Balmain Hair: ready-to-wear collection review

“Over 40 years ago, Balmain Hair (part of the Paris fashion house Pierre Balmain) set out a mission: to source, select and process the best hair in the world.” And they certainly have.

The Balmain Hair line includes a fabulous ready-to-wear collection, comprising five variations of clip-in hair pieces – three of which have been reviewed below – that instantly add style and volume to your locks. Each item is available in nine multi-tonal shades and made of memory hair that holds colour and curls immaculately.

This unique memory hair is 30% lighter than human hair and 18 times more resistant to UV light, allowing the pieces to be suitable for extended wear, whilst just as soft and shiny. These products can also withstand styling tools generating up to 160 degrees centigrade, enabling the wearer to style them as they please.

The instant ponytail, £42.95 

Balmain Hair offer two lengths of ponytail: the Monoco, measuring 45cm and the Toulouse, 30cm.

We chose the former, in the beautiful, multi-tonal shade, Simply Brown. The ponytail arrived packaged suitably in a rectangular box, which would continue to provide excellent storage. At first glance, the tail looked full and attractive, without being overly dramatic, and the colour match was perfect for a mid-light brunette.

The C-clip fastening was slightly difficult to attach at first, but once secure, it’s guaranteed to stay put for the day – there is definitely no need to fear it falling out. This add-on looked equally great worn in a high or low ponytail, and could easily be plaited or twisted up into a top knot. We were very pleased with its natural appearance – the extra strip of hair used to wrap around the root completely covered any tell-tale edges, so no one would ever know your secret! Also included in the box are four large hair grips, a hair band and detailed instructions.

The B-loved, £52.95 

The B-loved is an incredible hair piece, designed for adding volume to the crown. Again, we opted for the Simply Brown shade, which was presented in pretty packaging. We found it extremely convenient to use and it created the desired dramatic results: simply open the three clips on the base, place on top of the head and press the clips down, then comb hair backwards over the top to hide the seams.

The B-loved is perfect for creating ultra-glamorous, catwalk-ready beehives and may be worn with hair up or down. Those with very thin tresses may struggle to have enough hair to cover the piece, if sited on the crown, but it would also work if placed further back on the head.

The clip-in fringe, £17.45  

The Balmain clip-in fringe offers the chance to achieve a full fringe look, without committing to the chop. This time, we decided on the Chocolate Brown option, which comprises rich, deep brown and red tones. We immediately noticed that this fringe stood out significantly from others because it not only covers the forehead but also falls lightly around the crown, allowing it to blend in seamlessly and avoid the dreaded “stuck on” look. As this piece covers the whole head, it can either be matched to your current hair colour or, for those more daring, used to liven up your style with a contrasting shade. The three rubber-backed grips were strong and sturdy, giving us complete confidence that the fringe would remain in position.

We also cut into the sides, to shorten the longer layers around the face, which was extremely easy to do. Overall, this fringe adds great tonal value and depth, without the commitment of extra colour, chemicals or chopping.

Rebekah Absalom

To view the full collection visit here. Follow Balmain Hair on Facebook and Twitter.