The How-To Section

How to set up the initial consultation:

  1. We think you should do some research. Look up different types of extensions and compare costs. Write down any questions you may have. At no point during any consultation should you ever feel rushed, intimidated, or pushed into buying something you don't want.
  2. Call Doris and Felicia and tell them that you are ready to find out more about Great Lengths extensions. Schedule a free consultation. Pick a morning or afternoon when you have 20 minutes to spend getting to know them and letting them get to know you and your hair.
  3. Style your hair normally when you go to the consultation. If you want to change your hair color, during the consultation is a good time to tell them.
  4. Think about how long you want your hair to be. Felicia and Doris can show you where different lengths will fall and help you pick the right length to suit your face and your lifestyle.

The night before installation or maintenance:

  1. Wash your hair thoroughly. There is a special residue-removing shampoo made by Great Lengths available for sale in the salon, but any shampoo that removes residue should work just fine. IMPORTANT: Do NOT use conditioner of any kind -- including (maybe especially) the leave-in kind.
  2. Once you get to the salon, Doris and Felicia will brush out your hair and check your hair's current condition. If your hair needs washing because you just couldn't make it without mousse (it happens!), then they can wash your hair for you and use a special shampoo to remove all traces of residue that might prevent the bonds from adhering properly.
  3. The color of the extensions should be an exact match. If there is a difference, then Felicia and Doris can put highlights in your hair to help it all blend together. This can only be done before the extensions are installed or about a week after they are installed. The time to let Doris and Felicia know you want highlights is before they start attaching the extensions.

During the process:

  1. Relax and have a cold beverage and some chocolate. Let Doris and Felicia spoil you! Watch the wide-screen TV reflected in the mirror. If you have any requests for your favorite shows while your hair is being done, let them know. They also have movies and they will let you bring your own DVDs.
  2. The first time you have a whole head of extensions done, it can take one person six or more hours, depending on the thickness of your hair. But because you have the team of Felicia and Doris doing your hair, it can take less than three hours.
  3. Maintenance visits (in which they remove grown out extensions and attach new ones) can take about an hour to an hour and a half, depending on how much work you need done.
  4. The entire process starts when you are caped and you sit in the chair. Doris and Felicia will clip the top of your hair out of the way (picture?) to expose the back and sides where your extensions will be attached.
  5. First, they take a small lock of your hair and clip a small plastic circle around it to protect the other hair. Then, they hold the extension onto your hair and press the protein bond with the Great Lengths attaching tool. This device is only warm enough to melt the bond, not hot enough to burn your hair. After only a second or two, they roll the bond between their fingers to wrap it securely around the lock of your hair. Finally, the plastic circle is removed and they move on to the next lock of hair.
  6. When it is time to remove a grown-out extension, they apply bond removing solution and the extension is removed without damaging your hair. Your hair is never pulled any harder than you pull it yourself when you brush it or clip it back.
  7. After all the bonds are attached, you get to see yourself with long hair! And then, just as if you grew the hair yourself, Felicia or Doris will cut and style it into a flattering long-hair style for you. They can match your hair's curl and cut layers into the extensions to help them blend with your existing hair.

At-home maintenance:

  1. IMPORTANT: Don't wash your hair until 2 days after your extensions are first attached.
  2. When you sleep at night, either loosely braid your hair, pull it back, or put it up on top of your head with a soft scrunchie.
  3. Brush your hair every day. Use a brush with stiff enough bristles to make it through the hair.
  4. When you wash your hair, don't pile it up on top of your head and scrub it around like they do in shampoo commercials! This can cause all sorts of tangling. Instead, squeeze the shampoo gently through your hair a section at a time and rinse thoroughly.
  5. WARNING: Don't use strong dandruff shampoo on the bonds! It can weaken the bonds and make them slip before their time. There are other anti-dandruff products (Neutrogena has a spray one) that can be used to spot-treat your scalp if necessary.