Hair Extensions for Your Hair Type, Lifestyle, & Budget

When diving into the world of human hair extensions, sometimes it is not as simple as what hair extensions look pretty as a reason to buy.

Factors such as hair type, lifestyle, and budget can play a HUGE role in what kind of extensions to invest.

It can be confusing and intimidating when choosing hair extensions, especially if you have never worn them before.

But no fret!

By the end of this article, you’ll be confident in picking a solution!😎

Hair Type

Depending on your chosen method of weave installation, you may want to pick extensions with a texture as similar to your natural hair as possible.

If you desire your hair extensions to add a little length and thickness to your natural hair, clip-in extensions are great.

Clip-in extensions come in all different textures and lengths, which make them great for an incredibly natural look.

Hair extensions textures range from silky straight, all the way to a jerry curl.

To determine the best affordable hair extensions for your budget you will first need to know exactly what you wanting to purchase.

Here’s a list of some popular textures:

• Kinky Straight
• Loose Wave
• Body Wave
• Deep Wave
• Afro Kinky Curly
• Kinky Curly
• Yaki Straight
• Spanish Wave

(Picture Above: 5D Ash Brown Straight Bundle)

Hair Density

The density of your natural hair can also determine what extension type is best for you.

For low-density or thin hair, a traditional sew-in might not be the best option. Tape-in extensions or keratin extensions, or even a wig may be the optimal solution.

These extensions options will allow you to have extra length and thickness without exposing your tracks or wefts as a traditional sew-in would on fine, thinning hair.

Keep in mind; with keratin and clip-in extensions, your natural will have to be heat styled to match the texture of the hair.

If not, this can result in severe tangling and an apparently unnatural look.

For thicker, curly textures, a sew-in weave or wig may be best.

A sew-in weave protects your natural hair by braiding the natural hair and sewing the hair wefts into the braids with a needle and thread.

A human hair wig offers full protection and can either be applied on a daily basis or be sewn down by your stylist.

Sew-in or wig installations with a closure, or frontal provide maximum coverage, eliminating the need to heat style your natural hair to blend with the extension hair.

This method is optimal for hair growth, and length retention.

Your Weave Lifestyle

Many people do not consider their lifestyle when it comes to picking hair extensions.

Your lifestyle can affect your everyday styling, the longevity of your extensions, and even pricing.

Rest assured, if you are an athlete, human hair closures or human hair frontal is NOT for you.

This is because closures and frontals are typically for sewn down, and then adhered to your head with a hair adhesive or a firm hair gel.

Furthermore both hair adhesive and hair gel are usually water-soluble, meaning they break down with the touch of water.

If you are an athlete, you are more than likely always sweating, and this will cause you to be back in your stylist’s chair every day!

This is not cost-effective, and quite cumbersome. A better option would be a sew-in with leave-out style.

Although you would have to restyle your leave-out often, you will not have to be concerned with you install coming out during your sport!

Frontals are high-maintenance and may require you some at-home upkeep. Those that find themselves always on the go, like busy moms or avid travelers, may not have the time or energy for the maintenance.

A better option would be leave-out, or closure for those that want full protection. Shorter lengths are also great for busy individuals because the hair has shorter styling time.

Your Hair Extension Budget

Different kinds of installs come at various price points.

If you are on a limited budget and can only make a one-time investment, a wig may be an optimal choice.

Investing in a high-quality wig can last you a long time. The best idea is to buy a wig made of raw hair.

Genuine raw Indian hair is the highest quality hair in the hair market. Pure raw hair bundles can last for years with great care.

The initial investment may be expensive, but you will spend more money, in the long run, going back and forth to your hairstylist getting hair re-installed.

Hairstylists can charge anywhere from $50 to $200 to install hair, and this does not include the cost of the hair extensions themselves.

Frontals and 360 frontals have more hair, and require a lot of labor to create; so they are typically rather expensive.

Exchanging a frontal or 360 frontal for closure or leave-out can drastically lower the price.

The least expensive full-install would be the quick weave. A quick weave process starts with your natural hair braided down.

Your stylist then places a thick weave cap on your head. The hair wefts are bonded to the cap.

Clip-ins can be very cost-effective. They offer you length and thickness just as a sew-in would, without the high prices for the hair extension and install.

Things to Consider

When deciding what option is better for you, consider these circumstances:

• Do you have a lot of time in the morning or afternoon to style your hair for the day?

• Are you working with a limited or unlimited budget?

• Is versatility important to you?

• Is protective styling important to you?

• Are you an athlete or very active?

If you do not have a lot of free time, then high maintenance extensions like frontals or keratin extensions may not be the best option. Consider a short sew-in with a closure.

If your budget is limited, a wig or quick weave may be optimal for you. While, with an unlimited budget, you have more options such as longer lengths, higher quality hair, and more versatility.

Versatility is a must for a lot of clients. If this is you, a frontal sew-in or a full lace wig install is the best option.👌🏾

The best option for athletes that want extensions would be a sew-in install with leave out.