This article was written by The Zillennial Zine’s senior fall editorial intern Dalal Daher. Find her on Instagram at @dalalllldaher. If you would like to share an article with The Zillennial, send us an email at thezillennialzine@gmail.com.
Have you ever wished to have long, Instagram-perfect hair? Maybe you’ve scrolled through a celebrity’s social media and found yourself envious of their luscious locks. The secret? Sometimes it’s natural, sometimes it’s wigs, but often, it’s hair extensions. Extensions are one of those hairstyles that can feel daunting if you haven’t tried them. Yet if you have the disposable income, time, and skills to maintain the look, they can boost your confidence and give you the long hair you’ve dreamed of without having to wait.
Are extensions worth it? What are the pros and cons of investing in them? We have a quintessential rundown of everything you should know before booking that salon appointment.
Common Types of Hair Extensions
Extensions can vary by type of hair used and also how it’s applied to your head. There are synthetic hair extensions, which are generally cheaper, and human hair extensions, collected by donors, which are much pricier. Human hair extensions (although it sounds kind of weird to write about) blend in more seamlessly with your hair and look more natural overall.
The other differentiating factor regarding extensions is the type of installation. Clip-in extensions are the cheapest and the most temporary. They clip into your head with a barrette-like mechanism and don’t need a professional hairstylist, making them ideal for temporary hair transformations. If you wanted extensions for a special occasion, these would be a good go-to. At this point, clip-in hair extensions are so evolved that you can even buy clip-in buns and bangs to add volume to your hair.
Tape-in extensions are similar to clip-ins, except they’re semi-permanent and last about 4-8 weeks depending on your hair growth and if you maintain them. Tape-ins need to be applied by a professional hairstylist, but the process of gluing them into your hair only takes about an hour. The pros of tape-ins are that you can reuse the hair extensions and that they’re generally cheaper than other semi-permanent options, and also that they require less time in the salon (so more time for you to enjoy your chic hair!).
Generally, the more permanent and undetectable the type of hair extension, the more expensive it is. Sew-in hair extensions are braided and sewn into your natural hair, but should only be used on textured or thick hair due to the strain it places on it. If you do opt for a weave/sew in extensions, make sure you deep condition your hair and moisturize your scalp frequently and remove it every 6-8 weeks. Another popular hair extension type is microlinks, which are attached to your hair via small links or tubes. The key difference between these and clip-ins or tape-ins is that microlinks are attached to smaller strands of hair, as opposed to swaths of your scalp.
Microlinks are more subtle than tape-ins since they don’t use glue, and don’t damage or put as much stress on your hair as other options, yet they require hours in the salon. The upside? They last anywhere from 2-3 months, meaning if you can handle the long hairstyling days, touch-ups would be less frequent.
On the more luxury end of hair extensions are keratin, or k-tip, extensions, which are bonded to your hair with heat. Like microlinks, they attach to individual hairs for a more seamless look, and require hours of salon time. Yet these will last four to five months, meaning that you can go about your life without having to frequently maintain them in the hairstylist’s chair. One of the most modern and natural hair extension techniques is UV hair extensions, which attach into your hair via UV light and glue.
Pricing
So now that you know a bit about what kinds of hair extensions are out there, how much do they cost? The price of hair extensions depends on what type of installation you get, whether it’s human or synthetic hair, and the length/amount of hair you’re installing. Clip-ins are the cheapest, with options from Amazon starting at $35, yet the tradeoff is their temporary nature and the fact that you have to keep your hair in a certain style or the clips will show.
Tape-ins have the cheapest installation cost, generally ranging from $200-400, alongside the initial cost of the hair itself at $200-400. While you save money on reusing the hair, the frequency at which you re-install it makes it quite expensive. On the other end of the spectrum, k-tip extensions can be up to $1000 for the hair and $550 for the installation, yet its more permanent installation means less frequent salon visits that will mitigate how much you spend in salon visits.
The range in prices is due to what kind of hair and how long you want it to be. Buying some extensions to thicken your natural hair versus installing waist-length locks will add hundreds to your bill.
Before you splurge…
While it may be pricey, extensions are a fun, luscious way to supplement your naturally beautiful hair and play with its length, or fill in its thickness. If the salon bill is manageable to you, here are some other things I’d consider before getting extensions that I didn’t know when I got mine.
It’s a lot of maintenance
When I first got my extensions, I had no idea how much maintenance I would have to do. In order to make your extensions last as long as possible and blend seamlessly with your hair, you have to be aware of the limits of each type of extension. Be sure to do your research on if you can heat style your hair, if you need to blow dry it after every shower, or if you should deep condition it!
Some hairstyles won’t work
Another thing is that if you have extensions with less subtle adhesives, certain hairstyles will expose them more. For girls who always wear their hair up, or love a high bun, keep in mind that clip-ins or tape-ins will show more during these updo hairstyles. Also, doing these hairstyles can place extra strain on your hair follicles.
Each hairstylist has a different technique
Depending on your area, each hair stylist specializing in extensions may have a different technique and name for their installation type. My extensions were a variation on microlinks unique to the LA area, but every salon is different! Be sure to ask questions and keep in mind that every salon will have varying haircare tips depending on their unique technique.
Is your lifestyle suitable?
Lastly, ponder if extensions could fit in well with your lifestyle. If you’re more active and love to go to the gym, extra showers in your daily routine will require extra hair maintenance to keep your extensions in good shape. If you hate styling your hair, having to maintain your extensions could be more work than it’s worth to you. I found that having to constantly upkeep my naturally wavy hair with my straight extensions by straightening them every day was taxing and ultimately not worth it, but every person is different!
So are extensions worth it?
Extensions can be worth it depending on your budget and lifestyle! Be honest with yourself on if you’re down for the maintenance, price, salon trips and hair products. But if you are, hair extensions are a lot of fun and a total confidence booster. I truly enjoyed wearing mine and felt like a Barbie. And if you’re on the fence, there’s always a trusty pair of clip-ins for that temporary hairstyle you’ve been itching to try.
Have you tried hair extensions? What did you think? Let us know in the comments below!
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