This spring there was an explosion in sales at tackle and fishing shops. “Hackles” were in extremely high demand and the shops could not keep them in stock.
Their main customers? Beauticians. Hair Stylists. Accessory Boutiques.
Why, you ask?
Because “hackles” are actually just the tail feathers from roosters. They are long and narrow with vibrant colors and bold patterns that attract fish…and stylists.
Suddenly rooster feathers for hair had become the latest craze.
Currently there are masses of people wearing these hackles, or, as they are more commonly referred to, feather hair extensions.
These extensions add a pop of color and texture to anyone’s style. IF you use real feathers, they can be dyed, curled, straightened, twisted- whatever fits your mood and look. They’re a sure way to add pizzaz to your look without the damage and cost of cuts, perms and coloring treatments. Well cared for, they can last for months, keeping their cost minimal.
The trend harkens back to the 70’s and goes well with the loose blouses, wedge heels, bell bottoms and bright prints that were the summer craze. these extensions were brought back to life early this year by celebrities like rocker Steven Tyler who wore 12 inch feathers on the stage of American Idol and was featured on the cover of Rolling Stones Magazine with his hair full of colorful extensions as well as Selena Gomez who sported neutral toned, narrow feathers that accented her dark locks and big eyes.
-Celebrities With Feather Hair Extensions-
Photo: andfed.com
Every new trend brings questions, and I hope to here provide answers to a few of those inquiries that we’ve been receiving about feather hair extensions.
Just Scroll down to the Question You Have!
How Much Do Feather Hair Extensions Cost?
Typically you can find them for about $15. If you are getting a longer extension you will likely need to pay more. Cheaper ones need to be examined carefully as they may not hold up as well to dyeing and washing.
Buying hair feathers in bulk, though, can be a great way to get a quality assortment at a lower price. Find a few friends and go in together to buy a multi-pack (We have some great deals listed at the end of the article)
How Do I Install Feathered Hair Extensions?
Thankfully, they are very easy to install. If you buy your feathers from a tackle store or an online beauty supply store or off of Etsy.com, you can take them to a beautician and they will install them for you.
- Installing them yourself, though, is an easy, quick process that anyone can master. You will need:
- Feathers
- A Silicone Hair Extension Bead (easily found in beauty supply shops)
- Needle nose or jewelry pliers
- A piece of fishing line
- Put both ends of the fishing line through the bead, forming a loop on the opposite side of the bead.
- Take a small section of hair from 1 inch from your part line and put it through the loop in the fishing line.
- Slide bead off of fishing line, onto the section of hair and slide it close to your scalp.
- Thread the ends of your feathers through the bead and arrange them how you want them to lay.
- Use jewelry pliers to smash bead until it is completely closed around the feathers.
A good Feather Hair Extension Kit will have include the tools you need and will not only let you install your hair feather extensions, but also those of your friends.
How Close To My Scalp Should I Place My Feathers?
When installing the extensions, hold the silicone bead 1 inch from your scalp. This gives the points of the feathers the room they need to stay loose and not dig into your head, but is close enough to look anchored.
How Do I Remove Them?
Too easy! Just take your pliers and squeeze the bead on the ends so that it opens back up! Slide your feathers out before removing the bead to keep from snagging your hair. (Also, see caution at end of article)
How Permanent Are These Feather Hair Extensions ?
They are very well-installed, after all, they need to withstand washing and dyeing and braiding! However they can easily be removed by squeezing the silicone bead holding them in place and then sliding them off.
Secondly you can always go with extensions that use a small roach clip to hold them in place. Clip in feather extensions are a great way to get some weekend color, without sacrificing the weekday look! Additionally, there are so many feather hair pieces which are beautiful and are secured with easily removed bobby pins.
How Do I Care For My Feather Hair Extensions?
Notice How Short Feathers Work Well With Short Hair
These extensions are relatively easy to take care of. You can mostly treat them like you treat the rest of your hair, though you may want to take a little extra care to be gentle with them.
~Washing: Use your regular shampoo and conditioner. If your feathers are dyed, you may want to invest in a color safe shampoo to keep from stripping the color out of the feather extensions.
~Drying: Blow drying your new look is perfectly acceptable. Heat is only as damaging to the feathers as it is to your own hair, so I recommend using protectant serums and as little heat as possible on both the feathers and your hair!
~Curling/Straightening: Again, heat is relatively safe. Don’t be afraid to use your flat iron to shape them!
~Cutting: If you need to trim them for some reason, try to cut according to the natural shape that the feather already has- you will not want a blunt cut. Make sure your scissors are clean and sharp so that you don’t snag or pull them into an uneven edge.
~Dyeing: A super simple, cheap way to dye your feathers is to use Kool Aide packs. The color is relatively sturdy and will stay very nicely. Or, you can use traditional hair dyes as well
Should I Purchase My Extensions At My Hair Salon?
Where to buy your extensions, and whether you buy them at a salon is something worth doing a little research on.
My personal recommendation would be to spend some time shopping online before you go to your stylist, to get a feel for what you want. Often you can purchase high-quality extensions for much less than what your stylist would charge.
Don't Overdo Your Feather Extensions - Get a Professional Opinion For A Classy Look
However, if your stylist is going to be dyeing, curling, or treating your extensions in any way, you will probably want to go with her brand so she (or he) can work with a product they know well.
Also, If you are concerned over the ethics of how rooster feathers are harvested then you may want to call ahead and see if your salon carries synthetic feathers, so that you can be sure to purchase your own if they do not.
Many salons do not carry the extensions, so you may have no choice but to take your own feathers with you if you wish to have them installed. (Which is typically less expensive anyhow)
Get Your Feather Extensions Online!
Feather Extensions Are Going to Be Around For Awhile!
Click Here To Peruse Amazon’s Selection of
Wholesale Feather Extension
Buying these extensions wholesale ia an easy way to create an extra profit center. Sometimes salons do this as a part of the services they offer.
Additionally, there are now many kiosks springing up at malls that offer personalized feather hair extensions installations.
There are many places to buy them wholesale if you are interested. One great place to start shopping is Amazon.com, which has a large selection of bulk feathers to choose from.
With just few tools and some brief practice you can have a whole new career!
Can I Make My Own Feather Extensions?
Feather Extensions As A Wedding Accessory
To make a set of extensions you will only need feathers, any dyes that you want, and a good pair of scissors. Do your research to find a picture of the exact style of feather bunch that you want to create, then be careful to measure and trim your feathers to match!
You will want different lengths, and may or may not want bright colors, but you can create a completely unique, beautiful look all for yourself! Once you have them trimmed and colored, then all you need to do is install them following the instructions above, making sure that they lay in the order that you like.
The silicone beads needed for putting them in your hair are easily purchased from online retailers.
Peacock Feather Hair Extensions
Peacock feather hair extensions are a bright, fun variation of the more traditional rooster and synthetic feathers that are commonly sold right now.
Peacock image courtesy of stewartmorris on Flickr
Peacock feathers for hair are more noticeable than their smaller-feathered counterparts. You can easily get peacock feathers as long as 11-13″ which is great for long hair.
However, most peacock hair extensions just use natural peacock neck feathers, or the brightly colored ends of peacock tail feathers to create their striking – and natural look.
Peacock Feather Hair Pin From Amazon
Probably my favorite thing about peacock feathers is that you are not limited to only using them for extensions. There is a wide array of peacock hair accessories to choose from, and, if nothing else, you can always make your own.
Typically you can find these by searching “peacock hair pins” or “peacock hair clips”. It’s your normal barrettes and hair pins – just with peacock feathers attached. They are typically only cost a few dollars each and can be easily added or taken out.
“Grizzly” Feather Extensions
Grizzly Feather Hair Extensions from Amazon
These are the hair feather extensions that still retain their natural black streaks – even after they have been dyed.
Personally, these are my favorite since they add such an eye-catching element to your hair. I especially like them worn near the front of the head in a way that accents the face.
By contrast, rooster saddle feathers are the shorter, more fluffy feathers. These feathers typically don’t have as large of a following, but can still be extremely fun when used to accent your other feather extensions.
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Tips For Removing Hair Feather Extensions
Recently, as I was having my hair cut, the chair next to me was occupied by a seven year old with a mop of blond curls and seven blue feathers in her hair. She was adamant that they not be touched, even though she was getting a good bit of hair cut off during her professional hair style.
Her feathers sparked a conversation and we touched every aspect of the topic of feather hair extensions, from neon colored extensions to Jennifer Love Hewitt’s feathery fun look …and beyond.
It was a fun conversation.
My stylist voiced the concern that people were not careful enough when removing their feather extensions, and often broke off a good section of hair that was difficult to disguise. So, tip: Make sure you open your bead all the way, and be patient to work out any tangles when removing your extensions!
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i want to get those! me and my friend here, are going to get 2-3 feathers put in our hair. does it hurt even if you cut the pointy thingy off? i think it would when i sleep! anyways, thanks for teaching me how to! well, bye!
If you make sure that you anchor them near the top of your scalp then they shouldn’t bother you. If they do, then try braiding them into your hair at night!