Clip-in Hair Extensions Explained & Buyer’s Guide
Clip-in hair extensions are a widely used and versatile method for adding temporary length, volume, and even color to your natural hair. Simply put they allow for a quick transformation of hair style without the need for professional installation or chemical adhesives, making them a low-commitment option. Their design centers on creating wefts of hair (horizontal strips of hair) that can be securely attached to your natural hair with a built-in clip.
Weft
The way the hair is attached to this strip can vary with common weft construction being machine-tied wefts where hair is sewn onto a thin, fabric-like strip using a machine. Machine-tied wefts tend to be more durable and can hold a significant amount of hair, making them preferred if your goal is to add volume. There are also hand-tied wefts, known for being thin, flexible and lying flat against the scalp explaining their popularity with anyone with finer hair where a discreet application is desired. Seamless wefts feature a thin layer of polyurethane or silicone where the hair is injected or bonded. This process produces an extremely flat, smooth, and seamless transition from the weft to your natural hair, mimicking an almost undetectable look of hair growing directly from the scalp.
Clip
The other component in the design is the small, pressure-sensitive clip that’s attached to the weft. The clips are usually sewn onto the fabric or polyurethane base of the weft. For seamless wefts, the clips might be integrated into the polyurethane strip during the manufacturing process or securely bonded. These clip open and close, enabling them to securely latch onto small sections of your natural hair. The clips are usually made of metal, often with a silicone or rubber strip on the part that attaches to your hair, helping to provide a more secure grip while also cushioning the natural hair and reducing the risk of damage. Multiple clips are strategically placed along the width of each weft to distribute the weight of the extension evenly and ensure a secure attachment to the natural hair.
What makes clip-in hair extensions popular is their ease of use and flexibility. They can be quickly installed for a special occasion or simply daily wear and then removed before bed or washing your hair. The fact that they are temporary means they generally pose less risk of being damaging to your natural hair as compared to hair extensions that involve heat, glue, or braiding.
Clip-in Hair Extensions: Styling
You can style our clip-in human hair extensions with heat tools much like your own natural hair. Curling irons, straighteners, and blow dryers are all okay to create a variety of looks. However lean toward lower heat settings whenever possible and be sure to always use a heat protectant spray before applying any heat to the extensions as it’s effective in minimizing any potential damage.
Know that you can style the clip-in hair wefts before clipping them in, which can sometimes be easier. If not, you can style after they are installed and blended with your natural hair. It’s always a good idea to allow curls to cool completely before brushing them out to help them set. Brushes, combs, and other styling products like hairspray, serums, and texturizing sprays on our clip-in human hair extensions are all okay. However when doing so, use a wide-tooth comb or a brush specifically designed for extensions to avoid snagging and pulling.
Clip-in Hair Extensions: Can You Dye the Extensions?
Our human hair clip-in extensions can indeed be dyed because they are composed of natural protein fibers, similar to your own hair. However, since the extensions have undergone some level of processing (including coloring) before being sold, there are important considerations.
Coloring human hair clip-in extensions with a darker tone or shade is typically simpler and less stressful on the hair than trying to lighten them. The reason is because of the chemical processes involved in adding color versus removing it, and how these chemical processes interact with hair that has already undergone treatment.
When you dye hair extensions a darker color or apply a toner, you are primarily placing pigment molecules onto and into the hair shaft. Darker dyes and toners are typically less potent than those in lighteners and they don’t need to forcefully strip away the hair’s existing pigment.
Conversely, think of coloring hair extensions like adding or removing paint and when you try to lighten extensions using bleach, you’re attempting to remove the color pigment that’s already in the hair. This is a much harsher chemical process that forces open the hair strands to break down the color, like stripping dark paint from a wall. Since human hair extensions have already undergone chemical processing at the factory, applying strong bleach to them is compiling chemicals on top of chemicals and puts immense stress on the hair, making it highly susceptible to damage like dryness, breakage, and uneven color results. Since hair extensions do not receive natural oils and nutrients from the scalp, they lack the ability to repair themselves like natural hair. For these reasons lightening hair extensions is not advised.
If you choose to dye our clip-in human hair extensions, consider performing a strand test first to see how the color will take and inspect for any damage. Always use a high-quality, gentle hair dye, preferably a demi-permanent or semi-permanent formula when going darker. Be sure to avoid getting dye on the clips or the weft’s seam, as this can weaken the attachments.
Clip-in Hair Extensions: Showering
While clip-in hair extensions offer great convenience, showering or bathing with them installed is generally not recommended due to the significant risk of tangling and causing damage to both your own hair and the extensions. Here’s why it’s advisable to remove clip-in extensions before getting in the shower or bath, and the correct way to clean them:
Water, shampoo, and conditioner can cause the extension strands to tangle and mat with your natural hair and with each other and the clips themeselves can also become tangle points. This can make brushing out your hair afterwards difficult causing breakage of both your hair and the extensions in trying to do so.
Since wet hair is heavier than dry hair, the added weight of wet extensions can put excessive strain on the roots of your natural hair where the clips are attached, and even hair breakage over time.
It’s fundamentally awkward, really really hard to clean and rinse both your scalp and the extension wefts when they are clipped in. Shampoo and conditioner can build up near the clips and on the wefts, making your hair appear dull, feel greasy at the clip, and irritate your scalp. If you’re in a hurry and need to keep your clip-in hair extension installed while taking a shower, please wear a quality full coverage shower cap to keep your hair dry while showering or bathing.
Clip-in Hair Extensions: Cleaning
The best way to wash clip-in hair extensions is to remove them from your head and wash them separately as this will allow for thorough cleaning with minimized risk of damage.
- Before wetting, brush each weft gently with a wide-tooth comb or a brush specifically designed for extensions to remove any knots or tangles.
- Fill a sink with lukewarm water and add a small amount of sulfate-free shampoo and swish around. Lots of companies such as L’Oréal and Pantene offer sulfate-free products. Hold the top of a weft and gently swish the hair through the soapy water as you softly stroke the shampoo down the length of the hair (no vigorous scrubbing!).
- Rinse the weft thoroughly with lukewarm water, ensuring all shampoo is removed and then apply a good amount of moisturizing conditioner from the mid-lengths to the ends of the wefts.
- Rinse the conditioner out thoroughly with cool water which will help seal the cuticle and add shine. Gently squeeze excess water from the wefts without wringing or or rubbing them with a towel.
- The best way to dry clip-in extensions is by air drying by laying them flat on a clean towel or hanging them on an extension hanger. Make sure they are completely dry and gently brush the extensions again to remove any lingering tangles before storing them or clipping them back into your hair.
By taking the time to remove and properly wash your clip-in hair extensions separately, you can maintain their quality, extend their lifespan, and protect the health of your natural hair.
Clip-in Hair Extensions: Sleeping
Clip-in extensions are designed for temporary use and should be removed before sleeping. Wearing them overnight can cause tangling, matting, and put stress on your natural hair and scalp due to the pulling and friction that occurs during sleep. It can also damage the extensions themselves and potentially loosen the clips.
Clip-in Hair Extensions: How Long Do they Last?
With proper care and maintenance, our high-quality human hair clip-in extensions can last anywhere from 6 to 12 months, or even longer. Those worn only occasionally for special events and are well cared for will generally last for years. Regular brushing, gentle washing with sulfate-free products, proper drying, and storing them correctly when not in use is the key for maximizing their lifespan.
Clip-in Hair Extensions: Rain, Humidity & Wind
Both rain and humidity can cause our human clip-in hair extensions to frizz, swell, and lose their styled shape, as they react to moisture in a similar way to your natural hair. What happens is the cuticle of the hair absorbs water from the air, leading to the strands expanding and becoming more prone to frizz and tangling.
Wind can be a challenge for clip-in extensions, as strong gusts can easily tangle and knot the extension strands, just as they do with your natural hair. Strong winds can also lift hair making the wefts and clips visible. However this is more prone to happen if the extensions are not clipped in well, if too few wefts are used for the desired volume, or if your natural hair is extremely fine and doesn’t provide enough coverage for the clips.
Clip-in Hair Extensions: Outdoor Weather Preparation
To help clip-in extensions hold up better in rain, humidity, and wind:
- Always buy human hair clip-in extensions: While still susceptible to humidity, human hair extensions generally offer a more natural blend and can be restyled more easily after being exposed to the elements compared to synthetic hair.
- Use anti-frizz products: Use a lightweight anti-frizz serum or spray designed for hair extensions will help minimize the effects of humidity on human hair.
- Choose protective hairstyles: On windy or humid days, consider styling your hair in braids, ponytails, or updos to keep the extensions secure and less exposed to the elements.
- Ensure secure application: Make sure the clips are firmly attached to a well-teased or backcombed section of your natural hair.
- Carry an umbrella: In rainy weather, an umbrella is the most effective way to protect both your natural hair and extensions from getting wet.
While clip-in hair extensions offer convenience and versatility, they do require extra care and attention when exposed to outdoor weather. By taking preventative measures you can help your clip-in extensions maintain their appearance.