Differences Between Clip-on and Tape-in Hair Extensions

hair extensions

But at the same time, there are days when you just want to spice things up. So what should you do?

Hair Extensions: A Brilliant Invention

This is when hair extensions come in. Hair extensions come in different types – clip-on, tape-in, micro loop, fusion, and many more. It’s a perfect way to change your hairstyle without having to commit to it for more than 2 months. 

Hair extensions are made by using synthetic or natural hair. Most manufacturers use Remy hair which is a kind of human hair that still has its cuticles intact. This means that the strand is healthier and more natural-looking. Although there is nothing wrong with using synthetic hair, you don’t want to risk people finding out that you have “fake” hair on you. Besides, Remy hair is high-quality hair used by a lot of celebrities. It blends perfectly well on natural hair and its price is reasonable. 

Clip-Ons vs. Tape-Ins

Clip-ons and tape-ins are some of the most popular kinds of hair extensions you’ll encounter. However, the two are very different from each other.

Clip-ons are hair extensions that have a clip at the weft. The clip has Remy hair attached to it and it comes in different styles and colors. Clip-ons are easy to install because all you have to do is get a section of your hair, flatten it out, and clip the hair extension on it. It would help if you tie the rest of your hair before putting the extensions on. The trick in clip-on extensions is to “sandwich” your natural hair in between the hair on the clips. Your natural hair should also be thin enough so that the clip will easily close. 

On the other hand, you have your tape-in extensions. This type of extensions makes use of an adhesive rather than a clip. The adhesive is a special kind of adhesive because it isn’t harmless to your hair. Tape-in extensions are a lot harder to install compared to clip-ons. For one thing, you need a professional to apply it and the whole procedure takes 1-2 hours depending on how many tape-ins you want to put. 

Which One Should You Choose?

When deciding which one is best for you, consider a few things:

Budget

The first thing you have to think about is your budget. Because tape-ins need a professional hair stylist, it will cost more than hair clip-ons. Clip-ons can be done at home and the process is simple enough that anyone can do it. If you’re on a tight budget, clip-ons are the way to go. 

Length of Time 

The great thing about clip-ons is that you can remove them anytime you want to. If you plan on having longer hair for a one-time event, then you don’t need to have hair extensions that last for two weeks (unless you want to). But if you want to have a certain style, then indulging in tape-ins is a good idea. 

Convenience

And lastly, you should consider the convenience of having either clip-ons or tape-ins. There is no doubt that clip-ins are much more convenient to have than tape-ins. You can easily remove clip-ons after you get tired of the hairstyle, and you also don’t have to wash it as much as you would wash your natural hair. On the other hand, tape-ins will be in your hair for at least a week. 

Vivianne Sterling

Editorial Manager at Beautips. I love street style and I'm always in search of bits of inspiration around me. I also believe in home-made solutions for fitness, beauty tricks and healthy cooking.

You may also like...

1 Response

  1. For all those women who love to wear wigs regularly, it becomes challenging to choose between the clip-on and tape-in hair extensions. While most of you might think that tape-ins are more natural-looking, others might have a soft corner for the efficiency of clip-on extensions. This blog has done an exceptional job in explaining how both of them can change the way you style yourself and yet not do any harm to your natural look. I would highly recommend reading this blog to all of you skeptical of making this choice.

Leave a Reply