Do clip on hair extensions look real?

I have had weaves sewn in and also dome extensions.

 

With the weaves i found that they itched like hell and within 4 weeks were needing redoing.  also with long hair extensions (I only had them jaw length in the front with dome) they were knotty as hell even with a ton of conditioning, braiding to sleep in, etc. I imagine this would be a problem with any permanent method.  I woudlnt get tracks again as they were just too uncomfortable.  i cant afford dome all over as they cost $1500 - $3000 every 3 months and the knotting and tangling would be a nightmare.  Also the dome are synthetic and tend to look at bit horrid after a few months.

 

So now I use clip ins and so far they are great! You have to make sure you clip them in properly and at the moment i am clipping them around hair thats already in extensions (I have very fine hair and dont have the courage to remove the extensions in my fringe and go completely clip in) but all in all good.  I first brought hair u wear  but they were the wrong color (id also suggest two packs one isnt enough) , but i have since dismantled a synthetic wig i brought and made it into clip ons - which had the added advantage of not needing to be cut into shape!   I spent (in new zealand dollars) about $70 for the wig, and $40 for 24 toupee clips delivered. 

Un like a lot of ppl in the forum i like the synthetics - i like that it has this lovely large curl that you can only get on human hair with heated rollers so if your hair gets wet then or at the end of the day it goes flat - these are still curly at days end.

I have had a lot of good comments about my current set with people saying i have 'lovely hair' and that they would never have guessed it wasnt mine - ill post some pictures when i remember to take a photo when they are in.

 

I also timed myself putting them in this morning 7 minutes to put in 3 5 rows of them, and another single one in the front.  As my hair is straight i usually put in heated rollers to that first so that it blends.  they are wind proof, dance proof you name it - they stay put! 

and i like that you can change your look every 5 mins - apparently pam anderson has a suitcase of them and a stylist that follows her and puts them in!

I plan to make two more kits - long and straight and long and spiral curls.  i think they look the same as permanent extensions (though you cant really  put them up in a pony tail (but you can buy clip on ponytails too if thats what you want) but you can clip them back or up.

kdprincessjess wrote: I found someone who will do the glue for 65 dollars.

That's a great price--I assume it's for bonded wefts, though, and not strand fusion. I also assume you need to provide the hair? I would be a bit concerned if that includes the hair because I don't think it's possible to get decent quality for that price, but if it's just for the service, especially if it's bonded wefts, it sounds OK. Keep in mind that bonded wefts will probably last a few weeks to about a month (maybe a month and a half at most). They won't give you the three months (give or take) that most of the other methods would.

kdprincessjess wrote: How long do the shrinkies take to put in and do they last?

Theoretically, they should last three months--in other words, they should last until you need to take them out because of growth from the root. As long as the hair's decent quality and the application is good (and your hair responds to them well), three months would be a good estimate. If you're doing them yourself (and you've never done any extensions stuff before), figure it'll take you a few nights in front of the TV to pretip the hair, and one very long day (or two shorter days to install it). It's possible to do the back yourself, but it's tricky, so you might want to enlist some help. If a professional or experienced DIYer was doing the job, they could probably install a whole head in four hours, I'd say.

kdprincessjess wrote: Will glue kill your hair? I was reading a few things and it didn't really answer that.

Yeah, you could search forever, and you'd never find an answer to that because there really is no definitive answer. It all depends on your hair type, the tools used, the skill of the extensionist, and the care taken during removal. Right off the bat, I will tell you that no kind of glue--and I don't care if they call it keratin or a protein bond or whatever--is good for your hair. Period. In fact, no extensions method is good for your hair--just like bleaching or straightening or using hot tools isn't good for it. The goal is have no damage or minimal damage, but again, fundamentally extensions aren't "nourishing."

In my opinion, the biggest problem with glue is that it's riskier than most other methods--there is a greater margin for error with it. Personally, I had two horrible experiences with glue/fusion, but then again, a lot of that has to do with my hair type (thin, bleached, damaged, fine, etc.). So I'm not a good candidate. Plus, my extensionist didn't take enough care during removal (which is when most of the problems occur), so I basically lost half my hair.

On the other hand, if your hair is thick, strong, and relatively healthy, and your stylist knows what he/she is doing and is careful with the removal, you could have great results, so it all depends. I believe bonded wefts (which are a more temporary method are a bit gentler than strand fusion, which lasts longer). But there are women on this board who have excellent results using glue methods, like Kristin or Sherrie. But I don't think they'd even tell you that it's the gentlest method--it's just that they know what they're doing and how to handle their hair, so they're able to make the damage minimal or nonexistent. Glue also has some advantages in that it's pretty secure and undetectable.

Anyway, that's my ten cents. There are no easy answers unfortunately. This is why it's important to do a lot of research and have a consultation with at least one stylist before you commit to anything. If you're concerned about damage, ask potential stylists about that, and consider what they have to say. If it seems like they're trying too hard to sell or, God knows, if they tell you glue is nourishing for your hair, run!!!

:)

I found someone who will do the glue for 65 dollars. Will glue kill your hair? I was reading a few things and it didn't really answer that. How long do the shrinkies take to put in and do they last?

Well, extendtubes and shrinkies are pretty doable for a beginner, but pinchbraids (which is what I have)--and really any braiding or weaving method, imo--takes a lot more practice, so I go to a stylist for that.

But yeah, if you wanted to do it yourself, the easiest option would probably be extendtubes, then shrinkies. Bonded wefts are also pretty quick and easy, but if you don't want glue, extendtubes would probably be the best option. It's pretty cost effective, too. :)

Yeah, Jess--not to sound like a broken record here, but you really need to check out those two threads--Extensions 101 and Bridget, Your Question Is Here. It's not really enough to say, "Hey, I want extensions, but I don't know anything about them--what do you think?"

I don't mean to sound harsh here, but there really are a lot of variables with this stuff, and unless you do the research, you may be setting yourself up for disappointment. Do the reading, learn about the basic methods, and then you can make an educated choice. It's not too difficult--all the information is synthesized in those threads. :)

I have thick hair too so that's kinda scary that the clipon's don't stay in for you. What is the other kind that you guys are talking about that you pinch into your hair without glue? Do those stay and for how long?

Maybe if you send swatches of your hair to Metalgirl or Kristin, they can make some custom clips with the right 3-color blends for you. I'm not sure if they even do this, so don't quote me on it, but it's worth a try. If not, they might be able to point you toward someone who can. :)

you guys don't know how much you've helped me!!!

I love the idea of the clipins and customizing them. I don't mind doing them myself. Is there anywhere I can go to look at colors of hair? Like a store i mean that's national. Does Sally Beauty have those?

how can i get clip ins that will match my hair color since it has 3 different colors in it?

Well, you can, and a stylist can also make them for you. But you'll need to take them out at least every night. You shouldn't sleep with clip-ins in your hair. From the looks of it, you'll need to have some colors blended to get a natural look. :)