College Times

Issue date: 5/22/08 Section: Style

Media Credit: Ryan Ruiz

Hair extensions are no longer only for rich celebs.

Denise Marten of The Hair Inn has made this beauty option more affordable to those of us here in the Valley.

While some salons charge $1,000 or more to put in a whole head of extensions, Hair Inn only charges $325.

This might have you thinking that it's probably because they use cheap or low quality hair. That's not the case here. Hair Inn uses 20-inch, 100 percent Remy human hair. That means your hair can be thicker and longer in about an hour, and it will be as good and discreet a job as those worn by the celebrities we see rocking them every day.

In the past, I wasn't quite sure how extensions even worked and I think a lot of people feel the same way.

It's much different than a weave, which is where they take tracks or rows of hair and actually weave or sew it into your current, typically braided, hair.

There are a few different types of extensions, such as the clip in ones that Jessica Simpson markets where you can clip them to your hair for the day but take them out as you please.

Then there are more permanent options.

Some get glued on, but those sometimes fall out and can be messy, so hair extensions have evolved to what Denise and other high-end salons use; a format in which the human hair is attached to your real hair with a bead that is squeezed tight to hold your hair and the new extension together.

So I went to Denise for extensions. My hair was already pretty long, but it has always been thin and a little stringy.

I wanted longer, thicker and healthier hair that I can actually style and I'd heard that extensions were the perfect solution.

The process was simple and quick; no chemicals, glue or heat were used, so no damage was inflicted on my own hair.

Denise informed me that as long as I take care of them by brushing them the right way and using the proper shampoo, they would last about three months.

The best part is that after the three months, you don't have to buy new hair, all you have to do is get your current extensions moved up, since they will grow out with your hair. Another plus: Denise offers two different hair colors at no extra charge which is great because it gives your hair a more natural look.

I got brown and dark blonde extensions put in my hair and it matched my original color perfectly.
I couldn’t be happier. As evidenced by these photos here.

The Hair Inn, 1425 W. Southern Avenue, Tempe, 480.966.2505, www.thehairinn.com.

Eyebrow Threading at Salon Va Bella

I used to get my eyebrows threaded when I lived in Chicago and I loved it.

I was bummed when I moved here, because I realized that threading is not very big in the Phoenix area and I couldn't even find anyplace to get it done, until now.

A girl named Rinku, who works at Salon Va Bella in Tempe does it, and does it well.

She is a current ASU East student who learned this skill when she lived in India. She's been doing it for 10 years.

Threading is a hair removal technique that is very common in the Middle East, in which a single string is wrapped in a certain way then rolled over the hair pulling them out from the root.

I prefer it to waxing because I think it's more precise, which allows a better brow shape. Plus, the hair seems to stay away longer.

Additionally there is no heat, oils or waxy residue, which usually causes me to break out.

Threading isn't only for eyebrows, it can also be used on the lip, cheeks and chin.
It's pretty fascinating to watch because all Rinku uses is a typical cotton thread - just like you would use to sew - works her magic, and voila, you have perfect brows!

Take a look at the process here.

Check out threading yourself by Rinku for $28 at Salon Va Bella, 6442 S. McClintock Drive, Tempe, 480.777.5588, www.salonvabella.com.

Also, take a look at this week's Valley Fashionistas, an ongoing series that spotlights the best local fashion from students like you.

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