Something "Borrowed": The Benefits of Hair Extensions for Your Wedding Day

The big day! Let’s face it, it’s not just ONE DAY. There’s a string of events leading up to your wedding and even more post wedding. Why not have gorgeous hair at every turn? With hair extensions – any style is possible.

Prior to opening Extension Arts in 2020, I was a wedding hair specialist for 10 years. I would see anywhere between 15-30 brides per season – and their entourage.

What is the one thing every bride wants? To have their style last through the night! Possibly through their honeymoon. But why stop there? Did you know you could have extensions installed that will last from the engagement straight through to the end of the honeymoon?

I’m going to drop the list of extension types including how long they last, the benefits of each, and even some cons depending on what your bridal hair goals are.

So here we go…

CLIP IN EXTENSIONS

Clip-in extensions are probably the most popular option for the day of – but not necessarily always the best option. Here's what you need to know when purchasing your clip-ins. First, I highly recommend having a “fitting” with your stylist. Not all clip-ins are made equally, but you'll find that most come extremely long and will need to be cut and styled in order to look natural. This can get tricky if your regular stylist and bridal stylist are not the same person. YES THIS IS HOW IT IS. Wedding stylists and your regular stylist have unique skills that don’t always translate. Hence, things getting dicey…

So what are the options that provide more cohesiveness and longevity? Well there's a few.

KERATIN BONDS

These individual extensions provide 360 degrees of movement. That means it allows for easy styling and essentially, any hair style or updo can be done. They also last between 4-6 months without any maintenance. Perfect for destination weddings.

HAND-TIED WEFTS

Hand-tied wefts are thinner and more flexible than machine wefts. These babies can be stacked to create beautiful volume, length, and dimension. The hair itself will last you about 9 months with proper home care and frequent maintenance appointments in the salon (I recommend every 2 months). They're perfect for finer hair babes who just need a little BOOST.

MACHINE WEFTS

We refer to these as “permanent clip ins” because they give you a similar look. They're great for adding extreme volume and length. This type of weft also lasts 9 months with proper home care and in-salon maintenance appointments every 2 months.

THE COMBO

Why not have the best of both worlds? Our favorite love story is that of a weft and a bond. Proving you complete customization for that very special day. Mix some bonds around the face for flexibility within your wedding hairstyle and wefts (hand tied or machine to the back) for optimal coverage and volume.