D I Y not?

You all know I'm a big fan of "Do It Yourself" when it comes to home decorating, but early last week I got to thinking. Why not apply this talent to other aspects of my life?

It all started with a decision to get a dramatic haircut (which, of course, ended up being a one-inch trim) in an attempt to make my hair look a little thicker. Unless we are lucky enough to have  Olivia Palermo's locks, we all know sometimes length can mean less-- as in dead-ends and zero volume. But at the end of the day, I'm just a girl who feels a whole lot better about myself with longer hair. So how can I add some umph to my hair without cutting it?

Cue: Ms. Simpson (and a second mortgage on your house.)  If you have ever experimented with hair extensions you know they can be a bit hard on the wallet. We all know Jessica Simpson has dabbled in the hair-biz with her own line of extensions that can range from $425.00-$500.00 for human hair and $75.50-95.00 for the fake stuff. Her line of "clip ins"  is designed for everyday-wear and can easily attach and detach from the hair at anytime

BUT the purpose of hair-extensions is not always to add length. More often, girls use them to add thickness-- as is the case with moi.

It has always made me cringe when a bride walks down the aisle with fifteen inches of curls dripping down her back, after rocking an adorable pixie-cut the night before. Hello? Isn't the idea for people to think your hair is real?

Here's another potential problemo: Hair extensions are sold in various lengths and colors and usually provide you with 10-20 pre-cut tracks of hair, which can often times be too big or too small for the shape of your head.  Let's face it, if it doesn't fit, you can't clip it to your earlobe. AND, if you're like me, you only need about two tracks to to the trick, not fifteen. So why spend money on something that can't even be customized to fit your hair's needs?

So, here's how I DIYed some of my very own hair extensions.

I bought one long track of  heat safe, synthetic hair (the kind you sew in. Yes, a weave.) The cost can range from $10 to $20 per package. It totally looks real and you can use a curling iron or straightening iron on it.

I then measured the length of the track I thought would fit best on the back of my head. I cut the track accordingly.

I bought Wig Clips, which you can buy at your local Beauty Supply Store. They are $1.99 for a set of two. I used a good old needle and thread (dark brown of course) to sew the clips to the top of the track. Don't worry about being a profesh seamstress. Just make sure the clips are secure. No one will be able to see your sewing job. Promise.

 Sew two clips to the ends of the track and one in the middle. Oh, and make sure the clips are facing the right direction BEFORE sewing!

(Back)

(Front)

(And here they are curled with the curling iron and ready for a night out on the town! Sorry the pic is blurry)

So there you have it--Incredibly easy and inexpensive. Sorry Jessica, but we won't be needing your services. The "Price of Beauty" of this project was just $23.00.