Hair Extensions: All You Need To Know
There is an unspoken level of confidence boosting power that Hair Extensions generally give you. Take it from me friends, I have been an on-and-off hair extension user since as early as 2008. In this post I will be detailing all the things you need to know when it comes to hair extensions. The price, the upkeep, which methods I recommend and those I do not. Now, I am not a professional hairstylist nor do I claim to be. But, through the years I have done my fair share of extension wearing (both permanent and semi-permanent) and it did not always end in happily ever after. Every girly girl wants to have luxurious, voluminous, Rapunzel locks to strut around town. And if you are from Miami? (Finger snap) girl duh.
In todays post I want to go through all the hair extension techniques that I have personally done myself and give you all the Pros vs. Cons. Which technique is best for what hair type. Cost ranges and if the cost-to-longevity ratio was worth it. Lastly, I will give you my final opinion on whether or not I recommend permanent to semi-permanent hair extensions.
Clip-In Hair Extensions
The Clip-in hair extension “method” if you will very likely is the least damaging of the options I will be sharing with you today. The quantity in grams (the hair thickness) and in length will typically make up the price of the extensions. Some external factors that also way into price like the brand or name behind the extension. Synthetic clip-ins are also on the market although I would never recommend that to anyone unless it is for Halloween costume purposes. 100% Human Hair extensions are the most durable, most natural looking option for clip-in extensions. Variably, the quality of the hair differs from brand to brand. Some brands will offer really high gram per inch count but you find that the hair gets unequivocally thinner from the weft to the tip of the hair. Manageability, styling, and processing of the hair will all equate to quality. All hair types can generally wear clip in extensions. There are clip ins that are curly texture, there is options for the finest hair type and the thickest hair type.
Pros
The number one pro to clip-in extensions is that they are not permanently stuck on you hair. Like I previously mentioned, this method is the least likely to cause irreversible harm to the natural hair its holding on to. With that being said, can you sleep with clip-in hair extensions? No, in my experience it is not a good idea. I know that we all want that “I woke up like this” Beyonce moment but I would never recommend doing it. The clips are likely really heavy duty and you do not want o rip the hair from the root. This point leads me to the Cons.
Cons
Having to take these out, especially after a long night out is a big o’ pain in the neck. This is especially annoying if you are someone who is using clip-ins for length and volume. Someone who wears it more daily and not so much for leisure purposes. Clipping these on and off everyday will get old. Trust me. Thus, if you are someone who is looking to sport longer and fuller hair daily I would explore the other options I will mention here.
Tape In Extensions
Tape In extensions definitely had their moment three to five years ago. They became greatly popular because they covered quite a bit of head space and were not insanely expensive to install. Generally, I would say tape extensions are not the worst semi-permanent method out there. Without a doubt, much like anything foreign you put on you natural hair, there will be damage. Personally, if you are in a pinch this is a good option. All together, I would say this is workable on fine to medium hair with little texture.
Pros
Budget friendly road to fabulous. There are many companies that make and supply these to professionals. You can achieve a fuller look in a fraction of the time. Which is another plus in my book. Tape in extensions do not take long at all to install if your stylist in proficient in extensions. The upkeeping is also fairly low maintenance. The cost of reinstalling is also the least expensive that I have personally experienced.
Cons
Well, look. The biggest bone I have to pick with tape ins is simple, you cannot style you hair up ever without them coming out to party. Every time! These extensions were not schooled on being discreet. So therefore, if you are someone who likes an occasional ponytail, half-up hairstyle, a braid. Its not happening, babe. They will definitely show. Also, the obvious would be they have to be pressed (glued) to your hair. Guys, that is never great for your natural hair.
K-Tip Extensions (Keratin)
Dear heaven on earth. Okay, some of you are about to get really angry with me for saying this. Girl, run. Don’t walk, run out of the salon. I am being facetious here but lord do I have a lot of horrifying stories about k-tips. What these are ladies is individual strands of hair that are placed in very small increments. Each strand, along with a very small amount of your hair is bonded with heat and pressed in circular motions until the “keratin” aka glue is securely together with your hair. If by any chance you do want to use this method of hair extension installation I would suggest you have the volume in your hair but want to maybe add some additional length to complete the glam. K-tips are for the most part in my experience available in a wavy texture as well. The cost per gram is on the higher end but you can almost imagine that to be the case as it is strand by strand. The care for these extensions are in my opinion the most difficult and will require you to see a professional even for a blow out.
Pros
Overall, the look at the end of a K-tip installation will have you feel like you are part of the Kardashian’s back in 2005. You will have the length, the volume, the glamour. It pains me to say that is it for the pros.
Cons
If you are not great at styling your own hair, the immense caution these extensions require will not be worth the money or the headache down the road. Guys, because the keratin bond is essentially glue, if you are not careful when simply blow drying your hair, they will glue together. Heat activates the bonds. It is not a good situation. I believe out of all the hair extensions, this method was the most damaging to my own hair. Again, if you have naturally already thick hair, losing some hair to these bonds may not make a difference for you. However, if you have thinner hair, stay away. Please.
I-Tip Extensions (Micro bead)
Personally, I am giving these babies a test drive right now. In December I went to a stylist that installed what she expressed to be I-tips. I knew something was off but decided to trust the process. My suspicions were confirmed when I went to move them up with a different stylist (the girl I originally went to went M.I.A). In fact, what she installed where K-tips secured by the micro beads. You can just imagine how much more hair I lost in the process. These, price wise, are comparable to the K-tips. If you go to an experienced person, the installation takes about two, two and a half hours to complete. Obviously, this is going to depend on the individual person as I barely had hair left and still took nearly four packs of hair.
Pros
So far I have noticed that styling these have been less of a headache than tape and k-tip extensions. You are able to braid, do a ponytail without obvious detection of the extensions or the beads. The beads if placed properly will not tug at the scalp causing pain or discomfort. I-tips come in a variety of textures that will accommodate many hair types. It is universally faltering for weighed or spares hair types.
Cons
Expensive. Extensions in general are a costly luxury. It is something you obligated to upkeep with a professional because the integrity and health of the hair that extension is attached to can be compromised in a split second. So far, the cost of maintaining the pretty-girl-rock is the only con with this technique.
Summary
All in all friends, if you maintain a healthy mane, do you every need semi-permanent hair extensions? No. Do I recommend hair extensions to everyone? Also, no. But, if you are someone like me who has committed hair atrocities. Or, covid did not knock your hair but made you suffer great amount of hair-loss. Or, due to having a baby and going through post-partum you have lost a pound of hair a day. If any of those are your reality, I say do it. The eyebrows and a women’s hair is a confidence booster. I would always suggest clip-ins because they are the most cost efficient, freeing way to look fabulous. But ultimately, if you are a busy momma or girly always on the go who needs to be fixed up, I would suggest I-tips. Noticeably, I did not speak about sew-in extensions. I did not because I have not used that method but it is something to speak to the stylist you are consulting with.