Frequently Asked Questions about Hair Extensions
The following are a selecction of the most common questions we are asked about our hair extensions services. If you wish to ask anything else not covered here or in the rest of the site then please contact us by phone or email form and we'll be happy to discuss any needs you may have.
- Q. How long will it take to add extensions to my own hair?
- A - This will depend on the look you are going for and consequently how many extensions it will take to achieve that look. On average a thickening process could take 1-3 hours and a lengthening process 4-5 hrs. We will fully advise you of timings and costs when you have your initial consultation at Lucinda Ellery.
- Q. Will people be able to tell that I’m wearing extensions?
- A - Provided you choose a style and colour that matches your own hair, the extensions will look totally natural and no one need ever know except you and perhaps that special someone who is allowed to run their hands through your hair. On the other hand, if you're going for an obviously fun, funky look for a party or for just to enjoy a different buzz, then of course people will be able to tell - but only because you want them to.
- Q. How long does my hair have to be to have hair extensions?
- A - 4-5 inches but the nape of neck hair can be a little shorter 3 inches minimum.
- Q. How much will it cost?
- Please visit our Pricing page
- Q. Will my hair look natural?
- A - All our extensions are custom-made for you. For Real hair, we keep detailed records of your colour and order the hair in for each individual client. For fake hair we blend all of our hair in front of our clients for a truly natural effect, we take great care to blend in a range of both highlights and lowlights into each head of hair we work with, so that your extensions have exactly the same depth and reflectiveness of any natural head of human hair. All this makes your extensions truly undetectable from the real thing
- Q – Will Extensions damage my hair?
- A - This is a commonly asked question. When extensions are applied properly there is virtually no reason why they would damage your hair, and to this end thousands of women have used extensions to grow their own hair to a desired length with no adverse effects whatsoever. However, that is not to say everybody's hair is suitable for extensions. At Lucinda Ellery we take the safety of your hair very seriously and take every reasonable precaution to ascertain the suitability of your hair before commencing with the extensions. This includes a free consultation and free test extensions as well as complimentary check up appointments while you are wearing the extensions. Everybody experiences normal hair shedding, don't worry, this is entirely natural. You will notice on your hairbrush, whether you wear extensions or not, that you shed between 70 to 100 hairs a day - adding up to around 3,000 hairs a month or 36,000 a year. It seems a lot but on average we have at least 100,000 to 150,000 hairs on our heads alone, so this rate of growth and renewal is entirely normal.
- Q - How long will my extensions last?
- A - Both Real Hair extensions and fake hair extensions are designed to last three months.
- Q - Can I just add highlights?
- A - Yes. This is a very effective way of enjoying extensions and you can choose instant colour that your hairdresser might otherwise feel would be too damaging to chemically apply to your own hair. With extensions no harmful dyes or solutions are used and you can either opt for subtle highlights and lowlights or even bold neon's, reds, blacks, blues, yellows, pinks, and greens - whatever you want, really. Hair extensions are a great way of achieving a bold new or natural colour
- Q - Should I give my hair a rest between extensions?
- A - There is no need if they are properly applied and removed, so your own hair remains undamaged. Most people prefer to have their extensions removed and replaced on the same day, so their hair continues looking as good as ever.
- Q - Can I bath, shower, swim, go out in the wind and rain, and play sport in my new extensions?
- A - Your new hair will look as fabulous wet as it does dry, and the extension joins will not show in water. You can shower, swim and go out in the wind and rain without having to worry. Our hair extensions perform as well on the sports field or in a gale as the thickest head of rooted hair. They are so well connected to your own hair that they are indistinguishable from natural hair and just as tough.
- Q - What about sun and salt-water damage?
- A - Treat your extensions exactly as well as would your own hair and they should not suffer during daily wear.
- Q - What happens if I don't like my new extensions?
- A - This very rarely happens, but if you are unhappy it is strongly advisable you let qualified staff at Lucinda Ellery remove your hair extensions without damage or residue, leaving your hair just as it was when you started.
- Q - What happens when extensions are removed?
- A - There are two different techniques. For fake hair, the seal protecting where the extensions are braided to your own hair is gently heated to soften it and the extension easily comes away. For real hair where a bonding resin is used, we apply a releaser solution that allows us to remove the individual extensions safely and efficiently.
- Q - How experienced is your salon in extensions work?
- A - Lucinda Ellery was one of the first people in Britain to train as an extensions specialist in the mid 1980s, when the technique was still virtually unknown outside Hollywood. Hair extensions are different from ordinary hairdressing, and that is why many salons cannot apply good hair extensions. It is always best to entrust extensions work to a studio specialising in them, such as Lucinda Ellery. Lucinda's original inspiration was Daryl Hannah's beautiful long hair as a mermaid in the movie Splash, and since then she has been determined to make beautiful extensions affordable and attainable for every woman who has ever longed for the hair of her dreams. Best of all, it can be achieved within hours, not years. The Lucinda Ellery Studio began 20 years ago. Lucinda's work is regularly featured in national newspapers like the Daily Mail and The Telegraph, in magazines that include Vogue, Hair, Cosmopolitan, Elle, Marie-Claire, Heat, and New Woman. She has appeared on Richard and Judy, with Gloria Hunniford, GMTV, as well as on Woman's Hour. Visit our Media section, our Celebrity section and our Testimonials for further information.
- Q - Why is real hair more expensive then handmade hair?
- A - When the desired length is around 10 inches there isn't a great deal of difference between the two costs but as you start to think about long lengths, real hair can cost around double the price of fake hair. The main reason for this is that fake hair can be produced in a relatively short period, whereas real hair has to be grown for years thus making it an expensive commodity.
- Q - Can I style handmade hair and real hair in the same way?
- A - When it comes to curling, fake hair is extremely easy to style and when curled, holds a curl for days on end, but it is good to remember that when your technician applies curly fake extensions they will not remain that way unaided indefinitely. They will need to be regularly washed and re-curled. As for real hair, it is even easier when left to dry naturally because it dries with a natural wave. Should you want a structured wave/curl, you can use Ghd's or curling tongs which can last unbelievably well. When it comes to blow drying there are differences too. The fake hair has to be handled with care so as to avoid over heating or burning it; this is not difficult but does have to be taught in the aftercare session. As for the real hair, you can blow dry it however you like with no risk of ruining it. Another advantage of the real hair is that you can use straightening irons and curling tongs on the hair, which is a definite no no with fake hair.
- Q - Won't all those extensions be too heavy for my own hair underneath?
- A - If they are applied correctly there should be no problem whatsoever. A good technician will balance the weight perfectly, taking a section of your hair and adding an extension of equal weight, resulting in a completely balanced natural look. It is surprising how quickly you get used to having a gloriously full head of hair.
- Q. Will my scalp still be able to breathe naturally with extensions?
- A - Our extensions are fitted close to the hair roots and scalp but do not block them, so you will be able to feel and touch your scalp as normal.
- Q. Do I need to buy expensive shampoos and conditioners?
- A - On Fake hair you can use any shampoo and conditioner but it is advised you buy a conditioning spray that is specifically designed for fake hair and helps keep it in great condition. For real hair most shampoos and conditioners are fine to use, however, those that contain proteins should be avoided and you should avoid extension shampoos that have not been designed for the Lucinda Ellery system.
- Q. Can I use a hairdryer, hot rollers and other styling equipment?
- A - Yes, you can use all of the above with real hair however with fake hair straightening irons and curling tongs cannot be used. We will explain and if you would prefer show you exactly how to achieve the styles you want.
- Q. Is it safe to leave my hair to dry naturally?
- A - Yes, once again, you can treat your extensions just like your own hair.
- Q - If I fancy a new hair colour, how will that match up with my extensions?
- A - Any extension hair we use is perfectly matched in colour to your own. If your roots need doing before extensions are added, or you fancy a complete change of colour, we can colour your own head of hair ahead of any extensions work. We then add extensions that will have been carefully blended in front of your very eyes to exactly match whichever colour you have chosen.
