27
Jul
2017
5

Hair Extensions For Your Hair Type

Long, luscious locks are always in style, but not everyone has hair that grows to great lengths. The great news is, you don’t have to be genetically blessed to have long, beautiful hair. Many turn to hair extensions for a little extra help in the hair department. But there’s so many types to choose from – how do you know what hair extensions are best for your hair type? We’ll tell you which hair extensions will work best for you and how to maintain them so you can keep your new and improved mane as long as possible.

Fusion or Bonded Hair Extensions

Best for: Medium to thick hair

With fusion hair extensions, individual strands of human hair are fused or bonded to your hair using a special glue or keratin (the same protein that your hair is made from). With proper care, fusion hair extensions can last for a long time. However, you must avoid applying oils, conditioners, and other hair products to the bonded area as these can dissolve the bond. The extensions cannot be reused, so you’ll have to purchase new hair every time you have them redone. Fusion hair extensions can take up to 8 hours to be applied, but they last the longest out of any type of hair extension.

Tape-In Hair Extensions

Best for: Fine, thin hair

Tape-in hair extensions are wefts of hair attached to sections of your own hair using a double- or single-sided tape. This is a great option for those with fine or thin hair, as the tape is virtually undetectable. Avoid silicone or oil-based products at the root of the hair to prevent the tape from slipping. The extensions can be reused, and application is very short (around one hour).

Weave or Sew-In Extensions

Best for: Coarse, curly, or thick hair

A weave first requires that sections of hair are braided in cornrows from ear to ear. Then wefts of hair are sewn into the braids using a needle and thread. No heat or glue is required for this application, and hair can be reused. However, you’ll have to visit the salon every 4 weeks or so to have the braids tightened. Avoid over-styling to prevent the braids from loosening in between appointments. This type of hair extension is not for everyone, as the extensions are heavy and can pull out or damage fine hair.

Micro-bead/Micro-Ring Hair Extensions

Best for: Medium to thick hair

Micro-bead hair extensions are similar to fusion hair extensions in that single strand hair extensions are attached to small sections of your natural hair. However, micro-bead extensions are clamped to your hair instead of glued. No heat or chemicals are required. This type of hair extension is not suitable for very fine or thin hair as the bonds can be seen through the hair. Like fusion hair extensions, you should avoid oil and silicone hair products at the roots to prevent the beads from slipping.

Clip-in Extensions

Best for: Medium density hair

Clip-in extensions are wefts of hair with pressure sensitive clips that latch onto your current hair. They can be tricky to apply, but once you get the hang of them they can be a fun way to change your look. Clip-in extensions are a great temporary fix for events or special occasions, but they must be removed before going to bed to prevent damage to your natural hair. Many people experiment with clip-in extensions to see if extensions are right for them before moving on to more permanent solutions.

Hair Extension Tips

  • Hair extensions are heavy, and could put stress on your hair which can lead to breakage. When selecting hair extensions, it’s important to match density. If you have fine hair, always purchase lightweight extensions to prevent hair damage and loss. If you have thick hair, you will want to purchase heavier extensions that will blend with your hair texture.
  • Always follow maintenance instructions from your hairdresser. If your stylist tells you that your extensions must be replaced after two months, plan on having them replaced in two months. Hair extensions left in too long can cause breakage, hair loss, and traction alopecia.
  • Depending on how you style your hair, the spot where your hair extension is connected to your hair may be visible. In this case, use Toppik Hair Building Fibers to camouflage the extension. Simply apply the shade that most closely matches your root with the Spray Applicator and voila! The extension track disappears.

Have you ever tried hair extensions? Let us know your experience in the comments!

Stay In the KnowWe all know that menopause can cause hot flashes, but did you know that menopause can also contribute to hair loss? Join us next week when we reveal how changing hormones can effect your hair, and what you can do about it.

If you want to be the first to know about new posts to the Hair Toppiks Blog, sign up for the Toppik VIP list to receive an email a couple times per month or check us out on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Twitter, or Pinterest!

Colleen Welsch is a freelance beauty writer and blogger specializing in hair care, hair growth education and beauty.

You may also like

Fall Hairstyles for Thin Hair
A Good Cause: Raising Awareness for Alopecia Areata
Trendiest Haircuts for Women with Thin Hair
Popular Men’s Hairstyles for Thin Hair

24 Responses

  1. Pingback : Hair Loss in Your Teens - Vivandi Trichology

  2. Pingback : - Vivandi Trichology

  3. Pingback : Hair Loss in Teens – Transplant Hair

  4. Pingback : How to Grow Your Hair Faster - Toppik Blog

  5. My wife has been wanting to get hair extensions for a while now. I’ll have to share this article with her. I’m sure she would want to read about some tips for maintaining extensions. It’s good to know that one of the most important things to remember is to not condition your hair and to only apply it to the ends.

  6. Great to see such a comprehensive guide to hair extensions. Our clients are constantly asking about the differences, there are so many options. Many salons will offer a free consultation before you commit, they should discuss all the methods available to make sure you get the look you want. But most importantly make sure you do your homework and choose a salon with a proven track record.

  7. Thank you for pointing out that you should always follow the maintenance steps from your hair stylist. My sister has hair extensions and I’ve always loved them and wanted my own. I’ll have to look into finding the best place in my area to get hair extensions.

  8. Hi, this article really useful for me. I confused for choosing the Extensions for Hair what would be the best for everything. But review this article my confusion has cleared. Thanks and keep it up…………………….

  9. At first thanks a lot for sharing such a helpful tips and I have pleased to get this blog page. Consider me a newbie on this. I have read your page and gotten much information. But I have a little question that, my sister want to Fusion or Bonded Hair Extensions this style, But Will it be fall hair or has it any side effect by this style in hair? Could you please suggest me? Then I will be benefited by your valuable suggestion. Anyway, I will await your valuable response with great interest.

    I will save your website and I will share it with my friends. I hope they will be benefited by this topic.

  10. gb

    would anyone recommend tape in hair extension for course curly Italian hair, think shakira and processed blonde too, I’ve gone to Dominican salons and they told me that braiding the hair in will damage my hair because i have a different texture so im just so confused as far to what hair extension i should get

  11. I appreciate it when you said that the hair extensions must be of equal density as the real hair because they can be damaging if they are a lot heavier than the hair they are attached to. If that is the case, I will mention to my sister that she needs to get straight her extensions or at least, one that is lighter than her hair. She wanted a long, wavy hair that is really heavy and full of volume, and now I am worried if it will do her well.

  12. Pingback : Breaking Down Hair Growth Speed - Toppik Blog

  13. Thanks for the tip that if you have fine, thin hair that tape-in hair extensions are best since the tape is virtually undetectable and the extensions can be reused. My daughter is getting married in the fall and she really wants long hair for her pictures but she has a bob right now. We’ll have to see where we can get tape-in extensions to see if she’d like to do that since she has thin, fine hair and this way she can still have long hair for her wedding.

  14. It’s awesome that this article talked about hair extensions for each hair type. I found it interesting when you said that when selecting hair extensions, it’s important to match density. I have a fine hair so just in case I am going to get a hair extension, I need not purchase a thick hair.

  15. Superb blog you have here but I was wanting to know if you knew of any user
    discussion forums that cover the same topics talked about here?
    I’d really like to be a part of group where I
    can get feed-back from other knowledgeable people
    that share the same interest. If you have any suggestions,
    please let me know. Bless you!

  16. Thanks for explaining the different types and their uses, such as how a weave or sew-in extension can be reused and don’t require heat or glue. Choosing the right one for your hair would probably be important to ensure you don’t cause any damage and to get the look you want. In order to determine the best one for your hair, you’d probably want to visit your local salon so that you can talk to them about the extensions they offer and to ask about what they recommend for you.

Leave a Reply

Toppik Privacy Policy