When it comes to hair, we’re spoilt for choice.
Sometimes, all a woman wants is to rock her natural hair with added volume to their crown. This is where clip-in hair extensions come in.
Quite a staple in the hair industry, clip-in extensions have evolved and now cater for different hair textures. There are also ways to experiment with clip-ins with no damage to your hair, from adding highlights, fringes and more.
The likes of Jennifer Lopez have stylishly rocked clip-ins. Her go-to stylist Chris Appleton shared how he uses Remy human hair that can be washed as if they grew on your head. On this side of the world, Ayanda Thabethe recently demonstrated the power of clip-ins with Frontrow, the hair company that partnered with Boity on her Be You wig range. The kinky-straight extensions took Ayanda’s shoulder-length hair to 20 inches of lusciousness that boast 100 percent Remy human hair quality.
What to know about clip-in hair extensions from ki
Ayanda Thabethe wears kinky-straight hair by Frontrow.
Photo: Supplied
Speaking to TRUELOVE, hairstylist Acwenga Mbebe tells us the 411 about clip-in hair extensions.
“People can learn that [clip-in hair extensions] are easy to style and convenient for day-to-day hairstyles. [They] have evolved in a very good way, as it now caters for natural hair or Afro’s as well.”
How to install
If you have a busy lifestyle and cannot fit a hair appointment in your busy schedule, or you’re not in favour of sitting long hours to get your hair done, then clip-ins might be a great option for you.
When it comes to clip-ins, the installation is easy and it’s also advisable to buy extensions that match your natural hair.
Acwenga says whenever installing clip-ins, you need to “work upwards as you stack the rows. The next few wefts should be applied with about one to five centimetres between each hair parting. As you let a section of natural hair down for each row, gently brush and detangle using an extensions brush”.
READ MORE | The rise of Afro-textured wigs plus 4 tips to care and maintain them
Get a seamless blend
More women unapologetically stun in hair clips that blend perfectly with their natural hair. Some use clip-ins due to their hair being damaged. Adding hair extensions adds fullness and helps get their hair back to its healthy state.
It’s important to know your hair texture when purchasing clip-ins and, according to Byrdie, there are two types of hair extensions – synthetic clip-ins and those made from human hair. While synthetic clip-ins are cheaper, they have limitations. They can’t withstand heat styling and tend to look less realistic than human hair options.
The transformative look comes with a variety of styles from faux Afro clip ins, ponytail clip-ins and faux kinky straight clip-ins for those with relaxed hair. These blend seamlessly with your texture.
Hairstylist Carolyn Gahan tells Byrdie, “The key to a seamless clip-in hair extension comes down to the hair quality, the colour, and the length.”
Meanwhile, speaking to ELLE, celebrity stylist Julius Michael says, “There are several types of hair extensions on the market, ranging from clip-ins to tape-ins, microbead (or I-Tips) and keratin fusion (K-tips). The difference between clip-ins and [other types of extensions] is that they’re temporary.
“You can wear them for one night or one look, and you don’t have to worry about extensive maintenance or any kind of possible long-term damage on the hair.”
It’s no surprise that some A-listers used clip-ins whenever trying out different styles. The benefits include easy installation, adds length to your hair, versatile and low maintenance.
More hair brands cater specifically for natural hair girlies, who want to add oomph to hair.