Every blondie needs her brownie. Caitlin and Danielle are constantly having fun with their hair… always changing up the style to match their mood. When they wanted to add length and fullness, they headed to Natalie at Thrive Hair Collective to play with Hotheads Extensions. Now, the Dolls are reporting back on everything you need to know about tape in hair extensions!
We both LOVE our tresses – it is the crown we never take off, after all. That’s why we only trust the best of the best with our manes. Natalie is an educator for Hotheads Extensions. That means that she travels the country educating salon owners and stylists on the best practices for these extensions.
We met Natalie via social media (of course) and it was a match made in heaven. Our personalities instantly vibed. We talked about work, love, fitness and everything in between. The conversations with your hairdresser are sacred!
Styled By: Ela Czupta of Generation Bliss
Extensions By: Natalie Ruzgis at Thrive Hair Collective
Makeup By: Sandy Hearts at Estee Lauder Nordstrom Michigan Ave
When we decided to try extensions it was for two different reasons. Caitlin wanted length – have you ever tried to grow blonde hair super long?! It’s not easy. Danielle already has long hair but wanted to see the difference the extensions made in fullness and volume.
10 Things to Know About Hotheads Hair Extensions:
- Trust Your Glam Squad! We can’t stress this enough. Our glam squad are like sisters to us. We are literally trusting them to help us put our best face forward. That’s exactly why we went to Natalie to play with our hair – we knew that we would be in the best hands.
- Be Prepared for Maintenance – Adding extensions will double or triple your getting ready time. Make sure that you can allot the proper time to take care of your new hair.
- Three Installs – Your Hotheads tape-ins will last you three installs. You should get them installed every 4-6 weeks.
- Placement – Talk to your hairdresser about your daily routine. Do you wear your hair curly or straight? Do you part it differently on occasion? Do you work out often and need to throw your hair in a ponytail? Whether your pony is low or high, they can place the extensions accordingly. You’re paying a lot of money for this hair, so it should fit your unique lifestyle.
- Wash + Condition – Wash your hair at the scalp, massaging the shampoo into your roots. When it comes to conditioner – only apply it to the ends! It’s important to keep it away from the tape, as that could break the bond causing your extension to come out.
- Always Blow Dry – This is super important… If too much moisture sits in your hair, it could lead to mold. Eeek! Gross! Always give your roots a good blow dry and NEVER go to bed with wet hair.
- Sunscreen May Discolor – Traditional sunscreen has chemicals in it (read our post about it). Aside from getting in your bloodstream, these chemicals discolor Hotheads extensions. If you have blonde extensions, they will turn a . strawberry hue.
- Style It – Have fun styling your hair! The beachwaver has been a godsend for curling our hair. This magical curling iron makes curling our tresses SO easy. It’s a ceramic, rotating curling iron that provides glam curls or beach waves in minutes! Hotheads is real hair high-quality hair, so you can add heat to it just like your natural hair. You will be surprised just how seamlessly it all blends together.
- Use Hand Sanitizer for Emergency Removal – If an extension were to come loose (which is very rare) you can take it out on your own before you’re able to make it into the salon. Simply use hand sanitizer at the base and the alcohol will loosen the bond so you can remove safely.
- Giving Back – This is our favorite fun fact, because we adore brands that support the community. Hotheads hair is sourced from India, and they are giving back through a local charity. The main goals for Heart of India is to help underprivileged children to access to education in India, and train young women to gain professional skills and get a diploma, in order to cut the cycle of poverty.
Once you get the extensions installed, you will be all smiles! Caitlin first got extensions before her wedding. Here is a video of the entire process:
Both Dolls love their tresses – adding length and volume is a form of self expression.
We’re toying with the idea of adding pink and purple to our hair next. What do you think?!