The ULTIMATE Hair Guide!
Since I started this community on Instagram, there have been TWO questions that come up most frequently:
When are you and Bert getting married? (lol)
ALLLLLLLLLL the hair questions
Now that we've got the first question out of rotation, let me tell you: I am HERE and ready to deliver on the hair guide of your dreams.
Because we've been plowing through all of your DM's, messages, comments, tags, etc. and pulled together the ultimate hair guide to answer ANY question you might have! I'm talking: extensions, types of extensions, my routine, products I use.
ALL. OF. IT.
So let's jump right in, shall we????
Before we get started, a big note: my natural hair is wavy/curly, course/dry, and color-treated. As you're reading this guide and taking note of all my recommendations, this will be important to remember since most of my preferences are for my specific hair type. But if you have any questions about products for your hair type, always feel free to ask and I'll give my best advice!
THE EXTENSIONS
If you've been following me for any length of time, you'll know that I'm in a big ole, head of heels, relationship with Studio 285, Britt, and Salty Locks Hair Extensions. They bring me LIFE.
When it comes to extensions, picking a specific hair extension type is going to be totally personal preference in combination with the recommendation of your hair stylist. I would also ask for recommendations from your hair stylist because they are going to be able to feel and see the texture of your hair while also considering the type of activities you'll be doing daily which will affect the type of hair extension you want to get.
In general, there are two main types of extensions with MANY different types within each main type. I'll share the most popular methods and which ones I personally prefer:
1. Strand by strand extensions
cold fusion - hair is bonded by some form of bead to attach small sections of hair to our natural hair
hot fusion- hair is bonded by some form of keratin tip with a heating tool that seals the extension around a piece of your natural hair
2. Weft extensions
tape in- 1-4" sections of hair are bonded using a strong glue-type tape that sandwiches a portion of your natural near the scalp to create a panel of longer or thicker appearing hair.
glue in- any length section of hair weft is directly glued to the hair that lasts for a few days then is removed with an oil solvent.
sew in- tiny braids are created for a base for the extension, then custom length sections of wefts are sewn into the braid with a thread and hair needle.
hand tied- This method includes multiple rows of “hand-tied” wefts sewn to beaded attachment points with a cotton/yarn type material.
My Personal Hair Extensions
Currently I have only hand tied wefts. This is my favorite method, as it provides the fullest, longest hair for my hair type with the least amount of damage to my natural hair. Once you purchase the hair, it can be used over and over as long as it's well taken care of.
I usually keep the same hair for 12 months before purchasing new hair. When I go in to see Britt, my hair extensions are moved up to sit closer to the scalp every 6-8 weeks.
In the past, my other favorite method was fusion extensions using the heated bond. Single strands were attached throughout my entire head which is a great option if you want very natural, flowy hair. It's great for thinner hair since it's easy to conceal and finer/thinner hair doesn't require as many hair extensions to blend in for a natural look. You can go 12 weeks without needing to move these up, so this is a great option if you want a less-maintenance option.
My Hair Routine
Next, I'm going to walk you through my weekly hair treatment and also the system I use on a bi-weekly basis. I'm going to go ahead and make a statement that this blog post is NOT sponsored by Olaplex (as much as I would love that, lol) but it's worth noting that I am obviously a huge Olaplex junkie. I sincerely believe it’s the best hair system in the game - so if you want the best hair possible, Olaplex is a must.
WEEKLY HAIR TREATMENT BEFORE WASHING
These two products above are different. Olaplex 3 is repairing damaged hair and the mask is moisturizing hair. Both have a place in my hair routine because I get my hair highlighted and ANYONE who gets color on their hair should be using a repair treatment if they don’t want their hair to shed and shred to hay. The moisture mask is perfect for my hair type because it’s more course and wavy which needs more emphasis on putting moisture back into the hair!
*Sometimes, I'll combine the Olaplex 3 with Olaplex Repair or just do it separately when I want intense moisture
CONDITIONER: Olaplex No. 5 Bond Maintenance Conditioner
STYLING PRODUCT: Olaplex No. 6 Bond Smoother
*use this SPARINGLY. One bottle lasts me a year. A little goes a long way and can quickly make your hair feel too weighed down if you use too much
BI-WEEKLY HAIR SYSTEM FOR HIGHLIGHTS
I have a bi-weekly hair system that I use to keep my highlights brass free and shining brightly. I highly recommend including a second hair system if you have highlights, because purchasing an additional system to maintain your color will ensure you’re not wasting money on getting your hair color perfect - then walking out and never maintaining it.
Additionally, because I only use the products every two weeks, they last FOREVER! So don’t skip taking care of your color bc you don’t want to pay for extra products. They are worth it and help prevent your stylist from having to over correct your hair each time you get your hair done, which means less damage! And being able to go longer between hair color sessions ends up saving you time and money long term!
CONDITIONER: Kerastase Blond Absolu Strengthening Conditioner
This is my FAVORITE overnight serum! Your hair is sooooooo shiny and light and you don’t have to rinse it out! It still looks clean and light with volume and it completely brightens any brass or dull color in your hair.
BETWEEN WASHES
Between washes, dry shampoo and hair oil are my best friends. I use dry shampoo for the roots and hair oil to keep the ends nice and shiny and moisturized since they take the most friction and damage, being sure to keep the hair cuticles smoothed in the same direction on the ends helps prevent damage and doubly makes it look freshly washed.
DRY SHAMPOO: Batiste Original Clean & Classic Dry Shampoo
The Batiste dry shampoo comes in so many different options and you can find it at literally ANY grocery store or drug store that you step into! I love switching up the scent options because I can smell them all day and they also have blonde and brunette options that provide a beautiful pop of color when you need your roots done.
HAIR OIL: Aquage SeaExtend Silkening Oil Treatment
This is AMAZING! it’s nice and light for your strands, so it doesn’t weight them down and gives amazing shine.
FINISHING TOUCH: Davines OI All in One Milk
HOLY GRAIL MUST HAVE PRODUCT
Alright y’all, this is the GO TO for every possible situation of hair and my best tip or piece of advice when it comes to hair!
I use this on wet hair, dry hair, to refresh my hair or just give me light moisture that provides MAJOR benefits to overall hair health. I can't say enough amazing things about this product. This is a must have for every single hair type across the board - and once you try it, you’ll know exactly what i’m talking about
Anddddddddddd THAT'S IT! As I said before, this is one of the most FREQUENTLY asked questions that I get on an almost daily basis, so I wanted to make sure I have this here for you all to refer to!
*Some of the links included in this blog post are affiliate links - so if you choose to purchase these products, just know that you're pouring resources right back into the TDXO Community and experiences for everyone in it!*
