10JunFacts About Feathers

Hair feathers are, as the kids say, "so hot right now!" As soon as I found out about hair feathers I hopped on this bandwagon with gusto! Sure, it may be trendy, but it's a trend that's on the rise - I'm pleased to say I still don't see that many people with hair feathers, and you can't buy them at Target, so they must not be mainstream yet. It's true, Steven Tyler does have them, but you're guaranteed to look a lot cuter than he will with this fun, colorful trend.

The Fun of Feathers

Hair feathers are a great way to add some funky color to your summer hairstyle without doing anything that will cause any damage or permanent change to your hair. I opted to put them in because I really wanted to dye some of my hair a bright pink or purple, but with a wedding coming up, I don't want to mess with a permanent change. Hair feathers will stay clamped in your hair for one to three months on their own, but they're a snap to remove if you grow tired of them. Best of all, hair feathers blend in like a colorful strand, so if you place them strategically, under another layer of hair, they're easy to disguise for work or formal events.

Finding Feathers

Now, this is the key part. Getting feathers put in at a salon or by a feather extension specialist will cost you roughly $30, including a tip for the stylist. That includes somewhere around seven feathers and the one time application. However, you can get everything you need online to do this yourself for a fraction of the cost! There are lots of vendors on Etsy selling entire hair feather kits for about two dollars a feather, and oftentimes these kits include the tools necessary to do it yourself at home. A quick search on Esty turns up a Starter Kit that includes 18 feathers and 6 of the beads you need to attach the feathers to your hair and another option with 12 feathers, 6 beads and the

threading tool required. Either are available for $30, so you're getting more feathers and the ability to put your feathers in at home over and over again. Even better, if you can get a friend or two to go in with you, you can get a huge selection of feathers to share for a minimal investment. The 25 feathers pictures at right are available for just over $50 - it's a great shareable option. The feathers are reusable, so as long as you don't treat them too harshly, a set of colorful feathers will last you for several different applications.

Fitting Yourself with Feathers

The process of putting feathers in your hair is a simple one. In order to attach the feathers, you need 3 tools: a threading tool, a bead to crimp the feathers to your hair and a pair of pliers (or special bead crimper, but pliers work just fine) to close the bead. Once you've got your equipment, follow these simple steps.

• After selecting a bunch of five to nine feathers, you choose a place on your head where you'd like them attached.
• Thread a small section of hair through the bead using the threading tool.
• Slide the ends of your feather bunch into the bead with your hair, positioning the bead and feathers as close to your scalp as possible.
• Use the pliers or crimping tool to clamp the bead shut, pressing it until it's flat and you're all set!

If you're a visual learner,  there are plenty of how-to videos on YouTube that give great step-by-step instructions.

The Future of Feathers

Once you've got your feathers in your hair, you can wash, dry and style them as you would your natural hair. They look gorgeous when curled! You don't need to take any special care with these feathers. Once your hair grows out a bit, they may snag when you comb or brush your hair, but as long as you're gentle (just like you normally would be), there shouldn't be any problems.