There are many reasons why you may want to get hair extensions. You might be looking for more voluminous hair, given your fine, thin hair. Or maybe you simply want a more styleable length for everyday wear.
Hair extensions are an excellent option to have, but with hair product advertisements only flaunting thick hair, you may be a bit worried there aren’t hair extensions suitable for your fine hair.
Worry no more! Here are a few things that may help you and your fine hair through the world of hair extensions.
What kinds of hair extensions are available for fine hair
It’s important that you know the types of hair extensions available to you, how they’re worn, and how long they last. Understanding the differences between these hair extensions will help you choose what is most suitable for your lifestyle and needs.
1. Clip-in Hair Extensions
One of the easiest hair extension types to use, clip-in hair extensions are the most common kind of hair extensions. As its name suggests, the wefts have a base made of a piece of lace or fabric where clips are attached and sewn. Since you can easily clip them on and snap them off to remove them from your hair, clip-in hair extensions are the least permanent of all the hair extensions available. They need to be removed before bed each night and reinstalled every morning.
Also, you don’t have to worry about getting your hair damaged by chemicals, heat, or other possibly damaging installation processes. You can wear them every day for additional length and thickness, and you can also bring them to your stylist to customize them into a particular hairstyle you prefer.
2. Weave-in Hair Extensions
Weave-in hair extensions are woven or sewn into your braided natural hair using a needle and thread. This makes them semi-permanent, and they can last from 6-8 weeks up to a recommended maximum of 4 months.
However, applying weaves to your hair can be very tedious and technical. You will most probably need to have your professional hairstylist sew them in for you.
In general, though, weaves are predominantly used for thicker hair. Because of the long and tight weave application process, the strain it will put on the scalp and hair can be too heavy and uncomfortable for more fragile strands.
Tape-in Hair Extensions
Precisely what its name implies, tape-in hair extensions have a pre-coated adhesive tape that you tape together on either side of your hair to get your extensions attached. Tape-in hair extensions can also be easily applied and removed, allowing for multiple uses and maximized placement options so you can get that natural look.
Unlike clip-in extensions that are a bit thicker at the top of the weft where the clips are attached, tape-in hair extensions are more lightweight. This means less burden and damage to your hair strands, especially for fine hair.
Tape-in hair extensions last for around 6-8 weeks before you need to remove and reapply them, depending on how good you take care of them and how fast your hair grows.
Guide to Using Hair Extensions For Fine Hair
There are a few tips and tricks that you should keep in mind when using hair extensions for fine hair.
Choose the right extensions
Of course, first and foremost, you have to pick hair extensions that are right for your fine hair.
Of all the hair extensions currently available in the market, tape-ins are the best for fine hair. This is especially true if you’re looking for a semi-permanent option. You can also check out the 5-piece clip-in hair extensions if you’re looking for hair extensions you’re only planning to wear for events or daily if for the short term.
These hair extensions look more natural with your own hair strands. They also won’t do damage to your hair as much as the other kinds of hair extensions. Your fine hair is already prone to breakage as it is, and you don’t want hair extensions that will pull and break your strands when you wear them.
Make a solid base
With fine hair, not only is frequent breakage a struggle, hair extensions could also slide down because there’s not much hair to hold on to.
As such, when wearing your clip-in hair extensions, make sure to create a solid base at the back of your head to avoid your hair extensions from possibly slipping down your head. This will be where you will later on clip on the hair extensions and help secure them in place.
You can create the base by spraying a good amount of hairspray to the root of your hair. You can also use Zala’s Mad Matter Hair Extension Volumizing Powder and then tease your hair for good measure and extra volume.
Stay in the safe zone
The safe zone is the area on your head where people won’t be able to see your extensions. Remember that because you have fine hair, the top of your head has less hair volume than your hair extensions. Your natural hair won’t be able to properly hide your hair extensions if you put them up too high.
For those with fine hair, the safe zone is the area below your eyebrow line. Trace an imaginary semi-circle around your head from one eyebrow to the other. This is the area where you can safely put your clip-ins. You have enough natural hair here to cover the roots and clips of your clip-in extensions.
Apply only the necessary pieces
Although hair extensions come in sets of wefts with varying width unless you bought them per piece, you don’t necessarily need to use all of them. Since you have fine hair, having too many wefts on your hair will only make it obvious that you’re wearing them.
Even if you haven’t used all of your wefts yet but you think your hair is already looking good, then it would be good to stop adding hair extensions. Just tease it to add volume to the top of your head to match the rest of your hair. You can also end the routine by styling your hair together with the extensions, which can help hide where your natural hair ends and your hair extensions start.
The fine-haired beginner’s journey towards hair extensions
Your hair may not be the kind flaunted in shampoo commercials but that doesn’t make your hair less gorgeous The recommendations and suggestions above are our hopes that every day for you will be like a daily shampoo commercial. Have fashionable fun with your ‘new’ hair!
For more hair tips and tricks, don’t forget to check out the ZALA blog!
PUBLISHED 5TH OCTOBER 2020