Secrets To Pick The Best Hair Extensions For Your Hair Type
It’s no secret that hair extensions are a great way to add length, volume, and thickness to your hair. But the world of extensions is so complicated, and the options are so vast, that choosing the right set for your hair type can be challenging. You may find yourself feeling overwhelmed when picking natural hair or synthetic wefts and deciding about the different application methods.
But don’t worry, because this post will walk you through everything you want to know about choosing hair extensions.
Which Hair Types Should You Buy?
Hair extensions are generally available in two broad categories: human hair and synthetic fibers. As the name suggests, the hair strands used in human hair extensions come from humans, whereas synthetic extensions are made from artificial fiber.
Human hair extensions are excellent as they look natural and blend seamlessly with your hair. You can also style, wash, and treat them like your natural hair. And while these extensions are more expensive than their synthetic counterparts, they last longer to compensate for the extra cost.
On the other hand, synthetic extensions don’t look as natural as human hair extensions. Plus, you cannot style or treat them like your natural hair. They also have a short life span and don’t blend perfectly with your hair.
In addition, human hair extensions come in two forms: Remy and non-Remy. We always recommend Remy hair extensions, as they have the cuticles intact. This means they will mimic your natural hair’s movement, direction, and flow, making it difficult to tell if you have extensions in your hair. Moreover, they’re silkier and smoother than non-Remy hair.
It is also essential to buy hair extensions from a trusted, reliable, and renowned brand because not all extensions are created equal. For example, Zala hair extensions are among women’s top choices as the company produces many types of high-quality Remy hair extensions.
What Type Of Application Method Will Work Best For You?
After deciding the type of hair you want to buy, it’s time to determine the type of installation method best for you. Clip-ins and tape-ins are the most common application methods. Other application methods include Halo extensions and clip-in ponytails.
Clip-in Extensions
Clip-in extensions come as individual pieces of wefts with tiny silicone-coated clips at the base. These clips attach the wefts securely to your hair. This type of extension is best for women who don’t use hair extensions regularly. That’s because clip-ins are temporary wefts that you can apply, remove, and reapply whenever you want.
The best part? You don’t necessarily need to visit a salon to install clip-in extensions because, with some practice, you can quickly put them in your hair at home. Simply snap open the clips, hold the weft to the base of your hair, and close the clips. That’s it!
We don’t recommend clip-in extensions for women with fragile, shorter, or thinner hair because the wefts’ weight may strain your thinner hair, and the clips may be visible in shorter hair.
Tape-in Extensions
Tape-in extensions are best for women who want to wear their extensions regularly. These extensions also come as individual hair wefts but with tape adhesives at the base instead of clips.
If your hair is thin or short, we recommend you go with tape-ins, as the tape sits flat against your scalp and doesn’t apply strain on your already fragile hair. Plus, you can rest assured the tape will not be visible through your short or thin hair.
But unlike clip-ins, you must go to your hairstylist to install tape-in extensions because the application method is complicated. If you try it at home, you may damage your hair and the wefts.
Also, once installed, the wefts will remain in your hair for six to eight weeks, after which you must visit your stylist to move them up because your natural hair growth can loosen them over time. You can wear tape-ins for four to six months before replacing them with new ones.
Other Application Methods
The best and safer alternative for thinner or shorter hair is Halo extension. This type of extension does not attach directly to your hair. Instead, it is a single large hair weft with an invisible, round-shaped wire at the end. The wire holds the weft securely on your head like an angel’s halo.
Next up, we’ve got clip-in ponytail extensions. As you can guess from the name, these extensions are created for women who love to flaunt ponytail hairstyles. They instantly add volume and thickness to your ponytail. And just like clip-in extensions, they come with tiny clips at the base. Simply clip the weft under your ponytail, cloak the extension around your pony, and you’re good to go!
Caring For Your Hair Extensions
No matter the type of hair extensions you choose, they require the utmost level of care to keep looking silky-smooth and last longer. You’ll have to wash and treat them with sulfate-free and alcohol-free products to prevent dehydration, brittleness, and hair breakage. Also, avoid exposing them to heat tools at high temperatures as direct heat can damage the strands.
It is also a good idea to deep condition your extensions and get hair mask treatment once or twice a month. This will help keep the locks hydrated and silky and prevent frizz and tangling. Plus, you may want to apply a heat protectant to the extensions before exposing them to direct heat.
