In my hairdressing life there are two things that I have come to realise:

1. I am, in fact, a hairdressing nerd, reveling in facts about cuticles and cortex’s and all the sciencey things. I spend hours on my Mac going deeper and deeper into the World Wide Web in search of information and have often squealed with delight upon discovery of a particularly surprising fact about hair.

2. To truly understand something you need to experience it for yourself. I’ve ventured into many salons as a ‘client’ and had so many beauty treatments that, should a vacancy come up at Elle as a beauty tester, I would probably be over-qualified for the job!

After meeting a fellow nerd (this is so rare and exciting) Karen Harper, from Extreme Lengths, (aka the extension queen) I take the plunge and sit still for two hours, preparing to embark on a life changing experience…extensions!

Loads of the pop stars and actresses I’ve worked with have had their hair enhanced by extensions (of course I could never divulge who, as this would be indiscreet).  I’ve learned that everything is different when you are working with them: from the products you apply to the drying techniques – everything reacts differently! One day, while blow drying a client, a stray one landed in her lap (the heat was too high!) and it dawned on me that I needed a better education in extensions.

I have used weaves for years and years, and ponytails and wigs, but these single applications of real hair that are discreetly applied… well it’s a whole new area to get nerdish about!

So off I trot to Westbourne Grove to sit in Karen’s chair, while she masterly applies hair from three Russian ladies’ heads! I am proud to say at least one was a virgin!! The soft ashy blonde tone had never seen a colourant!  She matched the texture that I have (I call it beachy wave, my mum calls it unbrushed mess) and the blend proved insanely good. I left the salon with long wavy locks that look sexily dishevelled, with not even a glimmer of WAG about them.

Back at Haris I succumbed to having another two inches cut off. Benjamin ‘blended me’ with a razor technique and it’s taken them to a whole new beachy level.

At 6 am the following morning I desperately tried to tuck my new do into a Speedo swimming cap (difficult). Feeling very over protective of my new locks I didn’t make it to my 30th lap, instead opting to spend more time in the shower cleansing them!  The minty fresh shampoo is lighter than anything I have used before and forget the massage action that I learnt as a junior…Karen has taught me a whole new technique! As I lovingly apply my special conditioner (not too close to the joins,  just through the ends and top) I ponder on whether to change the name of my blog to “My extensions and I”…

The most important thing is to be careful what you use. You need to know that the product will wash out with ease and not cause any harm to the hair. DO NOT put any type of sun oil spray in as I cannot guarantee it will wash out. I would not want to land the bill for a model that cannot shoot for days as she looks like she has just come from the local chippie!!

Sisley Body Sun Oil
This is a very fine spray, which leaves a high sheen. I use this when I’m shooting outside and want a wet look. Tong the hair to make it wavy and then spray the oil on liberally. It will give the hair a wet look but keep the texture in to create a surfy beach look. Also the oil is a super reflector so it’s great in the studio if you are shooting (be careful of the floor: it’s not so great if the model then slips and falls.) I always put at towel down to stop the oil from causing accidents!

Alterna Caviar Beach
This spray gives realistic end-of-day beach hair. I also love it because it’s kinda posh and has caviar in – a treat for the hair and an upmarket touch to your kit!

She Uemura Art of Style Fibre Lift
This gives amazing hold. Use it to create this season’s slick looks. Comb it through the hair then dry with a diffuser and finish by applying Sisley oil on top with a tint brush.