Avoid Making These Mistakes with Your Clip-In Hair Extensions
If you’ve just bought clip-in hair extensions, there are a few do’s and don’ts that you should abide by if you want them to last longer.
In just a few minutes, you can transform your short or thin hair into longer, thicker locks – clip-in hair extensions are truly game changers.
However, if you’ve just bought, or are thinking about buying, clip-in hair extensions for the first time, you want to ensure that they look completely natural. Buying quality hair extensions is one thing but there are a few other mistakes that you should avoid if you want the extensions to blend in seamlessly.
Clip-In Hair Extension Mistakes to Stay Away From
- Clipping the extensions too high up
This is an easy mistake to make but also a simple one to correct. You should ideally not be clipping your hair extensions higher than eyebrow level and try to clip as close to the roots as possible. If you are using wefts for the front of your face, they can be clipped in higher up but the rest shouldn’t be – not if you want your hair to look shampoo-commercial ready.
- The shades don’t match your natural hair
Matching extensions to your roots might seem like the obvious thing to do but this won’t provide you with the most natural outcome. The colour that you see from the middle to the ends of your hair is what you want to use as a reference when buying your hair extensions. A bonus pro tip is to use two wefts of slightly different shades, which will create a natural, highlighted effect. If you are feeling unsure, rather get a professional to assist you with the colour matching. You can also get in touch with our friendly team for a complimentary colour recommendation!
- Applying extensions that are too long
If you have very short hair, chances are you won’t have enough natural hair available to cover the extension clips. Ideally, you want your hair to be at least chin length before you consider extensions. The general rule of thumb is that the bigger the difference in length is between your natural locks and your extensions, the harder it will be to achieve a natural result.
- Not clipping up the shorter pieces
When you apply clip-in extensions, there are usually a few shorter pieces around your neck that stick out. If your natural hair is short, make sure that you clip these shorter pieces up if you don’t want to give your secret away – a bobby pin will usually do the trick.
- Using too much product
If you’re using a lot of product on your hair too often and aren’t washing your clip-in extensions often enough, it can make them appear duller. If you will be using product on your hair, stay away from salt sprays and dry shampoos.
- Failing to maintain your clip-in extensions
While clip-in hair extensions are not permanent, they still require special care and need to be washed occasionally. If your extensions are made of human hair, you can treat them as you would your natural locks. This means keep them clean, moisturised, untangled and using a heat protection spray before styling. Brushing your extensions before and after you apply or wash them is essential – a wide toothed comb or boar bristle brush is ideal for keeping your extensions in the best condition. The type of products you use on your hair also need to be safe for use on extensions. For one, all shampoos and conditioners should be free of sulphates, parabens, proteins & keratin. By taking the time to maintain your clip-in hair extensions, they stay luxuriously soft for longer.
By being aware of a few simple requirements, there’s no reason why you can’t enjoy your clip-in hair extensions for many years without anybody being the wiser.
