Miley Cyrus is Hannah Montana!
AND… this teen star fancies extended hair!

If you have kids or are a teen yourself, my secrets are old news. However… days ago this revelation came to me as a twenty-something-year-old lacking Nickelodeon/ the Disney Channel.  Yup a light-bulb went on and finally I sleep at night.

Recently the fifteen year old millionaire, Miley Cyrus, hosted the 2008 Teen Choice Awards on August 4th. The maybe-pre-permit-driver’s-licensed teen was photographed by paparazzi leaving Juan Juan Salon with a longer look July 27th, 2008.  Woohoo! … for Juan Juan Salon! … and Yeah! … for stylists with clientele who actually put on “Sweet Sixteen’s” for their spoiled children.  What about the average parents who want their offspring to understand the ethics/value of hard work and money?  This conversation will only end in door slammings and silent treatments across the country.  To them I am so sorry, teen-parent relationships are tricky enough.

So what is too young?  Currently there are no age laws or limits for customers sitting chair side.  Personally, I’d rather have the $1,500 nesting in a college fund than being flipped over a high school freshman’s shoulder (or get some real hair clip ins for a special event like Prom or Homecoming…duh).  Again on the optimistic side for cosmetologists everywhere; clients are showing up younger and younger.  I mean really… you can’t say no to a stage mom or the mother who wants to be a child’s BFF.  For parents out there needing backup to their “no way” argument; if the hamster’s still alive in 3 years of course you can care for your own hair extensions.  This is something for salons and hair suppliers to prepare for and look forward to.

1) Can we talk? Absolutely be sure to have a sit-down, thorough consultation BEFORE you show up for your hair appointment. It’s a real change in your day to day hair care, and it is a lengthy process. You should budget 45 minutes in which to learn from your stylist (or explain if you are the stylist) how the extensions will under the hair, how the hair will be cut and styled, how it will feel and certainly long term maintenance.

2) Style: After your consultation, or during, make certain your stylist/operator knows how you will style your hair from day to day so they can fit the extensions to suit your needs. If this is not taken in to account, your styling of their extension installation could be unnatural and unflattering.

3) Put your head to bed: Hair extensions can go wonky overnight so it is good practice to put it up at night.

4) Brush, Brush, Brush: Look out for small cylindrical brushes and choose instead the big fatties (you know the ones - wide paddles) You could always try Tangle Teezer (www.hqhair.com) to gently pull out knots if things go awry.

5) Match, don’t Mix: Have your stylist help you match up the texture of the extension (beyond curly/straight) with your own hair, and not just the color, as this will make it easier to style down the road.

*Also, it’s always a good idea to have the stylist double check that your hair is actually the type you ordered - we’ve heard stories of people having “straight” hair put in and then upon first wash it turns out it’s actually curly hair that’s been straightened! Not good.

6) There’s the rub: Shampooing is critical for hair sheen, and overall health (and hygene!) but be sure to take it easy on those dangling strands. Don’t over-rub, or rub too intensely as you can damage or knot the extensions. Try massaging from top to bottom like you might a horses tail. We promise you can still have the herbal essence experience with extensions, just take it easy.

7) Oil! Be sure your products aren’t too oily, as this can cause extensions to slip. Conditioner is included in the list, and be sure to condition from the middle of the extension down to the ends, not at the root.

Gimme a Break! Be sure to give your scalp and your hair a rest between extensions. There are long term risks to using extensions too often without appropriate recuperating periods. We suggest a 3-6 month extension free hiatus to ensure hair strength and health. It’s always a good idea to have your scalp treated during that resting period too - all things in moderation right?

A day in the life of a phony hair wearer…” but it’s human hair and only my stylist knows.”

I am your every-day girl. Spending my first hard-earned-every-day-girl-bonus on something I’ve always wanted; affordable hair extensions! My locks, with the help of other’s, reach close to my waist. It’s long, thick, and it’s glamorous. This is the hair I’ve ALWAYS wanted and it’s dirty?

That’s right. As a client with over 22+ inches of extensions, weighing in at 3+ pounds of hair, I get most of my compliments on lazy hair days. Fellow extension wearers, take advantage of the less maintenance days and less bathroom time. Pass on washing, blow drying and styling your amazing hair.

That’s right, go 3-4 days without washing your hair and still get the “Ohhhs” and “Ahh’s.” I have my favorite hats and my most beloved scarves as “must-have” accessories on these days of low maintenance. You’ll notice the most famous with extended hair also spend several days out of the week in simple cover-ups and easy hair accessories. GO on, give your self a few “good hair days” no work required.