Ivanka Trump’s recent appearance at the Super Bowl put her under the spotlight not only for her ensemble or the presence of her father, but also for a camera shot that revealed her luxurious hair extensions.
Professional stylists weighed in on the issue, analyzing the image and concluding that not only were the extensions of the highest quality and made from real human hair, but that Ivanka must’ve paid upwards of $4,000 for them.
“For that level of quality and installation at a top salon or with a notable stylist, the hair pieces alone could run anywhere from $2,000 to $3,500, with an additional $500 for installation,” Julia North, a London-based hair stylist and owner of a luxury wig brand said.
Price was the only thing the stylists were able to reach a consensus on; while some believe the enhancements were correctly placed, others believe they failed to provide a seamless look.
Stylists revealed the cost of Ivanka Trump’s luxurious real-hair extensions. They said she paid upwards of $4,000 for the entire process
Image credits: Brennan Asplen/Getty Images
“Based on the Super Bowl footage, it looks like she’s using 18 to 20-inch extensions,” North told the Daily Mail about the expensive extensions.
The cost doesn’t stop at the initial purchase and installation; however, as the stylist emphasized, upkeep for such premium extensions is both delicate and expensive.
“These types of extensions require adjustments every six to eight weeks to keep them looking natural and sleek,” she explained, adding that for a public figure in constant movement, such as Ivanka, these regular maintenance sessions are even more important.
Image credits: potus/whitehouse
Celebrity hairstylist Mia Santiago, known for styling icons like Mariska Hargitay, Dove Cameron, and Martha Stewart, had a much harsher take on the photos, believing the placement of the enhancements could’ve been better.
“It’s not just about attaching hair; it’s about creating a seamless look,” Santiago said, suggesting that a halo extension, which sits across the backside of a client’s head, would’ve been a much better option for the First Daughter.
Some hairdressers believe the extensions were correctly placed and that the issue lay instead with how the hair was parted
Image credits: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images
Romina Sotelo, a hairstylist and fashion designer based in Toronto who spoke with Bored Panda, weighed in on the Daily Mail’s stylist opinions. “First, I agree regarding the complexity, cost, and material quality—everything aligns with real data,” Romina said.
Image credits: Emily Curiel/Getty Images
“As for the positioning of the extensions, it’s hard to judge based on just a photo. It could be the angle, the lighting, etc.
“I imagine that someone like her has access to the best stylists on the market, and I believe that, as professionals, they would always strive to do their best, especially with this level of media exposure,” she said, giving Ivanka’s hairdresser the benefit of the doubt.
Image credits: potus/whitehouse
For Sotelo, the issue was not with the extensions themselves but with how the hair was parted in that particular shot. “The distribution overall looks good. The fall, tone, and length in relation to her hair all seem quite natural,” she added.
Her take was echoed by some netizens who believed Ivanka’s hair looked normal.
“Well, her hair might look a bit lumpy, but apart from that, I can’t see anything wrong. If it hadn’t been mentioned, I wouldn’t have realized,” one user wrote.
Extensions on fine hair come with a host of problems, requiring delicate placing so as not to damage the scalp and follicles
For Santiago, the main cause of Ivanka’s extensions being noticeable in the shot is due to how fine her hair is.
“[They are] showing because her individual hairs are very fine, so they’re easy to see through,” she said.
Image credits: ivankatrump
According to stylists, the main difficulty for this hair type is that the added weight of the enhancements can cause breakage and damage to the natural strands. This necessitates the application method to be delicate.
Image credits: Getty Images
If the method is too tight or heavy-handed, extensions can become visible, and there’s also the possibility of discomfort, scalp irritation, and even hair loss over time.
“I, too, have fine hair and did use extensions for a time. In my case, the extensions became harder to hide over time as the weight of the extensions was causing my own hair to break off, meaning I had less of my own hair to blend with,” one user wrote.
Netizens debated the appearance of Ivanka Trump’s extensions, with some believing they looked seamless and others criticizing them for looking “cheap”
“You would think with all that Saudi money they grifted that she could afford a better hair stylist,” one reader wrote.
“No surprise. She’s gotten a lot of work done. Just google her natural face, and you’ll see,” another pointed out.
Image credits: Andrea Hanks/Official White House Photo
“I think Ivanka’s hair looks lovely. I don’t see anything obvious, but the hair blends nicely. It’s also a nice volume,” a user replied.
“Looks pretty bad—fragile hair. Without extensions, she’d be bald,” another stated.
“With all the money Ivanka has, I would have opted for a wig. At least a wig, a good one anyway, looks more real than extensions do.”