Whether you want to attach your hair extensions at home or in a salon will determine which is best. Clip-ins are the most popular (and frequently the least expensive), but that doesn’t imply they’re your only or even your best option. Here is a summary:

 

What Are At-Home Hair Extensions?

As their name suggests, at-home hair extensions are extensions you can put on or take off all by yourself.

• Clip-ins are pre-clipped extension strips that you can attach at the root of different portions of your hair. Clip-ins are typically the most affordable and straightforward to experiment with at home.

• Tape-ins hair extension strips called tape-ins are glued or taped along your roots by a stylist (preferred) or by you (usually best for one-night situations).

 

Professional hair extensions

• Sew-ins commonly referred to as weaves, are attached to your braided-up hair by a stylist using a needle and thread.

• Keratin extensions are minute strands of hair heated by a professional and attached to your natural hair using glue made of keratin.

• I-tip hair extensions are created by crimping strands of extensions to strands of your hair with a flattened microbead. Shop i-tip hair extensions wholesale in bulk.

Suppose you want to avoid a professional attaching your hair extensions. You’ll look for clip-in hair extensions or temporary hair accessories like headband wigs, ponytail extensions, or clip-in bangs. But what if you want your extensions to look natural and stay longer? Choose extensions of professional calibers, such as tape-ins, keratin, or I-tips, and choose 100 percent human hair over synthetic hair.

 

Shop now for some of the world’s top-tier hair extensions from Newtimeshair, a China-based wholesale hair extension supplier, all made of Remy hair from single donors, with quality and durability guaranteed.

 

Which Hair Extensions Last the Longest?

Depending on the type of hair extensions you purchase, hair extensions can last anywhere from one night to six months. The keratin-bond extensions can last between five and six months, while I-tip extensions will last the longest (between six and eight months).

 

Tape-in and sew-in extensions, which will remain in place for six to eight weeks, are more transient options. You can get the bonds or tape pushed up every six to eight weeks as your hair grows to make temporary extensions last even longer. Even so, you’ll likely undergo a complete re-install every three or four move-ups to thoroughly clean your scalp and ensure the bonds and tapes are adequately spaced.

 

How Do We Wash Hair Extensions?

Each hair extension will need to be washed using a slightly different technique. You can wash clip-in hair extensions in the shower or sink like you do your natural hair (here is a lesson on how to wash clip-in extensions). You can air-dry them flat to help them maintain their form (only blow-dry after first reading the instructions). However, if you’re using extensions that have been properly installed, you can wash them in the shower with shampoo and let them air dry or use a blow dryer.

 

No matter the kind of extensions, Marjan advises washing them with a sulfate-free shampoo to prevent drying out the hair. Keep in mind that since hair extensions lack the natural oils your scalp produces to keep your hair hydrated, they are more likely to dry out, get poofy, or fray at the ends. Additionally, each time you wash the extension hair, you should always massage a deep moisturizing conditioner through the ends of the hair.

 

Marjan advises against applying hair conditioner close to your scalp if you have tape-in hair extensions or properly installed hairpieces. Oils can dissolve glue or loosen the bonds, reducing the time you can wear something. Instead, apply hair oils to the lengths of your hair extensions, whether dry or wet, to keep them shiny and smooth.

 

How Often Do We Wash Hair Extensions?

Depending on the kind of extensions you have and the hair products you use, you should wash your extensions every so often. If you’re using hairspray or texturizing treatments on your clip-in extensions made of human hair, you should wash them every two to three years. Still, if you leave them product-free, you may wait until after 15 to 20 wears before washing your clip-ins.

 

However, if your extensions are synthetic, you should only wash them if they become product-covered or begin to smell bad because excessive washing can make them appear stringy and dry.

 

Depending on the natural oil content of your hair, you should wash any professionally installed extensions (tape-ins, I-tips, and keratin bond extensions) one to three times per week. Please don’t be concerned that shampoo will loosen up your extensions; your tape-ins and beaded extensions should have a thorough clean with a sulfate-free shampoo because too much oil on the scalp might make the bonds and tape more likely to come loose.

 

How Do You Maintain Hair Extensions?

Whether they are clip-ins or are put in by a professional, hair extensions need to be taken care of if you want them to last. As with your natural hair, Marjan says to take care of your extensions by brushing them often and avoiding damage whenever possible, especially when styling your hair or going to bed.

 

When brushing, hold your extension clips, tapes, or bonds down with your hand first to keep them in place, and always use a flexible bristle brush that won’t pull and snag. To reduce damage, aim to heat style your hair no more than twice a week (extension hair frequently keeps a curl better than naturally fine hair, so daily touch-ups are typically not required).

 

Additionally, you should safeguard your hair at night. Sleep on a silk pillowcase to prevent tangles, or wear a silk-lined bonnet. You can pull your hair up in a loose, low ponytail or braid it before bed to avoid knots.

 

Do Hair Extensions Cause Hair Loss?

Hair extensions alone won’t cause hair loss. But if you wear them too often and for a long time, the constant tension can hurt your scalp. According to dermatologist Karan Lal, MD, the heavy weight of extensions “causes stress on the hair follicles over time, which results in persistent pulling and traction.” Your hair may begin to fall out and thin, he warns.

 

Dr. Lal advises taking your hair extensions off on time and allowing your scalp to breathe once every three or six weeks. “Traction alopecia doesn’t happen after one tight hairstyle or set of extensions; it happens through years of low-level, repetitive traction.” And while clip-in extensions are the most transitory of extension types and are also the easiest to remove, consider using them if you want to prevent further harm.

 

Why Won’t My Clip-In Extensions Stay Attached?

If your hair is thin, which makes it difficult for the clips to grab onto, or if your scalp is naturally oily, the clips may slip off when you’re wearing clip-in extensions. Marjan suggests using a fine-tooth comb to tease the hair just where the clips are attached, then spraying the clip and the teased hair with hairspray before attaching them to give the clips something to hold.

 

Note: If you decide not to tease your hair, bind a portion of hair that is half an inch long with an elastic first. Then, insert the extension clip into the hair tie. The weft goes on top, making the elastic easy to conceal while giving the hair something thicker to hold.