Curly Micro Ring Extensions - 'Mixed race hair'

My hair has always been stubbornly short for as long as I can remember, but a weave just isn't for me. I’d heard of micro extensions and did a little research but quickly began to feel like they were only for girls with straight hair. Google searches such as 'micro ring extensions for mixed race hair' and 'curly micro ring extensions' were all a dead-end. I read countless blogs and watched countless youtube videos to see if any curly/mixed girls had tried them but found NOTHING. I then took it upon my self to call round hairdressers in London to see if there was anybody out there… and low and behold, there’s micro-ringed hair of all textures available, and many hairdressers actually know how to install and blend them with curly/afro hair. MIRACLE.

My experience

After a brief consultation at the salon, the hairdresser decided that my curl pattern was most similar to the 'Brazilian Jerry Curl'… so that’s what we went with, in 20 inches. We ordered the hair form the US, (as the UK seems to be extremely behind when it comes to curly hair), and 2 weeks later when it arrived London, I had it installed, coloured to match my own hair, and here's what it looks like!


Before:

After:




wet
Blowdried

Naturally Air-dried

Info

Micro loop extensions are individual sections of hair that connect to a similar sized section of your own hair at the root with a plastic ring. Once they’re in they’re extremely versatile, allowing you to wear your hair up without the fakeness being noticed! They're fabulous!

The whole process took about 4 hours. This is slightly longer than the norm but is expected with the thickness and tanglny-ness of curly courser hair! The installation was pain free – but sleeping on them for the first couple of nights was agony. After a couple of days however I couldn't feel a thing!

Maintenance

Every night I tie my hair in a loose pineapple on the top of my head with a big soft velvet scrunchy, then every morning let it down, spray some shine spray and it’s good to go. This has NEVER been the case for me. I usually wake up every morning dreading even attempting to style my hair because I know that the finished result will never be what I envisioned. It’s truly been the best decision ever!

These ease free morning are however counterbalanced on wash day as the washing of the curly extensions is extremely long and tiring. Because the hair and my own hair is just so curly, they knot VERY easily, particularly when shampoo is applied. This means that brushing out the knots can take up to an hour. I recommend a lot of slippery conditioner, splitting the hair into smaller sections, and holding the hair at the root when brushing as to not pull out the extensions.


Tops tips


Invest in a tangle teaser!
Have a rat-tail comb handy, great to de-tangle those pesky knots that won’t budge.
Moroccan oil condition and shampoo – sulphate free, keratin enriched which really helps with the whole washing and de-tangling process.
Mixed chicks leave in conditioner to style.
The extensions need to be re-tightened every 6-8 weeks.
Expect extensions to fall out now and then; I lose about 3 every week on wash day.

Cost of hair: £300
Installation: £100
Bi-monthly maintenance: £80

 If you're mixed/curly and have been pondering micro rings, please do not hesitate to leave absolutely any questions in the comment box, I'd be happy to share!