Hair extensions have become an overnight sensation. Great for adding length, volume or color enhancement, you can change your looks in just hours. But, there's a lot to consider. If you decide to shop around for extensions, the key things to look for is the quality of the hair, the amount of time they will hold, the versatility of styling and maintenance required, both in terms of the amount of time and money required.

Also, consider the level of confidence you have in the stylist. Ask about their training and experience. To ensure your investment in beautiful, new extensions will be well spent, read on for more detailed information.

Types of Extensions
When choosing extensions, there are two different types of hair extension procedures. The first involves creating tiny, tight braids around the base of the scalp using human hair. This affordable weave process creates longer hair that is easy to remove when desired. The second method utilizes Great Lengths, a London-based hair extension process that uses only the finest human hair and highest quality bonding procedures available. With professional application, the point of attachment will barely be visible and feel no bigger than a grain of rice. Some women may feel soreness at the scalp and occassionally have a headache after the application, but any discomfort will be temporary.

Choosing a Stylist
If you choose the Great Lenghts extensions, the stylist has to be certified by Great Lengths. The results will look so natural that you really can’t tell it’s not your own hair. The extensions are added right at the scalp so you can’t see the bond. With Great Lengths, you can do anything you would to normal hair, including coloring, cutting and perming.

What to Expect
If you schedule a Great Lengths consultation, your hair will be matched to strands from a sample ring of colors. Two to three colors are often blended to create a custom look. Once the color is determined, the hair is ordered and arrives in approximately five days. Depending on the amount of hair added, bonding can take anywhere from one to six hours. The hair extensions come in your natural ranges of color: browns, reds and blondes. But you can also do blue, yellow, pink or green if you want to add a little accent color, which is great for people who are more adventurous.

Maintenance and Removal
Both the Great Lengths and the weaving process last as long as they are maintained. Special brushes are required for Great Lengths hair and weaves must be tightened on occasion. When you decide it’s time to take out the extensions, removal is easy. Weaves are simply undone and Great Lengths hair uses a special product to dissolve the bond and remove the extension.

How to Get Started
Talk to your stylist about changing your look. Extremely short hair styles may not qualify as hair extension candidates. Those interested in extensions need to have healthy hair at least three inches long. You also may not be a candidate if you're pregnant, have given birth in the past six months or had chemotherapy or radiation treatments in the past six months. Whatever your hair type, a consultation with a trained stylist will answer all your questions.