It is fairly obvious that hair extensions are used to extend the length of your hair. However what if you don’t want it to be a dramatic change? Or you would prefer them to thicken your hair rather than extend the length of your hair?

Well, maybe short hair extensions are for you. Most brands of hair extensions start their lengths from 20”. Or in some cases only offer 20”. At ZALA, our lengths range from 12” right up to 30”.

12″ sets are considered short to medium length, whereas 14 and 16” sets are still considered a mid to long length hairstyle however it is a natural sitting length. Short hair extensions are great for ladies with shorter layers as the length comparison won’t be as harsh. They are also great if your hair is already this length and you want to add more volume and thickness.

Why short hair extensions over long hair extensions?

If your hair is naturally short with short layers also, you may want to consider shorter lengths of extensions for example 14” or 16”. When wearing long hair extensions with short hair, you may find it is too much for you and too big of a change. Keeping your hair a very natural, modest length will make you more comfortable and keep a relaxed look.

Where do 12″ hair extensions sit?

12-inch hair extensions sit on the shoulders. This is considered a very natural looking length and is very popular with our older customers who want an undetectable look. 12-inch hair extensions are also perfect for thickening up wispy ends if you prefer added volume rather than length.
This is the shortest length on offer at ZALA hair extensions and is available in our tape range.

Where do 14″ hair extensions sit?

14-inch hair extensions sit above your bust area. This is considered a natural looking length and allows ladies to create hairstyles which they may not be able to create with their natural length.
This is the shortest length of our clip in range and is very popular for adding volume to fine hair!

Short to long hair with ZALA hair extensions

Where do 16″ hair extensions sit?

16” ZALA hair extensions sit at your bust area. This is a popular length for ladies with hair naturally at or around this length and is choosing to thicken out their current hair and add volume using hair extensions. This is a great everyday length which wouldn’t interfere with your day to day activities and still give you the longer hair look you desire.

Where can I expect my hair extensions to sit on me?

Don’t forget to check out our post on how to make hair extensions blend naturally, as well as our full-length guide to help you choose your ideal length.

PUBLISHED 25TH MARCH 2014

How to tone hair extensions in 7 easy steps

Buying hair extensions online can be tricky, especially for blondes. When you get your hair professionally dyed at the hair dressers, they will usually tone your hair after your cut/treatment.. Therefore you will need to know how to tone hair extensions in order for them to match. ZALA hair extension shades like Beachy blonde and Ice queen Platinum blonde are the lightest shades on offer. However these shades are not white blonde or super ashy. If your hair is a very ashy or white blonde, toning will definitely help in matching the colour.

Don’t be afraid of toning! It doesn’t have to be scary or intimidating. You just have to know what you’re doing and this blog on toning hair extensions should help you step by step!

What will I need to tone hair extensions?

how to tone hair extensions

A set of premium ZALA hair extensions
A toning shampoo, eg BLONDA/ FUDGE
Some disposable gloves if you don’t want to risk purple hands
Heat straightener and brush for styling at the end

1) Choosing your ideal hair extensions shade

Buy the closest shade to your current hair colour. If your hair is white blonde, go with Ice queen Platinum #60. If your hair has a little more depth to the shade, go with Beachy blonde #613. You can ask the friendly staff at ZALA to assist you. They will provide advice on which one is best for you!

2) Which shampoo is best for toning hair extensions ?

Fill your sink with luke warm water. Add a squeeze of your purple shampoo to the water and swish around until it is dissolved the water. You can use any shampoo you like, Fudge Violet toning shampoo or Unite Blonda shampoo work a treat!

unite blonda shampoo for hair extensions

This shampoo is what we have used in our how to tone hair extensions guide

3) Purple shampoo to tone hair extensions

Using one single clip piece to test your product on first, dunk your piece in the water and gently massage the purple water into the hair. This should only take 20 seconds per piece as you don’t want to turn your hair extensions purple! If it is all going smoothly, continue this process throughout the rest of the set piece by piece. This step is important to ensure you’re happy with the shade, as we do not cover any costs if you’re unhappy with the end result.

purple toning shampoo for hair extensions

Always add the toner to the water, don’t rub the toner straight into the hair, dilute it first.

4) Rinse out the purple wash shampoo

Once all your pieces have been shampooed with your purple wash. Drain your sink so no shampoo is left in there. Run the tap as you rinse each piece starting with piece which has been left the longest. Rinse thoroughly so there is no residue left.

5) Conditioning hair extensions after toning

Using a nice a moisturising conditioner. Apply throughout each piece and leave on for about 5-10 minutes to allow them to hydrate. Rinse out thoroughly so there is no greasy residue left.

6) Drying clip in hair extensions after washing

Place your set neatly on a towel and pat dry to remove any excess water rather than ringing them out. You can leave them on the towel until dry or hang them up. Either way, allow them to dry naturally.

Always let your extensions air dry on a towel, don’t rush the drying process. Yes you will need to brush and straighten after washing to bring back that silky feel

7) Straightening and styling extensions

Once your hair extensions are dry, show them some TLC and brush each piece through gently and straighten them flat to slick out any fly aways!

There you have it! It is super easy to remove any brassy tones or yellow shades from your ZALA hair extensions. Follow these easy steps and you should be left with a set of gorgeous ashy blonde hair.

Important tips when toning hair extensions:

Always practise on one piece first
Never bleach your extensions to avoid irreversible dryness
Treat your extensions with care, they are a delicate product
ZALA is not responsible for unwanted results after toning or dying hair extensions so please be careful!

We have a quick and easy guide on how to tone your ZALA hair extensions below, so make sure you check out our full guide for everything you need to know:

BEFORE

ZALA beach blonde #613 before toning

AFTER

toned hair extensions

PUBLISHED 17TH MARCH 2014

How to care for hair extensions

When buying hair extensions, you should know how to care for hair extensions to ensure you get the max lifespan out of them. If you wear your clip in hair extensions every day, it may reduce the longevity of your hair extensions in comparison to those who wear them for special occasions only.

How to care for hair extensions

Either way, you still want to get the most out of your extensions. This means caring for them with a little TLC! Here are 5 tips for prolonging the life of your clip in locks and keeping them silky and soft!

How often should you wash hair extensions?

Number one on our tip guide as we can’t stress this point enough. Wash your extensions as rarely as possible. It is hard to give a number regarding how many times in your hair extensions life they should be washed as it depends on how often they are worn. Get a feel for the time frame where they start to feel less than fresh. If they begin to have an odour or they have a build-up of product, then that is a sure sign they need washing. If you have worn them 3 or 4 times; this does not instantly mean they should be washed.

Go for a monthly routine where you consider if they need freshening up as a guide.
Why should you limit how often you wash your set? Hair extensions cannot produce natural oils as your own hair would. Once you begin washing them, you are removing the last of the natural oils left in the hair. Every time they are washed after that, the fewer oils there will be in the extensions. This will create a very dry set of hair extensions and you may find they become hard to manage.

Remember- washing hair extensions shortens the life!

How to store hair extensions?

At ZALA hair extensions, we offer you two different storage methods with your set. You can store your set in the box they arrive in or in the plastic sleeve issued. This will prevent products coming in contact with them or assisting in keeping them silky and tangle free. Understanding how to care for hair extensions includes storing them safely.
Alternatively, you can purchase a coat hanger with clips to hang your set. Just ensure you hang them away from high moisture areas. Your bathroom draw is a big “no-no” ladies.

Storing your set in the box provided will prolong their life.

Hair extensions and sunlight

Especially in the summer months, try and wear a hat when sitting in direct sunlight. The last thing you want is your colour fading or altering due to harsh sun. Just like your natural hair, your brunette hair extensions may start to fade and your blonde locks may turn brassy if in the harsh sun.

Wear that wide brim hat at the beach to protect your locks. Sunlight will fade hair extensions.

Dying my hair extensions

Although our hair extensions can be dyed, we highly suggest any alterations should be done with care. Test any colours on a single piece before continuing. Don’t treat you luxury hair as a science experiment, follow the rules of DIY dying and you can end up with your perfect set!

Important points to remember:

Always test your hair product on one piece
Don’t leave your colour in too long
Use a high-quality dye
Never bleach your hair extensions
Always test on one piece to ensure the colour is perfect!

How to style hair extensions

Don’t be afraid to straighten your hair extensions. When done gently and properly, this can make the hair look silkier and sleeker. Using a good quality hair straightener and a brush, straighten each piece individually. It will flatten any fly away’s and spruce up the appearance of your ZALA hair.

We hope our quick and easy guide has helped you to see how to care for hair extensions. If you liked this post, check out our guide “How to make hair extensions blend naturally“

PUBLISHED 11TH MARCH 2014

How to make hair extensions blend naturally

Learn how to make hair extensions blend naturally with our easy to follow guide. Our simple guide shows you 5 hair styles that can be created with hair extensions and teaches you which are best suited to your haircut or hair type.

The biggest factor is your hair cut. When you buy a great quality set of hair extensions, like ZALA hair, it usually does help ensure the perfect blend as they are evenly thick from top to bottom and there are a nice amount of rows to place throughout your hair. If your hair cut is a very blunt, heavy cut then thinning out with thinning scissors may be needed.

The thinner the ends of your natural hair is, the smoother the hair extensions will blend where your hair finishes. If your hair is is all one length, some light layering may help to create some shape to your cut so the final cut of your hair looks like another layer, again helping for a smooth overall look. If you have very short layers- think about sticking to a shorter length set of extensions, this will prevent your hair from looking like the dreaded 80’s mullet!

You don’t want to end up looking like this! Make sure you always use quality extensions and have your colour matched.

What kind of extensions are best for short hair?

ZALA hair extensions of course! To ensure your clip in hair extensions are un-detectable, ensure that your hair is at least 4-6 inches long. We offer clip in sets which are double drawn and triple wefted hair extensions which allow the rows to be super thick even at the ends. As long as there is equal amount of hair at the bottom than the top, then this will allow for an overall natural appearance for both short and long hair. You may find with other brands- as there is not enough hair at the ends, it looks very obvious where the rows of extensions are, however with ZALA, there are up to 9 pieces placed evenly throughout your hair to continue the thickness.

Short to long hair with ZALA hair extensions

How to make hair extensions blend with short hair

Make sure you have enough pieces to balance out your hair cut whether it is our 5 piece set or our 9 piece set, to ensure even distribution. Again, a very blunt cut will make it tricky to make a smooth blend with hair extensions. If your hair is short and thick, we would recommend the ZALA 9 piece set, this will ensure the thickness of your hair is continued.

What style will make my extensions blend best?

Here are some ZALA customers with different styling options.
Curled hair: Curling your hair extensions with your natural hair should really help to make those heavy ends undetectable when wearing hair extensions. As the number one suggestion when asked how to make my extensions discreet, curling is the go to style!

This lovely customer is wearing ZALA Chocolate swirl Balayage set, 2/6. She did a great job curling the extensions!

Straight hair: Straight hair CAN be risqué if your worried how to make hair extensions blend blend. However if your natural hair is quite fine or if you ends thin out, then this style can be super sleek and always on trend!

This customer is wearing ZALA Dark Chocolate #2. When straightened with the right tools, your extensions will look silky and soft. This customer looks like a Sunsilk commercial, well done!

Big waves: We love big waves here at ZALA. They are a classic look which can add that chic finish to your outfit; this style is perfect for mid-length hair to blend in a gradual motion throughout the waves.

We LOVE this look. This style is great if your colour is not a perfect match or you want to have a volumized look.

Pony tails: Whether you have short hair, mid length hair or already have long hair but it is fine, I’m sure you are envious of those long, full ponytails! Hair extensions are a great way to create a gorgeous high or low pony tail and is super undetectable with blending. A sleek, high fashion low ponytail looks great when straight and a nice bouncy high ponytail looks adorable with some gentle curls. By creating a pony tail with extensions you can be confident that you will never wonder how to make hair extensions blend naturally again!

Creating a pony tail with clip in hair extensions is much easier than you think! This style is great for that “just worked out” look.

Like this post? Be sure to check out our fantastic page on dying hair extensions bright colour.

Visit our Facebook page to see more photo’s of customers wearing amazing ZALA hair extension sets.

Click the image above to go to the ZALA Facebook page.

PUBLISHED 8TH MARCH 2014

Dying hair extensions bright colors with ZALA clip in’s

At ZALA hair extensions, we try our hardest to cater for everyone’s needs when it comes to colour, length and thickness. Over the last few months, more and more of our ZALA girls are wanting to brighten up your look with the boldest colours out there. So to help you get both bright and super long locks, we have worked out some easy and cost-effective ways to dye your new ZALA locks! Read our guide on dying hair extensions bright colours and you will be a pro in no time!

how to dye hair extensions bright colours

Get that funky look instantly with our dying guide!

What colour of ZALA hair should I buy if I am wanting to dye my hair a bright shade of colour?

We recommend going with our Platinum blonde hair extensions #60 or ZALA Beachy blonde #613 if you are wanting to dye them a bold bright from red to blue and anything in between! These shades will take to bright dyes the best, if your hair is quite dark to start with, you will need to bleach your natural hair first.

What dyes and products should I use when dying hair extensions bright colours?

If you are not confident dying your hair a bright, bold colour yourself, don’t risk it. Take them to your local hairdresser who should be able to create some awesome shades for you. If you are trying to save those pennies, be daring and try it yourself. It can be done and you will feel great that you did it all yourself!

IMPORTANT RULE: Test one single piece before continuing with the whole set.

Here are two products which our ZALA customers have told us work a treat!
1) Brite Organix Hair Colour available

This product is great value and effective. Click the image to find more info on this dye.

2) Paintbox- Click here to go to the fudge website.

Leave on for 10 minutes and you’re done!

What if I want to remove my bright hair colour?

We do not recommend bleaching your extensions back to blonde or trying to dye over your bright new shade. Please keep in mind the long process your extensions have been through to get to the shade you purchased. It just can’t handle any more changes.
If your bright colour is beginning to fade, you can go over with the same shade to refresh. However, just like your own hair, this may make your extensions dry after continuous applications.

Mermaid locks in minutes

How do I make my ZALA extensions look silky and soft again after washing them?

After you wash out your bright bold colour, leave them to air dry. Then give them a gentle brush from tip to top and run your flat iron through them piece by piece. It is because of this that they will require a little TLC. Then they will spring back to life looking silky soft and oh so bright!

If you have any questions Contact us via email or Facebook and we will be happy to help!

If you dare to be different and go BOLD, send in a photo on Facebook or Instagram @zala_hair_extensions, and go in the draw to win a $100 voucher in our ZALA girl of the month competition!

PUBLISHED 4TH MARCH 2014

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