Celebrities and beauty bloggers always seem to have a luscious head of hair. One day they’re sporting an adorable pixie cut and a few days later, their hair is swinging down to their shoulders. It looks so natural, but don’t be deceived because it’s all down to hair extensions. Before you head over to the salon for hair extensions yourselves, there are a couple of things you should know first. The more natural it appears, the more costly it is. And what would suit your straight hair might not be the best for your friend’s curly mop. Here are the pros and cons of the different types of hair extensions, to know before deciding on one.
1. Clip-Ins
Clip-ins are natural-looking tassels of hair that have a snap clip at the top so you can easily attach them to your actual hair. They’re pretty easy to use and you won’t need professional help attaching them.
Pros
If you don’t need the hassle of wearing permanent extensions, then clip-ins are just perfect for special occasions. You don’t even need a trip to the beauty salon since they are easy to clip on under your hair. At the end of the evening just take it off, and there won’t be any damage to your hair or scalp.
Cons
All clip-ins are made of synthetic hair which means you can’t apply any hot styling irons to them. They’re cheap and unless you get it closely matching your natural hair color, they can look cheap too. If you’re going to have fingers running through your hair, clip-ins are probably not the best option because they don’t feel very natural.
2. Weaves
With weaves, your hair is first braided into tight corn rows and then the extensions are woven in. You can get just a few extensions braided in or a full-head weave. With a full-head weave, your hair will be braided and then your entire scalp will be covered with a net so the extensions can be sewed in.
Pros
Because the extensions are braided through your real hair, this makes them look quite natural. Weaves comes in numerous colors and shades, so you are very likely to find one that blends with your natural hair. They are also available in different lengths, so if you have short or wavy hair, a weave is the way to go.
Cons
Getting a weave needs an experienced stylist and cannot be done yourself. If the hair is braided too tightly, after a while it is going to pull on your scalp. The weight of the extensions hanging on to those braids might even cause hair fall. If you have very fine hair, weaves might do some serious damage to your hair.
3. Pre-bonded
Pre-bonded extensions are most popular among celebrities because they look very natural. Each extension has a type of keratin at the ends which when heated up, turn into a glue which can stick to your hair,
Pros
Because each strand is individually placed, this type of hair extension does not place any strain on your own hair. It all makes for a very natural look and can last for more than six months or till your hair really grows out. Since it is made of good quality human hair, you can shampoo and condition as you normally would. Coloring or adding extensions with highlights is also easy.
Cons
It can take over 4 hours gluing on the strands. Some of the adhesives used might be alcohol based and can thin out your hair. The biggest con is the cost which can burn a hole in your wallet.
4. Tape
In tape extension, clear, double-sided tape is stuck to the base of 1-inch hair extensions and then these extensions are stuck to your scalp.
Pros
Tape extensions are painless, and don’t take much time to apply. They even look quite natural without unsightly bumps. These extensions are semi-permanent, lasting up to 3 months. They’re easy to wash and style and you can just as easily remove them when you need to.
Cons
Sometimes, clear tape is not used in which case it can be visible, so make sure to ask first. The extensions are usually synthetic or poor quality human hair so you might not get the natural swing you would like.
5. Micro-link
At the top of each hair extension, a very fine fused strip is looped in and out of your natural hair. Metal beads are used to attach the extension strip to your hair and so they are also called micro-bead extensions.
Pros
They are great for fine hair giving it both body and length. As your hair grows longer, the metal beads just need to be pushed up. This is why they often stay on for up to a year.
Cons
Since they are attached by metal beads, using a blow dryer or any styling iron is not advisable. It can cause intense heat within the metal beads, often causing the hair to break off.
