The 10 Best Clip

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You'll want to spring for extensions made of real hair.

Clip-in hair extensions can come in clutch in so many different scenarios. Whether you've just chopped off your locks (and are totally regretting it) or you simply want to give your thinner strands more volume for a big night out, there are plenty of clip-in hair extensions that can help you get the look you want—no matter your hair color or type.

When shopping for clip-in extensions, Cliphair stylist Lynn Chambers suggests you start by thinking about what you want to achieve. "Do you just want length, or do you want to add thickness but keep the length?" she says. "Natural vs. synthetic is the biggest decision to make when looking for extensions."

Synthetic clip-ins, while less expensive, usually come with more issues than those made of human hair. "Synthetic hair looks shiny, like doll hair, making it look less natural," says Brynn Reed, lead extension specialist and educator at Mirror Mirror Salon in Austin, Texas. "They also cannot have heat on them."

When it comes to natural extensions, you want to look for "remy" or "cuticle intact" hair, which is the highest quality type of human hair. "This means all the cuticles on the hair shaft run in the same directions, ensuring the hair will stay soft, shiny, and free from tangles for months, and even years if cared for correctly," says Chambers. "It also gives a much more natural looks because it will blend with the rest of your hair, whereas synthetic extensions tend to look a little more obvious and are more difficult to style."

Ready to shop? Here are 10 of the best clip-in hair extensions.

These handcrafted clip-in extensions come highly recommended by Reed. Not only do they come in 20 different shades, they also have three different lengths (14"-16", 18"-20", and 22"-24") and three different widths (3", 6" and 9"). And each extension is 100 percent percent remy cuticle intact hair. You can buy single extensions, or partial or full sets as well.

Bellami's clip-in hair extensions are all 100 percent human remy hair that the brand notes are both hand-selected and ethically sourced. There are also more than 500 different colors to choose from (although not all are available in clip-in form), including tons of iterations of black, brown, blonde, red, and ombre. The clip-in extensions are available in lengths from 18" to 28" and weights from 120g to 260g.

If you like to mix up the length of your clip-in extensions, you will love these. The brand offers 100 percent human remy hair extensions in so many lengths: 12", 14", 16", 18", 20", 22", 24" and 26". They also come in 15 different color combos.

If you have textured hair, Indique is a great brand with tons of options. This curly clip-in will give you tons of body and comes in 14", 18" and 22" lengths. The brand notes it is made with virgin hair that has been machine drawn to ensure that all the cuticles are aligned in the same direction.

Luxy's clip-ins are all 100 percent remy human hair, and look totally natural. You can choose from two different lengths (16" and 20"), as well as a variety of colors like brown, black and gray, and tons of different styles of color (like balayage, highlights and multi colors). The brand also notes that their clip-ins are dyed using a multi-tonal adapt coloring system, meaning each set has subtle highlights and lowlights (lighter and darker strands) throughout.

These clip-in extensions are perfect for straight, textured hair. Made of remy human hair (the brand notes it's unprocessed virgin Brazilian hair), this set comes in seven pieces. You can choose from 12"-22"lengths.

One color that is hard to find when it comes to clip-in hair extensions is red and auburn shades. But Caliee has a couple red options to choose from (including Strawberry Blonde). These clip-ins are remy human hair, and you can choose between 14"-22" lengths.

These remy human hair extensions are affordable, and Amazon reviewers love them. They come in lengths including 14", 16", 18", 20" and 22", with 17 different color combinations (jet black to platinum blonde). They have a seamless clip-in system that makes for a smooth, natural look.

These remy human hair clip-in extensions come in a seven-piece set with a double weft (the piece that attaches the extension to your natural hair) to prevent shedding. You can choose from 24 different colors shades from black to gray in lengths from 12" to 24". One thing we love: the sets come in 80-150 gram weights for varying thickness. So if you really want more volume, you can get it with these.

True Indian Hair has a deep celeb fan roster, including Lizzo, Mary J. Blige, and Megan The Stallion. These 100 percent human hair clip-ins have three different styles (straight, wavy and relaxed straight), seven or 10 piece sets, seven different lengths (from 14"-26"), and a gorg (but more limited) color selection.

To style your hair with clip-in hair extensions, Chambers notes that you need to make sure you use the correct amount of clip-ins. "Using too few can make it look mis-matched and unnatural; you want them to look eye-catching for the right reasons!" she says. "Try using different lengths at the same time, to add layers and disguise the fact that your natural hair is shorter. Using too many will look bulky and will be heavy and uncomfortable, and can put strain on your natural hair, risking hair loss."

Adds Reed, "Make sure you are wearing enough to blend with your natural density: if you have thick hair you will need more extension hair and vice versa."

You also want to make sure your extensions aren't too bulky. "You want to get clips that blend in and have a thin weft," says Cynthia Alvarez, hairstylist with invisibobble. "Anything too bulky will stick out and make your head appear bigger. A seamless clip will disappear into your natural hair."

And there are also many things you should avoid when it comes to clip-in hair extensions. "A common mistake to make is attaching your clip-ins too high on your head. Ideally, you shouldn’t apply your hair extensions any higher than your eyebrows level—and always leave about half an inch between your scalp and the clip-in, to prevent your hair from being pulled on too tightly," adds Chambers.

This is key for making sure your extensions look natural. "Always color match your hair in natural light. When in doubt, go for a clip-in with multiple shades, to look more natural," says Alvarez.

If you are struggling to get a perfect match, let a pro handle it. "Take your clip-ins to a hair stylist that specializes in extensions to have them cut to blend with your natural hair," says Reed. "Make sure the color match is perfect."

"Leave your hair extensions to dry naturally after washing them, rather than using unnecessary heat," says Chambers. "Most human hair extensions will dry with a slight wave, giving them a more natural finish."

And you should never sleep in your extensions. "Clip-ins should be removed before sleeping to prevent the clips rubbing against the natural hair and scalp, causing knots and tension on the head," says Chambers.

She adds that overall, you should avoid choosing poor quality hair in your clip-in extensions, as they won’t last as long, particularly if you plan on using heat tools on them. Adds Alvarez, "Always deep condition your clip ins and use a heat protectant spray prior to styling. Treat these just as good if not better than your natural hair."

Emily Shiffer is a former digital web producer for Men’s Health and Prevention, and is currently a freelancer writer specializing in health, weight loss, and fitness. She is currently based in Pennsylvania and loves all things antiques, cilantro, and American history.

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