One of the first rules about being Erika Jayne is that you don’t necessarily have to explain why you do what you do, and The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star’s new Pretty Mess hair-extension launch doesn’t stray far from that format. In the midst of getting a little heat for starting a decidedly not budget-friendly Pretty Mess extensions (they start at $700) the 50-year-old chatted with us to share all the insider details of how she got the line off the ground and what fans can look forward to next.
Why did you decide to move into the hair business and launch extensions?
“I have been wearing hair extensions of all types for over a decade and have gained so much personal knowledge from it. It’s something I’ve had in mind for a long time, it was just a matter of finding the best-quality hair that I felt represented the Pretty Mess brand appropriately.”
Anything surprising you found out about hair extensions—or the beauty business, in general—when planning this launch?
“I think one of the most surprising things I have learned about the hair extension industry, is the lack of accurate information there actually is about real human hair extensions. From the origins of the hair, to the hair processing and, ultimately, the hair care is not consistently accurate or available. Pretty Mess Hair will be launching an entire Hair Extension University, not only for the professional stylists, but for the consumers as well. The more the consumer—as well as the stylists—are educated about real luxury hair extensions, the better the overall experience will be.”
What differentiates these pieces from other hair extensions?
“Through all of my years of wearing and working with different hair companies from around the world, I truly understand and appreciate the phrase ‘not all hair extensions are alike.’ Many factors have to align to make hair extensions a true luxury brand. I’ve combined all the best attributes from years of personal hair extension experience into the creation of this line. The Pretty Mess Hair extension brand starts with knowing our donors individually. We check and test the quality of each donor’s hair before it is donated. We are looking for many different health characteristics in the hair and all those boxes must be checked before we consider accepting the hair. We don’t source hair from auctions or brokers for that reason. It all starts with extremely healthy hair.
We then process each donation with the highest quality vegan dyes and the highest international vegan manufacturing standards. None of the Pretty Mess Hair is processed with harsh chemicals. Our hair also smells so good right out of the box. We offer more than 39 different rich solid, Ombre, Balayage and rooted Balayage colors. We also offer our hair extensions in more textures than just straight, which is perfect for all ethnicities. Of course, the Pretty Mess Hair has more hair volume than most brands. Nothing less for all my Pretties!”
In your opinion, what is trending in hair extensions right now?
“The hair extension industry definitely experiences trends that come and go, and right now the most popular type of hair extensions are the hand-tied extensions. Although they are popular, they are a more semi-permanent/ permanent product. Not the most ideal if you like to change your look everyday. For that, Pretty Mess Hair offers the DIY collection. The DIY collection consists of luxury Clip Ins, Flip Ins and Ponytails. All three products consist of the exact same quality the Pro line has, but the difference is that they can be installed by yourself in less than 10 minutes. They can also be removed every night in less time. The Pretty Mess Hair Clip Ins can be installed using different amounts of hair, providing a custom look and feel for each occasion.
One of the aspects of Pretty Mess Hair I’m most proud of is that every product is 100-percent real human full cuticle Remy hair. The most luxurious and healthy human hair available. Pretty Mess Hair includes hair care instructions with every order and on our website. If a client follows the Pretty Mess Hair Care instructions, our hair extensions can be styled like your own hair and more importantly blend in with your own hair perfectly.”
What hair products are you loving right now?
“Let’s face it, our hair has to survive the elements everyday and nothing is more important than using high quality professional products. The latest product that I love and we recommend for Pretty Mess Hair are the hair care products from Malibu C. Their products are specifically formulated for hair extensions, especially for my signature platinum blondes. Their products make my hair and my hair extensions feel soft, silky and manageable.”
What is one of your first beauty memories?
“Watching my grandmother get herself ready for the day. I was always in awe of her attention to detail. She had gorgeous hair and would take great care of it.”
What are you looking forward to in 2022?
“I am looking forward to getting back in the studio to create some music. I miss performing and connecting with audiences; hopefully I’ll get to do that soon, but for now I have Pretty Mess Hair to keep me busy.”
Who is your biggest beauty inspiration?
“Marilyn [Monroe] has always been a favorite of mine!”
