weave-alicious!

With time and effort, every girl loves her trip to the salon. I don't think I've met one girl who doesn't feel ten times better after a trip to get their hair done, or pampered for the day. 

After my trip to my salon, I walked out with not only four different colours in my hair but a fresh new weave too. 

Like myself, I was very cautious of getting my very first weave. I was so used to clip-in extensions and nothing else. I was wary of paying so much money for something I didn't like, didn't know how to maintain or something that I wasn't going to get a long lasting wear out from. Surely, for the price every extensions should last a while? Not necessarily. 

Personally, I done a lot of research into hair extensions before I decided what I was going to go for. For me, the clip-in hairpieces and extensions just weren't worth their money anymore. Bouncy hair pieces weren't curling back into shape after washing, clip-in hair extensions were pulling at my hair and damaging it and is wasn't idea, since I already dye my hair blonde. 

Most popular hair extensions: 

• Micro-loops
• Micro-weave
• Bonded

There are pro's and con's to everything, and extensions are definitely one of them. While researching what was best for me, and my type of hair - be sure to ask your hairdresser advice - I found that micro-loops weren't really worth the money. They slide out easily, and sure you can re-use the hair and put them back in, but in the long run you are probably cheaper to buy something a little more expensive to get it to last longer. Bonded is also a close run with the micro-weave. It is glued into individual strands of your own hair and grows out naturally with your own. It is a lot easier to maintain   with drying and styling, but if you do get too close to the glue or press your heated styling product too close it can damage or pull at your own hair. For me, I straighten my hair a lot because my hair is naturally curly, so I'd more than likely melt my own hair. Micro-weave is a simple row into your own hair where the row of extension hair is places in different sections and lengths - usually wherever your hairdresser suggest is best for your head shape - and is looped through the weave of hair and beaded into place. This is super secure and tight into your scalp so it doesn't budge. As your hair grows, the rows do get looser and matting can occur, but with regular trips to the salon for maintenance, this shouldn't happen. 

Example of how the micro-weave is applied and sits in with your natural hair. 

I got my very first weave back in April, and I honestly couldn't have been happier. I had it curled for a 21st birthday party I had the same night, and the amount of compliments I received saying how nice my hair was, was unreal. It wasn't until my friend mentioned how long my hair looked, I had to prove my showing her the row of micro-weave for her to believe it wasn't au natural! This all in lasted me just over the five months. In all honesty, I wasn't the best at keeping my first weave. I used it as trial and error because I had only used clip-ins or hair pieces before, or the hair would have probably lasted a lot longer. I never had the leave in sprays, I didn't know certain shampoo's thinned or dried hair out. But it was a learning curve. 

Blonde micro-weave selfie. Looks so natural!

I got my second weave in just August past and decided to go a little unique with my look. I liked the whole ombre look, but everyone had it. So I had a crazy ass idea after finding a photo of a girl's hair online that I had never seen before on anyone. I mixed my hair with my blonde, light brown, dark brown and black ends. My hairdresser done an amazing job considering it was hard to do, especially dying my weave and my natural hair together. It was a blissful seven hours in the salon, but it was so worth it. Compliments were always going, and a few people have said they're going to steal my style by getting it done too!
- I missed a tightening appointment and it took two hours to un matte my hair to remove the old extensions. This is why you must maintain your locks!

Straight after my hair was done in the salon of the four different colours.

October, and my weave is still looking thick and healthy. 

Musts

• Returning to the hairdressers every six weeks is a must. You will seriously matte your hair unless the weave is maintained and tightened - take it from someone it's happened to! 
• Purchase a tangle teaser. These are the best to ensure you brush through all the hair and it doesn't tug at your natural hair in the micro-weave and stops you from snapping your hair. Regular brushes could snap at your hair, but is also painful.
• Use extension shampoo and conditioner. My hairdresser has her own brand of products - a lot of top class salons do. But I also like to change my shampoo/conditioner as my hair can only take so much of one. I found the Aussie range to be great, especially since I have frizzy hair. 
• Leave in conditioner/heat protector is also a must to keep your hair moist. If you let your hair get dry at the ends, it'll totally ruin your weave. Argan Oil and Morrocan Oil are good for the dried ends too. These can be pricey, but ask for suggestions from your own hairdresser too
• Tie your hair up when going to bed. This reduces matting, tugs and loosening rows quickly. They move as you move so if you put it up in a high bun or in a fishtail/pleat, this will help.

Recently had a little more blonde added to my hair so I have a choice of two looks: blonde on black, or if I pin my hair up slightly I still have my four colours of choice. 

If you are local to myself, and would like to visit my talented hairdresser, check out and search The Style Room, Doune, Stirlingshire - you won't be disappointed! 

If you have any questions or additional information that could benefit readers of the post, leave it in the comment box below!

Trisha 

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