There are two types of hair extensions -- the strand and the weft. Strands are supposed to look more natural (though wefts are fine if you can blend them), wefts do attach faster than strands. They are wide strips of hair that is attached at the top and flows down like real hair will do. Handmade wefts are the best kind you can get. They come in all natural hair colors.

Virgin hair is considered the best for hair extensions, though European hair is a close second. In the end, if it is price that matters, European hair is easier to find and so is less expensive. Virgin hair is hair that has not been processed and that which has not undergone any type of chemical application after being cut from the head of the seller.

To put in wefts, your hair dresser will lift up the top layer or "crown" of your hair and make corn-rows that traverse around your head, from one side to the other. When the top layer of your hair is pulled back down, you will not be able to see anything different.

If you are going for an exceptionally long-haired look, you will need more corn rows and more wefts. If all you need is to add some volume, you will only need a few. Regardless of how many are used, the size of the corn rows and wefts should vary some as does the natural way in which your hair grows.

When the job is finished, you can comb your hair over the extensions and consider your new extensions as part of your natural head of hair. This includes taking care of the extensions as carefully as you would your own hair.

Taking Care of Your Hair Extensions

Wash and condition your hair as normal but give extra attention to moisturizing the hair in your extensions. Natural hair gets some oil from your scalp but because hair extensions are not growing out of your scalp (even if they appear to be), they are going to need more moisture. Wash carefully where the hair attaches to your cornrows to prevent dirt and bacteria from building up and causing an infection in your skin.

Wefts will not grow back if you damage them, so be extra cautious. Do not color or try to perm your hair extensions and don't use a hot blow dryer or curling iron. Curlers are fine as long as they are not heated. Be sure to brush out any tangles before you get your hair wet and before you go to bed for the night. To get tangles out of your hair, start brushing from the ends and move upwards until they are all gone.

Your new look will last for six to eight weeks. You will need to go back to the salon and have the whole thing redone -- your hairdress will take out the wefts and undo the cornrows, then he or she will check for damage or build-up from products used in your hair. Your hair will be rebraided and wefts sewn back in if that is what you want to have done.