A Complete Guide to Tape-In Extensions

One of the most popular hair extensions is real human hair tape-in extensions — and for a good reason. They look natural, they don’t damage your hair, and they’re easy to remove at any time if you decide you want to revert back to a shorter style. To help you decide if tape-in extensions are right for you, there are a few things you should know.

Why Are Tape-In Extensions All the Rage?

One thing all hair extension users want is for their extensions to look natural. Since tape-ins are extra thin, these extensions blend into your natural hair perfectly — nothing is sticking out where the wefts are attached.

Another significant benefit is that tape-ins take less time to install than some traditional types of hair extensions. Instead of needing to be at the salon for several hours, your stylist may be able to finish the installation in as little as 30 minutes. Better yet, there’s no need to go to the hairdresser when it’s time to remove your extensions — you can take them out yourself. In fact, you can remove the extensions whenever you want and save them for later. If you’re careful with your extensions, they can last as long as nine months, meaning they offer great value for money.

In addition, tape-ins are for everyone, including those with fine hair. Tape-in extensions allow you to increase volume without a full head of extensions, such as adding layers or creating volume in places where your hair is particularly thin.

Finally, there’s a low risk of damage to your natural hair when you use tape-in extensions, even when you wear them all the time. It’s for this reason that people who have suffered damage using other types of extensions or treatments often choose tape-ins.

How Do Tape-In Extensions Work?

Tape-in extensions attach to your natural hair using double-sided tape. This may not sound particularly secure, but it is — the tape is virtually unbreakable, meaning there’s no risk of your extensions falling out. Despite this, they’re easy to take out when using a special solution to dissolve the adhesive.

Who Should Install Your Extensions?

Although tape-ins are relatively simple to apply, you’ll gain the best results if you receive a service from a professional. It’s impossible to install the extensions yourself, as it’s important to place an exact amount of natural hair between two tape-in extensions and keep everything straight. You won’t be able to see what you’re doing on the back of your head.

However, it would be best if you didn’t ask a friend who’s not a hairstylist to install them, either. Only a professional will know how to position the extensions to ensure they look natural. Someone without experience may install them at the wrong angle or height.

Caring for Your Tape-In Extensions

You won’t be able to wash your hair every day if you use tape-ins. In fact, you should try to keep your hair as dry as possible and just use a dry shampoo when needed. When you do need to wash your hair, use sulfate-free products and always wait until your hair is dry before going to sleep. It’s best if you brush your hair and clip up the extensions when you go to bed to keep it protected. It would help if you also brushed the extensions right after you wake up and at least one more time throughout the day — always when your hair is dry.

You can style tape-in extensions, but apply a heat protectant spray first. Keep the styling tool away from the tape to avoid loosening the bonds. Similarly, if you use serum, oil, conditioner, or other products, apply them midway down your hair to keep them away from the tape.

When and How to Remove Tape-Ins

You’ll need to remove tape-in extensions every four to six weeks since they’ll end up farther down your head as your natural hair grows. To remove tape-in extensions, spray them with a solvent designed for this purpose. The solvent will break the bond, and the extensions will slip off. If you want to reinstall the extensions immediately, it’s worth asking your stylist to remove them and reapply them in the same visit. Your hairdresser will install them about half an inch higher up than where they were.

When you search for the best tape-in hair extension reviews, one name always comes up: ZALA. Our tape hair extensions are popular because we use premium-quality hair in more than 17 colors and a US-made adhesive on invisible tape. Plus, you can choose between five different lengths and four different quantities.