I think I’ve reached final form. This is what the universe always wanted me to look like: medium-length, copper hair. Unfortunately, though, the results didn’t come from supplements or hair oils. I got hair extensions.
But let me back up. I’ve been known for my bob haircut for over a decade now. I attempted to grow out my hair for the entirety of high school, to no avail (probably because I was obsessed with dyeing it and practically lived off cereal). So just before moving into my college dorm, I cut a bob. Over that decade, I played with length here and there. Sometimes I entered lob territory; I had moments with a cheekbone-grazing crop; but I lived, primarily, in a blunt, chin-length cut. The c*nty little bob and I were a duo that no one could seem to break up. Then, I got bored.
I’m a beauty editor. I write about hair for a living, constantly scrolling through photos of celebrities and runway shows to report on all the biggest trends in hairstyles and haircuts. While the bob haircut reigned supreme in 2025, a midi-cut seems to be taking over for 2026. And it’s not just people growing out their bobs. Olivia Rodrigo ditched her usual mermaid waves for a chest-length haircut recently. Hailey Bieber cut a lob, then promptly added on some extensions for spring and summer. I wanted in on the fun, too. More styling options, more room to play.
So, I tried Great Lengths hair extensions for three months. And I hate to say it for all the bob-devotees out there, but I never want to be without my extensions again until the end of time. Bury me with my bonds, why don’t you! Let me explain it all.
All about my extensions
I went with Great Lengths hair extensions for a few reasons. It’s practically what every celebrity uses, because it’s made of super high-quality human hair and loved by professional stylists, and I could do keratin bonds with them. Keratin bonds, often called “k-tips,” attach clumps of hair to your own hair strands by heating up a keratin-based glue that bonds to your hair.
They’re virtually undetectable, even with your hair up in a ponytail or pulled back, and can blend with any length of hair. Great Lengths also offers tape-ins, but my stylist who did my install, Marc Mena, recommended K-tips for my hair density. Tapes would be hard to disguise with my fine, thin hair and wouldn’t allow me nearly as much movement and styling options. But tapes are a bit quicker to install and often less expensive, so keep that in mind if you’re deciding.
The install was also pretty simple. I sat in the chair and gabbed with Mena for about two and a half hours as he meticulously bonded the human hair to my head. Once it was all in (and I looked like a mermaid with hip-length hair), he cut it to my desired midi length and added lots of layers to help it blend perfectly with my natural hair.
Surprising truths about hair extensions
I get way more time between washes
I have fine hair and a super oil-prone scalp. Pre-extensions, I was washing my hair every other day, usually requiring dry shampoo on that off day. Now? I wash my hair a maximum of twice per week. This not only protects my extensions and keeps them healthy, but also has seriously cut down on how much time I have to spend on my hair.
I’ll use dry shampoo on my roots around day three or four, but because my extensions hold a style for so many days (more on this below), I can get away with fewer shampoos. Bringing me to…
Styling my hair doesn’t take that long
There’s a misconception that all this extra hair would suddenly take me quadruple the amount of time to do my hair. When I went to Coachella with my best friend, she was in shock at how quickly I could still do my hair. She’s used to me spending a mere five minutes zhuzhing up my bob without heat styling. So she figured I’d need a whole lot more time in the bathroom. But because my extensions hold a style for so long, I only really have to do it once for it to last four to five days.
Currently, I wash my hair on Mondays and Fridays, and it’s the perfect setup for protecting my hair and sanity. I style it as soon as I wash it, and then I get at least three days out of one blowout, sometimes even longer, before I start playing with braids and updos or pull out a hot tool to touch up.
I’m so excited to do my hair
Listen, hair boredom is a thing. I just didn’t have any gusto to try new looks with my short hair, because I felt so limited in styling. Sure, I could add a few clip-ins for extra fullness, but all the different curl variations looked the same when I didn’t have any length to play around with.
Now, I’m so stoked to try new styles with my hair every day. Even on off days when I can’t be bothered (it happens, even with all this beautiful hair), I get to do fun updos, tie it up into braids, or throw on a baseball cap or bandana and not feel bald.
But gosh, the blowouts I’ve gotten done, and hell, even DIYed myself. Sheesh. I’ve never felt so inspired and confident in my hair as I do with these extensions.
I can still get my roots done
I love my (unnatural) red hair against my skin tone and eye color, and it’s quickly become the most complimented thing I’ve ever owned in my entire life. I can’t give it up. Luckily, I don’t have to with K-tips. I can still get my roots touched up when I need to (so long as you go to a good colorist who has experience working on extensions—Rachel Bodt at Homecoming Salon in NYC is my rec if you are ever in the area).
No one can even tell I have extensions
People can never tell I have extensions. I went to an appointment with a trichologist for a scalp check recently, and she said, “Wow, Beth, your hair has gotten so long!” She had no idea! When I’m in the chair for a blowout, most hairstylists can’t even tell either until I blurt out that they’ve gotta be gentle with my bonds.
This is largely because the bonds are so undetectable that they fit seamlessly into every style. Plus, the way they’re installed, it hides all those tiny baby hairs for the most part, unlike clip-ins.
They last a long time
I’m on month three, and I only just now need to get my bonds moved up. The actual hair should last for up to a year if I take care of it (which, as you’ll read below, I really am). I am lazy and don’t have time (or money) for a ton of salon appointments, so Great Lengths bonds are really low-effort and easy to maintain.
What to keep in mind
I have to be gentle
Although my bonds are very tightly attached, I still treat my entire head with lots of tender loving care. I don’t ever yank a brush through my hair, rather gently smoothing it through to detangle. I oscillate between the Ultimate Detangler Extra Gentle from Tangle Teezer for getting out knots and the Emi Jay Flat Brush to smooth everything out after styling.
I’m also very diligent about checking the ingredients for every product I use. Per Mena’s suggestions, I avoid all sulfates, which can potentially damage my bonds. I was nervous about this at first, considering I previously used a sulfate-filled clarifying shampoo nearly once a week to break down buildup and oils on my scalp. But I’ve found products that give me a good clean without it (namely K18’s Peptide Prep Detox Shampoo, which is safe for color-treated hair).
I also avoid silicones as much as possible. Silicones can build up on your hair over time, leaving a film that’s difficult to remove without sulfates. At first, it makes hair feel silky and smooth. But over time, that residue can have your hair looking dull and even make it a bit brittle and dry. Obvi, that’s not the vibe I’m going for.
It requires more products
I rarely used anything more than dry shampoo and a mousse on my short hair. Now, I have a whole arsenal of hair products. I don’t overdo it (again, I don’t wash my hair often, so I don’t want buildup), but smoothing, moisturizing, and repairing products are now staples in my hair routine.
The three formula types I’m obsessed with on my extensions are:
- Bond-builders to help keep my extensions healthy and repair any heat damage.
- Hair masks, a category I rarely used prior, now dominate my shower. It’s been difficult to find silicone-free options, but right now I love Amika’s Hydro Rush Moisturizing Mask and Lolavie’s Intensive Repair Treatment.
- Hair creams after styling for hold and softness, or to touch up and add some moisture to my hair on days two, three, and four. Chris McMillan’s Styling Balm is my absolute favorite because it acts like hairspray without the crunch.
Final thoughts
I thought I’d try these for a few weeks, do a cute hair look for Coachella, and go back to my short hair as if nothing happened. Nope, I’m three months in and can’t imagine my hair styled any other way ever again. I haven’t been this excited about my hair since my mom let me get highlights in middle school. And just like then, I feel like the coolest, hottest version of myself now. Who knew the answer was a big hair change?
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Beth Gillette is the beauty editor at Cosmopolitan with eight years of experience researching, writing, and editing hair, makeup, nail, and fragrance stories.
Beth Gillette is the beauty editor at Cosmopolitan, where she covers skincare, makeup, hair, nails, and more across digital and print. She can generally be found in bright eyeshadow furiously typing her latest feature or hemming and hawing about a new product you "have to try." Prior to Cosmopolitan, she wrote and edited beauty content as an Editor at The Everygirl for four years. Follow her on Instagram for makeup selfies and a new hair 'do every few months.
