Ever since I can remember, I’ve always wanted to have a thick head of voluminous, cascading hair, like the celebrities I watched on TV and the models I saw in magazines. Sure, I realized that they probably had some professional intervention to help make their hair look that great. Regardless, my thin, static-prone locks have always been a source of great frustration.

A few months ago, I ran into my friend Kat and my jaw dropped. She’s always been one of the prettiest and most fashion-forward friends I’ve known, but suddenly, she had hair that would make any Victoria’s Secret Angel green with envy. After a little (okay, a lot) of questioning and badgering from me, Kat finally let me in on her glamorous secret: tape-in hair extensions.

Less than a month later, I too finally had the luscious mane I’d been craving my whole life. While I loved many aspects of my new hair, there were also several things that I wished I knew and had considered before getting them.

In this post, I’ll share the story of my experience with my tape-in hair extensions, from pre-installation to how my natural hair fared after I took them out. Along the way, I’ll share some tips and pointers to help out any of you who might be considering a set of your own.

Of course, if you have any experiences, tricks, or stories about hair extensions to share, please leave a comment at the end to add to this discussion!

Taking the Plunge

I had pretty long hair prior to getting extensions, so my primary goal was to increase the body and volume. My hairdresser recommended that I use only half of a package of extensions, which would not only be less expensive, but easier to care for.

My friend pictured above used a full set, which as you can see looks absolutely amazing. I’m not as skilled in the beauty department as my friend is, though, and I figured half the amount would be as good starting place. Plus, I could always add more if I wanted to later.