A few months ago, I started using Beth Minardi Luxury Color Care Products. While ”testing” a new line of hair extensions, I decided to ombre the hair. Being that some factories use textile dye to color the hair, I never know what I am working with. The end result was beautiful Indian Summer hair and DRY AND DAMGED ends. I learned that the hair extensions were a sham! Just another company with false promises of amazing hair. BUT I also learned that Beth Minardi Pre Wash ROCKS! I mean seriously, it brought the extensions back to life. I use System 3. I recently was traveling and forgot my products and quickly realized that nothing else works on my hair.

The Pre Wash is applied on dry hair only. I now pre-treat all the custom clip-in hair extensions with Minardi Pre Wash. While doing a relaxer or root touch up, I use the Pre Wash on the mid shaft to ends. This product rinses beautifully without leaving any residue or weighing down the hair. I am a big fan of Beth Minardi. She is a true artist! It should be no surprise that she has formulated a line that repairs and conditions.

And we are back...

While overseas, our limitations to social media and blogging were unexpected. Happy to be home and on our own soil. That said, our trip to China was eye-opening. Everyone was more than accommodating.

Our days were filled with factory tours, meetings and eccentric lunches. My diet consisted of tea and rice. I was not as open minded with eating as my associates. I made the mistake of mentioning that I wanted to have “authentic” chinese food. My own stupidity, thinking that authentic meant fried rice and Sweet & Sour Chicken. I felt like Andrew Zimmerman from Bizarre Foods; without the desire to actually eat anything in front of me.

Years I have viewed photos of so called “Factories”. I wouldn’t say it’s a “factory”, however, it’s more like a workshop employing over 150 men and women. Each piece, made by hand. An art form, in it’s own way! I have waited since 2002 for this journey. This trip was a dream come true for me. My eyes began to water as soon as I witnessed men and women working with their hands, creating something that means SO much to me.

I shared smiles with the workers. Of course, doing business in China is unlike the norm. I have spent years living in Japan and Hong Kong. I am familiar with the Asian business culture. A female business owner with 20+ years of experience doesn’t instantly receive respect. Nor did I imagine I would. I am highly educated and experienced within the Hair Extensions Industry. I know when I am being lied too. I remain humble in those thoughts, as I still appreciate the time that was given to me by each and every person. I flew 17 hours for a reason. To network, meet, create and learn. I did not come to China to be arrogant. I wanted to make sure that if I partner with a particular company, that I would be employing fairly. Fair trade is not just for large companies. It’s for a small business entrepreneur, like myself, to make sure that workers are happy and enjoying their daily grind. It’s a karmatic approach to business. I witnessed smiles, lunch breaks, laughter and great working conditions. I also am wowed by how closely men and women work. Literally inches apart. Dare I say that in America, we require so much more personal space?! With specific demands, my focus is stronger than ever. I have created a career for myself, with raw materials. The material just happens to come from a human. And the story of women surrendering their hair to “God” and it making it to my salon is something that I cherish. The journey from point a-z of hair extensions is unique. The amount of labour that goes into each and every piece is mind blowing. Consider the initial source and all the steps it takes to produce quality hair extensions…it makes complete sense why hair extensions are a luxury item. To have the best raw material, the source is first considered. Followed by how many hands actually work and process the hair. It would be fair to say that each extension goes through 10+ pairs of hands before it arrives to the salon! Even the beginning stages of storage to assure it is remy is a vital process that takes time. With that, I have a whole new UBER sense of respect for a industry that I am already in love with.

The Long And Short Of It

Hair Extensions are - in my opinion - for everyone!  For those who want to add highlights, lowlights, block coloring, volume (don't we all?), a little or a lot of length, wavy or straight texture and for some...fantasy colors.

Fantasy colors for example, are Ravens Fans who wear purple extensions during the football season.  Redskins fans rocking the red feathers.  For a hot minute feather extensions were the "IT" thing.  I have been working with feathers way before they came and left the fashion world.  I have always had nothing but love for feathers!  How unique, feminine and colorful they are.  However, they are not, in my opinion, for everyday wear.  Earrings, bracelets, headpieces and clip-ons.  Basically, the type you can take on and off.  I only know one celebrity who can pull the daily feather extensions off and that is Steven Tyler.

The bottom line is that hair extensions can give you what mother nature didn't.  As a professional stylist, I have noticed that there are times when a colorist has not taken the extra steps to protect the integrity of the clients hair.  Why over highlight and stack a whole head of foils?  Why not use the natural level as a low light and only highlight the crown region?!  I could go on but none the less.  The long and short of it is this..."Let the Extensions do the work for you!".    It saves time, protects the integrity of the natural hair and dare I say...saves money!