I Tried a $54 Braid Extension to Replicate Kim Kardashian’s Butt-Length Braid

The best part? If you’re having a hard time figuring out which shade will work for you, Insert Name Here has a pony quiz on its website to help you decide, or you can chat with the brand’s hair experts who can also determine which of the 17 shades is your perfect match. 

For my ombréd hair, I decided on the hue Honey, a dirty blonde. Once the hairpiece hit my doorstep, I was instantly impressed. The shade match was perfect and the silky and soft strands felt like real hair, which was surprising to me since it’s made from synthetic fibers. (I should mention the material is heat-resistant up to 320 degrees Fahrenheit, but it’s important to keep in mind that, because this pony is pre-styled, heat can remove her original texture.) The piece also came enclosed in a silk zippered case alongside two bobby pins and two elastic bands. 

Now, let’s get into the application. I started by using a dense brush (I love this one that only costs $4) and slicking my natural hair back into a tight pony. To make sure all my baby hairs and flyaways are laid and not moving, I take a pea-sized amount of Balmain Paris Hair Couture Strong Styling Gel on my Baby Tress 3-in-1 Edge Styler Tool and brush down any strays. Once my hair is up, I take the Lara and connect it to my pony with the attached hair elastic.

At this point, I was left with the pre-sectioned braid tails, my natural hair, and the wrap piece. For some assistance, I reached out to hairstylist Cherin Choi for some professional advice. Choi said to make sure my natural hair was underneath the extension, as it’s easier to conceal that way. Then I sectioned my natural hair into three pieces and blended them in with the Lara braid tails before braiding all the pieces together. 

Because of how long Lara is, eventually, I ran out of my real hair so I was just braiding the extension piece (totally normal). Once it was all braided, I secured the bottom with a clear elastic. For the last step, it was time for the wrap-around piece. I simply wrapped it around the base of the pony to conceal any sight of the extension and then locked it in place with a bobby pin.