Beauty Review – Great Lengths Hair Extensions

Last week, our Megan Cassidy had the pleasure of visiting Cathriona’s Hair Salon in Tralee to undergo a Great Lengths hair transformation. Jealous? Us? Never. Here’s how she got on.

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I will admit that I used to be a complete clip-in hair extensions ADDICT. There was a shameful phase when I wouldn’t even pop out to the shops without my clip-ins. Thankfully I have come through that dark time, but I am still a little self-conscious of my fine hair. I have never had a problem with growing it out and have always worn it very long. My friends implore me to get a trim every now and then but I struggle. (Yes, I have a hard time letting go.) So it wasn’t for length that I was interested in getting a head of Great Lengths in. I envy my friends who have full, thick heads of hair. At the end of the day they can pull out their ponytail and their hair literally bounces around their shoulders with the weight of it. BOUNCES. I have always longed for that “heavy hair” feeling, so decided to head along to Cathriona's Hair Salon in Tralee and suss out Great Lengths and see what all the hype is about. The salon prides itself on being "fabulously girly".  I went along to Cathriona to get colour matched and was amazed at the gorgeous texture and extensive colour range of the hair. I have a rather unusual hair colour that I have found difficult to match with clip-ins but within moments, Cathriona had four strands of lovely shiny hair held up to my head, and they matched PERFECTLY. I went for the 40cm length, but there are a range of choices for those who want to go for a longer look. Now, if you have trouble sitting still you might want to bring along your laptop, because this is a lengthy process. But lucky for me, I love nothing more than sitting back, relaxing and getting my hair done. First Cathriona, sectioned off my hair and matched the colour to the area. The keratin bonds are wrapped around the selected strand and fused The process itself was completely relaxing, no pain at all and took just under four hours for a full head to be applied. I loved them straight away. I could feel the weight of my hair, and the quality just felt so healthy with none of the dreaded visible “chewing gum” bonds. A week later, I am so beyond chuffed with the results. Cathriona gave me a specific shampoo and hair brush to use which I have been sticking to religiously. The first night or two, they felt a little tight on my head but I can happily say there is now no pain whatsoever - you would easily forget they were even there. I have gotten so many compliments about them and find them so easy to manage. Just hassle-free, gorgeous hair. While I was getting my bonds in, I chatted with Cathriona and asked her for some more info on the brand and what I could expect. 1. What makes Great Lengths different?  Quite simply - they are the best extensions in the world. The hair is donated from ladies in India and then tied in a ponytail. This is really important as the cuticles are all facing in the same direction which reduces tangling and retains shine. Other brands coat their hair in silicone to create shine, but this fades after just a couple of washes. 2. Will extensions damage my hair?  With everything we do to our hair, skin and body there is always a risk of damage but with Great Lengths the risk is considerably less. This is because the extensions are attached to the hair with keratin bonds - the protein that our hair is naturally made up of. As long as you follow the care guidelines and return to the stylist 1 month after application to check all is well, you should have no problems at all. 3. How long should the extensions last?  They will usually last from 4-6 months if all the after care guidelines are followed. 4. How can you guarantee that your stylist is qualified? When you contact Great Lengths to train as a specialist with them, you go through 2-4 days training. After this training you receive your certificate and when placing an order they will only take an order from a certified stylist. You should always ask to see the stylist certificate before getting extensions done. 5. Have you had any celebrity clients?  In the last 3 years we have applied up to 400-500 extensions and have created looks for competitions, runway shows and for beautiful brides to create lush hair for the biggest day of their lives. A customer that I am most honoured to have styled is TV broadcaster Miriam O' Callaghan. Her extensions made headlines for all the right reasons which was just an added bonus. Cathriona is responsible for Miriam's glowing locks.  Now, if you'll excuse me, I just have to go and be fabilis. Renowned hairdresser and entrepreneur Cathriona Rohan opened open her second salon 'Cathriona’s Hair Salon' last month in Tralee town. It isn't your typical salon as Cathriona has designed it to have a boutique and vintage, yet homely feel that is very welcoming and fabulously girly. For more information check out www.cathrionashairsalon.com or call 066 714 4626.