The Great Lengths Process

The Great Lengths Process

How to set up the initial consultation:
  1. You should probably do some research. Look up different types of extensions and compare costs. Write down any questions you may have. At no point during any consultation should you ever feel rushed, intimidated, or pushed into buying something you don't want.
  2. Call Felicia and tell her that you are ready to find out more about Great Lengths extensions. Schedule a free consultation. Pick a morning or afternoon when you have 20 minutes to spend getting to know her and letting her get to know you and your hair.
  3. Style your hair normally when you go to the consultation. If you want to change your hair color, during the consultation is a good time to tell her.
  4. Think about long you want your hair to be. Felicia can show you where different lengths will fall and help you pick the right length to suit your face and your lifestyle.
The night (or morning) before your appointment:
  1. Wash your hair thoroughly. There is a special residue-removing shampoo made by Great Lengths available for sale in the salon, but any shampoo that removes residue should work just fine. IMPORTANT: Do NOT use conditioner of any kind -- including the leave-in kind. Conditioner will keep the Great Lengths bond from gripping your hair strands properly.
  2. When you get to the salon, Felicia and her assistant will brush out your hair and check your hair's current condition. If your hair needs washing because you just couldn't make it without mousse (it happens!), then they can wash your hair using a special shampoo to remove all traces of residue that might prevent the bonds from adhering properly.
  3. The color of the extensions should be an exact match. If there is a difference, then putting highlights in your hair can help it all blend together. This can only be done before the extensions are installed or about a week after they are installed. The best time to let Felicia know you want highlights is before she starts attaching your extensions.
During the process:
  1. Let Felicia and her assistant spoil you! Relax and have a cold beverage and some chocolate. Watch the wide-screen TV reflected in the mirror. If you have any requests for your favorite shows while your hair is being done, let them know. They also have movies and they are glad to let you bring your own DVDs.
  2. The first time you have a whole head of extensions done, it can take one person six or more hours, depending on the thickness of your hair. But because you have the team of Felicia and her assistant doing your hair, it can take less than three hours.
  3. Maintenance visits (in which they remove grown out extensions and attach new ones) can take about an hour to an hour and a half, depending on how much work you need done.
  4. The entire process starts when you are caped and you sit in the chair. Felicia and her assistant clip the top of your hair out of the way to expose the back and sides where your extensions will be attached.
  5. Then, they each take a small lock of your hair and put a small, plastic circle around it to protect your scalp. They hold the extension onto your hair and press the protein bond with the Great Lengths attaching tool. This device is only warm enough to melt the bond, not hot enough to burn your hair. After only a second or two, they roll the bond between their fingers to wrap it securely around the lock of your hair. Finally, the plastic circle is removed and they move on to the next lock of hair. 
  6. When it is time to remove a grown-out extension, they apply bond-removing solution and the extension is removed without damaging your hair. Your hair is never pulled any harder than you pull it yourself when you brush it or clip it back.
  7. After all the bonds are attached, you get to see yourself with long hair! And then, just as if you grew the hair yourself, Felicia will cut and style it into a flattering long-hair style for you. They can match your hair's curl and cut layers into the extensions to help them blend with your existing hair.
How to maintain your Great Lengths extensions:
  1. IMPORTANT: Don't wash your hair until 2 days (48 hours) after your extensions are attached.
  2. When you sleep at night, either loosely braid your hair, pull it back, or put it up on top of your head with a soft scrunchie.
  3. Brush your hair every day. Use a brush with stiff enough bristles to make it through the hair.
  4. When you wash your hair, don't pile it up on top of your head and scrub it around like they do in shampoo commercials! This can cause all sorts of tangling. Instead, squeeze the shampoo gently through your hair a section at a time and rinse thoroughly.
  5. WARNING: Don't use strong dandruff shampoo on the bonds! It can weaken the bonds and make them slip before their time. There are other anti-dandruff products (Neutrogena has a spray one) that can be used to spot-treat your scalp if necessary.
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