HAIR Those short on locks can extend them quickly

This beautician -- or magician -- creates hairstyles galore.
SCRIPPS HOWARD
LAND O'LAKES, Fla. -- Jo Hasson walked into Backstage Hair Design wearing a brunet shag. Four hours later, she strutted out with honey and gold locks cascading down her back.
"I've always wanted long hair," said Hasson, 37. "I just haven't been able to grow it."
So she turned to stylist Lori Barnes for "instant hair."
Whether it's to remedy a bad haircut or just wanting a new 'do, folks flock to Barnes for longer, thicker styles.
"Some clients come to me because they chemically burn their hair off," Barnes, 38, said. "Or they had PMS and chopped it off."
Barnes is one of a handful of stylists in Pasco County, Fla., who offer hair extensions. They add volume, length, or highlights right away, Barnes said.
Sales manager Hasson added volume to her straight, flat hair. For others, it's all about length.
The makeup artist and stylist has a clientele that includes exotic dancers and local celebrities.
"Dancers like the long hair. It's sexier," Barnes said. "Their look is very, very important to appeal to the men. There's a lot of competition. They make a lot of money, and they're not afraid to spend it to look good."
Hair extensions can last up to four months with regular maintenance.
Cost
The initial service can cost between $150 and $300. Monthly maintenance can cost $50 per hour.
One man not only wanted to look good; he wanted to look like a woman.
"He wanted me to, you know, transform him," Barnes said. "He got the whole works."
The sign above her work station warns "I'm a beautician, not a magician!" But Barnes worked her magic on the customer.
The makeover included a chest hair wax, makeup and long, black extensions.
"I think hair is just a part of being feminine," Barnes said. "Before it was just the movie stars that get stuff like this done. Now anyone can have hair."
Even a horse.
One unusual client was Buddy, a show horse with a beauty secret: His tail was groomed with hair extensions.
"When they're in different shows, they have these long, beautiful tails," Barnes said. "Many people don't know that these are hair pieces."
Folks insist that her extensions blend naturally enough to fool the most discerning eye.
Barnes bonds human hair strands piece-by-piece onto the hair root using a special glue. "In today's society you can get (breasts) just like that," Barnes said. "You can get eye color just like that."
"Now you can get hair just like that," Hasson said.