Breaking Beauty Podcast: "Hair Extensions 101 with Celebrity Hairstylist Lacy Redway"

Date: November 5, 2025
Hosts: Jill Dunn & Carlene Higgins
Guest: Lacy Redway, Celebrity Hairstylist

Episode Overview

This episode explores all things hair extensions with celebrity stylist Lacy Redway, whose clients include Serena Williams, SZA, Florence Pugh, Michelle Williams, and Tessa Thompson. The conversation demystifies extensions—from types and installation methods to maintenance, blending, and product recommendations. With holiday parties and seasonal events approaching, listeners get insider advice for seamless, healthy, and stylish hair transformation at any experience level.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Introduction to Lacy Redway & Her Expertise

• Lacy is renowned for creating show-stopping hair looks on red carpets, fashion runways, music videos, and editorial shoots.
• She’s worked on iconic Met Gala looks and is a go-to for both bold, sculptural hair (e.g., cowboy hat braids for Tessa Thompson) and understated elegance (e.g., Michelle Williams at red carpets).
• Extensions play a big role in her toolkit, and she brings both artistry and practical expertise.

2. Why Extensions? – Purpose & Evolution

• Extensions were once obvious and taboo; now, thanks to technology and mainstream adoption, they’re nearly undetectable and widely accepted (“Is she or isn’t she?” - 03:00).
• Used for everything from volumizing fine hair and adding length, to creating protective styles or fashion-forward statements.

3. Types of Extensions & Choosing What’s Right

Key Question: What’s your approach to prepping clients? Clip-in, sewn, tape-in?

• On set, Lacy prefers high-quality, professional clip-in extensions, especially Bellami’s new textured collection, for versatility and fast changes (09:19).
• “I’d rather pay to get quality versus having to buy something a few times because it’s not good.” – Lacy Redway (10:22)

Mythbusting:

• Do extensions damage your hair?
  • Only if installed or maintained incorrectly (tight styles, leaving in too long, double-processing).
  • “If you are doing the recommended things...you are gonna be fine with extensions. But when it becomes damaging is when people abuse it by keeping them in too long...” – Lacy Redway (10:51)

DIY Clip-ins:

• Temporary, easy to use for events, can (and should) be removed before washing your own hair.
• Storage: Use protective dust/satin bags, not drawers, to extend lifespan (13:08).

4. Extension Shopping & Hair Matching Tips

• Always select extensions based on desired style, natural texture, and whether your own hair will be left out or fully covered (14:02).
  • If blending with your own hair, texture match is crucial.
• Bellami extensions are all real human hair—Amazon/beauty supply options often mix fibers, leading to poor performance (15:14).
• Buy from reputable brands – “Consistency is really important...my clients are not trying to hear that I tried a new extension brand premiere day and it tangled and...created a rat nest in the back of their head.” – Lacy Redway (16:27)

5. Practical Application—How Many Packs?

• Number needed depends on head size, desired result (volume vs. length), and natural density (21:42).
  • “People typically go with one to two packs...if you wanted to have 30 inch extensions, I would suggest two to three packs.” – Lacy Redway (22:03)
  • For thick hair, consider braiding and pinning underneath hair to minimize bulk and maximize blending (22:25).

6. Clip-ins vs. Pro Salon Installs—Pros & Cons

• Clip-ins: Low risk, removable, great for "dating" the look before committing (“You get to date extensions with clip-ins.” - 25:24).
• Salon installs (sewn, bonded): More seamless (if installed well), but costly ($8,000+ for celebrity installs!), less scalp access, more commitment (26:41).
• “Convenience and flexibility really is what makes [clip-ins] a pro.” – Lacy Redway (26:05)

7. Blending & Placement Secrets for At-Home Users

• Match extension texture to own hair.
• Use enough packs for density; sometimes braid/stow away natural hair.
• Blend with tools: Use round brush for straight hair or try texture-specific options (31:14).
• Placement: Section top in a "horseshoe" shape, leave out front/temple hair to conceal clips, place pieces in the central section (32:03).

Biggest DO:

• Always blend texture and plan placement to reduce visible clips/wefts.
  Biggest DON’T:
• Don’t ignore back and sides; “You have to make sure that thing looks good 360.” – Lacy Redway (34:00)

8. Maintenance & Care

• Clip-ins should be removed before washing, stored dry, and placed in protective bags.
• Wash with standard shampoo/conditioner; handle gently (37:42).
• Styling products: Lacy likes Dove Repair, Tresemme A-list prep spray, SheaMoisture Coconut & Hibiscus line, GHD irons (38:46).
• Use styling products appropriate to (curly/straight) extension type.

9. Extensions for Hair Thinning & Hair Loss

• Not all extensions work for top-of-head thinning; hair toppers & closures with lace offer alternatives (41:50).
• “A hair closure is another way of saying a hair topper.” – Lacy Redway (42:02)
• Products like Halo (wefts on a fishing wire) offer easy, non-clip alternatives—convenient but may slip with heavy activity (43:37).

10. Expert Hacks for Secure, Seamless Fit

• Tease root and use hairspray (Tresemme A-list) for grip before placing clip-ins (45:22).
• French braids under clips can anchor them without product for sensitive scalps (46:06).

Notable Pro Tip:

• “You want to have a little grit and tackiness to the root...backcomb and I use hairspray to create the grit.” – Lacy Redway (45:43)

11. Lacy’s Dream Projects & Fun Industry Stories

• Aspirational clients: Rihanna, Beyoncé.
• Would love more creative, artistic “sculptural” hair work (47:42).
• Candid stories from Celebrity Apprentice and realities of working with both A-list and challenging stars.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Quality Over Quantity:
  “I’d rather pay to get quality versus having to buy something a few times because it’s not good.”
  — Lacy Redway, 10:22

• On Hair Extension Myths:
  “If you are going to a professional to get them installed the correct way...you are gonna be fine with extensions. But when it becomes damaging is when people abuse it by keeping them in too long...”
  — Lacy Redway, 10:51

• On Clip-ins vs. Salon Extensions:
  “You get to date extensions with clip-ins.”
  — Lacy Redway, 25:24

• On Celebrity Transparency:
  “Back in the day, hair extensions was so taboo, where it was like don’t ask, don’t tell kind of thing. Now you see entertainers like Cardi B...She has no filter. She doesn’t care.”
  — Lacy Redway, 28:40

• On Photo Shoots vs. Red Carpets:
  “There’s so much that we hide in the back. That’s why I always say people do not give red carpet hair stylists enough credit because you have to make sure that thing looks good 360.”
  — Lacy Redway, 34:00

• On Blending Clip-ins Seamlessly:
  “The number one tip to blend your extensions properly is to make sure that they match your hair texture.”
  — Lacy Redway, 30:51

Timestamps for Important Segments

| Topic | Timestamp | |---|---| | Lacy’s background, clients, and signature looks | 00:33–02:32 | | Why extensions have become normalized/mainstream | 03:00–04:00 | | Misconceptions about extensions & damage | 10:51–12:14 | | Quality, brands, and how to shop for extensions | 10:22–16:27 | | Number of packs and head size/density | 21:42–22:24 | | Clip-ins vs. salon installs (cost, pros/cons) | 24:18–27:09 | | Placement and blending for every hair type | 30:51–34:00 | | Maintenance, washing, and product picks | 37:42–39:23 | | Extensions for thinning hair/hair loss | 40:15–42:44 | | Hacks for extra security and blending | 45:22–46:53 | | Lacy’s dream hair moments and funniest job stories | 47:42–53:51 |

Conclusion & Takeaways

• Hair extensions are more accessible, customizable, and accepted than ever before.
• Quality and proper technique are everything—bad extensions come from cheap materials and lack of care, not from extensions themselves.
• Clip-ins are a safe starting point for experimentation, and expert tricks can help anyone achieve a red carpet-quality finish.
• For hair loss and thinning, toppers and alternative systems exist, and embracing hairstyling as self-expression is encouraged.

Everything mentioned in the episode (brands, products, methods) is linked at breakingbeautypodcast.com.

For more expert beauty insider secrets, tune into Breaking Beauty Podcast every Wednesday.