DIY Colorful Clip-in Extensions

Colorful hair, or “scene hair” as the kids call it, is all the rage these days. From the runways, to pop stars, the new emos, to the Hunger Games enthusiasts, everybody is rocking fun and playful colors in their hair this Spring.

Cheap color clip-ins are fun and easy, but they don’t handle styling and heat very well. Quality clip-ins are made with premium hair and can be bleached, re-colored, styled, etc., and pretty much lasts forever, BUT they can be expensive; Sephora’s quality color clip-in line costs $22 per 2 grams!

With hair (extensions,etc.) it’s always better to buy in ounces. Working with wide wefts means you can make entire rows of solid clip-ins or break it up into numerous 1 1/2-inch highlights. Since I had a few ounces of hair lying about the house (literally), and was feeling crafty (but not in the tricky way), I decided to DIY-myself these fabulous colorful clip-in extensions.

What you’ll need:

1. Some wefts of hair (weave, as I like to call it) Any color is fine. See below for how-to bleach it*

2. Temporary Hair Dye: I used Manic Panic “Cotton Candy” pink and Color Jamz in Aquamarine

3. A pack of snap-clips for extensions (available at Sally’s Beauty Supply)

4. Needle & Thread

Step 1: Assuming you’re working with light blonde hair*, using a brush and non-metallic bowl, distribute the temporary dye on each side of freshly washed hair. (Manic Panic: blow dry hair completely before dying. Color Jamz: towel dry). Leave dye in for 25 mins and rinse thoroughy.

Color Tip: Manic Panic was the superior color choice. Color Jamz ( Aquamarine) took forever to rinse,bled all over my towels and T-shirt, and then promptly turned green the minute I flat ironed it while MP’s “Cotton Candy” colored the hair perfectly.

Step 2: Decide how wide you want your extensions ( a row vs. highlights). For highlights, cut the weft into 1 1/2 inch pieces.

Step 3: Sew the wefts to the snap clips. The brand from Sally’s comes with guiding holes for your needle and thread so it’s VERY easy.

Fun stuff, right? Now go color yourself some extensions!

*Tips for bleaching dark hair blonde:

It’s a two-step bleaching process to lighten dark hair to light blonde. Chances are you’ll go through every spectrum of brass and yellow before you reach your golden destination. You’ll need a few scoops of bleach, 40 developer, and foil. Process the hair for about 1 hour max, then rinse, CONDITION, and dry. Repeat the bleaching process for another 30 mins to an hour.

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A Hint of 40′s Vintage Glam

1940′s hair is all about sculpted waves and coiffed curls. Hollywood stars like Veronica Lake, famous for her signature polished waves and deep side part, always looked as if hurricane winds couldn’t blow a single curl out of place.

Taking some notes from the 40′s, I decided to show you guys a simple, everyday look that channels old Hollywood glam.

Three beauty tools you need for achieving this look are: A traditional clip-curling iron, MOUSE/hairspray, bobby pins, and hair gloss to polish it off.

Start by curling the ends of your hair in sections. Don’t just curl the very ends; curl the short layers as well ( this is where the hairspray comes in. You want the curls to look a bit stiff and very defined). Do a side part and (using mouse) brush it sleekly to the side above your forehead. Press your pointer to above your temple and wrap about an inch of hair around it 2-3 times–take your finger out and pin your hair in place. From there just brush your curls out slightly and polish the look off with gloss.

Voila! If you don’t look like a 40′s movie star, you’ll at least look like a 40′s chorus girl, for sure!

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The Anatomy of Jennifer Lawrence’s Updo

Otherwise known as “Volunteer as tribute? With THIS hair?”

Jennifer Lawrence is definitely my new hair icon! The braids, the bangs, the updos! The girl goes from tomboy to Hollywood glam effortlessly! And how gorgeous was her gold braided updo at the Hunger Games premier? It sent me digging through my jewelry box for gold chains.

How to get Jennifer Lawrence’s updo: Getting her look is actually quite simple. It’s really the gold embellishments that make it look so much more intricate than it really is. Jennifer is using two gold beaded headbands woven into her braids. You can actually just use two gold rope chains.

Start by gathering your hair into a low ponytail and secure it with a hair tie. Gather the chain with your hair and braid your hair neatly. Tie the ends with a rubber band. Go back and widen the braid by tugging each side slightly. From there, you’re just doing a simple wrap-around. Wrap your braid around your ponytail (Princess Leia Style) and secure it with bobby pins. Now take your other chain and wrap that around the outer perimeter.

Voila! Simple, right? I know… Please feel free to tell me what a genius I am for dissecting this one.

What will you do with all the extra time I saved you?

1. Follow Zelo on Pinterest

2. Like us on Facebook

3. Tweet Wonderful things about us.

4. Enter our current Beauty Giveaway

5. Or what I do, obsess over anything Hunger Games related! Like our other Katniss hair tutorials.

Stay strong, guys. It’s only a few more days till Friday!