Lisa Haynes gets a fuller head of hair in under an hour
AFTER an over-zealous trim to cut away summer dead ends, I felt a bit like I'd been sheared.
My long hair usually acts as a makeshift snood in winter. To ease the stop gap waiting for it to grow back, I decide to cheat with Kapello's pre-taped hair extensions. Traditional extensions involve hours stuck in the salon chair and a scary-looking hot glue gun, but this process eliminates both.
It's still a semi-permanent route to longer/ thicker hair, but applied by an extensions specialist, the two-inch strips of tape are sandwiched either side of your natural hair.
Before my appointment, I have my colour assessed and pick out potential hues that match with the caramel tones in my hair.
When I arrive at the salon for E-Day (extensions day), pre-taped, long pieces are laid out ready to go. Because I want a natural but fuller look, each tape is cut into half sizes for extra flexibility and management - I'm also told I have a particularly small head.
She expertly shifts my hair and assesses my scalp shape with every piece, ensuring each of the two shades (eight for base colour, 27 for highlight) match my current colour. Tapes are cut into quarter size strips for subtle highlights around the front of my hair. Who needs bleach?
In 45-minutes flat, 20 pieces are applied to my head and snipped to blend in with my own cut.
The results are impressive. The tapes feel super-flat on my head when I run my hands through my hair and the colour blends seamlessly with my own. It's like my own hair, but better. I meet my friends for a weekend away, who all compliment me on my hair but have no clue about my discreet additions.
I'm given care instructions (sulphate-free shampoo, de-tangling brush, and drying hair thoroughly) and - here comes the addictive part - I'm told that the pre-taped extensions can be reapplied a further three to four times. Whether it's skinny hair, won't-grow hair or I-only-asked-for-a-trim-but-got-this hair, Kapello pre-tapes are the speedy way to achieve swooshy locks.
* Kapello pre-taped hair extensions available at salons from £225. (0800 587 7760/www.kapellohair.com)