Hair has always been my personal beauty Everest. I love getting dressed (obviously), I’m pretty good with skincare and makeup, but hair, I cannot do. I’ve tried different hair lengths, highlighting it, not coloring it for years, taking supplements, wearing it curly, flat-ironing it… the list goes on. But still, I’m terrible at making it just. look. good. It never holds a style, and I have a few weird cowlicks in my front hairline, which makes wearing it up tricky as well. I don’t want to have to heat style it everyday, because that’s a nightmare for already damaged, blond hair.
To other people, my hair woes are trifling, and I get it, which is why I only now am I trying extensions for the first time. I’ve thought about them for years, but thought they would look fake, or they weren’t worth the price, or that my mom would be upset with me for ‘faking it’. But I finally took the plunge, and I’m worried I may never want to go back!
Let me break down for you my experience with Milvali extensions and why I love them so much!
What are Milvali Extensions?
Milvali is a particular brand of extensions, that have to be installed by a Milvali Extension trained stylist, trained by the extension guru herself, Deb Monti. Deb has been in the business of extensions for over a decade, but in 2016 branded her own line, in accordance with her two San Francisco Bay Area Salons, Milvali. She has won San Francisco’s ‘Best Extensions’ award year after year, for the unique microlink application process, the seamless color-matching, and the quality of the extensions.
{my original shoulder length hair, in the salon prior to any extensions or styling}
Milvali Extensions are installed using a technique called a microlink, which is very different than the tape-in or glue-in extensions that you may be more familiar with. These links use NO GLUE, NO TAPE, and NO HEAT, which results in no damage overall. When I was learning about the type of extension, I was shocked that more people weren’t using them! Because of the tiny microlinks, it is far easier to wear your hair up, and based on how you like to where your hair, your stylist can suggest different places to put them in to make them work for you.
{The extensions before being inserted or cut. We chose two color to mimic the natural highs and lows of my hair color.}
{One row of microlink extensions inserted. My roots are dark, so we chose links that match my root color!}
{All my original new hair prior to being cut! The colors blend seamlessly!}
The other important point is that Milvali extensions are made with 100% real, cruelty-free, fair-trade hair. What does that mean? In India, it is often a rite of passage to visit temples and give your hair as a sacrifice. The temples then re-purpose that hair into extensions. Sounds weird, sure, but when you think that the hair is willingly given, for no payment, and was just taking up space anyway, it makes you think twice. Plus, the hair is thick and beautiful and far better than my own!
How do you care for Milvali Extensions?
Simple, pretty much just like any other hair. The only thing I do differently is that I brush out my tangles from the bottom first, holding the top of my hair so as not to jerk my head (like brushing a child’s hair). But then, once the bottom is tangle-free I brush over the extensions just like I would the rest of my hair. Washing my hair is basically the same; I was more caught off guard by how much shampoo I needed to use, not by the actual washing or type of product I used.
{My day 2 hair, after being curled the day before}
{My completely natural air dried hair. Sometimes I blow dry just the top cowlicks, but even if I don’t I still love the waves}
Styling of the hair is easy as well, at least for me. If I were to air dry my hair before, it would have been a mess of frizz, cowlicks, straight sections and curly sections, resulting in a lampshade shape. The extension hair dries naturally into crimpy beach-like waves, which somehow overpowers my inconsistent head of hair, and now I can air dry and feel good about the way I look. I hate blow-drying, so now I rarely do it, and just let my hair air dry on Day 1, then curl style it Day 2, which lasts easily with hairspray day 3. I might have to re-curl the front sections since my own hair doesn’t hold curl well, but the rest of my hair is already done! Deb from Milvali also suggested braiding your damp hair for an easy enhanced beach-wave style.
So, how much do Milvali Extensions cost?
The million dollar question. Except, not even close. The application process is very quick, after you have your initial consultation to color match, decide length, etc. The Milvali extension trained stylist will charge you per link, which means you can add as much or as little as you like. If you are going after volume instead of length, you might need less links overall, which reduces the price. I have approximately 100 links in my hair, and the range is about $4.50-$6.50 a link. The links last 10-12 weeks, BUT, the links are reusable up to 3 more times (for one consistent year)! The second, third, and fourth time you use the links, cost will be much less, because you are only paying for the stylist’s time, instead of the cost of the extension.
The Result
I can’t say enough amazing things about Deb. She and her team at Milvali salon really made me feel confident in the process, even though I was really nervous at first. They listened to me and helped me find a length of hair that works for me, and found the perfect color hair to match, so I would look as natural as possible. We even stated away from adding too many links to the hairline so that I could wear my hair up, which really made a huge difference to me.
As I write this, I am 4 weeks into my first set of extensions, and aside from some slight hair growth, they look just as good and clean as the day I left the salon. I already know I will want to use these links the 3 more times I am able to, because they have changed my day, my look, and my confidence. People say I look years younger, and truthfully, I feel it. And I’ve gotten my time back, which is the most important part. I spend less time taking care of my hair everyday, or worrying when I do an instagram story that I look awful that day. Now I just fix up my eyebrows and turn on the camera!
Thank you Deb and the team at Milvali Salon for partnering on this post!
