I've had hair extensions for 5 years now and honestly... my hair has never looked or felt healthier. Everyone always thinks extensions ruin your hair, but that's not true at all. If you go to an un-experienced hair stylist to put your extensions in, then of course it can ruin your hair... but as long as you not only go to a hair stylist that knows what they're doing and you properly care for them, you'll honestly see a huge difference in the healthiness of your hair. Why? You're putting way less heat on your natural hair. (Not at all saying that hair extensions are not human hair, because they are.) Like... can you believe my hair in the "before" pic?! It looks like I had a mullet.

Before extensions, I put soooo much heat on my hair. It's not that I don't anymore, but I do it a lot less. I don't wash my hair as often, which means I dry my hair a lot less... and I'm able to dry sections without a round brush because I already have the fullness from the extensions.

I first started out with what are known as "bonds" by Great Lengths. I had those for a few years, but I now have a few tape ins and wefts from Bellami Hair. I LOVE the wefts and tapes. So what's the difference?

- Bonds are going to be thinner, as they are thinner pieces being inserted. These typically last for 3-4 months, and then you have to get a whole new set. If you have super fine hair, this is a recommended route, and Great Lengths makes some of the best when it comes to bonds.
- Tapes give you more fullness and last much longer. You can keep re-using the same ones every time you get them moved up. Great Lengths and bellman both offer tape ins, however, I only recommend Bellami for tapes. I did try tapes by Great Lengths, but I had issues with multiple falling out each time I'd blow dry. In my 9 months of having Bellami tapes, I've never had one fall out.
- Wefts will give you maximum fullness/volume, and just like tapes, they will last you a long time + can be used multiple times during tightenings before having to order a new set. I also use Bellami for my two rows of wefts and am obsessed with how much fullness it gives my hair.

I've had my current set of tapes + wefts for 9 months now and I will barely be getting a new set in a couple weeks. Chandler has been doing my hair for yearsssss and I swear no one has colored my hair better than she has. Blonde hair can be difficult and she is a PRO. When I lived in LA, I tried a few different stylists so that I didn't have to drive to OC, but even after trying out the high end salons you've seen on instagram that charge an arm and a leg... I had no luck. Chandler is literally a blonde specialist, and I was driving from West Hollywood to Brea (OC,) to have her do my hair. I'm now living in Brea, so it's an easy drive, but she seriously is worth the drive if you live far. I have another friend in LA that drives all the way to Chandler to get her hair done with her, too. Needless to say, she knows her shit. I literally show her a picture of the color I want to do and next thing I know, that exact color is on my head, lol.