Guide to Buying Clip-In Extensions

I bought my first set of clip in extensions due to an unfortunate outcome with some kitchen scissors inspired by Hayden Panettiere's Neutrogena commercial (a story for another time).

Long story short, I have been a clip in queen since the ripe age of 15 and tbh I‘ll probably die wearing clip ins. So whether you are in search of volume, length or just something to spice up your look once in awhile, you came to the right blog.

A few things to note...

Are you going for length, volume or both

Tiara’s choice: Always both

Standard lengths: 18”, 20”, 24”

Tiara’s choice: 20”

Weight: The weight of extensions are measured in grams. The heavier the hair, the more volume you will have and the easier it will be to blend your clip ins! Weight usually starts at about 120-160 grams for a 18”-20” set. (GIRLS WITH THICK HAIR PAY ATTENTION)

Color choice: I’ve gone back to forth from Espresso (dark brown) and I’ve had a few balayage’s here and there. If you have a hair color that transitions from dark to light, buy a color that matched the end of your hair, not the top, trust me.

Fun fact: Most companies will weft hair using 3-4 color variations so blending is seamless.

Lace wefts VS. Seamless: Seamless similar to lace wefts but lay much flatter on your scalp and blend much easier. Lace wefts are more affordable and still work just fine but for everyday wear.

Tiara’s Choice: Seamless

Where to buy & why

Bellami

Pros: Weight, huge product selection, collaborations, tons of gift with purchases and discount codes

Cons: Longevity, thickness

Made famous by your favorite influencers like Nicole Guerriero, Lilly Ghalichi and of course the notorious Kylie Jenner Black to teal ombre. Bellami definitely has the biggest variety of products, everything from wigs to lashes to hot tools it’s your one stop shop for bougie ass hair. I purchased the Bombinas (20” 160 grams) and loved them until it was time for a new set.

I definitely would recommend these for hunnies who are going to wear them out to bars and special events. The longevity of this hair isn’t what I would necessarily rank a 10/10 but it you aren’t wearing them on the regular, you’ll definitely won’t be disappointed!

Foxy Locks

Pro: Great brand experience, big selection (but not overwhelming), Clips,

Cons: Longevity/hair quality

A UK brand that delivers faster than you can say Meghan and Harry. I’ve ordered the Deluxe Seamless clip ins in Dark Espresso Ombre and the Dark Brown (20” and 165 grams)

They have a pretty reasonable price point (make sure to convert to USD) and I received a gift with purchase both times I ordered which never hurts.

I was in love with my Ombre set and wore them until the wheels fell off then purchased the brown/black set. For some reason it seemed like the hair quality wasn’t as great. They tended to get super matted by the nape of the neck and I couldn’t keep them untangled.

Hair quality is super important for longevity so my recommendation is the same as the Bellami’s; these aren’t amazing for everyday hair but are great if you need to spice up your look for prom, a wedding or a premeditated hair flip in front of your ex.

Luxy Hair

Pros: Kim Kardashian wore them 2018 MET Gala, ethically sourced and fair trade, they were also on Shark Tank

Cons: Price point, longer wait for delivery

Luxy is another brand I have become a return customer! My first time I purchased the Classic Collection in Mock Brown (20” and 160 grams) and most recently the Seamless Mocha set (20” 180 grams) and they lasted a hot minute. Luxy is probably my favorite brand for longevity.

Luxy is definitely the most expensive option of all the brands listed but the truth is, you get what you pay for. If you are looking for a set that is going to last longer than 3 months Luxy is the way to go. Not only is the hair quality high, but they have a big emphasis on fair trade practices which means the people that are selling their hair aren’t getting scammed which is probably the most important factor as a consumer.

Sally’s Beauty

I was frequent flyer at Sally’s until I started finding online brands. If it weren't for Instagram, I would probably still be a loyal Sally’s customer. To be frank, the clips aren’t great and the wefts are paper thin but they definitely need to be replaced after a couple of months.

If you have a military discount you can get a serious price reduction. Another great option if you are just looking to add a little volume and don’t want to wait for shipping, just make sure to replace the clips.

Zala Hair

Pros: VOLUME, Price point, hair quality, huge selection

Cons: Delivery wait, website is kind of a mess, don’t offer seamless wefts

A sassy Aussie brand that was introduced to me when my friend asked me to install her tape ins. I love this brand but omg I had to wait forever and a day to receive the damn thing, it literally took a month.

Clips and hair quality are excellent but the REAL winner is the double wefted...wefts. I mean this is the level of volume and blending dreams are made of. They even sent me a lipstick based on the hair color I chose and if I didn’t lose it at the bars, I’d probably be wearing it right now.

Best of all, because the AUD is less than the USD these babies run for around $120-$150, talk about a bang for your buck.

If you made it to the end I hope this was helpful and thanks so much for reading!

*brands are listed alphabetically, this is not an official ranking. Choose what’s best for YOU!

Xoxo, hunny!