Hair Extensions - Everything You Want to Know But Feel Lame Asking

by Annie Scott (RSS feed)
Sep 22nd 2009 at 10:01AM

One accessory that almost no celeb or celebutante is seen without these days is hair extensions. Even if you don't think they have them, they probably do -- good extensions are hard to spot, and many stars with just shoulder-length hair are sporting them to boost body.

Everyone knows long hair is "in" for the upcoming fall and holiday seasons, and if the Fashion Week runways are any indication, Spring 2010 will be no exception. Why spend money on a fancy new handbag when your hair still looks like a substitute teacher's? While hair extensions are definitely a luxury item, they have become very easily accessible to the mass market -- my Mom has them -- but with all the horror stories (they might look fake, some are afraid they'll "rot," and what is that hair made of, anyway?), it can be a daunting procedure to consider. It's expensive, and when it comes to your hair -- your constant companion and an immediate indicator of your health and personal hygiene -- you really, really don't want it to go wrong.

In the interest of checking out the process and telling the tale, I visited DEX New York where adept stylist Naomi Porto put 30 Georgie Xtensions (a Brooklyn based company he loves to work with -- they can get him colors and whatever curl he requests overnight, compared with weeks of waiting for the larger companies) extension bundles in my hair, then snipped them to blend them into my existing hair, lengthening it by ... a lot. Then he did my makeup, which was a treat; prior to our appointment, he was doing Seal's makeup (both of us with DEX New York Mineral Makeup, of course. Different colors.). Check out the photos (by Damon Hall Booth and Naomi Porto) for the dramatic difference and a lot more information.

If you still have any burning questions about hair extensions when you're finished, go ahead and ask them in the comments section! I'll keep an eye out and post answers. For the record, I'm currently out of town and not one person I've met has expressed doubts about the origin of my long locks. And I'm with six very chatty women.

Gallery: Luxist Hair Extensions Q&A