Feather hair extensions. Say what now?

It's a hair extension trend that has been catching on like wild fire lately but I am not impressed with Feather hair extensions. More like hair accessories, feather hair extensions  have been seen in the hair of rocker Steven Tyler and singer Kesha, who  have both credited for making the product sought after. Go figure!

The feather hair extensions come in various colours much like hair extensions as we know it. Colour range from violet, to brown to neon pink and green. Whatever colour outfit you are wearing on a particular day can easily be matched with these  feathers.
Feather Locks, touted as the orginal feather hair extension (can't believe someone wants to debate that)   has been known to sell out on a daily basis.  Their feathers ,  its website says,   " come from the highest quality source and incorporate texture and color to add highlights to your hair."
The company's Facebook page is liked by 25,381 as of today  Mint, Ocean, Lemonade, Lava, Dune and Lipstick are just some of the "shades" they offer to buyers.
Collections include Tie Dye, Holiday and Premium feathers.

Much like hair extensions  feather pieces can be added to the hair using the strand by strand technique  (a small section of the hair  is threaded into a clamp close to the scalp and then closed) or by clip-ins (Please read my post on clip-ins).
The pieces are sold in lengths ranging from 8 to 16 and come in packs of 1 to 100 pieces.
The variety is wide ranging . Some  stores sell shiny feathers, others glittery and I swear I saw a 3 D version
The price of the feathers vary  but the figures have increased given its popularity.Rooster breeders are said to be overwhelmed with the demand for feathers , hence the price hike.
Personally, if I am going to put any feather in my hair as an accessory  two  is enough and five  is pushing it. 100 feathers? Well put me on a stoop and wait for me to  crow!!
Please try not to laugh to much when I tell you that the feathers can also be washed, blow dried and heat-styled  just like human hair pieces.
Some feathers can be braided into the hair but it is recommended that the braid be done every three to four weeks.

It would take me a lot of convincing to get wear these feather extensions in my hair without feeling ridiculous about it. Maybe on a dare.....okay maybe not.

My top 5 favourite celebrity hair extensions

Whenever I see a photo of a celebrity , whether it is in a magazine, a website or television, the first thing I look at is the hair. I can pretty much tell by now who is wearing a weave, a wig -- be it full lace or lace front wigs  or a hair weave . Mentally I note my favourite hair extensions on the wearer and my least favourite. Today I present my Top 5  favourite celebrity hair extensions picks.  Look out for my Top 5  "What were they thinking" celebrity hair extensions in an upcoming blog.
Number 5 - Serena Williams - When she wore braids I was one of the many people to turn up my nose at the ghastly sight. But Serena has really pulled herself  together (okay, her stylist did) and now wears some  impressive hair weaves and wigs. There was  that  recent citing of the popular tennis star in what looked like a bald patch  in her lace wig, but her hair extensions in these photos  are what placed her on this hot list.
Number 4 - Gabrielle Union - Dwayne Wade's new main squeeze, Gabrielle has admitted that her full and beautiful lengths are made possible through hair extensions.  I love the way the The Daddy's Little Girl  tosses it up now and then colour-wise. Some days her lengths may be black , other days she does honey-blonde - either way she wins!
Number 3 - Vanessa Williams - How many of you thought Vanessa  was rocking her real hair? My two hands would have been up with you if I didn't read an article  about her love for clip in pieces . She wears the pieces, she said, to  add body to her naturally thin hair. The clip ins also allow the singer and actress to do some beautiful colour blends.
Number 2 - Chaka Khan - Call it a messy top, I beg to differ. Chaka's hair seems to grow wider every time we see her and therein lies the reason I love it so much. Talk about hair extensions with attitude, Chaka  literally turns the volume all the way up and occasionally adds punches of red colour to keep her look funkified.
Number 1 - Beyonce - It should come as no surprise that B would be at the top of my list. I mean this is a woman has, in my opinion,  singlehandedly changed people's perception of wigs - in particular lace  wigs.  Google the words  ( lace/lace  front wigs)  and tell me whose photos come up. Women who once dismissed wigs as fake hair have been singing their praises since B made them so stylish.

Of sew-ins, headaches and "sew" easy clip -ins

In my December 13 entry I blogged about clips ins following my experience as a ENV clip-in store demo model for a day. These days I am creating and wearing my own beautiful clip-in pieces.
I would love to hear from veteran hair-weave wearers on this,  but lately I have really been  experiencing a lot of headaches from  my sew in hair weaves.
 No matter how loose my braids are I still end up with really unbearable headaches hours after a sew -in.
Two weeks after I permed my real hair I really started craving a weave but I dreaded that sew in. I thought about curly clip ins but I didn't want to pay the price for it .For months I searched desperately for the wig clips, as they are officially called, but with no luck. It is amazing how a simple conversation with a friend brought my search of those wig clips to an end.
The clips come in packs of two and were surprisingly inexpensive. I bought my wet and wavy French Wave hair  and late one evening took my time and sewed on my clips neatly to the weave hair wefts. One of the benefits of making your own clip ins is that you can actually cut the wefts to suit the style that you want - whether you want a long the extension long at the back or shorter at the front. You can also double up on wefts by sewing one on to the other before adding your clips, if you require more volume.
The finished product looks professional and if you really take your time it looks store bought . Honestly though, if  you can sew a button on a shirt , you can sew on your clip in.
Another benefit of the clip-in hair piece  is that you can wash your own  hair as often as you like since you only have to take the extension off , wash your hair, and replace it. Best of all it is easier on the scalp than sew ins - once you don't go to sleep with them, in which case they are as comfortable as sleeping with rollers!
Wig clips come in different sizes to satisfy those with thick, medium and fine hair.

I am really on a roll these days and have trying to hold myself back from stocking up on hair and clips. Apart from my wet and wavy clip-in I also made a straight long one. I am thinking next about a bob clip- in and a blonde hair piece Hey the options are endless,  why should I  stop at four?

Read my December 13 entry for more about clips-ins and how they work.