Are you considering switching up your hairstyle to a more lengthy or voluminous look? One way to do this is by trying out hair extensions. There are hundreds of hair extensions in the market for you to choose from per your tastes and preferences. Whether you want a straight or curly look, short or long, blonde, black, or any other colour you can think of, be sure to get something to match your taste.
By getting hair extensions, you enjoy the freedom of styling your hair in any style you have ever dreamt of but haven’t been able to. Additionally, hair extensions can make you look and feel like a completely new person. Among the most popular extensions in the market today, tape-in hair extensions seem to attract many users. If you love thick, voluminous hair with a natural look and feel, then these are the best extensions for you.
This guide looks at everything you need to know about tape-in hair extensions.
What Are Tape-in Hair Extensions
Just as the name suggests, tape-in extensions are fastened into your hair roots using tape. The tapes used contain medical-grade adhesive. The resulting bond is strong and can last for up to 8 weeks.
Fitting Tape-in Extensions
Tape-in hair extensions come in wefts about an inch wide with double-sided tape at the base. You pull off the clear tape from the individual wefts and then stick them to your hair roots to apply for these extensions. This application follows a sandwich pattern where your natural hair comes in between the pre-taped wefts.
It is hard to apply for these extensions on your own since the amount of natural hair that gets taped in between the extension strips and how straight the bond section is, determines your final look. The length and number of wefts applied are determined by the look you want to achieve.
Therefore, it is advisable to get a professional hairstylist to help with the application. The application time lies approximately between 30 mins to 1 hour. If properly installed, these extensions blend well with your natural hair giving you a more natural look.
Benefits of Tape-in Hair Extensions
Tape-in extensions have numerous advantages, which include;
• Quick installation: Tape-in extensions are quick to install, taking about 1 hour to complete. However, the installation time depends on the number of extensions that you want.
• Hair friendly: These extensions cause less damage to your hair during application or removal.
• Pocket friendly: The extensions are affordable, and the service fee charged during application is also less. Additionally, if well maintained, you can reuse the extensions, which saves on buying new hair.
• Natural look: Tape-in extensions are thin and look a lot more natural hair. Therefore, once professionally applied, you are assured of a natural look.
Caring for Tape-in Extensions
Here are a few maintenance tips for tape-in extensions:
• Avoid washing your hair regularly to reduce damage to the tapes at the hair roots.
• When washing use sulfate-free shampoos, hair conditioners, and hair masks.
• When applying conditioners, oils and serums, avoid starting at the hair’s tip; instead, begin from the middle of the wefts and extend upwards.
• Brush your extensions when dry and hold them at the roots to prevent unnecessary pulling.
• Use a heat protector when styling to preserve the adhesive in the tapes. Avoid using excessive heat that may weaken the tapes.
• Do not sleep on wet extensions. Clip your hair during bedtime to keep the tapes secure.
Removing Tape-in Extensions
When your tape-in extensions have served their purpose and you are now ready for a change, the
best approach is to have a hair professional remove them. Professional removal is good for your hair’s health. A trained expert will gently remove the tape-ins reducing damage to your hair and maintaining them in a good state for reuse. Most of the professionals use an alcohol-based solution which they spray at the tape-ins to weaken the bond. The alcohol dilutes the glue allowing the extensions to slip off without leaving any residues behind.
Conclusion
Tape-ins are an ideal option if you want to achieve a natural look at an affordable price. Enjoy styling your hair in various styles by trying on these hair extensions.
