Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Acceptance Of Hair Extensions Grows

by Melissa White
Licensed Hair Stylist

I'm always "in the news", catching everything I can on hair styling, hair coloring, and of course, hair extensions. It's important to me to keep as up-to-date as possible for the women I see at my salon. Most of what I read is a rehash of old stories. Every once in awhile you come across something that is a unique perspective or something truly useful. This is my goal in writing my blog specifically for people who have or want to have hair extensions.

I've seen the trends in hair extensions grow far beyond the Hollywood jet set and into more mainstream America as more than just ethnic women (who have been using forms of extensions for decades) and the very elite have found the benefits of hair extensions. On my website, I've discussed my own experiences with hair extensions of every conceivable kind, and it truly has been an evolution not only in the quality of hair used and the assortment of attachment methods available today, but also with who is using them.

Just as women were once petrified to admit to plastic surgery (and look at how common this is today), they once were also afraid of what others would think if they admitted to using hair extensions. It seems as if the social stigma has faded, and more and more women across the country are seeing that they are able to enjoy long beautiful hair that can be styled and worn in thousands of different ways.

Today, I read a story that generated out of Pennsylvania. The focus of the article was on hair extensions, proving to me that the acceptability of hair extensions is certainly strong when salons in America's mid-Atlantic region are seeing 40% growth in women requesting quality hair extensions!

One stylist interviewed in the article stated that, "This is very individual, not a one-size-fits-all, so it depends on the person's (natural) hair and what the client is looking for." She continues, "There's a certain level of commitment the client must make for the cost, the initial appointment and the maintenance. But those who do it are very pleased and look fabulous. It can make a dramatic difference in how a woman looks and feels about herself and that's worth a million dollars."

I can't agree with her more on her last statement. I've seen so many clients come to me who were just generally "feeling down" about their hair and their looks, were going through personal hardships which left them depleted of energy and "the zest for life", or who were rebounding from physical illness and needed a good boost. The transformations that can occur with women who get quality hair extensions is sometimes amazing, not only in physical appearance, but in the woman herself. The confidence, spirit and happiness that comes with feeling better about yourself is a wonderful thing to see happen before your eyes. It's the part of what I do which is so rewarding.

REFERENCES:
Extensions of Yourself - Melissa's Own Story
Reading Eagle - Women look for longer locks in hair extensions

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: 
Melissa White is an experienced, licensed hair extension artist and stylist whose passion is to bring out the natural beauty in everyone by enhancing their own individual features with the use of exquisite hair extensions. Melissa has over 10 years of extensive training with the industries top hair extension companies in the newest techniques. Originally from Boston, Melissa has been in San Antonio for the past 8 years. She believes that everyone should be able to access and afford the hair of their dreams . . . thus the creation of Extensions of Yourself, San Antonio's first salon which specializes exclusively in quality hair extensions.