The Best Hair Extension Type

Hair extension is one of the best accessories for your hair to look hip and stylish. It offers limitless hairstyles for you, you can have different colors or you can do braids. Hair extensions are a great way to add length or volume to people who have short hair. Wearing hair extensions makes every woman look younger and youthful. Hair extensions are also the best option if you have slow hair growth or thinning hair. It is also the safest way to style your hair without cutting or bleaching your natural hair. 

There are a lot of hair extension brands in the market right now which is better since you have a lot of choices. There are also a lot of types of hair extensions. All types of hair extensions have their own advantages and disadvantages.

Hair extensions Vs Synthetic hair extensions

Hair extensions can be human hair extensions which are more expensive compared to synthetic hair extensions. If you have a lot of money they you can opt for human hair extension since it looks natural and can last much longer. Human hair extensions can also style with heat and can be placed on your hair long-term. If you want short-term hair styling for different occasion then synthetic hair extensions is the way to go since you can switch up your hairstyle in a matter of minutes.

Short-term Hair Extensions

These are the most popular type of hair extension since it is easy to attach to your hair and it's cheap. Check out the different types of short-term Hair Extensions:

Halo Hair Extensions - it is a short-term hair extension method in which you attach the hair extension to your hair using undetectable wires. Halo hair extension is a one-piece hair extension that acts like a headband. 

PROS (Halo hair extensions)    

- Easy to use and put on
- Easy to maintain and clean
- Great for beginners
- Very comfortable to use
- Safe for your natural hair
- Can easily be removed

CONS (Halo hair extensions)

- Hard to style when you have extremely short hair
- You cannot use it while swimming
- You cannot use it in sports
- Halo hair extensions may fall out easily if you're doing extreme activities

Average cost: The average cost of a good quality halo hair extension is between $200 and $500.


Clip-in Hair Extensions - just like its name implies the method use to connect the hair extension to your head is by using small clips just like what a normal hair clip does.

PROS (clip in hair extensions)    
- Easy to use and put on
- Comfortable to wear
- Can be used for all event and occasions    
- Can be used for swimming and other sports
- Suitable for beginner to advance    
- Can easily be removed
- Easy to maintain and clean

CONS (clip in hair extensions)
- Clips clipped in the same place over and over for long periods of time can severely damage your hair
- Not suitable if you have extremely short hair
- The clips and hair extension may be too heavy for people with thin or fine hair.  

Average cost: The average cost of clip-in hair extensions can be as low as $30 up to $400 or more.

 

Hair Wig - it is a head or hair accessory made from human hair or synthetic hair fiber. It covers your head and use to disguise baldness or thinning hair. Wigs are a replacement for your hair. It is a good alternative for medical therapies for restoring hair.


PROS (Hair Wig)    
- Easy to use and put on
- Looks natural and realistic especially if it is made from human hair.
- Comfortable to wear
- You can dye it to change color     
- It can last longer if taken care of properly
- Suitable for beginner to advance    
- Can easily be removed
- Easy to maintain and clean

CONS (Hair Wig)
- Real human hair wigs are a bit expensive compared to synthetic hair
- May fall out easily that may cause embarrassment
- Not comfortable to wear in hot and humid places
- Synthetic wigs don’t last long

Average cost: The average cost of hair wig can be as low as $40 up to $500.

Long-term Hair Extensions

Other people prefer long-term hair extensions since these hair extensions though complicated to attach it can be worry-free since once you put it on your hair it can lasts about 4 months or maybe more with proper maintenance. 

Tape-In Hair Extensions - it is one of the latest method of hair extensions available on the market today. Tape in hair extension is done using polyurethane coated panels with double sided tape attached and the two panels clamps the natural hair to stay in place. 

 

 

PROS (tape in hair extensions)    
- virtually safe for your original hair
- the weight of the hair extension is spread out so it will not add a lot of weight to your natural hair that may damage it
- can be installed quickly which may take only 10-30 minutes.
- You can use it again and again and may lasts 4 months if you do proper maintenance
- it looks natural
- it's comfortable to wear
- tape in hair extensions doesn't require heat or tools to install

CONS (tape in hair extensions)    
- You cannot wet your hair for 24 to 48 hours after installation since the tapes need time to cure and bond properly to the hair
- Some brands use tapes that are messy when installing it to your hair
- If you use silicone or oil for your hair the adhesive of the panels may disengage and slip off.

Average cost: The average cost of tape in hair extensions ranges between $200-$400. 

 

Microlink Hair Extensions - in this type of hair extension a small strand of the hair extensions and an equivalent amount of your natural hair are connected together using a silicone based bead to bond them and the hair stylist will need to clamped down the bead to secure each extension to the hair. Microlink hair extensions increase the volume, density and length of your hair using microlinks and hair extensions. This type of extension looks like that they are growing straight from the roots that result to looking more natural specially when moving.

Another advantage of this type of hair extension is that it doesn't need to be glued or threaded which blends well to your natural hair and it will be very hard to tell if you have any extensions at all. Microlink Hair Extension is non-damaging for your natural hair.




PROS (micro link hair extensions)    
- can last up to 3 to 5 months with regular maintenance
- it's flexible when it comes to styling
- doesn't use glue, tape, heat, or any other chemicals that can harm your natural hair so it is one of the healthiest and safest type of hair extension
- looks more natural compared to clip-ins or tape-ins.

CONS (micro link hair extensions)
- if the bonds are not clear it can be visible through the hair
- if improperly installed like for example the bead is too tight, it can pull of your hair and damage your strands
- it can be out of budget
- not suitable for short hair
- micro link hair extensions may damage your hair if your hair is weak



Average cost: The average cost of Microlink Hair Extensions range between $200 - $600. 

Sew-in Hair Extensions (also known as Weave Hair Extensions or Braided Hair Extensions)- this type of hair extension is perfect for people with thick or coarse hair. Here the hair will be braided to create a foundation then using a needle and thread the hair wefts are sewn into place. The extensions used for a weave are collected from the top and fastened together to create a hair piece.


PROS (sew in hair extensions)
-This extension will give volume and length to your hair    
-The hair extension is well hidden
-Oil or silicone-based products has minimal effects  
-doesn't require heat or glue to install

CONS (sew in hair extensions)
- sew in hair extensions is not suitable for short hair
- If braids are very tight it may damage your hair
- It can cause hair fall from tension
- Needs a lot of time to install
- If not washed regularly bacteria may accumulate and cause infection
- Few hair styling options

Average cost: Sew-in Hair Extensions cost between $200 – $600:

 

Fusion Hair Extensions - also known as pre bonded hair extensions, here the natural hair is bonded into the individual hair extension strands using keratin glue and an extension connector iron. It is one of the most popular methods to change your hairstyle. However, this kind of hair extension can be expensive and not reusable.

There two methods for the fusion hair extension, hot fusion and cold fusion hair extensions, both have their own advantages it all depends on what you are comfortable with.

Hot fusion hair extensions - Hot fusion hair extensions as the name suggest using heating tools and heated keratin adhesive to bond the natural hair to the hair extension. It's much better than using regular glue because your hair is already made of 90% keratin. It can last for 4 to 8 weeks and can take about 120 minutes to install.

Cold fusion hair extensions - it is much more kind to your natural hair, since you don't need heat. The stylist will use an ultra sound applicator instead of a heating element to bond the hair extension to your natural hair. It is perfect to those who want less intrusive and more natural look. Installation is much faster than the hot fusion hair extension since it can take only 90 minutes.

Both hot fusion and cold fusion hair extensions methods will give you a smooth looking hair without any bumps that are usually present in other methods like in sew-in hair extensions. The use of micro clamps in the cold fusion method will give your hair a flatter look and feel.

PROS (Fusion Hair Extensions)
- looks more natural and real because the hair extension strands are bonded individually so the movement is like having a real hair.
- the keratin glue use to bond the hair extension is very safe and hypoallergenic
- applicable for short, thin, dense, curly or straight hair.
- comfortable to wear
- it's very durable that can last for a couple of months with proper care and management

CONS (Fusion Hair Extensions)
- it needs a long time to install and remove
- You need to avoid exposure to high temperatures
- requires maintenance regularly
- silicone and oil hair products can weaken the bond

Average cost: Budget: Fusion Hair Extensions may cost you between $650 – $3,000+

Hair Extensions Q&As

On the Average How long do hair extensions last?
Of course hair extensions needs to be replaced they are not like natural hairs that grow by themselves, however the average time of replacement will depend of the the type of hair extension:

• Halo Hair Extensions (8 months or longer)
• Clip-in Hair Extensions (3-12 months)
• Hair Wig (could last for years depending on how you take care of it)
• Tape-In Hair Extensions (2 to 4 months after your installation)
• Microlink Hair Extensions (3 to 5 months)
• Sew-in Hair Extensions (6 to 8 weeks)
• Fusion Hair Extensions (about 8 weeks)

What type of extensions are best for your hair?
It will depend on your lifestyle and budget. If you have the budget and time then fusion hair extension is the most versatile type of hair extension since it uses keratin bonds and you have a lot of style options.

How much do hair extensions usually cost?
The average cost of short-term hair extensions (halos or clip-ins) is between $30 - $500.
Professional long-term extensions usually range between $200 - $2000.

Can you wash your hair with extensions?
Yes, you should wash your hair once the bond are cured (24 to 48 hours). Wash your hair and extensions softly with lukewarm water and mild shampoo.

Are there permanent hair extensions?
Nope, that's called your natural hair.

What is the safest hair extension method?
Halo and wigs would be the safest since you just put them on your head.

How long do hair extensions hurt?
If you feel pain it should only last 3 days if not you need to have it checked by the stylist who install it to have it fixed.

What are the side effects of hair extensions?
Some do experience pain, itchiness, tangled hair, and allergic reactions.

Where to buy hair extensions?
You can have one at your favorite salon near you or clip-in, halos, and others are also available on Amazon. Another good online store is Bellami hair extensions. Bellami hair extensions are made from 100% Human Remy hair that are hand-selected and ethically sourced. Another good product is zala hair extensions, zala hair extensions are also Remy hair.   

Conclusion

The best hair extension type for you will depend on you, you need to factor your hair type, lifestyle, and budget before choosing one. There are hair extensions that can really burn your cash, especially those high quality natural looking locks. You should consider it as an investment and get your money’s worth. However, if you're just looking for quick fix styling settle for the low cost but high quality hair extension that looks good on you.

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Hair Extensions Different Colors

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