Like everything else in the world today, hair extensions are accompanied by a wide array of good and bad. It's ridiculous to go and spend hours at a salon and expect to go home as if you magically grew 12 inches of your own hair.

After having your new extensions done, there are a few things your going to have to do to help your stylist maintain your fresh new locks.

Make sure you're prepared for the following BEFORE you take your trip to the salon:

• Be ready to spend a good chunk of your hard earned cash! Good quality hair extensions don't come cheap. It's better to spend the time and ask your stylist what type of extensions suit your needs then to waste your money on something you're going to regret in the end. A good stylist will be well informed and appreciate your questions, so don't hesitate to ask questions.

• Hair extensions can be damaging to the hair. This isn't true in all cases though. There are many different methods for adding and removing extensions that will not damage your natural hair. There are no 100% guarantees on this however! Hope for the best, but prepare for the worst. Not all hair salons provide fully trained stylists. Make sure the salon you go to specializes in hair extensions; this will better your odds of leaving with the look you were hoping for.

• Headaches are possible for the first few days. Depending on the method and type of hair extensions you decide to have done, mild headaches can occur. The extra weight of hair extensions have been known to add pressure to the neck and cause mild headaches. If you opted for sewn in extensions, problems also arise when the hair is sewn in too tightly near the scalp. These aren't major issues, but definitely something to consider.

• You will need to spend more time taking care of your hair. People with long hair have to spend a lot more time caring for it. One of the most important things after having your hair done is conditioning. If you normally don't use conditioner in your hair, get into the habit of doing it now! Long hair requires extra moisturizing and conditioning, hair extensions are no different. Your new extensions are nothing more than an addition to your already existing hair. Proper treatment is critical to protect your own natural hair as well as your new investment.

These are just a few of the things that are important to think about before diving into the world of hair extensions. Yes, having long beautiful hair is every woman's dream. Just remember that with every dream, reality is soon to follow!

Choosing the right stylist with the proper experience is critical to having this type of hair procedure done. Don't be afraid to ask questions about any concerns that you might be having prior to actually having it done. A properly trained hair specialist will appreciate the concern and have the answers that you're looking for.