Clip-In Hair Extensions

Before Wearing Clip-in Hair Extensions:

After Wearing Clip-In Hair Extensions:

OK, I'm about to get cereal, I mean, serious with you girls.  I mentioned it in my "If You Knew Me" post - I wear clip-in hair extensions.  Sigh. I hate sharing my secrets.  But sigh.  I love you.  So I guess I'll dish.  My love affair with clip-in hair extensions began a few years ago.  Immediately I pondered the serious question, how am I just learning about this now?!  For me, it was the solution - the holy grail - to every hair problem I've faced.  Since then, I haven't looked back.  Would I be lying if I told you, clip-in hair extensions help me feel better about myself?  No, and I'm not ashamed to admit that.  Every girl deserves to feel pretty, and if we have to fake a few things, well, so be it.  Sure, my natural hair is just fine.  But that's the thing, it's fine.  There's not much thickness or volume to it, and it has reached the maximum length that it's willing to grow.  So, how do you achieve this look yourself, and turn those bad hair days around??  

Quality.

It depends purely on the quality of hair.  When purchasing clip-in hair extensions, make sure that it is 

real, 100% human hair.  If it's synthetic hair, it will look shiny and fake, almost plastic-y.  Jessica Simpson's Hair Do?  Hair DON'T.  I purchase the brand Fashion Source.  It is very high quality. 

Where to Buy.

I purchase mine at the Arizona beauty supply stores, Paradise Beauty or United Beauty.  Call around to local beauty supply stores in your area and inquire whether or not they have clip ins with 100% human hair.  Then, go in and pick out a color that best suits yours.  It doesn't have to be perfect because it will blend in with your natural hair.  If you decide to purchase online, make sure to read the return policy careful, in case the color is all wrong.  I also usually purchase the 14 or 16 inches.  You can cut them, but if you dye them, it is a lot trickier, and you have to go lighter to darker, not darker to lighter.

Care.

Regarding care, I don't wash them a whole lot, which sounds ick.  But, I've learned they last longer.  The more you wash them, the more unmanageable and tangled they become.  When I do wash them, I just use regular shampoo and conditioner, rinse, immediately comb through, and then blow them dry with a round brush, to keep nice and polished.  I replace mine every few months.  

You can use straighteners and curling irons on your clip-ins because the hair is real.  I usually clip them in in sections, and then curl them along with my natural hair to save time.  You can see my hair curling tutorial here.    

I never sleep with them in, as I like my scalp to breathe, and I also never shower or swim with them.  When I'm not wearing them, I brush them out, and keep them nicely tucked in my bathroom drawer.

If you have any questions, please leave a comment below, and I will do my best to try and answer them!

Here's the video I did a while back showing you how to put them in.  You can also check out the post here, offering some additional tips.