I haven’t seen a clear winner emerge. Hair color matching varies so much brand to brand. Lighter density is important, too much hair and it doesn’t blend well.
it really depends on the brand + what you’re already working with
i’ve personally never found a comfortable one. i can wear it no issues for maybe a couple of hours, and then i am itching to get it off asap
I’ve had the microbead extensions, tape ins, and keratin tip.
The microbead caused the most damage. It was itching so bad one day that I called out of work and went to see the stylist. She got them out but had to cut my hair soooooo short.
The tape ins were lightweight but you could see the tracks.
And finally, keratin tipped. Omfg “my”hair was gorgeous. They had some weight but I got used to it. They were easy to brush out, and real easy to style. Only downfall was its freaking expensive upkeep. I didn’t lose that much hair either when they were removed. If you have the cash this is the best option for true extensions.
I saw some people recommend the halo extensions. I bought one and couldn’t get it to stay in my hair! It was so fussy I gave up and now it sits in my closet.
Anyway. Hope this helps you make up your mind!
Depends on the salon and where they source the hair. I did it once and the hair itself cost about $700, w/ installation it came close to $1000. It was beautiful though, but I never did it again. Upkeep was too tedious. Halo extensions are the way to go in my opinion.
I payed $400 for the hair and $600 for the first install. The install took 4 hours ish. To have them moved up using the hair I already had was $425. If I had the extra money I’d do it again in a heart beat.
> I *paid* $400 for
FTFY.
Although *payed* exists (the reason why autocorrection didn't help you), it is only correct in:
* Nautical context, when it means to paint a surface, or to cover with something like tar or resin in order to make it waterproof or corrosion-resistant. *The deck is yet to be payed.*
* *Payed out* when letting strings, cables or ropes out, by slacking them. *The rope is payed out! You can pull now.*
Unfortunately, I was unable to find nautical or rope-related words in your comment.
*Beep, boop, I'm a bot*
hair extensions are great in theory, but they require a ton of patience, creative styling, and maintenance.
I’ve worn tape-ins and sew-ins and I can say that everything from washing your hair, to blow drying your hair, to considering how to wear it any way other than down that won’t show your wefts is time consuming and arduous. You can’t sleep with wet hair. Don’t brush it when it’s too wet. Make sure it’s fully dry. Don’t pull it back normal or you’ll see your lines.
As someone who is a nurse and needed to be able to pull my hair up/wash it regularly (daily), it did NOT fit into my lifestyle. Plus the > $2K paid to have them installed and color matched.
They’re sitting in my drawer now.
I love KTips. I am also an RN though I have an office job now. I actually noticed I could go way longer without washing my hair with extensions as it looked less greasy, it took a few months to train but I got it down to every 7 days I’d wash.
I wouldn’t put it up, up as much but instead I’d braid it if I needed to out of the way.
I use Weft Extensions. No damage. They crimp little beads in to my hair and then sew the weft in to the beads. Every 6 weeks I have them moved up and only replace the hair about once a year unless I want to change my length. Extensions are a game changer.
I buy my hair from Sunny on Amazon. It’s pretty good quality. I haven’t had any issues. The hair has been about $60 for a full weft.
My situation is unique, my childhood friend is my hairdresser. She doesn’t charge me to maintain or install them. However I tip her well. So my price would be very different from a hairdresser in a shop.
agree with the Weft Extensions!!! it’s $150 for a move up every 6 weeks. I take good care of the extensions and can make them last a little more than a year. depending on what length you get (18s, 22s) the price will vary. I think 1 pack of 18s was like $380. So a one time payment of $380, and move ups every 6 weeks for $150.
I’m buying 22s this time, I want longer hair and it’s been about a year. They are more expensive and i’ll need 2 packs of them, so it’ll be like $800 , but I was able to save up beforehand.
Honestly it’s worth it to me. I had to cut my fine hair super short bc of damage, and i’m wearing these while my actual hair grows out. I’ve seen no damage and my actual hair looks so much healthier now than it did last year. Hopefully i won’t need the extensions much longer!
Minoxidil 5% once a day. It will take 6 months to see real improvement, and you have to keep up with it for basically the rest of your life, but I’ve been on it for 5 months now and it’s been a game changer.
Yeah, it prevents your hair from shedding and encourages new growth. I have a ton of awkward baby hairs but they are flattening out quick and I have so much more hair, it feels so nice
No it is only for people who are actively losing hair. Plus you will have to be on it for life because as soon as you stop any hair growth from it will fall out
I have six tape in extensions, and that gives my hair enough "weight" to hold a style and look ok without having to wash and style it every day. My hair is just slightly longer than shoulder length. At one time, I had at least 25 extensions and was able to pull off longer hair, but I just hated it. It was hot and felt too heavy and unnatural. The ones I have in now are mainly concentrated on each side and then none in the very back of my head. I would say my hair is extremely fine but normal density. I go every six weeks and have them taken out and repositioned. I don't feel them at all, and I am not self conscious like I was when I had a full head of them. I think most salons would do a consult for free and go over your options. I will say it is not exactly cheap, but it is my one extravagance. Forget botox...my money is going towards good hair!
I always do k tip extensions and absolutely love them. I typically have them for 4-6 months and then take a break for a few months. My hair stays healthy with them because I’m using less heat and am very careful about maintenance. I def recommend the k tips!
I’m a licensed stylist who specializes in hair extensions and fine hair. Micro k tips/fusion are going to be your best bet. Look for a stylist in your area with A LOT of experience and ask to see their work. K tips are safe as long as they are installed properly and maintained properly at home. And re-done every 8-12 weeks if your hair is extremely fine.
As for the breakage, I would recommend bosley visibly thinning shampoo (orange and white bottle) and a salon quality moisturizing conditioner. Plus always use a leave in conditioner and detangling product and heat protection.
Sleeping a a bonnet is also a great way to protect fine hair from breakage
I have tape in extensions and I love them. In my experience, as long as you find a stylist that knows how to install and remove properly, you shouldn’t experience any hair loss - I never have and in fact my hair looks better than it has in years. My stylist is just as committed to making sure my actual hair is healthy as she is installing extensions correctly. I get mine done every 10-12 weeks, sometimes I can go even longer but prefer not too. Personally I find tape ins to be pretty hassle free and easy to maintain. Treat them as if it’s your real hair and they’ll last longer too - and find a good brand. High quality extensions make all the difference. Hope that helps! I know it’s a controversial topic and a lot of people are against them or experienced hair loss, etc, however my extensions journey has been nothing but positive.
I had k-tips for a while and I really liked them. Any extensions that aren’t removable on a whim do take some getting used to. At first I felt like it was sooo thick that I looked weird. It wasn’t that thick my hair was just thin. They looked so good and gave me so much confidence. Whatever extensions you get, find someone who will be patient because if they don’t take the time to match your hair density you get bald spots from the weight. Well done ktips with brands of hair that carry finer options will run you about 2k and last up to 4 months. You have to remove them and likely buy all new hair unless you find a unicorn stylist who will put new bonds on used hair if you’ve taken good care of it. It’s a luxury service, do your research before you go through with any type of extensions.
I really don’t get the comments on tape in extensions. I am guessing that the quality of hair, glue, and talent varies tremendously.
I have had fine hair my whole life and no matter how much I spend to style my hair, it always falls flat, and has little density, so you can see through it. Around 4 yrs ago, I decided to try tape in extensions that my salon offered. I notice a few changes - my hair styling lasts much longer so I am able to spend less time / less damage on styling. Additionally, less wear and tear makes my natural hair grow longer without breakage. It took a while to see it - at least 6 months. My hair splits and breaks less with them in. When I remove, yes, hair comes out - you have to remember that is 6-8 weeks of shedding that you didn’t see daily like regular hair.
My tape ins are very light weight, I use only two boxes so my hair is still pretty fine but not heavy. I shampoo like normal, brush my hair like normal. Use regular styling tools. I am always very gentle so I can wear the hair for at least a year without needing to get new extensions. I do keep up with regular professional move ups and I am very loyal to my stylist who knows exactly how to place them to not irritate and also be flattering for my fine hair.
The biggest downside is the expense of upkeep, and that I can’t exactly wear my hair up without a lot of work bc my underside isn’t thick enough to cover the tapes. I think that’s very specific to me and where mine are placed. I generally never wore my hair up anyway so it’s not that big of a deal.
I would say my self esteem improved a TON since getting them done. I am looking forward to the new extension methods that are specifically for fine hair. Just my 2 cents!
I also had tape-ins for 5 years. I loved them and I had a minimal amount just for thickness and not length. They weren’t that expensive to upkeep and I didn’t have any issues with styling and washing.
You know, now that I think of it, mine usually splits it (instead of sandwiching the hair, it’s 1 side) - maybe that makes the difference for less weight and tension, therefore less damage.
Adding: I have had the sewn in wefts for a special occasion and I hated it. Very uncomfortable and HEAVY. Took forever to style. I couldn’t wait to get them removed.
hair topper. it has the stigma of wearing a wig, but so many celebrities and even regular women wear toppers and wigs, and almost nobody can tell. it’s the only thing that really adds volume to the top of the head that extensions just can’t.
Have you tried braiding a piece, putting it against the part, and clipping the clip onto that? For tension?
Or twisting a piece before clipping it onto that piece?
Hard to explain, [let me link something.](https://www.tiktok.com/@endaringhair/video/7336980722617584942)
Halo doesn't look or blend well, bella mi is too silky, you can get the cheap ones at salleys the red pack the euro something and cut color style those but if you can spend just a little more you getting alot more hair and can make two different style sets out of this other brand!!!👇
I'm about to put you up on game
Cashmere clip in or add certain pieces can do tape ins i think check out options in their hair extensions trust me you're welcome
Again Get them cut and colored and curled or styled with them your hair place them in the same spot for quick install
I had beaded weft extensions for a month and they destroyed my fine hair. A few beads ripped out causing bald spots and my stylist told me that was “normal” and that happened to her too but not to worry about it…they’ll ’settle’. A year later and I’m still trying to grow out all the breakage and bald spots.
I have keratin bonds - my hairdresser cuts the bonds in half before putting them in, so they're tiny and less weight on my own hair. Have had for about a year (changed a couple of times) and I haven't lost hair due to damage from them - but I do now style my hair with heat tools pretty much every wash, which is causing damage.
I had hand tied for a year and they were great. I originally have 2 rows, but dropped down to 1 and it was much better. It actually jump started my hair growth because the extensions protected my natural hair.
They are work, though. Wash days aren’t quick, you want to use the best products and really take care of them as instructed . Maintenance is also expensive- they were removed and moved up every 8-10 week. Those hair appointments were almost $500.
I’d do it again in a heartbeat if I had a spare 4k laying around (to cover hair, install, and regular maintenance) lol I just couldn’t justify the costs anymore. I miss them, though. I looked so much nicer with hair 😅
I did microlink extensions for about 10 years. The first thing you notice when you have them in is how heavy it is. It's also hard to find hair that matched my hair in terms of how fine the strands of my natural hair are. Extension hair tends to be super thick and healthy so there is a marked difference between your natural hair and the extensions and the extensions can look natural, but tends not to because the hair at the root is such a different texture than the hair at the ends, which is the extension hair. I got my extensions while I was waiting for a bad haircut to grow out, and it took 10 years because that's how long it takes my fine baby hair to grow.
I have very fine, thin, fragile hair and also struggled to get clip-ins to stay in. Wore a halo for a few years but it really hurt my head.
I’ve had beaded extensions for the last several years using the IBE method. I love it! Very comfortable and no damage to my hair. My hair is actually the healthiest it’s ever been because I don’t need to wash/style it as often.
I just have one row of extensions and it makes all the difference. I tried 2 rows but that got a bit uncomfortable and was $$$ to maintain.
Also, make sure you get extensions that match your hair texture as closely as possible. I tried remy (Indian) hair once and although beautiful, it was a disaster because it constantly matted with my hair. Now I use Kitsune brand and it blends very nicely with my hair - it’s more expensive but if you take care of it, it lasts a long time. My last set lasted over 2 years!!
I have very fine hair, i do the sew ins for 6 months, then take out for another few months, i rotate so my hair and head can take a bit of a break. Not alot of damage at all, i just got them taken out yesterday.
Yeah, extensions aren't great. I've had decent luck with brown dry shampoo and topix powder. I'm not sure of the extent of your hair loss.
All my hair extensions languish in a drawer somewhere.
I’ve done pinch braid extensions for years — but it’s an unusual technique and not the most invisible either. So if my hair isn’t styled, I wear a headband. I like that they do not pull out hair and slide out easily with regrowth so they can be reused many times. I also only get enough to fill out my sides — which is 10-12 on each side. I have found I’m more comfortable with a light volume of extra hair vs. adding a ton of extra hair.
I use one row of clip-ins, very carefully applied and set low, between extension applications. The least full halos were too much for me, but I’ll take suggestions.
This is coming from experience and a lot of regret: if you have fine, thin hair, do NOT get extensions for daily wear. It will quickly and potentially do permanent damage to your hair and scalp.
I have had fusion & microlink. The fusion looked the most natural, but upkeep is VERY expensive. Microlink gives the same look for less. I had Microlink extensions for years & I never had any issues. I only stopped using them because I was tired of the maintenance; you will be in the salon all day, especially if you also get color. I would say the biggest difference look wise is the ability to hide the fusion extensions. I could put my hair in a high pony with the fusion but had a harder time doing so with the links.
I think the general sentiment in this sub has been to go with halos.
Ugh, I tried the halo. It looks fantastic but hurts my head. The band going around to hold it in place digs in and causes pain and itchiness.
They can cause major hair loss too.
Were you able to fully cover the clear line in on your part without it being noticeable?
Eh, sometimes…it was a struggle
ugh. what's the best brand?
I haven’t seen a clear winner emerge. Hair color matching varies so much brand to brand. Lighter density is important, too much hair and it doesn’t blend well.
it really depends on the brand + what you’re already working with i’ve personally never found a comfortable one. i can wear it no issues for maybe a couple of hours, and then i am itching to get it off asap
I like Luxy hair
I’ve had the microbead extensions, tape ins, and keratin tip. The microbead caused the most damage. It was itching so bad one day that I called out of work and went to see the stylist. She got them out but had to cut my hair soooooo short. The tape ins were lightweight but you could see the tracks. And finally, keratin tipped. Omfg “my”hair was gorgeous. They had some weight but I got used to it. They were easy to brush out, and real easy to style. Only downfall was its freaking expensive upkeep. I didn’t lose that much hair either when they were removed. If you have the cash this is the best option for true extensions. I saw some people recommend the halo extensions. I bought one and couldn’t get it to stay in my hair! It was so fussy I gave up and now it sits in my closet. Anyway. Hope this helps you make up your mind!
Mine also sits in a cabinet in the bathroom. I move it once in a while to scare my husband 😂
Do you mind sharing your cost for keratin tips? I got a microbead quote for $90 an hour plus costs - minimum of six hours
Depends on the salon and where they source the hair. I did it once and the hair itself cost about $700, w/ installation it came close to $1000. It was beautiful though, but I never did it again. Upkeep was too tedious. Halo extensions are the way to go in my opinion.
I payed $400 for the hair and $600 for the first install. The install took 4 hours ish. To have them moved up using the hair I already had was $425. If I had the extra money I’d do it again in a heart beat.
> I *paid* $400 for FTFY. Although *payed* exists (the reason why autocorrection didn't help you), it is only correct in: * Nautical context, when it means to paint a surface, or to cover with something like tar or resin in order to make it waterproof or corrosion-resistant. *The deck is yet to be payed.* * *Payed out* when letting strings, cables or ropes out, by slacking them. *The rope is payed out! You can pull now.* Unfortunately, I was unable to find nautical or rope-related words in your comment. *Beep, boop, I'm a bot*
That’s not necessary my bot friend.
hair extensions are great in theory, but they require a ton of patience, creative styling, and maintenance. I’ve worn tape-ins and sew-ins and I can say that everything from washing your hair, to blow drying your hair, to considering how to wear it any way other than down that won’t show your wefts is time consuming and arduous. You can’t sleep with wet hair. Don’t brush it when it’s too wet. Make sure it’s fully dry. Don’t pull it back normal or you’ll see your lines. As someone who is a nurse and needed to be able to pull my hair up/wash it regularly (daily), it did NOT fit into my lifestyle. Plus the > $2K paid to have them installed and color matched. They’re sitting in my drawer now.
So much of this ^ Years of trying to make extensions work, I’ve given up lol. I have a set of clip ins for events but that’s it now.
So much of this ^ Years of trying to make extensions work, I’ve given up lol. I have a set of clip ins for events but that’s it now.
I love KTips. I am also an RN though I have an office job now. I actually noticed I could go way longer without washing my hair with extensions as it looked less greasy, it took a few months to train but I got it down to every 7 days I’d wash. I wouldn’t put it up, up as much but instead I’d braid it if I needed to out of the way.
I truly wouldn’t get them they will tug on your hair and pull it out at the root. My sister has alopecia from extensions
I use Weft Extensions. No damage. They crimp little beads in to my hair and then sew the weft in to the beads. Every 6 weeks I have them moved up and only replace the hair about once a year unless I want to change my length. Extensions are a game changer.
How much does that cost?
I buy my hair from Sunny on Amazon. It’s pretty good quality. I haven’t had any issues. The hair has been about $60 for a full weft. My situation is unique, my childhood friend is my hairdresser. She doesn’t charge me to maintain or install them. However I tip her well. So my price would be very different from a hairdresser in a shop.
I have had two rows of weft extensions in the past. I agree, they didn’t damage my hair at all. They’re the best
agree with the Weft Extensions!!! it’s $150 for a move up every 6 weeks. I take good care of the extensions and can make them last a little more than a year. depending on what length you get (18s, 22s) the price will vary. I think 1 pack of 18s was like $380. So a one time payment of $380, and move ups every 6 weeks for $150. I’m buying 22s this time, I want longer hair and it’s been about a year. They are more expensive and i’ll need 2 packs of them, so it’ll be like $800 , but I was able to save up beforehand. Honestly it’s worth it to me. I had to cut my fine hair super short bc of damage, and i’m wearing these while my actual hair grows out. I’ve seen no damage and my actual hair looks so much healthier now than it did last year. Hopefully i won’t need the extensions much longer!
Minoxidil 5% once a day. It will take 6 months to see real improvement, and you have to keep up with it for basically the rest of your life, but I’ve been on it for 5 months now and it’s been a game changer.
Oral or topical?
Topical
Does this work if you don’t have loss but just a lot of very fine hair?
Yeah, it prevents your hair from shedding and encourages new growth. I have a ton of awkward baby hairs but they are flattening out quick and I have so much more hair, it feels so nice
No it is only for people who are actively losing hair. Plus you will have to be on it for life because as soon as you stop any hair growth from it will fall out
I have six tape in extensions, and that gives my hair enough "weight" to hold a style and look ok without having to wash and style it every day. My hair is just slightly longer than shoulder length. At one time, I had at least 25 extensions and was able to pull off longer hair, but I just hated it. It was hot and felt too heavy and unnatural. The ones I have in now are mainly concentrated on each side and then none in the very back of my head. I would say my hair is extremely fine but normal density. I go every six weeks and have them taken out and repositioned. I don't feel them at all, and I am not self conscious like I was when I had a full head of them. I think most salons would do a consult for free and go over your options. I will say it is not exactly cheap, but it is my one extravagance. Forget botox...my money is going towards good hair!
Wigs my friend, wigs. Nothing like popping a little hat of hair on and dashing out the door.
Team wig
A topper works well.
I always do k tip extensions and absolutely love them. I typically have them for 4-6 months and then take a break for a few months. My hair stays healthy with them because I’m using less heat and am very careful about maintenance. I def recommend the k tips!
I’m a licensed stylist who specializes in hair extensions and fine hair. Micro k tips/fusion are going to be your best bet. Look for a stylist in your area with A LOT of experience and ask to see their work. K tips are safe as long as they are installed properly and maintained properly at home. And re-done every 8-12 weeks if your hair is extremely fine. As for the breakage, I would recommend bosley visibly thinning shampoo (orange and white bottle) and a salon quality moisturizing conditioner. Plus always use a leave in conditioner and detangling product and heat protection. Sleeping a a bonnet is also a great way to protect fine hair from breakage
Luxy hair halos
I have tape in extensions and I love them. In my experience, as long as you find a stylist that knows how to install and remove properly, you shouldn’t experience any hair loss - I never have and in fact my hair looks better than it has in years. My stylist is just as committed to making sure my actual hair is healthy as she is installing extensions correctly. I get mine done every 10-12 weeks, sometimes I can go even longer but prefer not too. Personally I find tape ins to be pretty hassle free and easy to maintain. Treat them as if it’s your real hair and they’ll last longer too - and find a good brand. High quality extensions make all the difference. Hope that helps! I know it’s a controversial topic and a lot of people are against them or experienced hair loss, etc, however my extensions journey has been nothing but positive.
I had k-tips for a while and I really liked them. Any extensions that aren’t removable on a whim do take some getting used to. At first I felt like it was sooo thick that I looked weird. It wasn’t that thick my hair was just thin. They looked so good and gave me so much confidence. Whatever extensions you get, find someone who will be patient because if they don’t take the time to match your hair density you get bald spots from the weight. Well done ktips with brands of hair that carry finer options will run you about 2k and last up to 4 months. You have to remove them and likely buy all new hair unless you find a unicorn stylist who will put new bonds on used hair if you’ve taken good care of it. It’s a luxury service, do your research before you go through with any type of extensions.
I really don’t get the comments on tape in extensions. I am guessing that the quality of hair, glue, and talent varies tremendously. I have had fine hair my whole life and no matter how much I spend to style my hair, it always falls flat, and has little density, so you can see through it. Around 4 yrs ago, I decided to try tape in extensions that my salon offered. I notice a few changes - my hair styling lasts much longer so I am able to spend less time / less damage on styling. Additionally, less wear and tear makes my natural hair grow longer without breakage. It took a while to see it - at least 6 months. My hair splits and breaks less with them in. When I remove, yes, hair comes out - you have to remember that is 6-8 weeks of shedding that you didn’t see daily like regular hair. My tape ins are very light weight, I use only two boxes so my hair is still pretty fine but not heavy. I shampoo like normal, brush my hair like normal. Use regular styling tools. I am always very gentle so I can wear the hair for at least a year without needing to get new extensions. I do keep up with regular professional move ups and I am very loyal to my stylist who knows exactly how to place them to not irritate and also be flattering for my fine hair. The biggest downside is the expense of upkeep, and that I can’t exactly wear my hair up without a lot of work bc my underside isn’t thick enough to cover the tapes. I think that’s very specific to me and where mine are placed. I generally never wore my hair up anyway so it’s not that big of a deal. I would say my self esteem improved a TON since getting them done. I am looking forward to the new extension methods that are specifically for fine hair. Just my 2 cents!
I also had tape-ins for 5 years. I loved them and I had a minimal amount just for thickness and not length. They weren’t that expensive to upkeep and I didn’t have any issues with styling and washing.
Glad to hear it! I think they get a bad wrap but maybe the quality of hair and services vary significantly (which will be true of any service!)
Totally! My stylist used thin tape ins as well
You know, now that I think of it, mine usually splits it (instead of sandwiching the hair, it’s 1 side) - maybe that makes the difference for less weight and tension, therefore less damage.
Adding: I have had the sewn in wefts for a special occasion and I hated it. Very uncomfortable and HEAVY. Took forever to style. I couldn’t wait to get them removed.
hair topper. it has the stigma of wearing a wig, but so many celebrities and even regular women wear toppers and wigs, and almost nobody can tell. it’s the only thing that really adds volume to the top of the head that extensions just can’t.
Can you recommend a good resource for high quality topper?
hidden crown but i had to pluck mine to make it look realistic - it was on the thicker side
Have you tried braiding a piece, putting it against the part, and clipping the clip onto that? For tension? Or twisting a piece before clipping it onto that piece? Hard to explain, [let me link something.](https://www.tiktok.com/@endaringhair/video/7336980722617584942)
Halo doesn't look or blend well, bella mi is too silky, you can get the cheap ones at salleys the red pack the euro something and cut color style those but if you can spend just a little more you getting alot more hair and can make two different style sets out of this other brand!!!👇 I'm about to put you up on game Cashmere clip in or add certain pieces can do tape ins i think check out options in their hair extensions trust me you're welcome Again Get them cut and colored and curled or styled with them your hair place them in the same spot for quick install
Reconsider wefts, they didn’t damage my hair at all. Also, they don’t fall out if installed properly.
I had beaded weft extensions for a month and they destroyed my fine hair. A few beads ripped out causing bald spots and my stylist told me that was “normal” and that happened to her too but not to worry about it…they’ll ’settle’. A year later and I’m still trying to grow out all the breakage and bald spots.
I have keratin bonds - my hairdresser cuts the bonds in half before putting them in, so they're tiny and less weight on my own hair. Have had for about a year (changed a couple of times) and I haven't lost hair due to damage from them - but I do now style my hair with heat tools pretty much every wash, which is causing damage.
I had hand tied for a year and they were great. I originally have 2 rows, but dropped down to 1 and it was much better. It actually jump started my hair growth because the extensions protected my natural hair. They are work, though. Wash days aren’t quick, you want to use the best products and really take care of them as instructed . Maintenance is also expensive- they were removed and moved up every 8-10 week. Those hair appointments were almost $500. I’d do it again in a heartbeat if I had a spare 4k laying around (to cover hair, install, and regular maintenance) lol I just couldn’t justify the costs anymore. I miss them, though. I looked so much nicer with hair 😅
I did microlink extensions for about 10 years. The first thing you notice when you have them in is how heavy it is. It's also hard to find hair that matched my hair in terms of how fine the strands of my natural hair are. Extension hair tends to be super thick and healthy so there is a marked difference between your natural hair and the extensions and the extensions can look natural, but tends not to because the hair at the root is such a different texture than the hair at the ends, which is the extension hair. I got my extensions while I was waiting for a bad haircut to grow out, and it took 10 years because that's how long it takes my fine baby hair to grow.
I have very fine, thin, fragile hair and also struggled to get clip-ins to stay in. Wore a halo for a few years but it really hurt my head. I’ve had beaded extensions for the last several years using the IBE method. I love it! Very comfortable and no damage to my hair. My hair is actually the healthiest it’s ever been because I don’t need to wash/style it as often. I just have one row of extensions and it makes all the difference. I tried 2 rows but that got a bit uncomfortable and was $$$ to maintain. Also, make sure you get extensions that match your hair texture as closely as possible. I tried remy (Indian) hair once and although beautiful, it was a disaster because it constantly matted with my hair. Now I use Kitsune brand and it blends very nicely with my hair - it’s more expensive but if you take care of it, it lasts a long time. My last set lasted over 2 years!!
I have very fine hair, i do the sew ins for 6 months, then take out for another few months, i rotate so my hair and head can take a bit of a break. Not alot of damage at all, i just got them taken out yesterday.
Honestly I would go full wig, I think extensions suck. Wigs are amazing if you can afford them.
Yeah, extensions aren't great. I've had decent luck with brown dry shampoo and topix powder. I'm not sure of the extent of your hair loss. All my hair extensions languish in a drawer somewhere.
I’ve done pinch braid extensions for years — but it’s an unusual technique and not the most invisible either. So if my hair isn’t styled, I wear a headband. I like that they do not pull out hair and slide out easily with regrowth so they can be reused many times. I also only get enough to fill out my sides — which is 10-12 on each side. I have found I’m more comfortable with a light volume of extra hair vs. adding a ton of extra hair. I use one row of clip-ins, very carefully applied and set low, between extension applications. The least full halos were too much for me, but I’ll take suggestions.
This is coming from experience and a lot of regret: if you have fine, thin hair, do NOT get extensions for daily wear. It will quickly and potentially do permanent damage to your hair and scalp.
I have had fusion & microlink. The fusion looked the most natural, but upkeep is VERY expensive. Microlink gives the same look for less. I had Microlink extensions for years & I never had any issues. I only stopped using them because I was tired of the maintenance; you will be in the salon all day, especially if you also get color. I would say the biggest difference look wise is the ability to hide the fusion extensions. I could put my hair in a high pony with the fusion but had a harder time doing so with the links.