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Beauty: It's Hair today, gone tomorrow

By Sinead McCavana

Victoria Beckham wouldn't leave home without them, Jennifer Ellison is a dedicated fan and Jessica Simpson swears by them.

Hair extensions are the celebrity must-have fashion accessory.

However, the permanent type can be pricey and require some TLC.

But now Ulster girls can achieve the high glamour look at a fraction of the cost.

Clip-in real hair extensions are the hassle-free way to achieve a sexy summer look, according to senior stylist Lynn Lasson.

I went along to Stephen Mateer Hairdressing on North Street in Belfast to find out what all the fuss was about.

"They're so easy to use, you can clip them in for a night out, curl them, straighten them or even put them up in a ponytail," said Lynn.

"With permanent bonded extensions you need to use a special shampoo and be careful not to pull them.

"But the clip-ins are so hassle-free. Just pop them in and out."

The extensions come in easy to use 'wefts'.

The number of wefts needed depends on the thickness of your hair.

"Some people can get away with using just one, but most need two, or if your hair's very fine, three," said Lynn.

"The extensions can also make thin hair appear thicker and they can be cut to suit your style.
"The wefts are available in lots of colours, so you can add them in to give more depth to your natural hair."

It took just a few minutes to attach two wefts, each costing £17, but the difference was dramatic.

Lynn then curled all the hair, bringing my usually drab frizzy locks bang up-to-date.

The extensions are also ideal for holidays when hair becomes dry and unmanageable.

One of the most popular styles at the moment is loose curls plaited to the side.

"This look is great for weddings or a night out," said Lynn.

"Side ponytails are very 'in' this summer, too.

"The extensions can transform a very short ponytail into something more feminine.

"Just be sure to have some hair below the weft so that when you put up your ponytail you can't see the clips."

Stephen Mateer Hairdressing can be contacted on 028 9043 4388.

posted by Cheryl Levesque @ 6:02 PM