Treat Yourself
Ever dreamt of Rapunzel-like hair, those cascading tresses that seem to be the sole property of tower-trapped princesses? Sure, you could grow your own – end up with the sad, scraggy ends. Tatiana Hair Extensions just off Kensington Church Street is the latest salon offering Cheryl Cole manes for crops, but the differences are key.
Most salons source extensions from Asia, where hair is stripped of its cuticle to make it thinner – so it more closely resembles European hair – and dyed to match commonly found colours. This cuticle, however, is what stops hair from becoming brittle and knotting together, so over time, you end up with even scraggier ends than you could’ve grown yourself.
Tatiana sources hair directly from Russia, and ensures that it’s “virgin” – as in never dyed or permed. First, quick consultation beforehand so Tatiana can go away and match own hair type and colour exactly. Each single extension is glued together at its tips. This is then threaded through a metal “micro-ring” together with your own, slid up to the root and secured with a quick squeeze of a small set of pliers. The number you have solely depends on the thickness of your own hair, but they’re carefully spaced so that they’re less noticeable. The process takes a couple of hours, but endless cappuccinos and glossy mags take the edge off.
Curly hair blends in both the rings and where your own hair meets the extensions better, but even Tatiana’s blonde, straight locks are impressive. The only thing to be mindful of is tying your hair too high up afterwards – that’s when the rings become most obvious. Washing, blow-drying, brushing and styling are all exactly the same, just keep cream-based products like conditioner away from your roots.
Maintenance involves pushing the rings back up, using the same hair, every two to three months; if you take care of them, your actual extensions can last years. Or at least until Prince Charming rescues you from your turret…
From £350 (maintenance costs half)
27 Holland Street, London, W8 4NA, 020 7937 1989