Hair Extensions and Swimming

[LauraLWatson]

Does anyone have experience with hair extensions? I REALLY want long, thick mermaid hair, but God gave me thin, fine, mid-length hair instead. So, hair extensions!

But what works best when swimming? Clips ins, beaded, glued, sewn, or what? I do plan to use real human hair, high quality extensions, I just don't know what looks best underwater. I fear people SEEING the extensions and the hair not looking natural when wet. Thoughts?

[mermaids-and-anchors]

I've been doing extensions in my hair for YEARS. I've always done fused (glue) hair extensions and those are one of the best to use when it comes to hair extensions. The thing is though - if you get fused extensions you can't go into chlorinated pools. Chlorinated water literally melts the glue and the hair in the extension will fall out. It was an AWFUL experience, I was shedding like a dog. They're also a lot of upkeep. You have to brush your hair with a special brush multiple times a day, you need Cinderalla shampoo & condition (specifically for extensions). They get tangled so beyond easily, it's insane. Your hair can mat up if you don't take care of them. So it's really a big decision if you decide to do fused extensions with being a professional mermaid.

[mermaids-and-anchors]

^ Btw, I'm a Cosmetologist & my specialty is extensions & deadlocks.

[Kitty Kyuppi]

I've had braided and beaded extensions, and from my experience, I would rather not let them free when swimming, they'd get tangled way too easily, especially at the roots.
So what I do is that I braid my hair into 0.5 to 1cm wide braids, that way I can let my hair long, and not have 3hours of untangling after swimming XD
If you don't want to braid the whole length, I'd recommend a hairdo that would maintain the roots of your hair in place so that it won't get tangled (^-^)

[Mermaid Lorelei]

I've tried faux dreadlocks (braided in) and found they were fine so long as the roots were kept in place (like Kitty Kyuppi described).

[Miyu]

I also recommend some sort of faux dreadlocks/yarn braids/braided extensions (where the whole thing is braided straight down to the end, like the club kids and ravers used to do). When hair's sectioned off and secured like that, it can take a lot more of a beating and still be salvageable at the end. I've braided friends' and clients' hair for festivals like Burning Man, and they've come back wit hair totally untouched by the evil corrosive playa dust because I had completely encased their hair in braids!

It still flows nicely in water, and I personally think that if mers were real, some of the more realistic hairstyles they might have (if any) would be dreads, braids, or short/shaved, just because of the practicality of keeping long, flowing hair in the ocean :p

I have super-fine hair, and so do a lot of my friends, and I just love giving us all pretty Rapunzel hair for a while :)

mermaids-and-anchors, woohoo for a fellow dreadlock artist! :highfive:

[Mermaid Lorelei]

I agree; I personally love the look of braids and dreadlocks on mermaids (and mermen). It reminds me of octopus tentacles. XD

I met Mermaid Nerei while in Michigan (she was one of the Merbella mermaids I helped out with) and she had some gorgeous dreadlocks. It made for awesome underwater photos.
https://scontent-b-atl.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash2/v/t1.0-9/6757_447305765352347_1966866070_n.jpg?oh=ca0dc83be 9561e07f55871b05ea9b51b&oe=5505BA39

[Samantha Siren]

I would say tat is you get extensions what are not raided or dreaded, bring a lot of conditioner. I swim with mermaid lily rose and the hours we have sent in the shower afterwards in the shower trying to brush out all the knots ans she lost a lot of it.Be prepared!

[AniaR]

Raven had hers done professionally as part of a gig. She loved them but they were loads of work and expensive to maintain.

Hannah fraser actually has really short hair and wears extensions always.

Hannah's actual hair length
https://scontent-a-ord.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpa1/v/t1.0-9/10846204_10152424662081957_7881574982228261438_n.j pg?oh=61e164f6780663049f1ca5adf240b1f2&oe=54FD8382

With extensions:
https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpf1/v/t1.0-9/10610709_10152387746271957_2120614833444627600_n.j pg?oh=2ef3a7024fddfb3cefb463c2ae7ee3c8&oe=550B15FD&__gda__=1426376578_eadb4a8a2022d0bce6580aea374c201 7



Iara also wears hair extensions

https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xfa1/t31.0-8/278907_144828322266980_6260378_o.jpg

https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xaf1/v/t1.0-9/400433_509797672371153_1723750915_n.jpg?oh=4bd559e d92ddeb0929e86d50c7187ada&oe=550363D2&__gda__=1426586371_b35879977acd28f287e98fbcb9b2b44 c


Both women swim in hair extensions/wigs



Personally I found pony tail extensions worked really well- I just couldnt get one in my current color. I'll be getting my first set of hair extensions at merfest from eden to wear for the ball!

[LauraLWatson]

I swim in mostly chlorinated water, so fused is definitely out. That dreaded look DOES look cool under water. I have a good deal on clip ins, so I might try those. I will let everyone know how it goes.

[LauraLWatson]

Anyone have pictures or videos of mers swimming with extensions- or advice on sewn in vs. clip ins? Def not going with glued in or fused as I swim mostly in chlorinated waters.

[AniaR]

All Hannah's are extensions in videos

[Vrindavana Starfish]

Wow I had no idea hair extensions could look so good! I guess it's because if you notice them, they're poorly done, and if well done, you'd never know?

[AniaR]

The only time I saw it as obvious on hanah was when she swam with the great white. beyond that really seamlessly done

[LauraLWatson]

What do you think she does- sew them in or clips? I'd ask her at NC MerFest, but I want mine done by then. :-p

[AniaR]

I think she clips em in because she changes her hair pretty frequently. Iara will be there too and you can ask her!