High-quality clip-in hair extensions are popular because of how easy they are to use. Change up your hairstyle or add volume and body with the right extensions. Â Clip-in extensions are versatile and affordable. With a little practice, you can learn to use them like a professional and enjoy the results every time you use them.Â
These extensions come in an array of weights, lengths, textures, and colors. Shop around to find the ones that best meet your needs. Usually, they come in lengths of 14 to 22 inches and in packages of 6 to 10 extension pieces.Â
Before you start using them, get familiar with how they work. The strips of individual hairs are called wefts. You might need to adjust the number of sets you buy to accommodate the thickness or style you are after. If your hair is thin, you may not use every single weft in a package. If it is thick, you may need more wefts to get a natural look.
Most sets come with test wefts. These are extensions that do not have clips attached to them. Use them to match them to your current hair color or help you choose a different hair color dye if you plan to dye them to match a new color that you have in mind. To install them, follow these steps:
Step 1
Start with dry, tangle-free hair. Lay the extensions down flat on a clean surface. Comb them if necessary to remove any tangles. Place your fingers on either side of your hairline about an inch below your ears. Separate your hair at this place and then put the top layer into a clip. Note that most sets have about three wefts that are longer than the rest. These go on the back of the head.
Using the smallest of the wefts, take on and clip it onto your head at the back. Make sure the middle clip gets as close to your roots as possible. If you have fine hair, tease a section out first. This will help the weft remain secure and not fall out. Â Add hairspray to provide more traction and adherence. Natural hair that is very clean often needs the extra help from a few spritzes of hairspray.
Once you get the first clip in securely, work on adding the side clips. These go as close to your face as you can get them. Be sure the wefts do not bunch up at the top. The photo below shows the first weft after it has been installed. The hair is now ready for the second weft.Â
Step 2
Now that the first wefts are in securely, take down half of your natural hair. Make sure it is free of any tangles. Take the next longest weft in the kit and attach it to your head the same way as you did the first weft. Start at the back of the head and attach the middle clip. Then, attach the remaining two clips to either side of your face. If your hair is fine or very clean, you may want to tease it or add hairspray where the clips go. The longest wefts are for the back of your head in most kits
Here are photos showing the side weft clipped in on the left and another side weft clipped in on the right.Â
Step 3
Most clip extensions come with two or four wefts that are of the same width. These are the ones that are meant to be installed on the sides of your head. Pull your hair up and over and clip it out of the way. Pick up one of the side wefts and attach it as close to your face as you can. Do the same thing to the other side of your head using a weft of similar width. Â Clip the rest of the clips by installing them to the back of your head as far as the weft lets you.
Step 4
After completing step 3 you should be left with two or four small, one-inch wide wefts. These are for the front of your head. These can be trickier to place and depend on the thickness of your natural hair. One way to install them securely is to let down all of your hair. Now clip in the wefts where you notice any gaps. Remember that these clips are meant to frame the face.
Lift a few inches of your own hair over the weft and clip the weft in so that it is covered with natural hair. Depending on your hair and the style you choose, you could also wear the three smaller wefts on one side of your head and the rest on the other.
