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How do I Choose the Best Hair Extensions?

By Felicia Dye
Updated May 17, 2024
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If you are considering weave, you should try to get the best hair extensions possible. Weaved hair styles can have a dramatic impact on your appearance, but your choice of hair extensions will play a major role in determining if that impact is positive. Two of the most important things to consider when purchasing weave are the texture and the quality.

When buying weave, one of the first choices you will likely face is choosing between synthetic or human hair extensions. Human hair is generally more expensive and in many cases the better choice. However, human weave is not always better.

To make sure you get the best hair extensions, you need to have an idea of how you will style and maintain the hair. If you are looking for hair that will allow you a great deal of liberty in changing your styles, human hair is likely to be best. If you are looking for extensions to get braids that will have burnt tips, synthetic hair is likely to be better.

Unless you are purchasing weave based on the recommendation of a stylist who you trust, you should always make sure that you see it and feel it. When you are shopping, you may find that most hair extensions are in packages that do not allow you to touch them. In many instances, however, there are samples available that will allow you to assess the quality. If you expect to get the best hair extensions, you must realize how important this is. Weave can look attractive in the package, but a different reality can come to light when that package has been opened.

When you choose synthetic hair, do not automatically assume that you must settle for a product of low quality. Many types of synthetic hair extensions feel too plastic and look too fake. The best hair extensions are those that look like they could be natural. It is possible to find high quality synthetic weave.

If the weave you want to purchase is on a track, one of the first things you should assess is whether it sheds and if so how much. Run your fingers through the hair extensions in a similar manner as you would rake a comb through the hair. If a significant amount of hair comes out, choose different hair extensions.

Also, choosing the best hair extensions means considering your own hair. If parts of your hair will be visibly blended with the weave, you need to make sure the colors are compatible, even if they are not the same. You also need to consider the texture of your hair and make suitable choices so it is not obvious which is your natural hair and which is the weave.

WiseGEEK is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.

Discussion Comments

By anon995125 — On Apr 05, 2016

Best extensions I have ever used are the Karmin Easy Clips.

By Wisedly33 — On Apr 21, 2014

@Scrbblechick -- I've heard the same thing about clip hair extensions. After reading Kristin Chenoweth's book though, and her horror stories of her experiences with hair extensions, I'd be wary before I did it. Seems like she had her bad experiences with the glue in kind or something, though. But it was bad enough that she ended up wearing a wig to an awards show.

By Scrbblchick — On Apr 20, 2014

My hair is so thin and so fine, I really would like to try hair extensions. I have heard that for hair like mine, it's best to start with clip in extensions, since they don't damage the hair, but come right out.

Maybe for the next big event I have to attend, I'll do hair extensions!

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