(And Angelina Should, Too…)
FACE IT. WE ALL HAVE a bad hair day from time-to-time. But when it’s Angelina Jolie, 46, one of the world’s most beautiful women…well, a picture may be worth a thousand words, but the world press didn’t waste a vowel writing volumes about her recent extension faux pas.
Angelina Jolie wearing Versace at the Rome premiere of her new film, Eternals
All eyes were on Jolie as she made her entrance on the red carpet in Rome, one of the stops on her press tour to launch her new Disney film, Eternals. She wore a stunning silver metal mesh, beautifully draped, figure-hugging Atelier Versace column gown. The return of old Hollywood glamour! But all that—the gown, the figure, and that two of her daughters, striking Zahara, 16, and Shiloh, 15, looking feminine at last—walked down the red carpet with her could not detract from, ugh, those hair extensions.
Who put the extensions to my queen Angelina Jolie? They need to be fired!” echoed Twitter hashtags by the thousands. “Where’s the loyalty? Who let Angelina Jolie leave the house with those extensions?”
The luxuriant hair cascading down her back was hers, up to her shoulder blades. But beyond, down to her derriere—clearly was not.
Consult with your hair stylist. There are several types of extensions—clip-ins, tape, sew-ins, bonded, and cuticle-aligned—and apart from quality, you need to perfectly match your hair color. These brands are considered to be among the best:
INDIQUE HAIR
Recommended by stylist YENE DAMTEW
Client: Michele Obama
“I love Indique because of the versatility they offer. They have wigs, bulk hair, wefted hair, and clips. All of their hair undergoes quality assurance, and they stand by the reputation of their product. They also have a number of textures, as well as stores all across the country — this allows clients the ability to go in and touch the hair for [themselves]. The client’s experience is unlike anything else, very VIP and premium.”
RICHY HAIR
Recommended by Stylist LAURA RUGETTI
Clients: Denise Richards, Tori Spelling
“Richy Hair is the best quality and hand-selected fine hair. In terms of the production process, they use 100 percent Russian Siberian hair that uses no harsh chemicals. Unlike other competitors, Richy Hair avoids using bleach and, as an alternative, lets the hair soak for four to six weeks in a gentle, cold bath solution with proteins and enzymes that facilitate release of melanin pigment to lighten the hair in preparation for the dying process. As a result, their extensions are uniquely able to maintain their cuticle for softer, more durable, undamaged hair. Honestly, they are the best extensions I have ever used. They’re [some] of the most natural-looking on the market.”
EXTENSIONOLOGY
Recommended by NELSON VERCHER of Rita Hazan Salon, New York
Clients: Naomi Campbell, Iman, Donatella Versace, Kim Kardashian
“There are so many good extension brands out there, so it’s key to identify what you want (i.e. clip-in, tape-in, wefted, etc.). Then, you can figure out which brand works best from there. I love Extensionology for tape-in hair as they have a wide range of colors, as well as seamless tape.”
HOTHEADS
Recommended by stylist SAMANTHA CARLAFTES
Clients: Alicia Keys
“HotHeads Hair Extensions are my favorite tape-ins because they’re so easy to apply on my clients. They last anywhere from eight to 10 weeks and are extremely easy to maintain as a consumer. Tape-in hair extensions are truly the future for longevity and natural-looking hair.”
If you want to try to DIY, you can have perfect extensions by following these simple tips:
• Extensions come pretreated with chemicals so be gentle. Alcohol and sulphate-based shampoos, harsh brushes, and too much heat from your blow dryer can damage them. Use a gentle shampoo, rinse, then add a conditioner, rinse thoroughly then towel dry before gently brushing and hanging your extensions with clips on a line to air dry. You should wash your weft every 13-18 wears.
• Before putting in your extensions, braid and tuck the lower layer of your hair to secure loose, flying ends. Then gather your hair at the nape of your neck and make an upward braid, securing it with bobby pins, and sectioning hair close to the ears. As you apply each segment, being sure to pick up enough of your own hair to blend. Then, as you line up the next weft, push together the top and bottom segments securely blending the hair with your own between each section. Continue as you build up rows of wefts, blending piece by piece.
• The front is blended last. Do the same thing, section by section, building up face-framing layers.
• For fullness, one trick is to apply your extensions upside down. Start by teasing your front hair, then make your way downward, fixing the extensions diagonally. To achieve a natural look, blend your natural hair with your extensions by stacking two wefts together.