SHORTIES™

Each extension is braided into your natural hair using a basic 3 strand braid. The same one most of us learned as little girls. You repeat that around your head and you are done.

Putting them in is a sitting. Like, snacks and a series kind of sitting. The first time is the longest. After that it gets faster. Every woman is different.

But here is the thing. You do that once. And then for about 4 weeks, your hair is done.

You can install them yourself (more on installing them yourself in the next question), have a girlfriend help, or take them to your hairdresser.

We send a digital course with your order to walk you through all the steps.

Removal is just as simple. We cover the steps in the removal question below.

"Amazing extension, the color matches my hair color perfectly!! Easy to install and not heavy at all!"
-Stephanie W., Source: Product Review, January 7, 2025

"The Install process. I 100% thought it would be way more complicated than it was! It took some tweaks to get it going but once you get in the groove, super easy! (Thank god for your installation videos!)"
-Crystal S., 36, Source: April 2025 Glow Up Challenge

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Yes. You can install braid-in extensions yourself, and many of our customers do.

The technique is the same 3 strand braid you learned as a little girl, just done in small sections around your head.

We send a digital video course with every order that walks you through the whole process. From how to section your hair, to how to braid extension with your hair, and to how to secure them with a rubber band.

A few things that make self install easier:

• A 360 mirror, or a hand mirror with a wall mirror, so you can see the back of your head
  
• Working in good light
  
• Watching the install videos all the way through once before you start
  
• Your install course includes a full list of what to gather before you start

If you would rather not install at home, you can have a girlfriend help, or take the bundles and the install video to your hairdresser. Either works.

The first time is a process of learning. Each install gets faster as you go.

"While I was watching all the videos I could find on WCB, I realized I could do this myself. So awesome."
-Adrienne V., 44, Source: September 2025 Glow Up Challenge

"These are so soft and a lot easier to install than I thought. I'll also continue to get better at it. I am SUPER DEE DUPER glad that I made the purchase."
-Rayana E., Source: Product Review, December 2, 2025

"I love how they turned out. I installed them myself. It was very easy."
-Allison R., Source: Product Review, February 25, 2026

"New addict in a loving way. 2nd self install. Learning and loving. Go for it queen 💕"
Cara, Source: Product Review, December 2, 2025

You only need about 2 to 3 inches of hair to install these. If your hair is right at that minimum length, we use a different install method that we walk you through in the course.

Is your hair past your shoulder blades? Pick one of our longer extension options. That way there is room to braid your natural hair onto the extension.

"I've had them in 4 days and love not having to do my hair or looking like a scrub as I'm growing out a pixie haircut."
-Amber B., Source: Product Review, February 4, 2025

"I didn't feel like myself with a pixie and when I started growing it out and we hit that awkward stage, I knew I needed to do something."
-Kimberly S., 44, Source: April 2026 Luma Bundle Giveaway

"I was at a crossroads where I needed to decide if I was going to keep my short pixie or start growing out my do. I dreaded the grow out and had ALWAYS wanted to wear dreads and decided now was the time to try it!"
-Cheri A., 61, Source: April 2026 Luma Bundle Giveaway

Your natural hair is part of the braid. You take two small sections of your own hair and braid them around the extension. The extension is the third strand. A rubber band at the bottom holds it in place.

For the 4 weeks you wear them, you are not running a flat iron every morning. You are not coloring or bleaching as often. You are not pulling, brushing, or styling the way you did before.

It is a built-in break from your routine. Many women come to love that part as much as the look itself.

For care while they are in, see the daily care and washing questions below.

"How protected your hair is from chemicals and product. And how happy that actually makes your hair and scalp!"
-Andrea A., 36, Source: April 2025 Glow Up Challenge

"I enjoy being able to just let my hair be and not having to mess with it. It gives a style that is unique and effortless."
-Mikayla E., 32, Source: September 2025 Glow Up Challenge

"The ability to change my hair colors like the snap of my fingers without the damage of chemicals is top tier!"
-Natalie M., 21, Source: April 2025 Glow Up Challenge

We like to say we are "bougie hippies, not dirty ones."

You can wash your hair as often as you like. You can shower just as you normally would, and your extensions are fine either way. Many women find a rhythm of washing their hair 1 to 2 times a week.

Because you are not washing, drying, and styling every day, your mornings get faster and your natural hair gets a break.

We make a gentle pH-balanced Peppermint Shampoo Bar that adds moisture and helps soothe the scalp. Use it to clean your scalp. Then let the suds rinse through the extensions.

"I love how clean I feel after I wash my dreads... I can go 2 weeks in between washes and my dreads always smell amazing."
-Lindsay S., Source: Product Review, April 22, 2025

"I use to worry so much about how I styled my hair so I looked fuller. Or I had to wash on certain days. Now I have so much confidence it doesn't matter what way I style my hair or when wash day is."
-Rachael C., 37, Source: September 2025 Glow Up Challenge

It is super simple. At first, your routine will take about 10 minutes in the morning and evening. It will get faster as time goes on.

Your basic routine:

• Daily: Simply separate your dreads twice a day using a few pumps of Crown Nectar
  
• Nightly: Sleep in a satin bonnet or 1 to 2 french braids on a satin pillowcase
  
• Weekly: Wash your scalp and hair, then rinse well
  
• After 2 months: Nightly, slide an Ona band over your loose hair and climb into bed. No more bonnet needed.

Never brush or comb them. That can ruin the texture and wave.

For more on washing, see the washing question above. For more on sleeping, see the sleep question below.

"The ease of taking care of them and how you can wake up and go. No need to wait for the flat iron or curling iron to heat up. A little crown nectar and separating and you are good to go!"
-Rae Ann T., 44, Source: April 2025 Glow Up Challenge

"5 minutes to get ready in the morning... I don't have to worry about how humidity will affect them."
-Rachel S., 44, Source: September 2025 Glow Up Challenge

"The styles are endless and the ease of each look is so effortless. Perfect for my lazy butt."
-Krysta L., 48, Source: April 2025 Glow Up Challenge

"The separating is easier and less time than it takes to style natural hair."
-Stephanie C., 34, Source: April 2025 Glow Up Challenge

Sleeping is straightforward once you find your rhythm. Two simple options many women use:

• Satin bonnet: The easiest option. Pop it on before bed and your hair stays in place all night.
  
• 1 to 2 french braids on a satin or silk pillowcase: Braid your dreads loosely so they do not get tangled, and let the pillowcase do the rest.

After about 2 months, your dreads are settled enough that you can skip the bonnet. Slide an Ona band over your loose hair and climb into bed.

A few notes for new wearers:

• The first couple of nights can feel different while you get used to them.
  
• Satin or silk is the key, whether that is your bonnet, your pillowcase, or both. Cotton can rough up the texture.

"I actually get to sleep in an extra 30 minutes now in the morning."
Charity B., Source: Product Review, August 17, 2024

"Every day I wake up and am able to pull my bonnet off and be ready to face the day is an amazing milestone for me!!!"
-Billie N., 55, Source: September 2025 Glow Up Challenge

"They take a bit to get used to sleeping in & I'm not fully adjusted yet, but I expected that!"
-Kyra K., Source: Product Review, June 22, 2025

Yes. These extensions are made for an active life. The gym, training, swimming, hiking, kayaking, the beach, the lake, the pool. They hold up.

A few care tips for active days:

• After swimming, especially in salt water or chlorine, rinse your scalp and run Crown Nectar through your extensions
  
• For workouts, a high bun or french braid keeps them out of your face
  
• Sweat is fine. Just rinse and refresh as you normally would on wash day

"I am a very active person and spend a lot of time at the CrossFit gym training to be an Olympic power lifter. These dreads have held up beautifully with all of the abuse I put them through in training."
-Stacey S., Source: Product Review, April 3, 2024

"After a day in the lake, on the boat, and then in the pool and hot tub, a thorough rub thru of crown nectar after a good wash brings the locs back under control."
-Cathy S., Source: Product Review, September 9, 2025

“They were amazing for our cruises! So easy to manage and I got so many compliments. At my small business conference I was able to style my dreads for the sessions, dinner, the gala and the pool!"
-Becky A., 55, Source: September 2025 Glow Up Challenge

Yes. They are worn by women like you in every kind of workplace.

We have customers who are:

• Accountants
  
• Bookkeepers
  
• Business owners
  
• Hairstylists
  
• Nurses
  
• Office managers
  
• Paralegals
  
• Pharmacy techs
  
• Sales reps
  
• Social workers
  
• Teachers
  
• Therapists

And many more.

You control how bold or subtle you go:

• Choose neutral tones for stricter workplaces
  
• Pull them into a bun, ponytail, or braid to keep them tidy

"I am a teacher and live in Jcrew and slacks... I am in love and have gotten so many compliments from coworkers and students."
-Ashley, Source: Product Review, October 15, 2025

"I wear them for any event I want to look my best. Weddings, baby showers, and even to work! I'm a nurse, and these baby's hide well in a scrub cap for surgery."
-Kateri P., 45, Source: September 2025 Glow Up Challenge

"I'm an office manager at a construction company. My extensions had made my morning so easy. Quick shower with my hair up. Then drop it to a high pony and off I go."
-Marnie H., 59, Source: April 2026 Luma Bundle Giveaway

"I am a payroll specialist. I work in a corporate office 3 days a week and from home 2 days a week. Everyone looks forward to what new colors I'll put in. My mornings only take 15 minutes to get ready!"
-Rachael C., 37, Source: April 2026 Luma Bundle Giveaway

We recommend wearing them for 4 to 6 weeks at a time.

How long each install lasts depends on how well they were installed. The extensions naturally slide a little as you wear them each day. They get pulled on, they move around, and over time they slide down.

Many women take them out at 4 weeks. Some go longer, some go shorter. Once you remove them, you can re-install right away, or take a break and enjoy your natural hair for a while.

For more on re-installing, see the re-install question below..

"Not every install will be the same. Some last longer, sometimes you'll install less or more."
-Rachael C., 37, Source: April 2026 Confidence Survey

"4 weeks in and they still are amazing."
-Celeste S., Source: Product Review, December 21, 2024

A set can last for years when cared for properly.

Your braid-in dreads can be re-installed again and again. Many women buy new sets to try new colors or different lengths.

"Finding out the extensions would last years due to the type of material they're made out of was a life saver!"
-Natalie M., 22, Source: April 2026 Confidence Survey

"Invest in yourself because you are worth it. They last quite a long time with proper care."
-Beverly T., 56, Source: April 2025 Glow Up Challenge

"I am on my 5th install and am addicted to all the beautiful colors!"
-Lauren L., 61, January 2026 Glow Up Challenge

A refresh is when you take your extensions out and put them right back in close to your scalp.

You can refresh your whole head, or just part of it. Many women refresh the section around their face or the bottom row at the back of their neck after a couple of weeks. Those sections tend to slide and frizz faster.

Why do this? Over the 4 to 6 weeks you wear them, each extension gradually slides outward along your hair. Washing, sleeping, and daily wear all move it a little further from your scalp. That sliding leaves them loose and can cause discomfort.

A refresh tightens everything back up against your scalp. Your extensions are made to be reused install after install.

For more on removal, see the removal question below.

"Refreshes! I used to uninstall every 4 weeks thinking that's how it went. I'd go 4-7 days in between installs thinking that was the proper way. I had no idea you could do a refresh or install the same day again! It was a game changer when I switched up. ;)"
-Natalie M., 22, Source: April 2026 Confidence Survey

"They are so much easier than you think! And do those refreshes yourself (you'll get faster and faster at them!)"
-Jessica S., 41, Source: April 2026 Confidence Survey

"When my WCB hair isn't installed I feel im down. When I reinstall them I feel more confident and happier with the way I look."
-Carolyn R., 58, Source: April 2026 Luma Bundle Giveaway

Removal is simple. You will need a rubber band cutter and a comb. A rubber band cutter comes with your order of Wild BandZ®.

1. Cut the rubber band at the bottom of the extension
   
2. Gently unbraid the extension
   
3. Comb out your natural hair in that section
   
4. Repeat for each extension

A note on what to expect. You naturally shed 60 to 100 hairs a day. During the 4 to 6 weeks your extensions were in, the hairs you would have lost stayed put because they were braided in.

So when you take everything down, you will see a noticeable amount of shed hair come out at once. It looks like a lot. It is the hair you would have lost over those weeks with or without extensions, all coming out at once during the removal.

Many women save their removal for a quiet evening at home and pair it with a wash day or a refresh.

For more on refreshes and re-installing, see the refresh question above.

"How beautiful my hair is when I take them out."
-Kerri A., 38, Source: April 2025 Glow Up Challenge

"Now that I uninstalled to get a trim I feel like I am missing a huge part of me. I cannot wait to get my dreads re installed in a few days."
-Susanne V., 50, Source: September 2025 Glow Up Challenge

Every set is covered by our Color Love Guarantee.

If the color or length is not what you hoped for, you can exchange it for a set you love. We want you to be 100% happy.

See the full Color Love Guarantee policy.

"I will admit I was so very nervous… I was blown away when Berlin assured me that if I didn't love the color match, she would make sure I got the dreads that worked for me. … Do yourself a favor and JUST BUY THE DREADS."
-Leslie T., Source: Product Review, August 1, 2024

A simple place to start is matching your extensions to your natural root color. From there, add lighter or darker shades to get the dimension you want.

If you would rather not guess, book a Wildcrafted Signature Consultation. Here is how it works:

• We send you a few questions to answer.
  
• You share photos and videos of your hair vision.
  
• Our team then builds a set just for you.
  
• You will see pictures of the exact set before you check out.

The consultation has a small fee that can be applied toward your order. The goal is to make sure you love what shows up at your door.

"I loved the consultation with my dreads, and I am so thankful to this company."
Mara M., Source: Product Review, March 13, 2025

"The entire process made me feel like I was their only customer... A special shoutout to the team for helping me pick colors during my consultation."
-Tammy T., Source: Product Review, November 27, 2025

"I had a consult to see what variety of colors will work best. I have never owned dreads before and these are so soft and just downright amazing. I am in love."
-Kim M., Source: Product Review, April 10, 2025

The quotes above come from real Wildcrafted Beauty customers. We gather these voices through product reviews on our site, surveys, challenges, and giveaways.

A note on how we gather quotes. Women who participate in our surveys, challenges, and giveaways do so for the chance to win a prize or receive a thank-you, like a product credit.

Women who leave product reviews are verified buyers who receive a small discount code for their next purchase. In all cases, participants agree that we can share their words in our marketing.

How to read the citations:

• Product Reviews: First name, last initial, "Source: Product Review," and the date.
  Example: Kim M., Source: Product Review, April 10, 2025
  
• Surveys, Challenges, and Giveaways: First name, last initial, age at the time of response, "Source:," and the source name.
  Example: Susanne V., 50, Source: September 2025 Glow Up Challenge

The Judge.me reviews directly below are a separate set of verified customer reviews you can browse on your own.