Whether you struggle to grow your hair beyond a certain length or would like to look and feel amazing for a special occasion, hair extensions can add both length and volume to your hair in a matter of minutes (not months). Hair extensions have the ability to completely transform your look by altering the color, texture, length, and volume of your hair. You can find various types of hair extensions designed to satisfy every budget and preference. The primary types of hair extensions include clip-in, weft, tape-in, and hot fusion. Learn more about the different types of hair extensions available.
The Different Types of Hair Extensions
Clip-In
Clip-in hair extensions offer a temporary solution for those who desire added volume, length, or color. It takes just minutes to insert a clip-in extension and just a moment to remove it at the end of the day. These extensions attach to the hair using pressure sensitive clips that will not damage your hair. You can purchase a quality set of clip-in extensions for considerably less than other extension types that require a trip to the salon. Clip-in extensions can be inserted at home with a little practice and can be found in countless lengths, thicknesses, and colors.
Clip-in hair extensions are one of the fastest and safest ways to achieve long, thick hair in minutes. Just like other types of extensions, clip-ins can blend in well with your hair for a natural look. The average lifespan of hair extensions will depend on how well you care for them. However, with proper care, clip-in extensions will generally last between three and six months. Clip-in hair extensions that are made from 100 percent real human hair can be straightened, curled, blow-dried, and styled just like your natural hair. It is best to apply a heat protectant spray prior to styling to extend the life of your extensions.
Weft Hair
Weft hair extensions consist of a long piece of multiple hair extensions sewn together. The weft is then cut into smaller sections to customize the fit to each person. Weft extensions are sewn into a braid by a professional hairstylist. Several rows of wefts can be added until the desired thickness is reached. Machine weft extensions often create the most natural-looking results and can be trimmed and styled to blend in with your natural hair. While machine wefts are one of the most common options, there are other choices to consider.
Skin weft hair extensions are a fairly new type of extension on the market. With this type of extension, the hair is attached via polyurethane tape that is designed to mimic the look of skin. As skin wefts are installed using special adhesive tape, they have a fairly short lifespan of about one week. Hand-tied weft hair extensions are another popular option. With this type of extension, the hair is woven into several strands of fishing line. Hand-tied wefts are often thinner than machine weft hair and thus more durable, while being more expensive.
Tape-In
Tape-in hair extensions are essentially wefts featuring a one-inch wide pre-taped section that gets taped between sections of your natural hair. It takes less than one hour to apply tape-in extensions to the entire head and the extensions can last up to three months. Tape-in hair extensions require no chemicals or tools and can blend in well with your hair for a natural look. When hair extensions made from human hair are used, the extensions can be styled with heating tools without causing damage.
Tape-in hair extensions are one of the best choices for people with thin hair. These extensions should be applied by a professional stylist. If installed properly and maintained, the extensions should not damage your hair. As tape-in extensions are typically used with real human hair, they can be dyed just like your normal hair. However, you should only use demi or semi-permanent hair dye.
Hot Fusion
Hot fusion hair extensions are a popular option that involves attaching strands at the keratin based tips using a heating element. Also referred to as keratin hair extensions, these strands are installed in your natural hair in bundles using a keratin adhesive. Keratin is considered gentler on the hair as the hair is already made up of primarily keratin. On average, hot fusion hair extensions have an average lifespan between two and four months. They take about two hours to install.
Fusion hair extensions have quickly become one of the most popular hair extension methods. These extensions are typically available in packs of 20 strands. Each of these strands has a small, square-shaped tip that holds all of the individual strands together. To achieve a full head of hot fusion extensions, you will need about five to nine packs of hair. Fusion extensions must be removed with a keratin bond remover.
Learn More About Hair Extensions
Do you have short or naturally thin hair? Are you interested in hair extensions? As we’ve seen, there are several effective types of hair extensions on the market that can give you a beautiful, natural look, all within a few hours (or a few minutes). For more information about the different types of hair extensions available or to see an expansive inventory of options based on hair color, extension type, and length, check out the Hair By Russians online hair extensions catalog today!