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If there is anyone with harder hair to keep up with, it's celebrities. One minute they can be rocking a bouncy blonde lob, the next they are gracing the red-carpet with long ombre-locks. When it comes to hair, these days it's not so much about chosing a trend and sticking to it, it's more about having a style that suits you and being able to adapt it.

If you are someone that loves to constantly change your look, then extensions can be a great alternative. Not only do they give you the freedom to experiment with so many different trends whilst being able to salvage the health of your own hair too, but they are a god send for people that struggle with natural growth.

Most people have the pre-conception that pre-bonded extensions thin out your natural hair, which can be true, but only to an extent. With the right hair and the right person applying them your natural hair shouldn't really suffer. Take it from someone who has been having extensions for years, quality and application is everything.

We went to Inanch London, founder of the revolutionary Gold Class Hair for a run-down of what to do, what not to do, and how to?!

My before and after...

My rose-gold transformation...

With special thanks to Inanch Emir, Director/Creative Director of Inanch London and Lee McCrudden, Senior Extensionist at Inanch London

• Quality

• Reputation

• Reccomendation

"Check that the brand has a reputable name in the industry. The best way to start is by looking at their website and looking up the salons that sell those extensions, and how long they have been applying them for. Avoid going for cheap extensions as they will not only look bad, but will damage your own hair too." says Inanch.

• Check the health of your own hair

• Check the salons experience in the industry

Inanch advises that "the client's hair and scalp need to be in optimum health before any extensions are applied. When applied the extensions should not be too close to the scalp as this can cause traction alopecia. The hair extensionist should follow a neat sectioning pattern."

• Avoid bleach

• Extension-experienced colourist advised

• After-care

Inanch says that "extensions can be coloured once they have been applied but we always advise clients not to bleach them as this can damage the hair." Please note: If you do bleach your extensions the texture of the hair can noticeably change. Make sure you have some good after-care products (see what GLAMOUR suggests below).

"The general rule is 3-6 months but definitely not longer. The extensions should always be professionally removed" advised by Lee, senior extensionist, Inanch London I always find that once I hit the 3 month mark my extensions tend to feel slightly more worn and have noticeably less volume. If this is the case and you don't want a whole new set of hair yet, go back to your salon and ask them to fill in the thinner areas with a few more strands. Have a good trim and the results are perfect.

• Don't conditioner the roots of your hair

• Brush your hair twice a day (from scalp through to ends)

• Do not towel-dry vigorously as this can tangle the bonds

• Only use an extension appropriate brush near the roots

"There are shampoos, conditioners and leave-in treatments that are specially formulated to prolong the life of hair extensions and keep them in great condition" says Lee

Brands

• Gold Class Hair (find Stockists here)

• Great Lengths Hair (find Stockists here)

Products

• Gold Class Hair, aftercare pack, can be brought at Gold Class salons

Includes a shampoo and conditioner, protein spray and pH balancer. The hair extension brush is made with soft bristles that help keep the extensions tangle-free.

• Bumble and bumble, Invisible Oil sulfate-free shampoo, £23.00, buy at Bumble and Bumble

The new invisible oil shampoo by Bumble and bumble is great for hair extensions. The essential oil rich formula works to not only improve the texture and look of your hair, but also helps to de-frizz, de-tangle and protect.

• Kerastase, Bain Fluidealiste sulfate-free shampoo, £13.40, buy at feelunique.com

If you are someone with hair that tends to frizz easily at the roots the new Kerastase DISCIPLINE range is the perfect formula. It is not only sulfate-free but it also contains traces of Morpho Keratin, which help to smooth and strengthen the hair from root to tip.

• Shu Uemura, Colour lustre, sulfate-free Brilliant Glaze shampoo, Sold at selected salons nationwide

The Shu Uemura range is great if you have coloured hair. To optimise protection we would also advise that you follow your hair washing routine with the Shu Uemura Brilliant Glaze conditioner too.

• Schwarzkopf, BC Moisture-kick beauty balm, £13.25, buy at allbeauty.com

You should always use a good beauty balm or protein cream on your hair after washing, especially if it is prone to heat damage and split ends. They help to restore health, softness, and improve manageability.

• Schwarzkopf, OSiS, Soft glam prime prep spray, £10.75, available in salons

This spray is perfect for extensions that tend to tangle easily. The minerals help seperate the knots whilst also protecting the hair from blow-dry heat and UV-light.

Hair extensions at Inanch London start from £300 for the hair and £300 for application. To find out more, click here.

We tried the new Gold Class Luxury Clip-In extensions and loved them.

Finding a good set of clip-in extensions can prove VERY tricky. Whether it's the colour you can't match or the texture you can't stand, finding a natural medium can be a long process and it isn't always achievable. The worst part... the application. Unless your a trained professional (or someone who has been wearing them for years) who knows where to place the damn things!

The Gold Class range is pretty revolutionary in our eyes. The hair itself is of the same standard as their award winning pre-bonded hair, smooth and fabulous. The weft comes as a single piece, proving not only a mega easy application, but achieving maximum volume too.

With 15 colours to chose from, all seamlessly blended together, natural highlights and low-lights have never been easier to match and create.

Although they are a bit on the pricey side, RRP. £490.00, coming from someone with a lot of past clip-in hair experience, it's worth the investment. Having to splash out on a new set every couple of months is NOT ideal.

The Gold Class clip-ins are available online or in selected stockists.

If you have had any extension transformations we would love to see. Tweet us @GlamourMagUK

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