The Long & Short of It: My Experience With Hair Extensions

Long curls for a recent fancy night out in Austin. I have loved the versatility of my extensions. They’ve become as important to my outfits as any of my accessories!

I’ve never had super long hair. Maybe when I was really little, it might have gone almost to the middle of my back. But in recent years I could get it to just past my shoulders and it would stop growing. So I kind of gave up. And bought a fake pony tail. (Some of y’all might remember Penny the Pony from the summer before last...)

Probably about 8 years old at the State Fair of Texas with my hair at it one of it’s longer moments in pigtails.

When Tiffany Vogelpohl of The Collective ATX here in Austin contacted me last spring offering natural beaded row extensions, I was super excited to give them a try. After messaging with Tiffany then going into the salon for a consultation, I knew she was an expert and I was in great hands. She had been following me on Instagram and said the extensions would add extra thickness and volume on the sides of my head where she saw the most need, and obviously there would be a great deal of length. I could do one row or two. You know me; I’m a go big or go home kind of girl. We decided on two rows of natural beaded extensions and made an appointment for the night before Mother’s Day.

That first appointment was the longest. Tiffany selected hair to match my color (spot on, by the way) and texture from her vast supply of real hair which she sources from three companies: Isla, Covet and Mane, and Bohyme. She carefully assessed placement before building a “track” on my scalp, then meticulously sewed in the extensions. The process uses aluminum beads and string that evenly distribute the weight of both your natural hair and the hand tied extensions that are sewn on. It’s not painful, but you can definitely feel something is there; a tightness of you will, that fades over time, usually within a few days. That visit took about 4 hours to get everything selected, placed, installed, slightly trimmed and curled. When I got up from the chair I had the most beautiful cascading blonde locks. Like a mermaid! It was glorious and amazing. Such a transformation. We left the extensions barely touched, with the exception of a slight snip of the ends. It was “booty long” and yes, it was a lot, but Tiffany’s theory of living with the length for a bit made sense to me: better to go long and decide I wanted to cut some off later than cut too much right away and wish I had kept more length.

Extensions installed! First pic of the new locks just after Tiffany put them in last May. I literally felt like a mermaid.

At first all that hair felt like a separate part of me. Working out was funny; I used to just throw my hair up into a casual messy bun or pony tail and off I went. Now the pony required two tightly wound hair ties and the messy bun was the size of a head of lettuce and seemed to weigh 20 pounds. After about a week I was used to the weight and the hair felt more like my own with each passing day. The length was a bit long for me, so I made an appointment and went in for a trim. I ended up with chest length hair and it’s been perfect for me. Long but not booty long, and I can still rock the pony tail of my dreams. (My favorite part!)

Keep in mind such lovely long hair comes with a cost. Prices range from $1300-$2000 for 18-inch hair and $1500-$2500 for 22-inch hair. Longer hair (26 inches!) is available and is priced upon request. Price is based on length, thickness and the number of rows needed to achieve the desired outcome which will be determined during your consultation. Maintenance means you go in for a tightening about every 6 weeks. This includes a shampoo, blowout, a refresh of the extensions and the reinstall. For one row, maintenance runs $175, for the second row it’s $150 and for a mini row (these bridge the gap between shorter layers and longer hair for ultimate blending) it’s $110. Color is priced separately.

While it is an investment, if you are cared for by a knowledgeable professional like Tiffany and you do a few things on your end, (regular, careful brushing, conditioning and braiding or twisting at night to avoid tangles) the hair will last for an average of 6-9 months before you need to replace it. (It’s important to note color blending and placement are what set natural beaded rows apart from the hand tied methods, giving the most natural, realistic look).

Top knot? No problem! I have found my extensions to be quite versatile.

On a personal note I have one word for my extensions: FUN! I have loved having more hair to play with and style. I can wear it stick straight, or let it dry wild on its own, or use the curling iron for long curls and waves. I love doing ponytails, top knots, I’ve mastered a messy bun on top, and for the first time ever I can do a long braid out of my ball cap and it’s awesome. It’s versatile and glamorous and has been a really cool change of pace for me. I’m thinking now that fall has arrived I will go a little shorter; stay tuned!

A braid and a ball cap: a look I had never been able to achieve until I got my extensions.

Tiffany herself is a gem: so easy to talk to, so kind, and so smart. Her staff is fun, friendly and professional. I also appreciate that she has been completely willing and happy to work with my longtime hairdresser Sarah Garner who still does my color. Life is about relationships and Tiffany appreciates that. If you’re thinking of going for it and adding some hair extensions into your life, I can wholeheartedly endorse Tiffany at The Collective ATX. And if you do it, send me a pic!

Find Tiffany at The Collective ATX, 830 W 3rd St., Unit 1134, Austin, TX 78701. (512) 712-4999.