What You Need to Know Before Getting Hair Extensions

Here's what you need to know before getting extensions. This blog post will guide you through step-by-step how to narrow down which methods are the best fit for you.

At Donna Bella Hair® we offer 7 different methods– 5 pro methods that are installed by a stylist and 2 Ready-to-Wear methods you can install from home.

Temporary methods vs. semi permanent extensions

What you need to know before getting extensions is whether you want a temporary method or a semi permanent one. 

Temporary methods, also known as Ready-to-Wear extensions, include Clip-Ins and Halos®. These can be applied in about 5-15 minutes and work well for a special occasion or if you’re wanting to change your hair right now.

With Clip-Ins and Halos, you can put them in and take them off whenever you want, from the comfort of home. You don’t have to make an appointment at the salon and you can easily and quickly update your look. These options are also a nice introduction to try out extensions and see how they feel.

Our professional extension methods provide longer-lasting results and can be worn for 4-12 weeks before coming back for a follow-up appointment. Here at Donna Bella Hair® we carry 5 different pro methods: Tape-In, Hybrid Weft, Kera-Link (also called Fusion), I-Link and Flat-Tip.

It’s essential to work with a hair stylist who is certified in extensions and can help you choose the best method for your hair type.

Working with a certified stylist  

If you decide to go with a professional method, you’ll need to find an extensions specialist who is certified in Donna Bella Hair® extensions. This is another important step in what you need to know before getting extensions.

You can search by location using our Salon Locator tool, reach out directly to stylists in your area, or contact us for help. One great way to find a stylist is to look for photos of their previous work on social media. You can check out before and after photos, behind the scenes footage showing how the installation was done, and ‘under the hood’ images which show where the extensions were placed. We post a lot of hair inspo on @donnabellahair so be sure to check out our page for ideas, too!

Does my stylist really have to be certified? Can’t they just learn from watching tutorials on YouTube or having their friend show them what to do?

Certification is important! We can’t emphasize this enough. As extensions have grown in popularity and more methods have been created, the need for quality education for stylists has also grown. When you hire an extension specialist who has been through a comprehensive training, you can trust that they will install and remove the extensions in a way that won’t cause damage to your hair. There’s a huge difference between a stylist learning the correct techniques from a full course vs. learning from YouTube or from another stylist. Stylists who have been certified through DBH’s online certification course in hair extensions have learned from expert educators with decades of experience. They know the proper methods to give you a seamless blend that looks natural, comfortable wear, and the best investment from your hair.

A stylist can help you color match using our Color Ring or by ordering a swatch kit.

Consultation and color matching

A certified stylist will often have you come in for a consultation appointment at the salon before doing an installation. During the consultation appointment, you’ll talk about things like your hair goals and concerns; your current maintenance routine and products you use; your daily and weekly habits such as exercise, swimming and how you style your hair; and how often you want to come to the salon for maintenance.

Your stylist will also factor in your natural hair’s length and density. Certain methods work better for fragile hair than others, and each method is available in unique lengths and colors.

Color matching can be done a couple different ways. Your stylist can use the DBH Color Ring or you can place an order online for a free Swatch Kit which includes 3 swatches for you to compare (and you only pay for shipping!).

Keep in mind that in order to create a seamless blend, your stylist will likely use 2-3 shades. The color match is an essential step of what you need to know before getting extensions.

DBH has a wide selection of methods, lengths and colors.

DBH sells extensions in a wide variety of solid colors as well as Balayage, Ombre, Rooted and blended looks. The great thing about these pre-colored extensions is that they create a more natural, dimensional look by including a range of tones, which makes the hair appear fuller and gives a sense of movement. 

If you want to learn more about using extensions to change your hair color, we have another blog post on how to color match for Balayage, Ombre and Rooted hair. Considering all your color options is important for what you need to know before getting hair extensions.

Here’s a beautiful before and after featuring Balayage extensions on our model, Jess.

Ordering the hair and maintenance/aftercare

Once your stylist has helped you determine the color and method you want to go with, you’ll place and order for the hair. 

Work with your stylist to determine how much hair you’ll need. It’s better to have too much hair on hand than not enough! The thicker your natural hair is, the more packs you’ll need to create a believable look; otherwise the ends could look stringy. (We have another blog post about that, too! Read it here: 4 Reasons to Add More Hair to Your Install). 

Your stylist will likely have you pay a deposit to cover the cost of the hair, or you can order it yourself and bring it to the salon.

Each method requires a different schedule of when to come back to the salon for what’s called a move-up appointment. This is when your hair has grown out enough that the attachment points are about to show. In order to prevent this from happening, your stylist will remove the hair, then move it up and reinstall it.

Tape-Ins get moved up every 4-8 weeks, Hybrid Wefts, I-Link and Flat-Tips get moved up every 6-10 weeks; and Kera-Link get moved up every 12-16 weeks. 

With DBH, you can shop anytime from anywhere. Find the best deals by subscribing to our email and text alerts, and following us on social media.

Some pro tips on how to get the best deal on your order

Whether you buy a single pack of hair and add pops of color, or you go for a full set of extensions, we want you to get the most out of your investment.

Want the best deals? We recommend signing up for email and SMS alerts so you can hear about our sales throughout the year. Be sure to also follow us on Instagram and TikTok to hear about special offers and giveaways.

Other ways to save: get free shipping by ordering $175 or more. Use our Referral program to give $40 and get $40. If you want to split up your payments, choose ShopPay at checkout to buy your extensions now and pay for them later.

More about our pro methods and what they’re known for

Tape-Ins are known for their fast install times. Each 1.5” wide weft is attached using medical-grade adhesive that’s gentle, non-damaging and secure. 

Meg is wearing Hybrid Wefts in Balayage #2-6/10, Rooted Ombre #6-12/600 and Dark Chestnut/Medium Ash #6/10.

Hybrid Wefts are known for creating high-volume, seamless looks. The machine bonded wefts are made with a hand-tied design, making them easy to customize. First, a stylist installs a track of beads and then sews on the extensions using a needle and thread.
 

Kera-Link extensions can be cut down into micro bonds, making the strands as small as one quarter their regular size and giving you freedom to install them near the hairline.

Kera-Link is one of the original extension methods and lasts the longest. These extensions are attached using keratin tips heated with a melting connector. They can be customized into micro bonds which are great for use with thinning or fragile hair.

I-Link and Flat-Tip are our two beaded methods that offer 360-degree hair movement. This means you can wear your hair up or down and move it in any direction without the attachment points showing. Both beaded methods are lightweight, comfortable and durable.

Why should I choose DBH over other brands? 

As you’ve probably seen from researching hair extensions, there are a ton of brands out there. You may have even found some hair online that’s cheaper than what we offer and be wondering if you should just go with that hair instead. But here’s the thing– quality really matters when it comes to hair extensions. Once you have the hair up close, you can see and feel the difference between synthetic hair and natural, high quality human hair, which is what we sell.

Better hair means less tangling, smoother texture, and a seamless blend– meaning no one will even know you’re wearing them. 

If you want high-quality, ethically sourced hair, DBH is the brand for you. We sell 100% Remy human hair for all our pro methods and we offer multiple methods, lengths, colors and textures. You can buy the hair now and pay for it later with ShopPay and our fast shipping allows you to track your order right to your doorstep. We also have responsive customer service – call us (888-424-7548), email us (info@donnabellahair.com) or text us (866-631-1522) and we’ll be happy to help you with your order.

We’re a community of stylists, innovators and real people who care. Our goal is to help you feel incredible about your hair, whether that means adding a little oomph with more volume, creating a full-on transformation, or finding some relief from a hair concern like thinning hair. We can’t wait to see which method you choose, and we hope that wearing extensions helps you feel like your best self and feel ready to conquer anything that comes your way.