My Experience with NBR Hair Extensions: An NBR Client Testimonial
By Lauren Simps
You know what’s strange to process? Genetics. Take one look at me and you will see there is no doubt I am my mother’s daughter. We literally have the same face and the same hair - thin and kinda wavy. Take one look at my sister and you can see my father’s side of the family shining through with big eyes and thick hair. It’s a funny thing to grow up with a sister, both of you created by the same two people, and to look at each other throughout your lives to compare who hit the genetic jackpot where. Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE my sister more than anything, but let’s be real that girl got the better hair of the two of us and I’ve always been envious. So when my friend from high school was looking for a “model” to train her assistant on installing hair extensions, I jumped at the opportunity. I had quite a few questions about what they were like, if they hurt, if they were heavy, etc so I decided to put a lil Q&A below:
What kind of extensions did you get?
NBR extensions. NBR stands for natural beaded rows and the hair is essentially placed in rows in the hair by creating a “track” with an exclusive bead and string technique. Wefts are placed on the track and sewn in (no glue or tape involved!) then the hair is cut and blended to match my hair better/get what I wanted. It is 100% human hair and the stylist colors your hair and the hair extensions to match one another so they blend seamlessly!
Will it damage your natural hair?
While no extensions can guarantee there will be no damage (similar to using a blow dryer on your hair) this method is by far one of the least damaging. The wefts are sewn so the insert points on your actual hair are far fewer than if you were to get tape or glue in extensions AND there isn’t any glue or tape HOLLA
How long are the hair extensions + how many rows did you get?
There are essentially two lengths you can get - 18 inches and 22 inches. I went with 18 inches because I didn’t want SUPER long hair, but you can do either and then have your stylist cut and style them to whatever feels right for you. In terms of rows, typically you put in either one or two. I went with one but next time I think I might do two. My hair has some layers and I think the two different rows would help blend it a bit better.
How often do they have to be maintained?
The extensions do grow with your hair and so you will have to go in and get them “moved up” about every 6-8 weeks. Essentially, they will just take them out and move them up to where they originally were and maybe give them bit of color or toning love depending on how much of your roots have grown out.
Can you tell that you have extensions in? Can I wear a ponytail with them? What about going swimming?
These extensions blend so dang well. Because they are real human hair and are custom colored they blend seamlessly into your hair. I have short to medium-length hair, had mine in for Christmas, and the majority of family members didn’t even know until I told them! You CAN wear your hair in a ponytail, but because I have pretty thin hair I just had to make sure you couldn’t see the insertion points. You can swim in the extensions but I would suggest making sure you put your hair in a ponytail or braid. You also want to avoid getting any sunscreen on the hair as it could turn them pink!
How do you care for them? Can you use conditioner on the hair extensions?
You treat your extensions like normal hair. Wash it like you typically would (make sure and talk to your stylist about quality shampoo, conditioners, and products), style it with a straightener or curling iron (heat IS okay!) like you typically would, etc. I did try to avoid over-washing them, but I typically only wash my hair every 3 days or so normally. Also, you can use a conditioner without worrying it will loosen the extensions.
Does it hurt?
Here’s the deal - you are getting extra hair attached to your head so you are going to feel a bit uncomfortable when you first get them in but they should NEVER hurt. When I first got them installed I was told it would feel like you have a tight shower cap on for a week or so and then they start to loosen up. Mine never “hurt” and if they do you should talk to your stylist.
Pros vs cons?
PROS: If you have thin hair and are looking to have some thickness or length added, this is the way to go. Having the extra hair was SO fun. It was also so nice not having to style my bed-head every morning because the heaviness of the new hair helped it stay in place after I originally styled it. I could literally live off washed hair for 4-5 days. They also made me feel beautiful, as silly as that may sound. For my thin-haired sisters out there, having this extra-long, lush hair made me more confident and like my hair for the first time in years.
CONS: I will admit by the end of the 3ish months I was ready for a break. Don’t get me wrong, I LOVED the added hair, but it takes time to get used to the extra time and effort it takes to initially style the new amount of hair. Typically, I could get out of the shower and let my hair air dry. With the extensions, every time I showered I would have to take the time to style it right after showering (I could wear it more days in a row but the time commitment on the front end was longer.) The other thing is the hair is heavy. Again, coming from someone who is used to having a small amount of hair, doubling (or possibly tripling) that amount of hair on your head day-to-day is something that takes a while to get used to.
What does it cost?
I’ll be honest, it is an investment, but for those of us that are dealing with thin or thinning hair and can’t put a price on the confidence of feeling beautiful + having the hair of your dreams, I can confirm it is 100% worth it.
Originally posted at Sliceoflauren.com