What thin or fine haired girl wouldn’t love to instantly have a head full of lush, glamorous hair?
Well, that’s just what extensions get you – provided you can avoid causing damage to your natural locks. All the more important if you’ve got fine or thin tresses.
So what are the best extensions for thin hair? Some would say tape ins. But they involve bonding with your natural hair. So that makes ultra-light clip ins made with Remy hair a better choice. Not only can you easily clip the wefts in yourself, they’re easy to take out yet blend perfectly. Plus being adhesive free they’re safe for your fine, thin mane.
Question answered!
But there’s more found in this look at using extensions with fine or thin hair. We answer five more questions commonly asked. Covering common problems those with thin hair worry about when using extensions for length or volume.
Admittedly some are quick hitters giving you a brief but direct answer to the query. Others, like how to keep your extennies from slipping out, are much more detailed and tips laden. They even include a demonstration video.
So there’s more help coming right up like:
Quick Section Navigation
- What Is Fine Hair, Anyway? And Thin Hair?
- What Are The Least Damaging Hair Extensions For Fine Hair?
- How Many Grams Of Extensions Is Best For Thin Hair?
- Do Hair Extensions Thin Your Hair?
- How To Get Clip In Extensions To Stay In Thin Hair
- Needed: Ideas For How To Hide Clip In Extensions In Thin Hair
Now before we get too far let’s define our terms so we’re on the same page.
What Is Fine Hair, Anyway?
So many people mess this up!
Fine hair refers to the size or thickness of an individual strand.
The diameter is smaller.
Slight.
The shaft is so delicate to be almost translucent.
Rub it between your fingers and you can almost feel it.
Skinny would be another way to put it.
That’s fine hair.
Thinness refers to the density or strands per square inch. A large number of hairs in a given area of scalp means you have thick hair. A small number is what defines thin hair.
Fine and thin are NOT interchangeable.
Having fine and thin hair is such a struggle-fest some would say it’s the worst of both worlds.
What Are The Least Damaging Hair Extensions For Fine Hair?
Okay so least damaging?
Obviously anything that has be fused, glued, bonded, or semi permanently attached should be avoided.
Same for sewn in or weaves.
Because taking anything like that out means taking some of your natural hair with it.
Sure some favor tape ins. But they usually mean a trip to the salon and then more visits to maintain them.
That leaves clips in and halos.
That’s right. There are those who would include halos in that list. (Just don’t bring them up to Britney Spears.)
Tip: If you insist on going halo for your very fine very thin hair look for those that offer one clip to help hold them in place.
Still the best compromise would be clip ins. More secure and just as versatile. They can be applied or taken out at will. At home. So for many that makes them the best all-around choice.
Just as long as you don’t sleep in them. That’s bad.
How Many Grams Of Extensions Are Best For Thin Hair?
Yeah the rap against clip ins is they are heavy. And they can be. So getting the weight right is important. Otherwise you risk snapping off your strands.
Typically the longer the extennies the more they weigh.
Clip ins seller airyhair.com recommends those with thinner hair stay under 100 grams feeling these will also blend best.
The least Luxy Hair offers is 120 grams so that’s what they advise.
Others still suggest going ultra-light at 60-100 grams.
Even at 100 grams clip in extensions can still be transformational.
Not to mention better for those who have brittle hair that breaks off so easily.
One other idea? You can always have your stylist feather the ends of the extensions to remove any unneeded bulkiness.
Finally keep in mind you can layer in more lighter weight wefts if need be to build up the lushness without weighing down your hair unnecessarily to the point of headache and discomfort?
Do Hair Extensions Thin Your Hair
Sure. Some can.
Some of the more permanent types can tear out bits of natural hair when removed. Especially if you mistakenly see it as a DIY project when it’s more something done by a pro.
Then too heavier clip ins can cause breakage of already fragile, at risk hair.
Heavy extensions can also put a strain on your scalp. That can in rare cases cause traction alopecia.
What’s that?
Well, that’s where scalp damage builds up over time resulting in bald spots. Ugh!
And you’re right. This extreme thinning is more often seen in those who wear excessively tight cornrows or braided hairstyles. But the scary part is the damage can be irreversible.
But again it’s not something that happens overnight. Usually it’s the result of years of excessive tension on your hair. So no need to panic.
Yet since they’re temporary, clip ins are the least damaging type of extennies you can get. They will likely cause near zero damage to your natural hair.
Because as long as you’re careful with how you wear extensions and how you approach applying and then removing them you should be fine.
How To Get Clip In Extensions To Stay In Thin Hair
Oh no! Not weft slippage.
It can be so embarrassing. Which is why knowing how to get clip in extensions to stay where you put them in your thin hair is so vitally important.
Luckily there are some things you can do to prevent that.
Let’s look at three.
Hold ‘Em In Place Trick #1:Volumizing Shampoo And Conditioner
It’s important you start off with ready-to-style hair. A good way to do so is by using a volumizing shampoo and conditioner. (Remember to focus the conditioner on the ends as you should do anyway.)
Oh and while we’re on the topic of conditioning you might want to check out another article we wrote. It can help you determine if you’re guilty of over-conditioning your hair.
Hold ‘Em In Place Trick #2: Volumizing Powder
This next hack involves sprinkling a volumizing powder like Got 2B Powder-ful into small sections of your hair. When doing this take care to focus on the hair around the crown.
Simply section and apply. That’s right sprinkle the powder onto your scalp along the part line to get lots of additional volume.
Doesn’t have to be volumizing powder either. You just want something like this will add needed grit or texture – to give the wefts something to grab onto.
Any volumizing product should give you extra hold and security.
There’s a second benefit here. Doing this also helps the volume of your hair to roughly match the volume you’re adding in extensions.
Hold ‘Em In Place Trick #3: Back Combing
The third trick would be to back comb the section on the top of your head towards the back. As well as sections on the side of your head. Again, the idea is to create enough volume in your natural hair so it matches the volume where the extensions are.
Backcombing also gives the clips something to hold onto that’s not so slippery so the wefts come out.
Obviously with thinner hair there’s simply less for the clips to grab onto so you almost have to give them some help. All these ideas, the right shampoo, volumizing powder and back combinb are designed to work together to lock the wefts in place. That way even if you pulled on them hard they wouldn’t go anywhere.
These three tricks are all demonstrated in this video.
Now for backcombing-phobes, let’s stop for a sec and consider something. Is back combing like this to create volume a good idea or a death wish for your already delicate hair?
Because I can hear the gasps and howls of outrage clear over here.
Some say backcombing damage is worse than anything clip ins alone could do to your hair.
Others claim that the damage builds up over time leading eventually to still more breakage.
Or not.
Yeah, before you click away in disgust consider for a sec that maybe teasing is not totally crazy if you follow a couple of simple rules.
First you want to use a quality teasing brush to pump up the volume and use it right. A highly rated brush to try might be this one listed on Amazon.
Using it right means avoiding any up and down action on your hair.
In other words you always want to be going in one direction, always towards your scalp, with short, brisk strokes.
What that means is the tease can then be combed out with little to no damage.
Also the tighter you pull the section of hair you’re teasing on the better results you’ll get.
Once you’re satisfied simply smooth the teased hair into place.
Using it right also means amplifying the tease with a little texturizing spray blasted into the roots.
Now if you need to know about how to use this check out our article that reveals all you need to know about this volumizer for fine hair.
Another highly rated product to try for some instant volume would be this one, again on Amazon.
Tip: Now when time comes to undo all this teasing, a little spritz of leave in conditioner and wide tooth can really help to gently release the tease.
Listen, I’m not saying this should be part of your daily hair routine. But for those special occasions when extra volume is needed back combing can be a safe way to get it.
Hold ‘Em In Place Trick #4: Backcombing Alternative
Now if you are absolutely positively opposed to back combing … well, there’s always crimping.
Crimping?
In about 60 seconds this video clip shows all you need to know on how to do it.
Of course if you need a tool suggestion this little one inch beauty from Bed Head is an Amazon Choice and just what you need to do the job. Three out of four have given it a four star or better rating. Best of all it’s quite affordable.
Tip: The hair at the nape of your neck can often be quite fragile. Applying clip ons to it may not be the best idea. Instead twist it up into little bun and pin it out of the way. Then start your first weft right above that. This avoids any risk of breakage back there and that little bun is well hidden under all the hair.
So now you know four answers to the big question often asked – how to get clip in extensions to stay in thin hair. You’ve got four solid ideas for securing them. If not totally effortlessly, well, at least you’ve got more options than you had before.
5 Quick Ideas For How To Hide Clip In Extensions In Thin Hair
While clip in extensions can be totally worth it to be able to have epic hair whenever you want – there’s a problem. That is with fine thin, hair it can sometimes be very hard to hide the clips.
And I can think of nothing worse than the clips showing through your natural hair. It can look pretty tacky in fact. Just makes you cringe.
So we’re going to briefly get into how to hide your extensions in your thin hair. For more check out our in-depth look at the seven classic mistakes that can be made when trying to camouflage your clip ins.
Hide ‘Em Tip #1: To avoid “clip show through” do this. When clipping the wefts in do your best to keep the clips below eyebrow or ear level. That way you leave enough hair on top to easily hide the evidence.
Obviously you need a good amount of hair to hide the extensions. For some more than you might imagine. This is why those with thinner hair want to focus on clipping them in lower than you would if you had thicker locks.
This is also why some wefts come with thinner base for easier hiding. This can be especially important to you if you are working with barely there hair.
You also want the “new you” hair to look totally natural. Like it’s all yours?
Hide ‘Em Tip #2: So don’t feel compelled to use lots and lots of wefts. Use just enough to do the job.
Because if you get carried away here’s what happens. The lower section of your mane will look all full and lush. But compared to what’s going on around your crown where the roots are – not so much.
Hide ‘Em Tip #3: As mentioned earlier see if you’re stylist can’t feather the ends of your extensions to take out some of the bulkiness. Feathering makes it easier to get a more natural looking affect.
Hide ‘Em Tip #4: Another idea is to run over your hair with the extensions applied with a curling wand. Doing that even quickly helps to blend everything together nicely.
Hide ‘Em Tip #5: One last idea is to brush out the ends some after that curling. This works to further blend the extensions in with your natural hair.
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