How To Get the Best Hair Extensions in Sydney

Let's face it. Short, pixie haircuts are cute. But nothing is as classic, romantic and timeless as long, loose waves. In the past, you had to choose between the two. But, thanks to today's hair extensions, you can have both.

In the past, hair extensions have gotten a bad rap. But, today's extensions offer you a great way to get the long hair you want without having to wait for years and without the threat of damage. Here is what you need to know to get the long, beautiful hair you want with the use of extensions.

Types of Extensions

Fusion (or Bonded) Hair Extensions: Bonded hair extensions are individual strands that are actually permanently attached to your natural hair using heat.

Tape-in Hair Extensions: Tape in hair extensions are larger than fusion extensions and are attached to the roots of segments of natural hair using double sided tape.

Weave Hair Extensions: Hairstylists will braid the natural hair down to the scalp in rows. The extensions are then sewn into the braids using thread.

The Rundown

The first step to finding the right hair extensions is understanding which type will work best with your natural hair type. Fusion and tape in extensions will work for just about anyone, but sewn in extensions are generally best suited for those with super tight curls. This is why they are almost exclusively used by African American women. African American hair has the strength and texture to be braided.

For those looking for a more permanent extension solution, fusion extensions last longer than tape in extensions, generally up to 3-4 months with proper maintenance. However, they are also the most time consuming and expensive, costing anywhere from

$500-$4000 per session. And, you will have to buy new hair at each session. Tape in extensions, on the other hand, only require about an hour to apply, will last around 6-8 weeks before needing to be retouched and can be reused during routine touchups. In general, you can expect to pay anywhere from $300 to $2000 per session for new extensions and less for maintenance sessions.

Weaves are the most cost effective solutions, costing around $100-$1000 to apply, but as mentioned previously, they aren't suitable for all hair types.

Human Versus Synthetic Hair

As with most other beauty products, you get what you pay for. Better quality extensions will cost more than poorer quality. Virgin human hair is the most expensive, yet the most natural looking while synthetic hair is significantly more affordable. The issue with synthetics is that it is often difficult to get it to blend with your natural hair and you will have to take great care when styling with heat appliances.

What to Look For

When selecting hair extensions, your goal is to find extensions that most closely resemble your natural hair's color and texture. Choose extensions that are neither too dry, as they will tangle easily, nor too shiny, as the silicone will wear off and cause dulling. And, last but not least, when choosing a stylist, stick with one that has a proven track record for success. Experience is the key when it comes to get looking extensions.

How Does Keratin Treatment Work?

Demystifying Keratin: What Exactly Is This Mystery Hair Smoother?

When it comes to taming unruly, frizzy hair, keratin treatments are often touted as the miracle treatment. But, what is keratin how does a keratin treatment work?

Many salons today are offering their version of a keratin treatment that is designed to help clients with frizzy, curly hair achieve the beautiful smooth styles that are popular today. But, few can actually explain how a keratin treatment works to create the hair you've always wished you were born with. Here is what a few top-notch stylists had to say about keratin treatments and how they work.

What is keratin?

Simply put, keratin is a protein fiber that is naturally found in both hair and nails of all warm blooded species. While on its own, keratin cannot straighten the hair, it can be used with other ingredients and heat to bond with your hair create smoother hair. It is the main ingredient found in most at-home hair straightening products.

If our hair already contains it, why do we need more?

The hair shaft is made up of up to 95% keratin. However, keratin is the first thing the hair shaft loses when it is subjected to environmental stresses such as heat styling appliances, bleaching, and other stressors. A lack of keratin will make the hair shaft vulnerable to splitting, dulling and more, which results in frizzy, unhealthy hair. Using keratin infused products allows keratin to be reintroduced to the hair shaft where it can provide protection from environmental stressors as well as fortify the internal structure of the shaft to create more elasticity.

How exactly do keratin treatments work?

Most keratin treatments use products that combine hydrolyzed keratins and other ingredients that are designed to break down the bonds that exist between the existing keratin molecules in the hair shaft. Using heat helps to fuse the keratin treatment's hydrolyzed keratin to the natural keratin in the hair shaft and seal the shaft and create new, more relaxed bonds, creating straighter, smoother hair.

What hair types benefit the most from keratin product and treatments?

Those who have naturally curly or frizzy hair simply don't have as much natural keratin as those with naturally straight hair. In addition, those who have subjected their hair to a variety of chemical processes have stripped their hair of the natural keratin they were born with. This makes them prime candidates for keratin treatment. Adding external keratin to the hair will restore the hair, creating a stronger, smoother and healthier hair shaft.

How much do they cost and how long can they last? Is it all worth really it?

The goal of a keratin treatment is to rebuild each hair shaft, strand by strand. The hydrolyzed keratin finds the pores in each hair shaft, fills them in and locks in shine and hydration. Color will last longer and hair will be easier to dry and easier to manage. Most salons will charge anywhere from $100-$350 per treatment, depending on the type of treatment chosen and the condition of the hair being treated.

Reduce Your Wrinkles with Help from a Sydney Skin Clinic

Wrinkles are a sign of aging, whether they're fine lines in your smile area, or deeper groves around the eyes. When people enter old age, these wrinkles can be worn with pride. However, probably due to poor skin care, more and more people are getting these

facial wrinkles prematurely. There are treatments to stop wrinkles from taking over your life.

Creams with retinoic acid

This is a topical treatment with a substance that's derived from Vitamin A. Unfortunately you can't get this by simply eating a lot of carrots. The over-the-counter retinol creams could work with fine lines, but the results can take up to six weeks. These creams tighten the skin to reduce the appearance of wrinkles. You may also notice some flaking as old skin sheds off.

Vitamin C topical treatments

For sun damaged skin, creams recommended by reputable Sydney skin clinic that contain Vitamin C are the best treatments. You will need to consult your skin care expert for a cream that's compatible to your skin type. Vitamin C helps to increase the collagen in your skin. Collagen increases skin elasticity, which prevents the appearance of wrinkles.

Chemical peels

These peels basically hasten the development of new skin. It also helps to shed off old, wrinkled skin, so what resurfaces is skin that is smoother and tighter. However, chemical peels can be invasive, and will leave you with skin that's still very sensitive to just

about anything. Proper care is needed after a chemical peel, and this treatment is not for all skin types. You need to consult a skin care specialist from a Sydney skin clinic before undergoing this process.

Cross-linked hyaluronic injections

This treatment is also called a filler and is similar to collagen injections. The results can be seen in as little as five minutes with the substance helping to plump up the area where the skin fold used to be. The cost is relative, depending on how deep the wrinkle is and the size of the affected area. This pricier and is more invasive the topical treatments, though, and may pose some side effects. Bruising and some swelling are common after the treatment.

Wrinkle appearance may be prevented with proper skin care at home and with proper guidance of experts from a Sydney skin clinic. Keeping your diet healthy and eating foods that are good for the skin go a long way. Keeping your skin well-hydrated is key to avoiding wrinkles. Wearing sunscreen before going out is essential, and applying moisturizer daily will also help to keep wrinkles at bay.

Make your Hair Extensions Look More Natural

Hollywood celebrities have always sported natural-looking hair extensions to add volume and length to their hair. Today, more and more women around the world are turning to hair extensions to improve their look. Different types of hair extensions are available on the market—these are extensions made from real hair or are synthetic. The trick is to make these extensions look like your own by experimenting on how to get them to blend properly with your natural hair.

After choosing the appropriate length and colour of your hair extensions, the next step is to install the extension in a way that will make it look most natural on you. If you opt to clip them yourself, here are the steps to help you out.

Part and tease your hair. One way to do this is to part your hair in line with your eyebrows, then tease your hair below this part to make it easier for the extension clip to cling onto.

Begin clipping in your hair extension. You may need to repeat the first step to ensure that your hair is exactly of one length all around.

Cut your extensions to blend with your natural hair. It wouldn’t do for people to notice that some strands are longer than the others, so it’s advisable to cut your extensions and leave them four to five inches longer than your natural hair.

Begin styling your hair. This is an absolute must before you flaunt your hair in public. Curling your hair will blend both your natural hair and the extensions in a way that that makes the lengthening almost imperceptible.