What type of extensions are the least damaging?

The major cause of hair damage from Permanent hair extensions is incorrect application and bad maintenance of the hair extensions in between services. Permanent hair extensions are professional items that should only be applied by a qualified hair extensionist and never on your own hair. Even as a qualified hair extensionist with plenty of years’ experience, I would not be able to perfectly apply my own hair extensions especially at the back of my hair, trust me I’ve tried and failed! Something so minor like not adding enough hair to your attachment can cause damage therefor we would not suggest attempting self-application however easy it may look. With the correct care, application and maintenance permanent hair extensions can be life changing for all the right reasons.

They tend to have a far more natural appearance as they blend better with natural hair, you have more freedom of where you would like them placed and they are much easier to hide. There is no reason that Permanent hair extensions, when used properly, should cause any damage to your hair. As this extension type is more of a commitment it’s important to understand that looking after them can be a little more work, you will need to use special products, care regimes and washing/drying can take more time and effort. If this sounds like something you would not be able to commit too, we advise looking into a more temporary option like Clip-Ins. The aftercare care of your Permanent hair extensions is equally as important as the application for protecting your own hair. We strongly recommend having a physical consultation with your stylist before choosing your hair extension type.

Your professional will help you pick how much you need, which type to use and will be able to give you a specific plan for how often you need to return for maintenance appointments and how to care for the hair in between. As we have mentioned before, choosing the right type for your hair is half of the work with hair extensions so make sure you get some sound advice before making your decision.

How to choose the correct Permanent hair extensions for your hair type?

We have created a table to show which Permanent hair extensions are suitable for certain for various hair types, then explained below our reasoning. 

Hair Wefts/Weaves

A Hair Weft or Weave as its also referred to is the most versatile hair extension type as it can be used in so many different methods. It can be sewn, weaved, clipped or glued in to create many looks and styles. Its also extremely easy and fast to apply and remove and doesn’t require any heat for the application which is great and far less damaging to the hair. However, Hair wefts are usually quite heavy, when made into clip-ins that will only be used on occasions this is not a problem for thin haired customers but when attached permanently they should only be used in medium to thick hair types to ensure the hair is able to hold the weight for several weeks. Hair Wefts are a fantastic way of adding length to thick hair and are ideal to use when you are transforming a chunky bob into long flowing locks as the thickness of the weft helps to blend out the transition line.

Tape Hair Extensions 

Tapes are suitable for all hair types as they are so lightweight and discreet. Unlike Hair wefts they are not bulky at all and will sit very close to the head making them almost invisible in even the finest of hair. The glue on the sticky tab is made from medical adhesive so its super gentle and simple to remove with special remover products. Our specially formulated Cliphair Tape remover solution is oil based which is far kinder to the hair and scalp than most alcohol-based removers. Our remover is enriched with citrus oils leaving a soft, fruity scent on the hair rather than a strong chemical odour. Apart from the zero damage factor, the other advantage of using the Tape method is speed. A full head of Tape in hair extensions can be applied to any hair type in under an hour making this a firm favourite in many to hair extension salons!

Nano Ring Hair Extensions

Nano Rings are the most discreet hair extension method on the market today, so tiny they can even be used to create fringes! They are perfect for thin haired customers as they can be placed very close to the front hairline without being seen due to their minute size whilst causing zero damage. The reason we would say they are not suitable for thick hair is not because they are harmful but because it would take an age to apply a full head of these to thick hair. As they are so small this also means they need to be attached to a small amount of hair, creating these tiny sections in thick hair would be very time consuming. As thick hair is stronger and the risk of damage is less its not necessary to use this method as the same result can be achieved which bigger individual hair extensions such as i-tips or u-tips.

I-Tips/Stick Tips 

I-tips are a individual, pre-bonded type of permanent hair extension that are attached to the hair with either a copper tube or silicone-lined micro ring. Silicone lined rings are kinder to the hair as they create a barrier between the hair and the metal rings reducing friction. A slightly larger version of the Nano ring method that gives the same effect but can be used on thicker hair as the sections are slightly bigger. This method is great for anyone who has a busy lifestyle and enjoys wearing their hair up as the tips are small and easily hidden. For very thin haired customers it may be difficult to hide these extensions, bigger sections need to be taken to hold the weight of the strands. Therefore we advise extremely thin haired customers to either use Nanos or Tapes as they will not be able to achieve the best results without compromising on either safety or appearance. For fine, average and thick haired customers this method is suitable. 

Caring for Permanent Hair Extensions

The third and final step in protecting your hair from damage is in your hands! After you have chosen your perfect method and had them correctly applied its now up to you to make sure they are correctly maintained and cared for. Maintenance and Re-positioning appointments are essential with permanent hair extensions to keep them looking their best and to prevent any natural hair loss. On average, humans lose up to 100 hairs a day which is perfectly natural however when you have hair extensions attached these hairs do not fall out completely, they get stuck in the bonds attached to your hair. As your own hair grows your extensions move with it, after 6-8 weeks your extensions will be holding onto less hair as some of your own would have naturally shed, because of this the weight of the attachment will be causing more tension to that area. Having the hair removed and repositioned will allow this natural shedding to fall from the hair and ensure that at no point you are putting too much pressure onto your hair which could eventually cause more hair loss. Leaving the hair in for too long without removing can also cause matting around your roots, which is not only very uncomfortable and time consuming to untangle it could also end up pulling your own hair out in the process.

The good news is, this is totally avoidable by having regular maintenance check ups and well-timed repositioning appointments. There is much confusion between “maintenance” appointments and “re-positions” and we are here to explain the difference. A Maintenance appointment is almost like a check-up. It is a service that should be done no later than 6 weeks after your application of any permanent hair extensions, sooner for first time users. In this appointment your stylist will check for any matting and remove it, push up any loose or hanging hair extensions and replace any that have fallen out. Its also a great excuse to have a thorough hair wash and deep conditioning treatment done seeing as it can be a job to do this on your own hair when you have extensions.

A re-position and removal is where the hair extensions are completely removed and reapplied using new rings, this service takes longer than a standard maintenance appointment and should also include a full wash and treatment to restore the scalp and hair. We have listed below the time frames and service expectations in a maintenance and reposition appointment for each type as they can vary according to different methods.

Hair Weft – No later than 6 weeks after your application you should return to have your rings re-tight end if you have had the micro-ring weft or LA Weave. New rings should not need to be used in this appointment. If the hair has been sewn in this appointment will simply be to check for matting. No later than 10-12 weeks after your application your weft should be completely removed, washed and repositioned using new rings and braids if necessary.

Tapes – A maintenance appointment is not necessary for Tape in hair extensions as they should be removed and either re-taped or replaced with new hair every 6-8 weeks. Despite this, its never a bad idea to return after a couple of weeks just to check for any matting or irritation especially if its your first time using them.

Nanos – No later than 6 weeks after your application you should return to have any loose, hanging extensions pushed back up using new rings each time. You will also of lost a few strands by this point so your stylist will put these back in for you whilst also checking and removing any matting at the roots. After 12 weeks you should return for a full removal and reposition of the Nanos, again new rings will need to be used.

I-Tips/Stick Tips – No later than 6 weeks after your application you should return to have any loose, hanging extensions pushed back up you will not need to use new rings as you can simply unclamp and re-clamp as needed. You will also of lost a few strands by this point so your stylist will put these back in for you whilst also checking and removing any matting at the roots. After 12 weeks you should return for a full removal and reposition of the I-tips, new rings will now need to be used. If at any point in between your services you feel your hair is beginning to matt at the roots you should contact your stylist and make a maintenance appointment, they will also be able to offer advice in prevention of matting in the future.

So, with a little love and care hair extensions really can be life changing and give you with the hair you have always dreamed of, as long as they are maintained well and chosen correctly there is no reason that they should cause any damage to your hair. Why not have a browse through our collection here at Cliphair, our goal is to provide confidence boosting, affordable, gorgeous hair extensions for all, no matter the hair type or concern. We have a wide range of lengths and over 50 shades to choose from including our New Balayage colours! We have also got all the accessories and haircare products you need to apply and maintain them here.

Whatever your after you will find it in our selection, and what’s more if you need any help choosing the right ones for you feel free to ask an expert and use our FREE Colour Match and Advice service!

Related articles to check out: How to wash all types of hair extensions >> Top 10 haircare and accessories to use with hair extensions
4 common tape extension mistakes and how to fix them

Do you have any more questions about hair extensions? Let us know, and don’t forget to hashtag #WearCliphair to show off your hair extensions #WearCliphair on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter.

Which hair extensions are the best and least damaging?

What are the most secure hair extensions?

What are the easiest extensions to maintain?

What is the best quality type of hair extensions?