"Wig Out!" Hair Extentsions....The Good, the Bad and Just Plain Ugly

Ladies, do you ever watch a celebrity t.v. show or pick up a juicy gossip magazine and wonder how it is that every female in Hollywood seems to have the most ravishing, longest, luscious locks? It doesn't seem fair to be so rich, beautiful AND have great hair genes! Us everyday gals are on a continuous mission to find our hair miracles in a bottle. You know what I'm talking about. Brand A will thicken your hair. Brand B will help your hair grow. Brand C will smooth the cuticle and Brand D....,well, this one will help you attract the perfect man! The solution is quick and simple - Hair Extensions. Well, the actual process of getting hair extensions isn't really that quick (can take up to 6 hours) or simple (its important to find an expert technician or else you too will be buzzing your weave off like Britney), nor is it cheap (costs run anywhere between $800 - $3,000). Nevertheless,

i decided to give them a try. It was going to be my 34th birthday

and i decided i wanted to look fabulous. I chose to go with Great Lengths hair extensions which is one of the many lines that manufacters them with 100% natural human hair. Once the black 20 inch extensions were securely bonded in, i couldn't help but feel like i resembled Cousin It. Or worse. Like that creepy, wet creature lady crawling out of the well in the movie,The Ring. However, once it was cut and styled i will admit, i felt, well how do put this....fabulous, sexy and younger!

THE GOOD

1. Storybook Rapunzel will magically come to life before your eyes.You will get instant length and thickness. It will make you want to throw your hair out of your second story office window in hopes of snagging your very own Prince Charming!
2. Hair comes in a variety of natural colors. Expert technicians can even mix and match extensions to give you new brilliant highlights.

3. It would take years to get that length! Okay, so sitting still 4 to 5 hours isn't the most ideal situation especially if you have A.D.D. or urinary incontinence, but lets face it, it's worth it.

4. Your friends will be completely jealous that you look like a diva. Even their husbands and boyfriends will notice something "different" about you! You just might land that great job, get invited to the newest hottest party, or feel like a porn star in bed. Well, okay that might be stretch but a girl can dream can't she?

THE BAD

1. Too much hair too soon for some. You will definitely have to get used to your bountiful locks. Be prepared to use more shampoo and more conditioner. Drying and styling time will increase as well. Ladies, you might actually get a bicep and tricep workout blow drying your hair out.

2. Be prepared to pull out the Advil. The first few days might be uncomfortable especially at night. Your scalp might be a little sore in spots or itchy at times. No real worries though. This feeling passes relatively quickly.

3. Throw away your old bristle brushes and plastic combs! You will need a special extensions brush to help comb your hair. Anything else will pull your hair out at the scalp. They recommend brushing your hair thoroughly twice a day.

4. Don't play with your hair! This may pull extensions out so all you gals who are constantly twirling their hair in their fingers will have to find another vice. Try shopping. It will take your hands off of your hair and onto your pocketbook.

THE UGLY

1. Extensions must be conditioned and combed regularly otherwise your hair will quickly turn into a bird's nest. Huge knots and tangles will appear quickly and, with the recent bouts of Bird Flu in the last few years, you may not want any feathered creatures looking for a new place to lay their eggs.

2. If extensions are placed improperly, the bonds will show. And once they grow out, they will show as well unless maintained on a regular basis. This may make it difficult if you want to put your hair in a basic ponytail for a gym workout or a sophisticated updo for a wedding.

3. If you decided to remove extensions, your natural hair will be weaker at the ends and will likely need to be cut. I about almost fell out of the chair when my stylist told me i would need to have 4 to 5 inches snipped. I struggled with that decision for a few days then decided to take them out anyways. Although my hair is shorter now, it is much easier to maintain. Do i miss my hair extensions? Yes. Would i do it again in the future? Possibly. Would i recommend other women try it? Definitely!

About Me

My name is Saima and welcome to my bubble! "Why bubble?" you might ask. If you look the word up in the dictionary, the definition would be "a nearly spherical body of gas contained in a liquid." As you can probably tell, this blog is dedicated to the body of beauty. Like most vain women in this world, I adore makeup, skincare, hair care, and all high tech gizmos & gadgets that make us look fabulous and claim to help us "reclaim" our youth.

I started in this crazy multi-billion dollar industry at the age of 18

as a makeup artist with Lancome and was not exactly sure at the time where my passion would lead me. Well, like every other responsible adolescent, it lead me directly to college in hopes of finding a real job. After receiving my English degree and two babies later, i decided to try my hand in the industry of beauty yet again.

With a strong vision and lots of planning, i opened my first

business, Glow Salon & Med Spa (www.liveloveglow.com) outside of Dallas, TX in 2006.

I love being immersed in an industry filled with such creative, inspiring, interesting people. I'm hoping to use this blog as a source for people all over the world who need advice about beauty with a touch of humor and pinch of love. The most beautiful view will hopefully be the one i share with you.

Saima

Lash Out - Perfect Flirty Lashes!

One question that i am frequently asked is "Are your lashes fake?" The answer, of course, is no. Just good genes....and good mascara. I have tried countless brands to see which ones were the best. Grocery Brands. Department Store Brands. Online Brands. Trade Show Brands. Anything that promises fuller, thicker lashes seems to suck most women in mysteriously like Frodo Baggins to "The Ring." It is definitely important to note that since lashes vary from woman to woman, it is difficult to find one that fits perfect for everyone. Here is a short list of ten mascara brands that i thought were pretty good. If you have tried any of these and would like to give me some feedback, please feel free to do so. If you have any specific questions, don't hesitate to ask, dolls. Your lashes will thank me for it!

1. L'Oreal Voluminous Mascara - "THE WINNER"

L'Oreal's Mascara claims to create lightweight lashes and that it contains panthnol and ceramide-R that condition lashes. This is the mascara i would take if i was stranded on a deserted island. Well, along with soap, razors and a man, of course. I stumbled upon this one at Target and instantly fell in love. It comes in the standard shades, black being the most popular, of course, and also in one my most favorite color called "carbon black." It goes on smoothly and clump-free and i especially love using the curved brush to help curl my lashes, killing two birds in one stone.

Runner ups:  Maybelline Great Lash Mascara, Mary Kay Endless Performance Mascara, Lancome Definicils High Definition Mascara, Almay One Coat Mascara,