As I was perusing the shops in Santa Monica for the after-Christmas sales, I noticed a handful of girls wearing feathers in their hair. Instead of these feathers being the normal chunky clip-in style, they were thin and styled along with girl’s hair. One had a head full of curls and her feathers were curled as well. Another had her hair in a wavy pony and her feathers were just as wavy and put in her updo.
After researching this unusual hair accessory, it came to my attention that feather hair extensions are a hot new trend, and can be treated just like one’s natural hair. Usually, they can be straightened, washed, blow-dried and curled, and they last anywhere from 2-7 weeks.
Aside from Free People and Wendy Nichol’s soho boutique, I haven’t been able to find many places that carry these hair accessories. However, I think it’s just a short matter of time before designers like Betsey Johnson and Juicy Couture jump onboard. Prepare yourself, because I think feather hair extensions are going to be the new way to change up your updo for 2011.
Will you be wearing some feathered hair extensions?
Leave a comment and let us know what you think about this trend! Do you think this is a fun, easy way to change up your look? Will you be donning some new extensions? Or do you think this is a tacky look? Make sure to leave your thoughts below!
I have a friend who spent a whole Saturday over Christmas scouring around L.A. looking for a salon that did these and had no luck. I think they suit brunettes really well, but I’m not sure about other hair colours.
I absolutely love this and will either make my own or buy them online, depending on how much time I have on my hands. I can’t wait for this trend to catch on more.
Jennifer, what a great idea: salons should really hop on board. People would love that.. I’m surprised that she wasn’t able to find any here in LA that do that.
I know in Austin,TX there is a salon that does these. Some of my friends got them from there, but they were able to figure out how the stylist put in the feathers so they went to the craft store and were able to whip some up!
I love this idea!! Something to shake up what has become so mundane!
I personally wouldn’t use them, because I think feathers are kind of gross, but I like the idea very much. I think it looks pretty in the hair of others and it’s a cool way to put some colour into your hair, without having to dye it.
I got one just recently and I really like it. At first I was disappointed I didn’t put it more prominently in my hair but I’m glad now that I didn’t because I have thick hair it doesn’t show all the time and I like that its something people notice less often. I also like it for my sake as I think I would get sick of it more quickly if I saw it every time I look in the mirror.
I think this is very interesting. I would wear one myself! Love it.
These have already come and gone in Colorado, they were super popular over the summer but now it seems they are moving East, a curious shift in trend direction! I really loved the look but never got them because seriously everyone had them before break. I DO NOT recommend the hot pink, they’re way too much.
There are tons of sellers on Etsy selling these!
Ah! I would get these in a heartbeat!
Oh wow. No. Absolutely not.
Maybe living in Colorado ruined it but I saw them all at once like a year ago and then bam gone. I never got the appeal really. In my opinion they make people look like they are turning into birds and are kind of tacky but hey whatever you guys want to do I guess
same story as Jalen (#13)
i got mine in Eugene, Oregon
3 feathers for $5
i get compliments alllll the time! and ive had them in for almost a month now and i expect them to last 5 more months
oh my gosh this is sooooo weird and gross and creepy. I have NEVER seen anyone wearing this. I would never wear this. I find it really creepy. I don’t want a piece that use to be on an animal ATTACHED to my hair!
I have feathers in my hair 🙂 I did them myself and this is the third time I have put them in; typically they lasted at least 5 weeks for me!
I think that these are AHDORABLE! They are so stylish and if you get the non permanent ones you dont have to fully comit to them. Dont go for bright colors, Black and White are the best
I just got some from Plume4You Hair Extensions, they allow you to pick custom color mixes which I think is awesome because thats really hard to find, everyone has pre-made extensions where you have to select from feather groups they have already made. I love this trend and am pumped to buy more feathers !
I would definitively wear them! Just beautiful! But I would be interested if these feathers are real or synthetic? And when real, what kind of bird is it?? Does anyone know?
These don’t seem to have made it to the UK yet, desperately searching!
same here in Germany 😉 I just ordered some from Etsy – in the U.S. !
Ummmm they do kill the roosters just so you know. but they get to live longer and better than chickens that lay eggs so if you eat eggs then its worse really. i love them (feathers not eggs)
by the way i do them in the uk – feather ray
I live in a small town in British Columbia, and I haven’t seen anybody wear feather hair extensions. I guess I’ll be a trendsetter 😉
Haven’t seen anyone with them in SoCal Can’t wait till i get mine in the mail im so exited ! they look so easy to put on, i hope they are …Kandee Johnson has a video out on youtube on how to apply them.i ordered mine on famousfeathers.com their prices were so cheap! i can’t believe u can curl them! so awesome =D
I love this look! I got a ‘do it yourself’ kit from a site called Feather Envy and I have been getting so many comments from people on my feathers. I have a few reds and one white feather in my (black) hair and I really think it looks cool.
Roosters are raised and killed just for a silly, passing fad. How sad is that. And I bet lots of people who have glommed onto this trend are the very same ones to claim that they love animals.
I am from a small town in Oklahoma, and my hair salon is the only place doing them! Some of my sorority sisters have them and I love them! This trend is new to us folks here in Oklahoma! I’m getting some myself soon!
Roosters are raised and killed for this very purpose!
Each extension you buy kills a rooster.
This was in the Seattle Times and other newspapers.
Please don’t support a rooster killing industry just for a fashion fad.
Please do not support this. You can achieve the same look using glue-in synthetic feathers. Do not support rooster killing.
Cute! I will deffenantly be getting a turqouise one put it!
Eva, I too like the look but am worried about the birds. I have read that the feathers come from roosters, most of whom do not survive the all-over plucking. Sounds a bit painful to me. I too will look for synthetic feathers.
I think this is soo cute! I’m definitely going to get it:)
not only is this fashion fad getting old, but your KILLING a living animal just because it’s “cute”. i think that everyone should hold off on this trend until some great synthetic feather extensions come out, cheaper, and guilt free 🙂
brie, those roosters are raised for the fly fishing industry for fishing flies, not because they are “cute”. there are only so many raised each year, not for fasion. you should keep your politics to another board, this is supposed to be upbeat and positive, at least that’s what the rules say, unless of course your politics match those of the moderator…. 🙂
“College Fashion is a happy and positive community of college girls who love fashion. It’s not a site that’s about tearing people down, being fashion elitists or spreading negativity in general. “
We are in the process of launching our cool not cruel, Friendly Feathers By E’lan in the next week. These are synthetic feathers that look just like the natural ones. Available in 13 colors and are 15″ in length. Our vision: Fashion with compassion.
It has to be said that we do not believe that the people who wear natural rooster feathers are in any way vicious or cruel. It is our contention that the majority of people who have these lovely plumes have no idea how they are harvested. Be peaceful, be happy!
I have never found synthetic feathers so far, so that would be great! As I am from Germany, the “trend wave” has not really come over here with feather extensions. Summer will be over soon, so I guess it won’t happen any more. Anyways, I love them and would definitely prefer synthetic ones if there is any possibility!
Are those feathers as shapeable as the real ones?
I just got hair feathers this weekend 😀 i love them(:
OMG, I looooove feathers! I just got one done a few days ago and I love it! It’s hot pink with black stripes and it goes perfectly with my hair. It’s not even expensive, just $10 a piece! Plus, they use beads (yay) and not glue (bleecch).
Whoever wants them should get them. They are the perfect hair accesory for not just parties, but every day!
I just got four black and white ones from Etsy. You can find tons on there and they’re all pretty reasonably priced.
Well, my 7th grade son does NOT like this look on the girls in his classes… 🙂
feathers are sool
You can order some really great one’s from people on Etsy.com (:
They’ve been trendy in the bohemian community for a while now.
I absolutely adore these as a cute new way to liven up your hair. Not only can you get natural colors but bright fun ones too. You can dress up or down any look with this fun new hair piece. I absolutely love mine and its a mix of red, white, black and brown for every day I think I’ll switch up to color soon though.
Also, on the subject of birds being killed for their feathers, there are places you can purchase cruelty-free feathers and imitation feathers.
I have long hair about 7 inches from my shoulders and i dont know if i should get feathers. Im going into 6th grade and its allowed at my school.
what should i do?
My sister and i are going to go get some this weeked with a bunch of friends… and i just dyed my hair too so im gonna look sooo different…. i think the feathers are sooo cute
I love my feathers! A friend of mine discovered them over spring break this year and brought them back to our school in Michigan. She put them in for all of us girls and we get tons of compliments. I am having a hard time finding feathers to buy on my own though. Any suggestions?
I love this look
I’m in So Cal and I just got feather extensions put in while I was at the Salon today. These were just showcased at the hair show, it is the trend for Spring and Summer 2011!!!