In recent years,clip in extensions have rapidly gained popularity among women globally.Using clip in hair extensions is a versatile, easy, and popular choice for adding volume, altering length, and changing colors & styles,busy women can effortlessly achieve their desired hairstyles at home instead spending extended periods in hair salons,it offering women even more possibilities for beauty and more opportunities for self-expression, allowing them to effortlessly showcase different charms based on various occasions and moods.
Purchasing clip in hair extensions online is a trend and really a true worthy investment, but not all of them are with good quality. Faced with a myriad of choices, how can we choose a product that not only suits us the best but also ensures excellent quality?
After conducting thorough user surveys and summarizing the results, we have identified 4 steps to help you find the high quality clip ins which meet your specific needs,and moreover, we provide a professional care guide to address your concerns to make your hair keep healthy and last longer.
STEP 1—KNOW
What Are High-quality Clip In Hair Extensions?
Hair Type and Origin:Human hair made (virgin hair & remy hair)
High-quality clip in hair extensions are typically made from 100% human hair. Check the product description and label to confirm the hair type.
Virgin hair
If the extensions are labeled as "virgin hair" or "Remy hair", it's a positive sign of quality.
Virgin hair is completely unprocessed and untreated hair that has never been chemically treated or colored.
It is sourced from a single donor, and all the cuticles (the outer protective layer of the hair shaft) remain intact and aligned in the same direction.
Virgin hair is considered the purest form of human hair, and it is often preferred for its natural look and feel.
It comes in various textures and can be straight, wavy, curly, or kinky, depending on the donor's natural hair type.
Because of its purity, virgin hair is more expensive than other types of human hair.
Remy hair
Remy hair is also 100% human hair, but it may have undergone some minimal processing, such as washing, conditioning, or light coloring. However, the cuticles are preserved and aligned.
It is available in various textures and styles, similar to virgin hair.
It is more affordable than virgin hair but still offers excellent quality and durability.
Healthy texture Luster and feeling:
Examine the hair closely for its texture and luster. No mater what texture it is,the High-quality extensions will have a natural shine and feel soft and smooth to the touch.
High-quality straight clip-ins
They typically have a smooth texture and a natural luster. The texture is often silky and soft, resembling healthy, well-maintained human hair. The luster is usually a natural shine, not overly glossy or artificial, resembling the appearance of well-cared-for natural hair with a realistic shine.
When you run your fingers through them, they glide easily without tangling or feeling rough.
High-quality curly clip-ins
Extensions have a textured feel, closely resembling the natural texture of curly or wavy hair. The strands are designed to replicate defined curls or waves, offering a textured slightly coarse or textured compared to straight extensions, replicating the feel of natural curls or waves. These extensions are designed to mimic the texture of well-defined curls, offering a realistic and slightly textured feel when touched. Overall, they aim to provide a soft yet textured feel that closely resembles healthy, well-maintained curly hair.
Good Heat Resistance & Natural Movements:
If the extensions are made of human hair, test their heat resistance by using a flat iron or curling iron on a small section. High-quality human hair should handle heat without damage.
High-quality straight clip-ins
They can withstand heat styling tools like straighteners, curling irons, or blow dryers at moderate temperatures without sustaining damage. However, it's important to note that while they have heat resistance, excessive heat or frequent use of high-temperature styling tools can still cause damage over time. It's advisable to use heat protectants and avoid excessive heat exposure to maintain the quality of the extensions.
High-quality hair extensions move naturally and fluidly, just like your own natural hair. When you move or style them, they have a realistic bounce and sway, blending seamlessly with your own hair's movement. They don't feel stiff or rigid but rather mimic the flexibility and flow of real hair. These extensions respond well to styling, no matter allowing for natural movements without looking artificial or stiff.
High-quality curly clip-ins
High-quality curly clip-in extensions process good heat resistance as well as the straight ones,they tend to maintain their textured feel after washing. However, washing can slightly relax or loosen the curls compared to their initial freshly styled state.
With proper care, these extensions usually retain their curl pattern and texture well, requiring minimal restyling after washing.
Less hair tangling and Shedding:
Try to run your fingers through the hair gently to check for tangling and shedding. While minimal shedding is normal, excessive tangling and shedding are signs of lower quality.
High-quality curly clip-in extensions generally experience a little more tangling and shedding than the straight ones but still have minimal tangling and shedding compared to lower-quality options while they were properly used and cared.
However, some tangling might still occur, particularly after multiple uses or if not properly cared for.Proper care and gentle handling also contribute to minimizing shedding in these extensions.
Good Thickness:
Good quality hair extensions have consistent thickness from the top to the ends. They maintain a good volume throughout without thinning out towards the tips. This consistent thickness provides a fuller and more natural look when clipped into your own hair. Generally, these extensions are designed to add noticeable length and volume without appearing sparse or thin at the ends.This indicates the hair are collected from one donor.
Low Quality Clip-Ins looks not the same thickness from the roots to the ends,there are lot of short pieces of hair in an bundle.
Flat-sewn wefts and Good clips
High-quality extensions often have double wefts, weft stitching is neat and secure.
Double-weft sewn,all the clips are sit flat and steam lined against the head.
And the clips are sturdy, have a good grip, and are securely attached to the wefts. They sit flat and steam lined against the head, open and close smoothly without slipping.
all which provide extra thickness and durability.
Fair Price:
While price alone is not always indicative of quality, be cautious of extremely low-priced clip-in extensions, as they might indicate inferior quality. High-quality human hair extensions often come at a moderate to higher price point.
When it comes to High-quality hair extensions, no matter what hair type, they are made of cuticle aligned and Remy human hair with proper processing.
What characteristics indicates the Clip-Ins are Low Quality?
1.Clips and Wefts
Low Quality Clip-Ins are mostly single wefted and looks & bulky and obviously once applied.
2.Thickness
Low Quality Clip-Ins looks not the same thickness from the roots to the ends,there are lot of short pieces of hair in an bundle.
3.Touch & Feeling
Low Quality Clip-Ins is not very soft and easily going to be frizzy and break when you run you finger through the hair.
4.Heat Resistance & Movements
Low Quality Clip-Ins can not take heat long and easily going to flip out at the ends and tangles.And they might lack flexibility and bounce, feeling rigid and artificial when moved or styled.
5.Poor thin Ends
The Ends of Low Quality Clip-Ins looks much thinner than the roots and may contains many split ends.
6.Tangle and Shedding
Low Quality Clip-Ins going to be coarser and easily tangled and shedding too much after washed 2 or 3 times.
The above may give us a general vivew to know the hair quality,but the question is how to distinguish if we’ve got high-quality clip-in? Let’s us read the following parts of the process of testing the quality of them to ensure you to get a good batch.
STEP 2—HOW TO TEST
How can you test the hair quality?
There are various ways to test whether you've purchased a high-quality product,check around to see what tools you have by hand then you can do the test yourself.
Methods to test the quality of the clip ins you purchased
The Flame/Burn Test
A hair burning test is a method used to determine whether hair is synthetic or made from human hair. It involves burning a small sample of the hair and observing the flame, smell, and residue. Here's how to conduct a hair burning test:
Human Hair, as a protein fiber, will burn briefly and will not continue to burn unless you hold it to the fire. Besides, the brief flame is orange, then the hair will leave dark ash after charing and also will turn to powder when crushed. Don’t forget the smell is similar to the odor smells of burning flesh or burning feathers.
Synthetic hair is either nylon fibers or polyester fibers. They usually will burn rapidly and then melt. The sputter flame is orange and black smoke. What is the most different is that it will melt, drip, then become sticky to the touch before forming ash of hard black beads.
Note: Please perform this test in a well-ventilated area and exercise caution while dealing with an open flame.
Materials you'll need:
A small sample of the hair you want to test(chop 1 or 2 small strands of hair)
A lighter or a match
A heat-resistant surface, like a ceramic plate or a metal tray
A pair of tweezers or tongs
A glass of water or a fire extinguisher (for safety)
Steps:
1.Prepare the sample:
Take a small sample of the hair you want to test. A strand of hair should be enough, and it should be clean and dry.
2.Light the hair:
Hold the strand of hair with the tweezers or tongs, leaving a few inches exposed at one end.
Light the exposed end of the hair using the lighter or match. Allow it to burn.
3.Observe the flame:
Pay attention to the flame's behavior as the hair burns. Human hair and synthetic hair will exhibit different characteristics.
4.Observe the smell:
Take note of the odor produced as the hair burns. Human hair typically has a distinct, slightly sweet smell, while synthetic hair can produce a chemical or plastic-like odor.
If the hair singes and burns upwards while smelling like burnt hair – it is real. If it sort of melts into a ball and smells like burning plastic – it is fake
5.Observe the residue:
Examine the residue left behind after the hair has burned. Human hair ashes are generally soft, fine, and grayish-white. Synthetic hair may leave behind hard, black, or sticky residue.
Dispose of the burned hair:
Safely extinguish the flame by dipping the burned end of the hair into a glass of water or using a fire extinguisher if necessary. Ensure that the hair is completely extinguished.
Dispose of materials safely.
Heat & wash test
This may be the easiest but best test method you can do at home.It is perfectly safe to apply heat to natural hair, as long as you take the usual measures to protect against dryness. Synthetic hair, on the other hand, will melt into your real hair if you apply too much heat to it.
If you have a high-quality hair extension, you can style it in any way with heated styling tools, just like natural hair on your head.
When you co-wash or wash hair with shampoo and conditioner, in whatever shape is hair styled with heated styling tools (e.g., from body wave to straight), it reverts to its original state after washing.
Tapered test
In low-quality hair extensions, smaller hair strands are not removed from bundles, resulting in severely tapered ends. It is essential to consider because when you install hair extensions that have severely tapered ends, it feels like you need a haircut. As a result, you will not get the desired length you had ordered for, or you will have stringy ends.
It means high-quality hair extensions do not have extremely thin ends, so be sure to check this before ordering.
Temperature Test
Next, you need to determine whether hair feels cool or hot to touch.
For this, pick up a section of hair; it will feel cool to touch if the hair retains moisture. Because of moisture, it will wick or absorb the heat from your hand, resulting in cooler touch. In comparison, the hair that does not retain its moisture feels warmer to the touch like an insulator.
High-quality human hair extensions feel cool to touch means retaining moisture. It's a general rule that the cooler the hair feels, the higher the quality is.
As odd as this sounds, determining the quality of your hair extensions by how it feels in your hands is a big give away. To check the quality of your hair through temperature, grab a small piece of hair and determine whether or not it feels cold to touch because when human hair retains moisture, it will wick the heat away from your fingers which results in the hair feeling cool where in comparison to lower quality hair that does not retain moisture, it will feel warmer. The general rule to note is the cooler the hair, the higher the quality so be sure to touch your hair extensions and take note of the temperature.
Bleach & Color test:
As mentioned in above, burn tests can help you differentiate synthetic hair and human hair. And the bleach test can help you recognize the quality of hair extensions. After all, chemically processed hair might have been bleached or dyed before, so it is difficult to bleach the hair again.
To do the bleach test, you can get any hair bleach at a beauty supply store. Then take out small strands of hair which not been colored and apply the bleach to the hair extensions. Wrap it in thin plastic wrap and wait for 30 to 40 minutes. If the hair starts turning orange or yellowish within the suggested bleach time frame, it is virgin hair. If no, it means it is not virgin hair.
Now that we've explored the characteristics if the high quality clip in hair extensions and acquired the methods to identify them, let’s dive into the the most crucial topic,stay tuned!
STEP 3—HOW TO CHOOSE
How to choose the best Clip in extensions with perfect fit for yourself?
We all want to do investments,finding products that truly resonate with our preferences, fulfill our needs, and suit us brings great satisfaction. Yet, there are times when the allure of novelty may lead us to buy something we end up not enjoying. How can we navigate and prevent such situations?
6 key factors help us clear our true needs or avoid impulse choice
When it comes to choosing the right clip ins to fit ourselves, there are several factors need to take into consideration but the bellow 6 ones are the key factors.
The texture blend
It's crucial to consider the compatibility with one's natural hair texture, understanding its thickness and type to ensure a seamless blend.
click to tell what's your texture here.
Personal preferences
Additionally, personal preferences for the appearance of the hair, including hairstyle, length, and color, play a pivotal role. This ensures that the chosen wig aligns with individual style preferences, enhancing confidence and comfort.
Different occasions
Different occasions require varying styles and lengths, whether it's for everyday wear, professional settings, or special events.we need to determine whether we are purchasing it for a more casual or professional occasions and if we can make it suit for most of our events.
The changing seasons &temperatures
The changing temperatures across seasons add another layer of consideration. Opting for lighter, shorter styles might be more appealing during warm summers, while longer and thicker extensions could offer warmth in chilly winters.
Clothing coordination
Lastly, coordinating the color of your hair extensions and style with your existing wardrobe ensures a cohesive and polished appearance.
In summary, a thoughtful evaluation of factors like hair texture compatibility, personal style preferences, occasion-specific needs, seasonal variations, and wardrobe coordination is key to finding the perfect hair extensions, transforming it into a standout fashion accessory.
STEP 4—HOW TO CARE CLIP IN EXTENSIONS FOR LONGEVITY?
Before proceeding with care, we have to mention a fact that is often overlooked. There is a difference in the difficulty of care between straight and curly hair,or shorter and longer ones ,especially when you choose the colored hair, the lighter and the brighter color it is, the more time and effort it takes to take care of it. This was shown in the table below.
Before Install:
Wash and Condition: Before the initial use, wash and condition your clip-in extensions using sulfate-free shampoo and conditioner. This will remove any residue and prepare them for styling.
After Each Use:
Detangle Gently: After removing the clip-ins, gently comb through them with a wide-toothed or extension-friendly brush to remove any tangles or knots. Start from the ends and work your way up to avoid damaging the hair.
Clean Clips: Inspect the clips for any product buildup or residue and clean them if necessary. Use a soft cloth or a small brush to remove any debris.
Regular Styling & Maintenance TIPS:
TIP 1#:Washing Hair Regularly.
a.Avoid Over-washing.
Try to shampoo only once or twice a week.
shampoo can wash the dirt away from the hair but also strip the natural oils and moisture from our hair strands.
b.Silicone-contained.
Using products with silicone but Sulfate-free,since the Silicone can cause build up and weigh down your hair. If you need to use them, make sure the silicone in your product are water soluble, since those cause much less build up.
Sulfates can dry hair out, so using them can negate all the hard work you’re doing trying to keep your hair moisturized.
c. Please don't forget to use a clarifying shampoo once a week after you apply the styling products. Regular shampoos are formulated to remove dirt and excess oil from your hair, but clarifying or anti-residue shampoos are specifically formulated to remove buildup, or the leaving build up will make your hair sticky and hard to be comb through.
TIP #2: Conditioning
a.Make sure to use a heavy-duty, moisturizing conditioner In between shampoos. It’s best to comb through and work out any tangles in the shower, since brushing dry curls can create a frizzy mess! Combining with the conditioner helps easily remove tangles and ensure the product is evenly distributed throughout your hair. After you shower, using a styling cream really helps lock in the moisture. You can also use a deep conditioner when you need to step up your moisture game just a bit. The easiest way to do just that is to use a moisturizing hair care system that’s gentle on your strands.
b.Using the leave-in conditioner or hair cream/Oil to lock the moisture if you have the long colored curly hair.
It’s no secret that curly hair needs all the nourishment it can get. Since your curly hair extensions won’t get the natural oils and nutrients that the hair on your head does, you’ll need to take your curly extensions routine up a notch. This is where a leave-in conditioner picks up the slack. Leave-in conditioner goes the extra mile to provide lasting hydration to your curly extensions and make the detangling process that much easier. most of the leave-in conditioner has a lightweight formula that moisturizes and helps revive the look of shine.
C.Divide and finger comb each piece of clip in hair from water instead dry them in wrapping all pieces together.If you try this,and then get your hair moisturized, hair comb would get much easier,and hair won't tangle too much.
TIP #3: Comb & Detangle your hair extensions the right way
a.Separated each strands of your hair slightly with your hands fist before combing or washing if your hair start tangling.
Should you find that your curly hair extensions have a few tangles and knots, it’s best to start the detangle process on wet hair. Tugging at dry curls can lead to unnecessary shedding, so opting to detangle your curly strands when wet is the best way to go.
b.use a wide-tooth comb and gently glide it through your curly extensions, starting at the bottom and working your way upward. Repeat until your curly extensions are tangle-free.
TIP #4:Air dry & Styling
Let your clip-In hair extensions air dry or use diffuser with lower temperature.
a.One of the best things you can do for your extensions is to avoid heat. Simply put, excessive heat usage can give your extensions a dry and dull appearance. So, after you wash your hair, it’s best to let your curls air dry. After all, you don’t want to be left with flat or frizz-filled curls. Not to mention, allowing your curly extensions to air dry will help to maintain the quality of your extensions.
b.make sure you use a heat protectant before using hair dryers or curling irons & let your hair Air Dry or a heat under 180°C.
c.Use a diffuser to style the curls.
You don’t always have time to let your hair air dry after a shower, but you’re worried that the hair dryer will dry out your curls too fast or blow them into a crazy mess. The easy solution? Just use a diffuser! If you use a medium heat setting, you won’t over dry your curls, and the diffuser reduces the air velocity of the dryer so it won’t affect their shape.
TIP #5: Protect your hair extensions at night
The friction between your hair and your pillow can cause extra frizz that you certainly don’t need.
a.Sleeping with a satin pillow or headscarf is a simple solution to this problem.
b.Also, as with all types of extensions, sleeping in a braid keeps hair from matting and tangling, and it works double duty for wavy and curly extensions—it helps them keep their shape longer!
By following all these 4 steps,you must have comprehensive approach to ensure your clip in hair extensions look great, match your true needs, and stay in good condition. Taking proper care and making informed choices will indeed enhance the longevity of your investment.