Full disclosure: I wear hair extensions! Maybe that was already obvious if you noticed my hair looking magically longer on Instagram, or maybe you noticed an extension faux pas if you know me IRL (in which case, thanks for not saying anything!). After getting clip-ins earlier this year to give my hair a break from bleach, I deliberated for months on whether to invest in tape-ins for a semi-permanent solution. Clip-ins are heavy, tug at your hair, and aren’t meant to be worn everyday. Plus, I was always too lazy and impatient to apply them correctly. So, I did a ton of research on tape-in extensions and found that they’re supposedly the least damaging hair extension method (whether that’s true or not remains to be seen). I found an ombre set of extensions to match my hair, took them to salon for application, and got the long, thick hair of my dreams. That is, until I realized tape-ins have their own host of problems.
Here are the 10 struggles of wearing tape-in extensions that no one ever tells you:
1. They’re really pricey. Prepare to shell out a lot of money for a good quality (i.e.: 100% remy human hair) extensions and set aside a budget for extension application, touch-up visits, and styling tools.
2. Everyone says they’re weightless but they feel uncomfortable and itchy the first week, especially when you go to bed.
3. And you can’t wear your hair in a high ponytail or bun for the first few weeks.
4. They’re a huge pain to remove. Seriously. I wouldn’t recommend removing them yourself, but if you absolutely need to, like I did when mine got too loose, prepare to spend 30 minutes removing one weft with coconut oil.
5. If you have naturally curly hair and your extensions are straight, they can look really obvious when it gets humid and your natural hair frizzes #curlyhairproblems.
6. You have to be extra careful when washing your hair to avoid getting conditioner on the tape, which could cause them to fall out.
7. And there’s always the possibility of one or two of them getting loose before your next appointment (yup, true story).
8. As the extensions move lower on your hair, the tape risks being more visible.
9. You realize it can be tough to find a hair stylist who REALLY knows how to manage extensions.
10. And good luck getting up extra early in the morning to curl your hair so the extensions blend in.
But in the end, it’s all worth it because when your hair looks good, it looks really good.
Still interested in wearing hair extensions? Shop my favorite tape-in extensions brand and get $25 off with code HALO
Do you wear extensions? What are some of your struggles?
*All gifs via GIPHY.com
*This post uses affiliate links. All opinions are my own.
