Five tips for newbie clip-in extension users to help them overcome common frustrations they may have with their natural hair clip-in extensions.

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Choosing the best way to add length or thickness to your hair can be a difficult decision. It can feel overwhelming trying to figure out what extensions will have the best colour, length, texture and overall best fit for you.

If you have been wearing weaves for a while but have been curious about trying clip-ins, we’ve compiled a list of pros and cons to help you determine the best fit for you and your locks.

 

What Is a Weave?

Weaves are either artificial or natural hair extensions that are fastened onto your own hair, usually through sewing or glueing. Typically, the wearer’s real hair is prepped underneath, cornrowed, with the weave then attached. Believe it or not, the earliest appearance of the use of weaves dates back to around 3400 BC in ancient Egypt, where people began the practice of dying human and sheep wool, which they attached to their heads using beeswax and resin. Cleopatra was one of the most prominent figures of the ancient world, who was renowned world-wide for her famous peacock blue weave!

Today, weaves are one of the most popular types of hair extensions for black women and those with kinky, coily hair.  Due to weaves being securely fastened to the head, they can last over several weeks or months without being removed, making it an appealing option for women looking for long-term wear.

 

 

What Are Clip-Ins?

Clip-in hair extensions can create a similar look to weaves after application but are much quicker and easier to install, they require no long-term bonding, adhesive or sewing, and are fastened to your natural hair with clips. They come in one or multiple pieces, often called wefts, which vary in width. They can be installed and removed in literally a matter of seconds and are often considered the most affordable way to add volume and length to your hair, due to their economical cost and ability to be easily reused.

Although clip-in extensions mimicking straight hair textures have been popular since the 1950s, clip-in extensions for kinky, coily hair are still relatively new in comparison and have gained recognition more recently since their rise in popularity in the last two decades.

 

Pros of Weaves as a Protective Style

 

1. Add Length and Volume

Wearing a weave is a fast way of discretely adding more length or volume to your hair. Whether your hair is natural or relaxed, you can find a sew-in weave that suits you. They can be glued in or sewn-in, with the latter usually lasting longer.

Weaves can help to add volume where you need it or length where you want it. If you’re recovering from any thinning or breakage, with a weave you can transform your style from short to long, or thin to thick almost immediately, without having to wait for your hair to grow out.

 

2. They Are Very Low Maintenance

Once installed weaves are relatively low maintenance, you can wash them along with your natural hair, and they generally don’t require any intensive upkeep. You can put your weave through the same hair regime as your normal hair, which, depending on the quality and type of hair used, can keep your weave looking fresh and pristine for several weeks.

 

3. Protective Style

Another great benefit of sew-in weaves is that they have the ability to help grow your hair out. It’s not uncommon for people to have difficultly growing their hair, especially when we’re putting our hair through frequent styling with heat tools, chemicals or abrasive styles. Weaves allow you the opportunity to give your hair a break from styling damage, whilst your natural hair grows beneath.

4. Gives You Styling Options

 Weaves can give you a diverse set of styling options, without the worry of potentially harming your natural hair. You’re much more easily able to curl, straighten or colour your hair without the worry of damaging your real hair.

 

Cons of Weave as a Protective Style

 

1. Can be expensive

It’s no secret that the cost of getting your hair done can add up. Depending on if you’re getting a half sew-in or a full one, you may need 3-5 packs of hair. It’s not unusual for premium Remy human hair for weaves to average £80-£100 per pack, and again, this doesn’t even include the cost of paying a professional to install your weave for you,l which can easily tack on another £200!

 

2. Less Access to Your Hair and Scalp

The application of a sew-in often requires a large portion of your natural hair being cornrowed off. This can make it more difficult to access your hair and scalp for washing and treatment, which can potentially cause further dryness and breakage if you’re not careful.

 

3. Long Term Use Can Cause Damage to Your Hair

With repeated and long term wear weave can also begin to thin and damage the hair, often the tension and pulling from the cornrows on what are often sensitive areas (nape and edges) can lead to alopecia and breakage.

 

4. Requires Professional Install

We’ve all had an unexpected bill come through and delayed a hair appointment a few weeks longer than we should do. If you’re not extremely hair savvy you’ll often need to rely on a professional to do your installs, this can be pricey and when left too long can lead to an itchy scalp and dandruff, as well as increase the likelihood for alopecia and breakage.

 

Pros of Natural Hair Curly and Afro Clip-ins

 

1. Quick and Easy to Install

Clip-ins are unrivalled when it comes to speed and ease of application, they require no specialist technique and can be installed and removed in a matter of minutes. This means that after the cost of the clip-ins there is no additional cost for installation or removal.

 

2. Doesn’t Cause Damage to Your Hair

Clip-ins don’t cause nearly as much tension on your hair as weaving does. The clips are lightweight and can be positioned strategically to ensure minimal tugging with sensitive areas of the hair.

 

3. Allows Flexibility and Freedom With Your Styling Options

Due to the minimal effort and time required to install and remove clip-ins you have far more flexibility and freedom to experiment with your styling options. Whether you want to have an up-do one week or straight style down another, this can be achieved with a simple rearranging of clips.

Whereas with weaves you tend to be more restricted in terms of styling,  changing your parting or have your hair in an updo can be difficult to achieve with a weave due to the rigidity of wefts being sewed onto your cornrows. Indeed, you might have to change your entire cornrow pattern underneath to merely change your part, as opposed to clip-ins where this can be done within a few snaps.

 

4. Easy to Look After Your Own Hair

Clip-ins give you the freedom to access your own hair as much as you like. You can style your clip-ins similarly to how you would style your weave, but with the added benefit of being able to access your own hair as much as you like. It’s a great protective style that offers you the ability to still treat and care for your natural hair as you regularly would.

 

5. More Affordable

There’s no doubt who the winner is when it comes to affordability, even without the service cost of weave installation, clip-ins often come in cheaper per gram of hair. Clip-ins tend to last much longer in terms of reusability than weaves. Since removing weave to ensure it can be reused again can be quite a finicky process.

 

6. Great for Special Occasions or Events

If you’re someone who has a hard time with commitment when it comes to styles, clip-ins will be your best friend! If you’re only looking for length or volume for a special occasion or event clip-ins are your best bet. They’re low commitment, and you have no obligation to keep them in for a prolonged period of time.

 

Cons of Natural Hair Curly and Afro Clip-ins

 

1. There Can Be a Learning Curve

If you’re used to wearing full-head weaves or not having your natural hair out, it can be a learning curve getting used to wearing clip-ins. They require more handling of your real hair in order to blend them, than you otherwise would need with a full sew-in or wig, for example.

 

2. Your Hair Has to Be Long Enough to Apply Them

You’ll need to have at least 2-3 inches of hair in order to cover the clips, for women who have recently undergone a big chop this might rule clip-ins out for you until your hair has grown out a bit more.

 

3. Not Suitable for Thin and Damaged Hair

Clip-ins and all hair extensions that need to be applied directly against the hair or scalp should be avoided if you have very dry or damaged hair, any further tugging, tension or intense styling on such hair can further exacerbate the problem and focus should be on returning the hair to a healthy state before any extension applications are done.

 

4. Have to Be Removed at the End of the Day

Clip-ins will have to be taken out at the end of the day before bed to prevent tugging or snagging on your hair follicles. Although falling asleep once or twice with your clip-ins still in isn’t the end of the world, we still recommend removing them so as to discourage any potential damage to your hair.

 

Now that you have the pros and cons of each, how do you decide which ones to choose?

 

Well, it depends on your lifestyle, hair goals, motivations and price point. For instance, if you want a one-off styling option for a special occasion like a wedding or if you want a long term protective style with more flexibility and that allows quick access to your hair so as to achieve hair goals then clip-ins are your best bet.

 If you are busy and don’t have time to look after your natural hair and are looking for the most low maintenance protective style, then weaves might be your go-to choice.

 

Whichever protective style you choose, it’s important to cultivate a solid hair care routine as looking after your real hair while in these styles is essential for keeping your hair strong and healthy.

It should come as no surprise that at Curly & Wild we ❤ natural clip-in extensions. There are dozens of reasons why we think clip-ins are great, but we also understand they are an investment. Therefore, it’s important to decide whether they are suitable for you before you make your first purchase.

To help you decide, we’ve compiled a list of 7 questions to consider before adventuring into the world of afro and curly clip-in extensions. After going through these questions we hope you will we be closer to deciding whether clip-ins are right for you.

Now to the questions!

1. Is your hair long enough?

Before getting clip-ins, your hair should be at least 2-3 inches long for the clips to comfortably slip into your hair and to have enough hair to blend with the clip-ins.

If you are looking for extra advice on how to blend clip-ins with your natural hair, you should check out our video on blending clip-in extensions.

2. Are you happy to look after them?

If you wish, you can wear clip-ins all day every day, but you should allow time to look after them. Clip-ins can usually last up to 12 months (and beyond) but only when they are kept in good condition. We always say to treat clip-in extensions like your real hair.

We have a video with tips on how to look after your clip-ins to make sure you get more bang for your buck, pound, euro or (insert your currency here 💱) 😁

3. Are clip-ins suitable for your lifestyle?

Clip-ins are great when your life is busy because you can clip them in and go, but if you have a physically active lifestyle, where you do sports or go to the gym, you should have a good maintenance routine to care for your extensions after each training session.

In most cases, it’s easier to take them out and clip them back in after you are done with your workout because this will ensure they last longer. 

4. Which clip-in texture is best for your hair?

It’s good to have an idea of your hair’s curl pattern because it will help you decide which texture to choose. If you are unsure, on our blog we have a guide to finding your curl pattern and a multiple choice quiz that matches your answers to one of our clip-in textures.

5. Do you want clip-ins for length, volume or both?

Our clip-ins come in 4 lengths - 14”, 16”, 18”, and 20”. What length you should choose depend will on the look or style you want to achieve. If you have short to shoulder length hair you may consider getting the 14” or 16” to create a natural look with volume. If you have longer hair or want more volume and length then the 18” or 20” might be the best length.

To imagine how different lengths might look on you, watch how Melissa styles her set of 16” Wild Afro clip-in extensions.

6. Do you want to dye the clip-ins?

All our extensions come in natural black/brown (1B) but you may want to dye it jet black or even brown. This is simple to do following the instructions provided with any hair dye you purchase.

We recommend you dye the smallest weft first to make sure you like the colour and are comfortable with the process.This is especially important if you want to dye the hair a light colour (i.e. blonde) because you need to assess how well the colour takes to the clip-ins.The colouring process may loosen the curl pattern so doing a test dye allows you to see if you like the results. Curly & Wild clip-ins include a free texture sample that you can dye for this purpose.

If you don’t want to dye the set yourself you can get it dyed at your hairdresser as another option.

7. Do you want to straighten the clip-ins?

Our clip-ins are 100% virgin human hair so you can straighten them. However, when you apply heat to curly and afro clip-ins this can alter the curl pattern.

If you want a straight texture you should check out our Wild Kink clip-in extensions. The texture is similar to relaxed and natural hair that has been blown out straight.

 

That's it for our 7 questions. We hope they help you decide whether natural clip-in extensions are right for you.

There are many reasons why we think clip-ins are thebomb.com but for the sake of time, you can read our top 10 reasons here 😁

Hair extensions whether it is clips-in, weaves, micro-links, fusion or tape-ins can be a great way to add volume, colour and length to your hair. Depending on the hair extensions you use they will require different care requirements to ensure they stay in good condition for as long as possible. Extensions are either made up of real human hair or synthetic fibres that are manufactured out of plastic to imitate human hair. What you decide to buy will depend on the look you want to achieve, your budget, your lifestyle and the time you want to invest in maintenance.

This blog post will give you eight tips we have found that help to prolong the longevity of 100% human hair extensions. Most high-quality human hair extensions can have a lifespan of up to a year but this depends on how well you care for them. By following these tips you will get more life out of your hair extensions and more bang for your buck, pound or euro. These are tips we recommend to our customers that purchase our range of curly and textured clip-in extensions. They have worked for them and we hope they will work for you.

1. Choose your hair tools wisely

Be gentle when manipulating your hair extensions and stick to a limited set of tools like a soft bristle brush, cushioned brush, wide tooth comb or even your fingers. Avoid using brushes and combs with fine close spaced teeth as this will only increase the likelihood of the hair getting caught and matted. Combing or brushing vigorously through your extensions will only increase shedding and tangling. Treat your hair extensions like it is your real hair. A good rule of thumb is if it is not good for your real hair it is probably not good for your hair extensions.

1. Detangle your hair extensions

It is always good practice to detangle your extensions at the end of the day, as they are more likely to tangle throughout the day. We always recommend finger detangling with our clip-in extensions because it reduces over manipulation, which is important with curly or textured hair. Whatever your preferred method, whether it be your fingers, a comb or a brush, do not be tempted to rush. All hair extensions will shed and tangle to a certain extent but you can minimise this by having a consistent detangling routine.

3. Moisturise your hair extensions

It is good practice to moisturise your hair extensions to keep them hydrated and looking healthy. Hair extensions do not benefit from the natural sebum that your hair produces to keep your hair moisturise; therefore, you have to add it by using products. Depending on the type of extensions you have (e.g. clip-ins, weave, tape-in, etc.) it will determine how often you will need to moisturise it. If you wear clip-ins you may only have to moisturise them with every use whereas if you have a weave you may want to moisturise the hair more often.

You can moisturise your hair extensions by using a daily moisturiser or leave in conditioner. You can also use a spray bottle mixed with water and a bit of conditioner to add moisture. If you choose you can apply oil (e.g. olive, jojoba, coconut) to seal in the moisture and add shine. It is not necessary to use a lot of product when moisturising your extensions, so play around with the quantities and see what works for you.

4. Shampooing and co-washing

Depending on how often you use products on your hair extensions and how long you wear them for eventually you will have to deal with product build-up and dirt. If this happens you can wash your hair extensions to keep them clean. When you are washing your hair extensions it is better to use sulphate-free shampoos as sulphate shampoos can cause them to dry out. However, if you have a lot of product build-up sulphate shampoos can be more effective at cleaning the extensions. Whatever you choose will ultimately depend on the state of the hair. You can also co-wash (i.e. conditioner washing) your hair extensions as conditioners are better at keeping hair moisturised but also have gentle cleaning agents.

Customers that buy our clip-in extensions commonly ask how often they should wash their extensions. We always say it depends on how often you wear them and the number of hair products you use. If the hair is starting to look very dull and has a residue of product and/or dirt, it is a sign it may need a wash. It is a good idea to assess the hair after each wash to see how it has held up. With curly or textured hair extensions the curl pattern can lessen or alter after every wash that is why we suggest it is better to wash the hair less than to risk over washing it. The less you wash the hair the longer it will last. Remember when you are washing your hair extensions to be gentle and to not ruffle or pile the hair on top of each other as it will only create more tangles.

5. Deep conditioning

After washing your hair extensions you should always follow up with a deep conditioner to help moisturise and soften the hair. It is good practice to leave the deep conditioner on with a plastic cap for 30 minutes before rinsing it out. If you have removable hair extensions like clips-in or tape-ins you may decide to deep condition the hair for a few hours or even overnight. After you have rinsed out the conditioner and removed any excess water it is best to let the hair air dry rather than using a blow dryer.

6. Minimise the use of products

This might sound contradictory to tip number three but you do not want to use too many products on a regular basis. Sticking to a few hair staples is better than using a concoction of 15 products and overloading the hair. This will only lead to over manipulation, product build-up and more frequent washes, which is a recipe for reducing the lifespan of your hair extensions and not getting your money’s worth. You may also want to avoid or reduce the use of products with alcohol such as gels, hairsprays and mousses. If you want to use these products use them minimally or opt for more natural products like aloe vera gel.  

7. Reduce the use of heat styling tools

Depending on the type and texture of your hair extensions it may be fine to curl and straighten the hair with heat styling tools. However, if you choose to do so use a heat protectant and use these tools sparingly as excessive heat will dry out and damage the hair. Remember hair extensions are not your real hair so if they are damaged it is irreparable! We suggest avoiding the use of heat on curly and textured extensions because it can change the curl pattern. If you want to curl your hair consider using heat-free techniques such as braid-outs, twist-outs, rollers, bantu knots, flexible rods, etc., to obtain your desired look.

8. Protective styling

Like with your real hair protective styling is a great way to prevent your hair extensions from knots and tangles because they are protected from rubbing against your clothes. High buns, braids and ponytails are good examples of protective styles. Protective styling is also a good practice for when you are doing moderate to intense exercise to keep the hair from getting matted and tangled, especially while you sweat.

As a final point, it is easy to forget that human hair extensions need to be treated as if it is your hair. The same as with your real hair, less is more with hair extensions; avoid over-manipulating, washing and styling to keep it in better condition. By following the tips and tricks explained above you should be able to extend the lifespan of your hair extensions and enjoy them for much longer.

If you have any tips that worked for you please share them below, we’d love to hear from you!