Reading Time: 4 minutes Hair Extensions on a Budget and Keep Your Hair Healthy
This is a beauty, money saving post by Kate.
There are quite a few factors that affect the price of hair extensions. However, one thing remains true, if you want to get high-quality extensions that will look natural, the price range will be somewhere around $500 to $1,000 and more. Of course, this isn’t a budget-friendly treatment at all, or at least it’s not when you don’t put much planning into it. The truth is that the easiest way to get good extensions is to go to a top-of-the-line salon and get them from a pro. However, it’s also the most expensive way.
But there are ways to get great hair extensions without putting a huge dent in your yearly beauty budget. The following ideas will help you save money but not at the cost of damaging your hair with subpar products.
How to Make Hair Extensions Cheap: Make the Right Compromises
First of all, remember that cheap extensions turn out to be much more expensive in the long run. That’s because they ruin your hair and restoring its health will take a lot of time and money. Therefore, you really shouldn’t just buy the cheapest thing you can find on Amazon and then try to install the extensions yourself.
The best way to save money without damaging your natural hair is to choose the right product and cut the costs of additional products and services. First of all, you really should look into innovative types of hair extensions, which are cheaper and often easier to install. For example, one of the latest developments of the industry are PU skin wefts. They are extremely versatile because they come in one large piece that you can cut to any size. This means that you can use the product in the most efficient manner to make it blend with your natural hair perfectly.
If you want to achieve maximum savings without compromising on the quality of hair extensions, you’ll need to choose short-term types. For example, tape-in extensions are more affordable compared to wefts and bonds that are considered more “permanent”. You can further save money with them because you can apply them yourself.
However, if you are interested in wearing extensions for a while, investing in good wefts once is more money-savvy. As these extensions must be installed by a qualified professional you should start by searching for one. This way you will be able to compare costs and perhaps find a stylist who will offer you a payment plan. Moreover, you might get a price reduction if you purchase the wefts yourself. This isn’t hard to do today as anyone can shop for professional-grade hair products online.
Care for Your Hair Extensions to Make Them Serve Longer
Another way to cut the costs of getting hair extensions is to make sure you use them for as long as possible. On average, hair extensions are supposed to be used for 4-12 weeks, depending on the type.
However, if your hair extensions are removable, you definitely don’t have to throw them away after use. All you need to do is to make sure they remain in mint condition until you reinstall them.
To do this, you will need to wash the extensions gently and let them dry carefully so you don’t damage the upper part. Then, comb the extensions slowly and make sure to remove all the knots. You need to be gentle to avoid damaging the pieces. Finally, roll the extensions up carefully or store them straightened out in a box. Make sure that the extensions stay dry.
Permanent and semi-permanent wefts will remain on your head for months. Therefore, you should learn how to care for them to keep the extensions looking great for as long as needed.
The good news is that high-quality extensions made from either natural or synthetic hair don’t require special care. This means that you don’t have to invest into some fancy specialized products, no matter what ads say. Simply wash your hair with a sulfate-free shampoo and avoid using oil-based conditioners or masks if your extensions are attached with glue. Also, remember not to wash your hair with very hot water and avoid being aggressive with heat styling. Treat your extensions as well as your natural hair with gentleness and your hairstyle will look amazing at all times.
Rachel is an Austin blogger, educator, mom, wife, young breast cancer survivor writing about health, saving money, and living a happy life in Austin, Texas.
Rachel has written for HuffPost and Hometalk and has been featured on KXAN, Studio 512, Fox 7 Austin, and CBS Austin.