Posted June 23, 2011 by Sunny Subramanian
The following article was written by Ashley Palmer.
Feather hair extensions seem to be the latest fashion craze, but is this trend worth killing for? Thousands of roosters are losing their lives so that people can wear their feathers as hair accessories. To me, that sounds more like a tragedy than a trend.
Luckily, I’ve got some tricks up my sleeve, and with these easy, fun, and animal-friendly DIY versions of feather hair extensions, you can get the look without harming any birds. It’s a win-win situation! So get craftin’, and go flaunt your featherless fashion.
Cut the ribbon lengthwise to form very thin strands. One end of each should come to a point. Lay out the cut ribbon and add colored stripes with the paint or nail polish. Let dry overnight. Secure to your hair with the bobby pins.
peta2 Street Team Coordinator + lover of vegan food, cats, animal rights, Dawson's Creek, and Harry Potter.
Too long to explain here, it's long enough for a novel.
Well let's just say life ain't always beautiful but it's a beautiful ride. I love all my pets and would do anything for them. I have one dog, two cats, a ferret and my babygirl shaymin,(the cutest hedgehog alive) I'm into all different kinds of music. I'm a singer myself and love art.
Father loves to farm, be self sustainable, loves to read, he's a antiques/vintage auctioneer, art student, and looks like mr. Rogers. My mother is a Montessori teacher and is amazing with children, all about local organic foods, loves gardening, cooking etc. my sister who is nine years older than me was into indie music and introduced me to all sorts of things at a young age. This all rubbed of on me and from that base I grew into similar things. I'm an INFJ
I'm tall, a geek, nacho - obsessed, I love sewing and Cath Kidston, also I'm vegetarian (wannabe vegan.)
Jersey girl now I'm all country.
I love animals about as much as rock, heavy metal, tea, and coffee. Hoping to make a difference and help animals through PETA!!!
I want to get into marketing but not have to rely on people which have different morals and worldviews than I do to hire me. While I'm figuring this out, I want to show everyone what I believe in and spur them into action against injustices.
Life On A Tour Bus
I am Angela. When I am not helping animals I am listening to music, reading, or playing video games. My spirit animal is a fox and I love nature. What else is there to know? Want to know anything about me, need advice or anything message me :)
484 days ago
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a gazzilon of my friends wear the real feathers and i tell them not to and they just insulted me but will def. tell them about these, maybe even start a business with this as my main product!!
505 days ago
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Neat idea. <3
526 days ago
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thats such a good ideaa!(:
596 days ago
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That looks lovely, I should try it!
617 days ago
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i want that!! Awesome!! ♥ iT
620 days ago
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Great idea!:D I have 2 chickens I keep as pets, 1 hen and 1 rooster. They naturally lose(malt) their feathers, so I pick them up and have made feather earrings out of them! There super cute and cruelty free!!:D
521 days ago
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how do you wash them? what do you use?
625 days ago
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HairWeGo Products carries cruelty free feather hair extensions. I think they are also called printed hair extensions.
http://shop.hairwegoproducts.com/hair-feather-extensions/synthetic-hair-feather-extension.html
641 days ago
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i love the idea! but i’m so cofused on how to make them.
642 days ago
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I liked your option very much! I’m from Brazil so I’ve never heard about those hair feathers before. It’s sounds freaky to me that someone can use a rooster feather for that. I’ve saw here this hair braiding made with a thin and decorated wire and string.
http://girliedotcom.files.wordpress.com/2010/05/tranca.jpg?w=420&h=305
(img from google)
bye
642 days ago
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I have 2 parrots that shed their feathers and I keep every one of them. There may be places that sell these types of feathers. Not sure, but I would never buy anything that a poor animal has to pay their life for. Poor things
645 days ago
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Awesome I made quite a few and they’re extra pretty because my nails polish has glitter in it. You can make them any length, color, style, get a whole roll of ribbons and you can have a multitude of ‘feathers!’
645 days ago
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I’d like to see a rooster grow them as long as I am making them. XD
652 days ago
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That is a great idea. But for those of you that would like to curl or use as your hair, we have designed human hair loop ‘n’ lock alternatives to hair feathers. You can now get the look without the cruelty! You will get two feathers for the price of $15.00 ready to install. These are also 20″ in length, so you can cut them to the appropriate length. We have grizzily and solid colors availible.
http://www.urbanhairdesigns.com/2-Alternative-Feathers-Cruelty-Free_p_70.html
663 days ago
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This is great — I love this idea! A wonderful, cruelty-free alternative.
676 days ago
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I’m just collecting feathers I find in the wild. It’s not that hard when your friend lives on the lake and your grandparents have a bird
678 days ago
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It doesnt really look like a feather though…
683 days ago
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How cool! BTW, i find it really weird how people can wear real feathers in their hair -.-
686 days ago
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this is awesome, i love that your “feather” looks so real!!
687 days ago
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I just made those for my daughter and she loves them! She’s such a cruelty-free animal rights child, but she wanted to enjoy this fashion trend too. It’s a win-win situation for her and for the animals that didn’t have to die for a few feathers! Great idea.
687 days ago
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Why not just NOT wear them?? Dont get me wrong I am a vegetarian, but I think that people who need “Feathers” or “Pleather” are just holding on to obsession. Simply give it up if you want to be humane!
688 days ago
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I just do hair wraps, you know, with the embroidery thread. So many people asked if I had feathers. At that time I didn’t know what they were, and I’m thinking “ew, feathers?” but I have always done hair wrapping. It takes a really long time, but can last for about a week and it’s amazing. Take 1/4 of an inch of hair, braid it tightly, secure it for the moment (you’ll take it out when you’re done). Get the embroidery thread and tie it at the root of your hair. Wrap it tightly, using a mirror to guide you or a someone else to help you tie it. When you get to the rubber band at the end, take it out, since you have now covered the braid. make a “4″ (hair as the 1 and thread in the shape of an L) and slit the thread through the hole in the “4″. Do this repeatedly until the end, where you can tie a knot to end it off. As an alternative to just wrapping, you can do the “4s” with all of the wrapping. I hate the feather trend, I think it’s so stupid. But my hair wrap thing looks like the same thing if it’s thin enough.
688 days ago
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wow, i had no idea that REAL feathers are used…i was close to getting someO.o
688 days ago
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Yes! This is a great idea! At first I thought the feather extensions were cool, but realizing that roosters have to be plucked just for a fashion trend, it made me sick. I hope the fad goes out soon… But in the meantime, time to go buy some ribbon!
689 days ago
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This is BRILLIANT!!!! Let’s leave the birds alone!
689 days ago
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gracias por publicar esto . ahora ya sabemos lo que es correcto
689 days ago
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Or you could just use fake feathers?
689 days ago
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Those are so cool, thats an awesome idea ! luuvvv ittt
689 days ago
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So this is such and awesome idea!! My best friends little Sis wants a fester and I’m going to do this instead it will save her money and be better for everyone
689 days ago
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Feather sorry
689 days ago
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I buy mixed shed feathers from Ebay.
689 days ago
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Aren’t there also synthetic feathers? Are there any synthetic feathers that are hair ready for the less diy crowd? Or supply links for not cruelty free feather extensions?
689 days ago
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These look promising!
http://www.etsy.com/people/MegsFauxFeathers
642 days ago
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Thanks for the link!!
689 days ago
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I made those and they are very simple and cute i used an extra thin ribbon so they look almost like the real del unless you take them out of my huir and put them right infront of your face
690 days ago
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I can’t even understand the appeal (even if you don’t care about animals) of looking like a mutated bird/human combo. It’s really unattractive no matter which side you’re on.
696 days ago
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I’m going to do this tomorrow:D
697 days ago
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thats such a good idea! i didn’t know they were actual feathers, thats gross. i’m totally doing that!
697 days ago
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hmm. I’ve run a business making human hair extensions. i saw this is quite a nifty idea with the ribbon!
698 days ago
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actually doing this, u r subliminally interested in the idea of feathers and the ppl who wear cruelty feathers, dont know the diff….
689 days ago
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I would say that there is a difference because what people like here is the look, not the idea of where they come from.
689 days ago
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That’s like saying people who are wearing man made shoes are subliminally supporting the leather industry or that people that eat veggie burgers are subliminally supporting burger products. Come on anon.
698 days ago
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My friend has feathers in her hair, but they are pink! Cruelty free, AND colorful!
698 days ago
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Its the smartest thing I’ve ever seen!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
698 days ago
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Looove it! I was against the stupid(yet fashionable) feathers even before i went veggie!
702 days ago
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YAY! adn my friend has chickens so we use the feathers that fall off
702 days ago
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You can also get fake feather hair extensions!
702 days ago
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That honestly looks prettier than feathers. I had two fake feathers in my hair but those look prettier!
702 days ago
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oh my gosh awesome! =)
702 days ago
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Awesome (: Looks Pretty Great From My View Point!
702 days ago
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People wear rooster feathers in their hair? Are these people on crack?
702 days ago
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IKR?!
702 days ago
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it so easy to make that cruelty free accessories and i am gonna m8ke one!!!!!
<3 it
702 days ago
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YAY!!!!!!!! I am so excited to buy some ribbon so I can do this!!!!
702 days ago
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AWESOME.
702 days ago
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Thanks so much for posting this! I hope people stop buying those real feathers!
702 days ago
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Great idea! I work at a place that sells the feathers. We recently found out that the feathers where not cruelty-free, so the company has changed where they are getting the feathers from and they are now all cruelty-free. :]
683 days ago
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Where do you work? I’ve been trying to get cruelty-free feathers for awhile
643 days ago
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me too! i need them!!!
702 days ago
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Great idea! Love it <3