If you want shiny hair extensions, you need to know how to find the best ones.

One of the easiest ways to dramatically alter your look is to add hair extensions. These products can change the length, volume and/or color of your tresses. These days, many hair extensions look so real your coworkers, family and friends will have no idea it’s not your hair—unless you tell them, of course.

Hair extensions are easy to find. Many brick and mortar stores sell them, and there are a variety of online hair retailers. If you want long, shiny hair extensions, first think about what type of hair you should buy and whether it will look good on you.

Here are some additional points to consider, whether you’re buying hair extensions in a store or online:

Plan Ahead

When deciding what type of hair to buy, take into account the shape of your face, your skin tone and how the hair feels against your skin. If you know the brand of hair, look for videos on YouTube and similar sites. This way you can find people modeling the hair you are thinking of buying.

Check the Reviews

You can also use the videos as sources for reviews. You’ll want to pay particularly close attention to the reviewer’s opinions on how much or little the hair sheds. Low-quality hair extensions will shed excessively, which is something you do not want if you plan to wear the hair for a long period.

Match Your Texture

If you have naturally curly hair but plan to straighten it, make sure the texture matches and blends well with your straight hair. If you plan to wear your naturally curly texture, you should buy curly extensions rather than using a curling iron or other styling tool.

Add Time for Shipping

This particular tip applies only if you’re shopping online. Don’t forget to add time for shipping. If you need hair extensions for a special event or occasion, find out how long shipping will take to make sure you will have the hair when you need it. Stores can vary in the time it takes to ship so finding out in advance can save a potential headache.

Buy Remy Hair

With remy hair, the cuticles face the same direction and are all intact. If the hair is not remy, it has been acid treated, which means the outer cuticles were removed and silicone treated. The hair may look smooth and shiny and it is, until the first time you wash it. After washing, non-remy hair will become tangled and you will not be able to comb it out.

Beware of False Claims

Read the packaging closely. Many manufacturers will call their hair remy and claim it’s human hair. What they don’t tell you or what is only found in small print is 40 to 60 percent of the outer cuticles have been removed or the hair has been mixed with synthetic hair. The cheaper the hair is, the more likely this is to be true. This hair will be suitable for occasional wear but not long term use.

If you wear or are considering hair extensions, contact us. Our experts can offer the advice you need on how to care for hair extensions.