Short hair is great, don’t get me wrong, but being able to do that thing where you leave your hair tucked into your jumper is so nonchalant and chic that I’m actually considering extensions for that reason alone. Extensions are great for changing up your hair – they can add length, thickness and allow you to experiment with cuts and colours without really doing anything to your natural locks. We’ve broken down five different types of extensions to help you pick the right one for you.
By Beth Ludolf
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1 Clip-ins
Best for: Damaged hair & commitment-phobes
Last for: Until you unclip
Application time: Minutes
We get it, some days you’re all #longhairdontcare and some days you’re just not. That’s cool. Clip-in extensions are great if you’re looking for an easy, temporary option. The hair literally just clips into your natural hair, there’s no damage (from heat-application or chemicals) and it takes minutes. Go with human hair rather than synthetic – these are better quality, can be styled, dyed and only need to be washed every 15-20 wears (or when there’s product buildup).
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2 Tape-in
Best for: Fine hair & being discreet
Last for: 4-8 weeks
Application time: 30-60 minutes
If you often wear your hair up, tape-in extensions are for you. The wefts (which are taped/glued at the root) lay flat against your head and are less noticeable than other extensions. The chemicals in the adhesive and glue-remover can damage hair but tape-ins don’t pull the natural hair (as they’re super lightweight) which helps to minimise this. Be wary of what products you use – harsh, oily products can cause the glue to unstick. Tape-ins also need to be reinstalled as your natural hair grows out.
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3 Bonds
Best for: Those who don't enjoy regular trips to the salon
Last for: 3-4 months
Application time: A few hours
Bond extensions are thin strands – rather than wefts – which allows your hair to move naturally. Each bond is applied to a thin strand of natural hair using a tool like a glue gun. Bonds are great if you don’t want to head back to the salon every couple of months but they can be very damaging to your natural hair, so are better suited to coarse hair.
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4 Weave
Best for: Thick hair
Last for: Around 8 weeks
Application time: Several hours
Not one for fine hair, the application (which involves braiding the natural hair into cornrows and sewing in the weave) can be uncomfortable and put a lot of strain on the scalp. Deep-conditioning is crucial – including your natural hair prior to application and the scalp, nape and edges throughout. Weaves can be worn as a protective hairstyle to give natural hair a break from heat-styling – make sure you remove the hair every 8 weeks to give your scalp breathing time.
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5 Micro-links
Best for: Damaged hair & those who don't enjoy regular trips to the salon
Last for: 3-4 months
Application time: A few hours
Micro-link extensions are similar to bonds – in that each extension is a thin strand – but they don’t use heat or chemicals during application (which makes them less damaging). Instead, small strands of hair are pulled through a “bead” and clamped shut to attach the extensions. Micro-links blend seamlessly and can be styled just like your natural hair. They’ll need repositioning as your hair grows out.