As the party season officially kicks off, former TOWIE star Jess Wright is getting into the mood with a glamorous hair transformation. The new mum has headed to the hair salon to have mini tapes applied in a bid to boost the length and thickness of her natural hair after pregnancy.
Jess also treated fans to a look at her hair length pre-extensions. Considering we mostly see the star with tumbling curls, we were surprised to see she naturally has mid-length hair that falls just below her shoulders.
The type of hair extension Jess has opted for is referred to by hair experts as an "invisible" or an “undetectable” mini tape. This relatively new style is much smaller and more discreet than the previously chunky tape extensions and therefore are perfect for anyone with fine hair – and for giving hair a boost this party season.
Jess says in the Instagram tutorial Reel that she’s wearing 20-inch slimline tape extensions from Beauty Works, and that she’s turned to the tapes post-pregnancy as her hair “has thinned out”. The end result is thick, bouncy curls that look completely natural.
Her followers have been quick to tell the star how great she looks with and without extensions, but an overwhelming number of commenters are keen to know more about this type of hair extension.
“Is it ok if the hair is already so thin?” asks one. A second says: “Beautiful! I’ve always wanted to try these as my hair is on the thinner side.”
A third writes: “Love them! I didn’t know you could curl and straighten them. So they’re real hair?”
To answer some of these questions and more, Olja Catz, founder of London’s The Extensionist salon – visited by celebs like Georgia Toffolo and Camilla Thurlow – explains why this type of tape is perfect for those looking to add length and thickness to fine hair.
“These small tapes are around 20% smaller than the traditional tapes, which makes them much less visible on the scalp,” Olja explains. “If you’re looking to boost volume and thickness for an event where you’ll be wearing an updo, the smaller size of these also work better for ponytails and half-up looks.”
Olja also explains that for clients with very fine hair, a combination method of small tapes and microbonds to ensure they blend perfectly.
“We’ll sometimes apply small bonds around the front and sides of the hair, and then apply tapes to the back sections where the hair tends to be thicker and can hide larger extensions better. This combination is also great for anyone who tells us they tie their hair up a lot,” she explains.
And the cost? “Many people will get away with just half a head of tapes, if it's the thickness they’re after. We charge from £400 for this, which includes the wash and styling. It’s from £550 for a full head.The hair we use is also real and very good quality,” Olja says.
Go on, treat yourself to a new look this Christmas!
For appointments at London’s The Extensionist Salon, see theextensionist.com.
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