My Latest Addiction: Great Lengths

I've never had long hair.  When I say long, I mean half way down my back.  It's something I've always wanted, and for years, my stylist tried to convince me to get extensions.  About two months ago, Anne Hathaway's stylist, Ted Gibson, convinced me to try Platinum Seamless extensions, which last only about two months, just to see if I liked them or not. Skeptical but curious, I took the leap and they changed my life. This week, my two months were up and I ran back to my stylist, Naomi at Gemini 14 who took my hair to another level and introduced me to the Rolls-Royce of extensions: Great Lengths.  He's been trying to convince me to get them for about four years so this was a huge deal for both of us.  The before and after pics are unbelievable... my hair grew six inches in three hours.

Gemini 14's known for doing Miley Cyrus' extensions and Naomi's known me and my hair forever so I felt like I was in the best hands for the job.

The main differences between Platinum Seamless extensions and Great Lengths are the way they're done, the movement and amount of time they last.  The Platinum Seamless are perfect for the person who is looking to add volume or length for a few special events that are all happening within a month or two.  They're about two-inch horizontal strips of hair that are adhered to your root, where as Great Lengths are individual strands of hair that are bonded to your root with heat through a keratin bond.

I am a huge fan of the Great Lengths.  For me, they will last longer and look and feel more natural.  And yes, I can wash and style it regularly.  For anyone considering extensions, both types are great, but for different people and reasons.  Here are photos from when I had the Platinum Seamless extension makeover.

My Spring Makeover

If you could change anything about your appearance what would it be?  For me, it was my hair.  After speaking with Ted Gibson about new the new platinum seamless extensions he was carrying I decided to take the plunge and surrender my hair to the man who transformed Kate Gosselin with a weave a few weeks prior.

I was treated like an A-lister and had Jason Backe apply the extensions and Ted do the shaping.  (I thought only Anne Hathaway received that kind of treatment.)  And you wouldn't believe who was sitting in the salon with me... none other than Kate Gosselin herself having her extensions redone.  Most likely preparing for her huge debut on Dancing with the Stars.

I sat in the chair as Jason and Ted consulted and came up with my coloring and decided to give me wavy hair over straight like my natural texture and mix in a lighter shade of brown in the front.  A bit skeptical at first, I knew I was in the hands of two master minds and was going to come out looking like a million dollars and I was right.  All my life I had fine, straight, dark hair and now I have what I'm calling Kardashian hair!

I got Platinum Seamless extensions, which last anywhere from six weeks to three months depending on how well they're taken care of.  They've been out for a long time, but the glue was recently reformulated and just now received met the standards of the Ted Gibson Salon.  They're strips that are about 2" each that simply stick to the root of your hair.  Compared to Great Lengths (like Kate Gosselin's), which are little individual bundles that are bonded to your hair.  A full head of Platinum Seamless costs anywhere from $950-$1,500, whereas a full head of Great Lengths varies from $3,000-$5,000.

Everyone wants what they can't have right?  Well, after speaking with Jason and Ted I realized that thanks to all of the different types of treatments available today, there's no reason you can't have the hair you want.  It's like investing in a quality pair of boots for a season.  Skip the Louboutins and go for Steve Maddens and invest in your hair once in a while.

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