The Extologist

I have been following Allana around Boston for the past 5 years and have been coming from Ireland for the past 2 years with her doing my hair extensions being the highlight of my trips.
She is AMAZING… I call her a magician and am always in awe of how skilled she is with my miserable, limp, thin (with some balding patches) hair. The extensions last for at least 5 months as she taught me how to take good care of them and the quality of the hair she uses is gorgeous. I am going there this morning and I feel like I will be spending he day with an old friend as she is so friendly and has a great sense of humor. Her new salon is very calm and charming, parking is easy to find across the street and I just cant wait for 4 pm because I walk out of there feeling like a million bucks. Thanks Allana…

Beautiful work done with my hair:) Truly gorgeous. Thanks Lauren.

Allana is a complete package of talent, friendliness and professionalism. She’s intuitive, friendly and a terrific listener. She «gets» what you’re looking for and adds her own expertise to make your wish come true. I’ve been to extensionists all over the country and she is hands down the best. Check her out!

I’m not very good at writing reviews so I’ll just write what I look for in a review.
My first visit to Allana/​the Extologist was on May 12^th of 2015. Weeks earlier we had a consultation to discuss what I wanted. I explained that I was looking for a new stylist because every time I went to my former stylist, I paid more but got less. I was terrified of switching because not many people can do hair extensions correctly and my hair is very thin and limp, so I didn’t want to do anymore damage to it but I also didn’t want to spend thousands being disappointed yet again. This would be my 4^th time getting extensions and my first with Allana.
First, the atmosphere was so relaxed and fun. I’m always intimidated by large salons with many clients being worked on at once. I worry about miscommunications and being rushed out. I was the only person there except for Allana and her amazing, sweet, colorist Lauren. During my consultation, Allana looked at my hair and I brought the extensions that had come out of my hair from the last time my former stylist did my hair. She explained that I had half the hair that I should’ve had. Meaning I was going to pay the same price but get double the hair from her. It was an all day affair. Getting extensions takes time. I was there for 7 hours, so I was basically paying her for the day and it was completely worth it. I don’t make a ton of money but what I paid, for what I got was unbelievable. I looked like I was ready for a photo shoot by the time I left.
The quality of the hair was amazing! My hair went from thin and limp, to long, full and shiny. It was beautiful! She put some lighter Browns into my dark brown hair and it was very subtle, just enough to give it depth. Included in the price was high quality hair products, a fantastic extension brush, (which I was repeatedly promised by my former stylist and never received) and a follow up appointment 2 weeks later to check the condition of the hair.
Allana knows hair. She cares about the health of your hair and making the extensions last. She taught me how to style my hair and now it takes me ten minutes with a curling wand and I look like I just came from the salon. She also recommended a product that makes your hair thicker, using it in wet hair to expand it before styling. I was very skeptical. I don’t know what’s in that miracle product but it did exactly what she said it would and you only use very little, so it’s cost effective. I’m kind of glad I took so long to write this review because it’s been two months and I’ve lost exactly 3 tiny extensions. THREE!!! For anyone who has had hair extensions before, you know that, that is incredible! I think the brush and her work is why. Before, I would’ve lost at least a quarter of them by now and been panicking about finding the money for the next appointment. I can only afford to do this once a year and she does work that’s makes that possible!
Allana was fun, it was like spending the day with a couple of awesome girlfriends! Before and after the appointment she answered all my emails. I felt very safe in her hands. I showed her pictures of what I wanted and she delivered. She made me look better than I thought I could. I will never go to anyone else again for my hair.
One last thing. I read that one star review, it was posted after I’d gotten my hair done. Don’t be discouraged by that. I signed no contract and the money you pay up front is for the actual hair. Anyone who has had extensions knows that is standard procedure. When I went back for my follow up appointment she even put some more extensions in for me on top of my head for added volume and did not charge me and I was there an additional two hours, which I’m sure she didn’t plan for. She aims to please, if you’re dissatisfied, she’s going to fix it. She wants long term clients, not quick money.
Thank you Allana! I’ll be in touch soon to get my roots colored

Horrible service and the worst hair experience I’ve ever had and I’ve been to a few top notch hair specialists in Boston, I got taken in by the website! This is a major FRAUD ALERT. Please consider before you book an appointment with her. I spent almost a grand on a tiny bit of hair that other extension specialists I went to, to fix my hair post my experience with her, told me: A. should not have cost so much B. Should not have fell out in 3 – 4 days!!! and they also gave me a HAIR ALLERGY — I ended up spending a ton of money at the Dermatologist. PLUS she has no class and/​or ethics. She refused point blank to give me even a partial refund. She will take your money and do a CRAP JOB, when it comes to extensions I highly doubt her skills. She makes you sign a contract and pay in advance even before you book your first appointment. PLEASE BEWARE! Please save your time and money and peace of mind!!!

Master colorist doesn’t even begin to describe Allana. Often I have been stopped in the street asking who does my my color and how can they find her. An exquisite extension expert, Allana transforms not only my hair but my entire look every time she does my hair. Her work is flawless and even others who have extensions themselves, are shocked when they find out I do. She is the most knowledgable hair extension professional I have ever met. Prior to Allana I was left with severely damaged hair and bald spots from other salons. My hair is now healthy, gorgeous and radiant thanks to her.

Allana is… the Extologist yes, but in reality she is soo much more! She has been doing my hair for TEN YEARS now and man, looking back I can just say «WOW»! She is a Transformation Artiste! I am on the reserved side when it comes to hair but that ended right after I met Allana;) If you need/​want a change, don’t worry about how it will look and don’t even wonder if it could be possible because you are in good hands! She is an expert on colour, cuts as well as hair extentions. You show her a picture or describe what you are thinking of and she will take it from there. And in her own words: «Honey, anyone can be a blonde!». I took a leap of faith and let her do her thing. I was very nervous and kept on interrupting her with my eyes wide trying to deal with the transformation that was happening but she calmed me down and had me more than relaxed when I saw what she can do! There is just no boundry when it comes to her ability to transform your look. If you can dream it, SHE CAN DO IT! If you have a plan, sure, go to her and she will do it BUT I suggest that you listen to her advice because she KNOWS hair. Don’t bother listening to what she can do for you, I strongly recommend that you just let her take the front seat with your ideas in mind and experience how she transforms your look and Rock Your Style!!! I guarantee that she will make you Haute and Happy!

Allana is a life-​changing magic woman! When I first started going to Allana, my frizzy curls had been through a lot. I call Allana my hair doctor because that’s really what she is – she takes care of my hair holistically, integrating cuts, color, extensions, and everything else to help me achieve my hair dreams. Before going to Allana, I had been going to expensive name brand salon that did an ok job, but I left because I felt my voice wasn’t heard. Switching to Allana was such a wonderful experience; instead of just doing a service and sending me out the door, Allana designs a haircare planned based on my lifestyle and goals, and then helps me achieve all aspects of the look I desire. She is unbelievably attentive and accessible, and I really treasure the relationship I have with her. I feel so secure knowing she’ll take care of everything related to my hair! Where I had once considered myself cursed with «bad hair,» I now get tons of compliments on my hair from friends, family, and even random passersby, and most importantly, I love my hair. I am really serious when I say doctor Allana is really life changing! She is THE best!

I literally get stopped on the street with people complementing my haircolor. It is very vibrant but it works very well for me and I have to thank Allana for this. She is the one who came up with the magic formula :) Hair color and treatments she uses leaves my hair extra shiny and silky. Allana has always listened to my requests and I am blown away by the results.
Her salon in Boston’s North End is very modern and stylish but at the same time is cozy and relaxing.