. It was healthy, just thin. She would blow dry it and style it and within an hour it would fall completely flat. She was so frustrated.

She didn't want longer hair. She just wanted it to look fuller.

We did a partial extension install using tape ins. Just a few wefts placed strategically at the sides and back to add density. We didn't add any length, just thickness.

It took about 90 minutes and cost around $600 for everything.

The difference was huge. Her hair looked so much fuller and it held a style way better. She was thrilled.

She still comes in every six to eight weeks for move ups and she says it's the best money she's ever spent on her appearance.

The thing about tape ins for volume is that they're less expensive than a full install for length, but you still have to maintain them. You can't just get them and forget about them.

Transformation 3: Color Without Bleaching

This is one of my favorite tricks and not enough people know about it.

If you want to try a different color but you don't want to bleach or dye your natural hair, you can use pre colored extensions.

I had a college student come in, I think her name was Lily, who wanted blonde balayage highlights but she was nervous about damaging her dark hair with bleach.

We found extensions that matched her natural dark brown base and then added in extensions that were already colored with the blonde balayage look she wanted. We blended them into her hair and she walked out with perfect sun kissed highlights and zero damage to her natural hair.

The cost was around $800 and the whole appointment took about two hours.

The best part is that when she got tired of the blonde or wanted to try something else, we just took the extensions out. Her natural hair was completely undamaged.

This is a really good option if you want to experiment with color without commitment.

What Actually Makes Extensions Look Natural

The reason some extensions look fake and some don't comes down to three things: color matching, placement, and cutting.

Color matching is the most important part. Your hair is not one solid color. Even if you think it is, it's not. You have different tones throughout. If we just match extensions to your overall color, they're going to look flat and obvious.

I use multiple shades of extensions to create dimension that matches your natural hair. This is what makes them blend in.

Placement is about where we put the extensions and how we attach them. If they're placed wrong, you'll see the bonds or tape. If they're placed right, nobody will know they're there.

Cutting happens after the extensions are installed. I cut and blend them with your natural hair so there's no harsh line where your hair ends and the extensions begin.

All three of these things have to be done right or the extensions will look obvious.

I had someone come in last year who'd gotten extensions done somewhere else and they looked terrible. You could see exactly where her natural hair ended and the extensions started. The color didn't match. The placement was wrong.

I had to take them all out and redo the whole thing. It cost her way more than if she'd just come to someone who knew what they were doing in the first place.

When Extensions Aren't a Good Idea

I've turned people away before because extensions weren't right for them.

If your hair is severely damaged and breaking off, extensions are just going to make it worse. You need to focus on getting your hair healthy first before you add any extra weight or tension to it.

If you're experiencing significant hair loss, extensions can put too much stress on your scalp and make the problem worse. You need to see a doctor and figure out what's causing the hair loss before you think about extensions.

If you're not willing to do the maintenance, don't get extensions. They require care. You have to brush them daily, use the right products, come in for regular move ups. If you're not going to do that, you're wasting your money.

I had a woman get extensions and then not come back for her move up for almost five months. When she finally came in, her natural hair had grown so much that the extensions were hanging way down and you could see all the tape. Her hair was matted at the roots. It was a disaster.

I told her she needed to either commit to the maintenance or not get extensions at all.

What It Actually Costs

Extensions are expensive. I'm not going to sugarcoat it.

A full install for length typically costs between $1,000 and $2,000 depending on how much hair you need and what method we use. That's just the initial install.

Then you have move ups every six to eight weeks, which are usually $150 to $250 each.

The hair itself can sometimes be reused for multiple installs if you take care of it, but eventually you'll need to buy new hair.

Over a year, you're probably spending $2,000 to $3,000 or more on extensions and maintenance.

For some people, that's worth it. For other people, it's not realistic.

You have to be honest with yourself about your budget before you commit to extensions.

What People Get Wrong About Extensions

The biggest misconception is that extensions are easy. They're not. They require work and maintenance and money.

People also think they can just get extensions and their hair will magically look perfect all the time. That's not how it works. You still have to style them. You still have to take care of them.

And some people think all extensions are the same. They're not. The quality of the hair matters. The skill of the stylist matters. The method you use matters.

Cheap extensions that are poorly installed are going to look bad and damage your hair. Good extensions that are properly installed will look natural and last.

Should You Get Extensions?

If you've been wanting longer or thicker hair for a long time, if you're willing to commit to the maintenance, if you have the budget for it, then extensions can be amazing.

If you're on the fence or you're not sure you want to deal with the upkeep, maybe start with clip in extensions. You can take those out whenever you want and they're way less expensive. See if you like having long or thick hair before you commit to a permanent install.

Come in for a consultation if you want to talk about it. Consultations are free. I'll look at your hair, we'll talk about what you want, and I'll tell you honestly whether extensions make sense for you right now.

We're at Rock Paper Scissors, 5222 D St. in Chino. Call (909) 707-9553 or book a consultation online.

Let's figure out if extensions are the right move for you.

Danielle