QUALITY & HOW LONG HAIR EXTENSIONS LAST
Synthetic hair is cheaper than real hair, but of course with that, comes a trade-off. Because they’re made out of synthetic fibres, they do not last as long as human hair as they can easily be damaged by the above-mentioned factors (sun, heat, etc.) Generally, synthetic hair extensions last for a few months, whereas human hair extensions can last upwards of one year if they are well taken care of.
In summary, human hair can be treated and styled just like your own hair, and will look and feel the most natural. It will blend easily with your hair and last much longer than synthetic hair. Although they are cheaper than real hair, synthetic hair does not look as natural, cannot be styled with heating tools and do not last as long as real hair.
Now that we’ve gotten real vs. synthetic out of the way, let’s get into the different types of extension applications!
- Clip-in Hair Extensions
WHAT ARE THEY?
Clip-in wefts, also known as clip-in hair extensions, come in a strand of contoured pieces, attached at the base with either fabric or silicone. Clips are attached to this base and come ready to use. All you have to do is clip the pieces to your natural hair all on your own! Each clip snaps open and close with ease—see here for how to clip them in.
Clip-in hair extensions are the least permanent style of extensions because you can quickly remove them and put them back on whenever you want. Unlike some of the other hair extension applications mentioned above, clip-ins usually take 5 – 15 minutes to apply at home. Clip-in hair extensions are also the least damaging because they don’t involve any chemicals, heat, pressure, or other installation methods mentioned above—they simply clip onto your hair with ease so there is zero damage to your natural hair. This is one of the many reasons why it’s one of the most popular hair extension types.
TREATMENT
The same synthetic vs. real hair rules apply when it comes to treatment of clip-in hair extensions just as with any hair extensions. We’ll focus more on the human hair extensions since that’s what we recommend.
Simply put, human hair extensions are very low maintenance and only need to be washed every 15-20 wears, or if there is a lot of product buildup to the point that they become unmanageable. Just like your natural hair, you simply brush, shampoo and condition the hair and let them air dry! See here for step by step instructions and tips on how to wash and care for your clip-in hair extensions. In terms of styling, human hair clip in extensions can be styled just like your own natural hair. They can be curled, straightened, and colored, however, it is always best to use a lower heat setting when heat styling the hair, and to use a heat protectant prior to heat styling. Click here for more tips on heat styling human hair clip-in extensions, and check out some do’s and don’ts to coloring the hair here.
HOW LONG DO THEY LAST?
Once again, this depends on how well you take care of them, what products you use and how often you wear them. With proper care and regular wear, clip-ins last anywhere from 3 – 6 months, up to a year and sometimes even longer. See here for care tips and tricks to ensure that your hair extensions stay luscious for longer.
