How to Put in Clip-In Extensions: Featuring Braided Hairstyle

 So with the Snow White and the Huntsman movie braided hairstyles are on an even bigger rise than before.  Charlize Theron's hairstyles in that movie inspired this idea for me to feature in a styled photo shoot. Here is the look and how to achieve it.........

Charlize Theron in Snow White and the Huntsman

You may be wondering, how does her hair look so full after having such a large braided portion of hair?  The answer could either be that Beth, the model, either has really thick hair or I used extensions.  In this case extensions are exactly what I used.  I will give a tutorial on how to insert clip-in extensions and believe me it is soooo EASY!!  Here we go....... 

First, here are the extensions that I used and I bought them at Sally's.  There are several different colors, but don't worry they don't have to be a perfect match if you insert them the way I describe below it will just look like natural hair variations of color.  However, if you must be matchy matchy just take them to your salon and have them color them the same as your hair.  Click on the image for product details.  

Since you can't take them out of the box in the store or return them once you have bought them, let me show you what you are getting. 

You get 10 pcs in this particular set, 4 single strips (2 for each side of the front of your head), 2 wider sections for the portion of your head closest to the crown, and 2 thinner sections for the portion of hair closest to the nape of the neck.  Then their are 2 extra strips for testing with color, because like I said if you want you can also color this hair because it is real after all.  Here is a pic of the three different sizes. 

 Now I will give a detailed explanation beneath each picture set to go along with the numbered pictures of how to insert your extensions so that they will be comfortable, will not fall out, and will look natural.  Believe me you will never be able to tell that they are in your hair.

1. Section off a medium size width of hair at the nape of the neck and let fall.

2. Make sure that you have opened all of the clips on the extension by pushing forward on the arched portion of the clip.  Choose the mid-sized extension for the first 2 layers of extension.  Start with the center clip and push upward into the very edge of the layer of hair above the part.

3. Now push clip down and snap into place by pushing on outer edges of clip against head.

4.  Repeat on right clip

5. Repeat on left clip

6. Section off a new layer and lay section on top of extension row and smooth hair with fingers and then repeat with the next mid-sized extension.  Keep sectioning hair off like this using the 2 widest extension sections for the upper most portion of your head making sure to smooth a layer of your own hair over each extension section.

Inserting the side strips to the hair closest to your face

 7. Make a part above the ear so that there is a portion of your own hair laying over your ear.

 8. Using the thin extension hair strip push clip upward into portion of hair just above the part.

 9. Push clip downward and fasten like before.

10.Section off new layer. See thickness above.

11.Push clip up into hair and then down and fasten like before.

12.Smooth hair over extension and this is what it looks like.  Just repeat on other side and you have natural looking fuller hair.

Now getting to the braided hairstyle picture.  Once you have inserted all of your extensions you will need to curl your hair with a 3/4" curling iron.  If you buy the straight human hair extensions you can use a curling iron on them and just curl them right in with your natural hair.  Now for this particular hairstyle you need to focus the 2 mid-size sections and 2 wider section extensions on the lower portion of your head because you are going to need to do some teasing at the crown and you do not need to tease your extensions.  Once you have curled your hair begin teasing hair in 3 thin layers at the crown remembering to leave a top portion to smooth over the "mess" once you are finished teasing.  After teasing each section use Big Sexy Hair's "Backcomb In A Bottle" on the underneath side and fan each layer out like I showed you in a previous post.  Now take a section of hair right above the ear and french braid for a few sections and then just braid out the rest and repeat on the other side of the head.  Now take the middle teased and smoothed portion of hair and insert bobby pins in the upward direction to encourage hair to stay poofed in this area.  Now take 2 thicker hair sections beneath the poof on each side of the head and loosely braid them.  Secure the ends with clear rubber bands.  Now you pull up a curled portion of hair forming it into a very loose resemblance of a bun.  Then weave the two braids in and out of the loose curls almost giving the appearance that there are braids all over the place.  Each time you weave beneath a section of hair make sure to pin that section.  The last thing is to incorporate the tiny french braided sections on each side pinning them along the way to make sure they stay in place.  Finish style with a finishing spray.  My new favorite is Kenra's #26 Finishing Spray if you are local to Dallas, GA my hairstylist friend Brandi Tibbitts sells it and most other products I talk about here.  Her number is 770-445-4729.  You can also buy Kenra in other salons.  

XOXO,