3 best types of hair extensions for short hair

Styling short hair with hair extensions can be a tricky proposition. Depending on the length, thickness and texture, sometimes making extensions look natural in short hair can be all but impossible. Hair shorter than 3-4” may not be able to manage these but longer than that shouldn’t be a problem. Curling the hair with the extensions is another good way to “hide” the extensions in shorter hair as well. And of course, making sure the color and texture of the hair matches is of critical importance for making the extensions blend in with short hair. It’s also easier to blend hair extensions into short hair that is layered as opposed to blunt cut, bobbed or a-line cuts. And finally, always buy the best hair extensions possible - even if you have to save up it’s worth it if you want it to look good and last a while. A creative person can make extensions work in short hair if they use the right tools and have the right skills.

So, if you’re adventurous and want “long hair and don’t care” then trying one of these three methods of attachment may work for you.

1. Clip in extensions. With some creative positioning and back combing, clip in extensions can be a great solution for short hair. They can be placed in various locations and are easy to adjust. need an extra clip or two? A run down to Sallys for a $3 pack of clips and a little weave thread is all you need to add a bit of extra hold. The secret is back combing and hair spraying the area you will apply the clip and then back combing just a bit on top of the clip to conceal it. Clip in extensions can be useful in creating up-do’s in short hair as well. Even the best clip in extensions are a temporary fix, and I wouldn't suggest them for long term use or for days at a time, because the repeated use of the clip on the same section of hair over and over can cause breakage. Here is a great little video tutorial for great clip in extensions with extra clips showing how they can be blended in with short hair.

2. Bonded Extensions. Bonding, or gluing in extensions on a weft is another good way to put extensions into short hair without the tracks showing or looking too bulky under the hair. The trick to this is using the right kind of bonding agent and the right technique for application. If you want my honest opinion, I would never use latex hair glue in my hair - even if someone paid me. But that’s just me. I know plenty of people who use it and don’t have a problem with it. The reason I won’t use it is it breaks down rapidly with scalp oils and conditioners creating a gooey, gummy, sticky mess that is nearly impossible to wash out. So not only will your tracks be falling out, you will have a nasty head full of glue to wash out when they do. SO I avoid that by using a bonding agent called Liquid Gold. A little of this bond goes a long way and if it’s properly applied it can last up to 6 weeks and is easy to remove if you follow the directions. (I’ll go into this in more detail in a later post) For adding accent pieces into a short hair cut or all over added length, I’ve used this bond many times with superior results. Another bonding method uses double sided hair replacement tape. Depending on the tape, the hold time for this method varies. I’ll post in more detail about this one too.

3. Micro bead hair extensions or Micro link hair extensions. In short, dense hair, micro- bead extensions work great. During my time in the salon, I helped develop a technique that I called Flat Trax Hair Extension Technique. This technique seemed to work great in most hair - regardless of length or texture. The micro beads must be the silicone lined copper or aluminum, and not the cheap ones because they break or can’t be tightened and will fall out. Concealing the links at the crown does require creative styling, back combing, curling or spray, but with the right styling, cutting and placement, this technique works great. Spacing the links from ¼” to ¾” apart will provide the best hold but wider spacing can be used in situations where the application needs to be done quickly and temporarily. Closer spacing lasts longer in fine hair. We would even do a combination of techniques at times, using both the beads and bonding to allow for the best coverage and concealment of the tracks.

These 3 techniques were tried and true in my salon for several years and still work! And just to re-cap the basics of applying extensions in short hair:

• Hair shorter than 3-4” may not be able to manage hair extensions
• Curling the hair with the extensions is another good way to “hide” the extensions
• Make sure the color and texture of the hair matches
• Layered as opposed to blunt cut is easier to blend
• Budget for the best quality hair you can

Final note - extensions are not for everyone. If your hair is thin, especially on top, damaged or falling out, you may not want to add any additional stress by putting in extensions and honestly, they won’t look natural anyway. A flawless wig may be a better option for you, but just make sure you remember that fashion is supposed to be fun and don’t take any of it too seriously. You’re beautiful anyway!