2023 Ultimate Beginners Hair Extensions Guide for Finding the Right Hair Extensions

Perfect if you’re new to hair extensions and a great refresher for those who’ve mastered the art of installing hair extensions.

May 18, 2023 | SL Raw Virgin Hair

Beginner hair guide on finding the right hair extensions blog by SL Raw Virgin Hair

This beginner’s guide to searching for the right hair extensions for 2023 will guide you through some of the do’s and don’ts of buying hair extensions online.

What are hair extensions?

Hair extensions are a bundle of hair designed to add volume and length to one’s natural hair. It can change the appearance of your hair. The best type of hair extension material is often human hair due to longevity, the flexibility of care, and styling options.

What types of hair extensions are there?

There are several different types of extensions available. The ones you choose depend on the style you’re going for and your hair. Some of the popular types of hair extensions include:

Clip-in extensions
Tape-in extensions
Sew-in hair weaves
Glue-in extensions
Fusion and pre-bonded extensions with i-tips
Microlink hair extensions
Wigs

Why hair extension style matters

As part of this Beginners Hair Extensions Guide, you need to consider styling.

When choosing the right hair extensions, think of the style you’re trying to achieve. There are ‘permanent’ hair extension styles that won’t need to be removed nightly (e.g., micro-links, glue-ins, pre-boded extensions). Others are temporary and will need to be removed and reinstalled daily, such as your clip-in extensions and some wigs.

Hair extensions also come in varying lengths. So, you can get one from anywhere from a bob to shoulder length all the way to your tailbone. Again, it’s based on your preference and the type of style you’d like to wear.

Understanding hair extension texture

Next, you need to understand and select the perfect hair texture based on origin. High-quality hair extensions often originate as Indian, Malaysian, Brazilian, or Russian hair extensions.

You’ll also need to consider if you want the extension to be straight, kinky, curly, or wavy? Would you prefer a coarse type of natural hair to fit your own hair?

Installing your hair extensions

Depending on the hair extension you choose, there are certain things you should do for installations.

For example, if you’re using a weft, ask your hairstylist not to cut the track (weft) or to see if she/he can cut the weft as little as possible. This will prevent shedding when installing and allow you to maintain your hair for another use if you so desire. This will help you get the longevity out of your hair extension purchase.

Maintaining your hair extensions

To avoid one of the mistakes that new extension wearers often make, you need to learn how long you should keep in your extensions. The answer to this question is you shouldn’t keep in your extensions for more than 1.5 to 2 months – no matter the style – to avoid breakage and dirt build-up.

Then, while in, extensions should be cared for just like your real hair. That’s why it’s important to get human hair extensions as you can properly care for it (shampoo, condition, and style) while it’s installed.

Storing the hair extension

Once used, you need to properly store hair extensions for re-use. It’s best to wash and shampoo the hair and condition it with cool water. Once the hair is rinsed thoroughly, you should hang it to dry with a hanger. Once it is completely dry, you can then store it away in a zip lock bag for the next time you’re ready to re-use it.

Hair extensions are a personal choice. So, consider what you would like, use this guide, then go from there. And when you’re ready to shop for the highest-quality human hair extensions, then check out the SL Raw Virgin Hair extension collection.