Clip-in hair extensions are one of those things that seem too difficult to master at home, but then once you get the hang of it, the effects can be transformative. How else can you achieve body, volume, and length in just a few minutes? “The key to a seamless clip-in hair extension comes down to the hair quality, the color, and the length,” says pro hairstylist Carolyn Gahan.
There are plenty of options available, so to take the guesswork out of selecting the right clip-in for you, we handpicked 18 of the most popular options and asked our testers to try them out in our Manhattan lab and be brutally honest. After applying the clip-ins under the supervision of an expert, testers judged each one based on ease of installation, comfort, color match, overall look, and ease of removal. They continued to wear at home for several weeks to understand how to wash extensions as well. The highest-rated products made this list.
Synthetic vs Human Hair
Although synthetic clip-ins are cheaper, they have limitations. They can’t withstand heat styling and tend to look less realistic than human hair options. If you do opt for a human hair clip-in, look for 100% Remy human hair, which means that the cuticle is intact and runs in the same direction for a natural, cascading effect.
Thicker than most options
Various lengths available
Lays flat against scalp
Longer wefts harder to secure
Type: 100% Remy human hair | Shades: 27 | Number of Wefts: 3 original, 5 seamless
A favorite of celebrity hairstylist (and Kardashian glam squad team member) Justine Marjan, Hidden Crown’s extensions are thick, voluminous, and crafted from 100 percent Remy human hair. We were thrilled with how easily and seamlessly the clip-ins blended into our natural hair. Plus, the sturdy clips ensured a mess- and pain-free installation process.
Each piece is much thicker than average, so you can use fewer clips to get a full head of hair. (The pack includes one extra-thick piece for the back of the head, which you can wrap around the base of a ponytail or for added length and fullness.) Something to keep in mind: The longer wefts are harder to get flat because of the natural curvatures of the head, so it'll take some practice to get the perfect look.
There are 27 shades, including great options for redheads, available in the range, eight different length options, and either three-piece or five-piece seamless sets on offer.
Full Review: Hidden Crown Extensions Salvaged My Bad Haircut
What Our Testers Say
“These extensions look and feel great. They were easy to style—I curled pieces of the extensions with a piece of my natural hair to make it appear even more seamless. These seem to be well made and really good quality.” — Shannon Bauer, Associate Editorial Director
Designed specifically for curly and coily hair
Customizable weft lengths
Each piece is measured in straight style
Type: 100% Remy human hair | Shades: 2 | Number of Wefts: 7
For curly and coily hair (specifically 3C to 4A), ONYC’s Tight Kinky Curl Clip-Ins are great. Made from high-quality human hair and in two natural-looking shades, each set comes with seven pieces to add volume and thickness to your natural style. We were particularly impressed by the quality, which resembles healthy human hair. With a bunch of different weft lengths, the set is super customizable and allows you to achieve a number of different styles. Plus, you have the choice of wearing the wefts straight or curly; it’s just a matter of styling. Once installed, we found it easy to add definition to the curls—all you have to do is apply water and use a mousse for hold.
The only caveat is that each piece is measured in straight style, so be mindful when choosing your length—you will lose a few inches with the curl pattern intact.
What Our Testers Say
“This set resembles natural hair and can add to a protective hairstyle. I can definitely see myself creating different hairstyles with this hair as well as adding extra volume to my own hair." — Jasmine Phillips, Social Media Editor
Affordable
Easy to use
Great for beginners
Heavy
Type: Synthetic | Shades: 21 | Number of Wefts: None, Comb base
Insert Name Here’s extensions comes in 21 shades and one super-long length (26 inches, to be exact), taking out a lot of the guesswork that comes with choosing the best set. The installation process was quick and easy, thanks to the comb-like base (as opposed to wefts) that slots right into your existing up-do, making it simple to affix to a ponytail or braid. While it didn't feel as secure as some of the other options we tested, it still looked beautiful while adding fullness and length to our pony. Our only complaint: It’s a heavy piece. If you have breakage-prone or finer hair, be careful with installation to avoid damage from the extensions.
Free color matching
Heat resistant
Comfortable fit
Not ideal for shorter hair
Type: 100% Remy human hair | Shades: 15 | Number of Wefts: 7
As far as volume and length are concerned, this set from RPZL is totally worth the splurge. Made from 100 percent Remy human hair, these heat-resistant extensions are tangle-free and comfortable to wear (thanks to seamless silicone clips). The extensions come in 15 shades and blend effortlessly into your own hair. Plus, unlike other options on the market, the RPZL Clip-Ins are 50% thinner at the top and sit undetected on the top of the scalp.
Though the snaps are easy to open and close, we struggled a bit with the application. A short bob style didn’t offer enough hair for the seven wefts to adhere to. However, with the help of an on-set stylist, we were able to create multiple layers and ended up with a secure, “natural-looking” result. That said, it was hard to blend the extensions in short hair and would be ideal for someone with longer hair.
Great shade range
Easy installation
Too many pieces for smaller heads
Type: 100% Remy human hair | Shades: 37 | Number of Wefts: 10
If you struggle to find the perfect match, you might have success with a set from Luxy Hair. With 37 shades to choose from (including dark browns and warm caramels to bright blondes and cool reds), there’s bound to be one that suits you. We found the color match to be absolutely perfect, even on bleached hair, and loved that there was a shade that paired well with a not-so-natural hair color.
The set has seven pieces, which is good news if you have a bigger head and lots of hair to work with. If your head is on the smaller side or has finer hair density, you might not be able to use all of the wefts. Regardless, we were pleasantly surprised by the easy installation process and noted that the hardest part was sectioning off the hair to create even layers.
Beginner-friendly
Great curl pattern, length, and color options
Wefts could lay flatter
Type: 100% Remy human hair | Shades: 8 | Number of Wefts: 9
If you want to invest in some luxurious loose curls and realistic-looking human hair extensions, Bebonia’s Spiral Clip-In Extensions are our pick. Available in three lengths, two density options, and eight colors, finding your ideal match is easy. The voluminous curls are easy to install, which means a lot if you have zero experience with extensions. We liked that the wefts came in different sizes that could be placed as needed, and each piece blended well with natural hair, creating a seamless look. The only thing that gives the secret away are the wefts that sit closest to the top of the head. They appeared slightly bumpy, but we chalked that up to user error since it was our first time applying them.
Comfortable
Uncomplicated care
Not a great match for 3C to 4A
Type: 100% Remy human hair | Shades: 7 | Number of Wefts: 9
Looking for a set of extensions that blend into your ringlets? This other pick from Bebonia could be a lovely choice for you. Available in seven shades, this set of 100 percent Remy human hair looks and feels totally convincing, not to mention the fact that it blends into hair seamlessly. They’re also very comfortable, despite having seven pieces. We didn’t experience any tangles and found the attachments easy to work with. When caring for these extensions, we treated them as we would natural curly hair, spritzing the pieces with water to refresh them and then applying a mousse before letting them air dry in order to reset the shape.
While we'd wear the extensions again for important events, our biggest gripe was that they’re advertised as a match for tighter curl textures (3C to 4A). In our opinion, this was misleading since we found the curls to be much looser.
What Our Testers Say
“Installing the clip-ins was easy. It was more cumbersome for me to neatly separate and part my hair to clip them in, but once that part was over, it took mere seconds to pop the extensions in. The teeth of the clasps unbuckled readily and I was able to line the extensions up with my scalp with ease.” — Danielle, Tester
Quick installation
Blends seamlessly
Feels fake
Type: Synthetic | Shades: 3 | Number of Wefts: 1
Achieve the long pony of your dreams with the Barely Extensions Ponytail. At 22 inches long, this ponytail made of synthetic fibers takes your ‘do to the next level. All you have to do is wrap it around your pony for undetectable length, volume, and density. It comes in three shades (Platinum Ice, Dark Blonde Frost, and Dark Brown). The color matched the look of natural roots but was slightly darker than the ponytail, giving the effect of highlights. One thing to note: It doesn’t feel like real hair, but because the extension is made from synthetic fibers, that checks out.
Ideal for curly hair types
Natural-looking curl pattern and color
On the pricier side
Type: 100% Remy human hair | Shades: 7 | Number of Wefts: 9
Those with natural hair will love this Ponytail Fro from Kurly Klips. It’s 18 inches long curly (so 24 inches long straight) and is made from 100% human hair. It’s available in a soft black color but the extensions can be dyed to match the hue of your hair. As for the attachment process, it couldn’t have been easier. The extensions felt very secure all day long—even during a long commute. It is on the pricier side, so if you’re a first-timer or trying to save some money, this might not be for you. However, if you’re dedicated to your hair game and are looking for a high-quality clip-in to seamlessly blend into your natural hair, this is it.
What Our Testers Say
“This hair extension resembles and feels like real, healthy hair. It is a bit dry and brittle to work with, so I had to wet it and comb it out with my detangler brush to get it to look healthier and fluffier. But, it looks great styled in a bun and a ponytail.” — Chantia, Tester
Testing Clip-In Hair Extensions for Hair Type, Color, and Length
What to Look for When Buying Clip-in Hair Extensions
Weft: The weft refers to the length of the extension itself—for example, it might be a smaller 2-inch weft with two clips attached or a longer 6-inch weft with eight clips. Most clip-in extensions come as a set with multiple wefts. If you’re after a full, thick look or you already have thick hair, you’ll typically want more pieces. You might also see the words "double-drawn" or "double-weft"—this refers to the number of wefts stitched together to make one single piece. You can expect to use anywhere from four to eight wefts for clip-in extensions.
Color and Length: The other important things to consider are color and length. "If you're planning on wearing the extensions in an updo or ponytail, it's less crucial on matching perfectly, and you can go a little longer with the length,” says Gahan. “However, if you plan to wear them with your hair out, they will need to be close to perfect and not a huge contrast in length from your natural hair.” Length is a personal preference, but sticking within a few inches of your natural length will ensure the most believable finish. When in doubt, go longer—you can always take them to your hairstylist for a trim.
Why Trust Byrdie
Caitlyn Martyn is a staff commerce writer at Byrdie, where she covers all things beauty. An avid product tester, Caitlyn likes to try the latest and greatest in makeup, skincare, and hair care to let readers know what’s worth it and what’s not.
Byrdie contributor Emily Algar has plenty of experience with clip-in extensions (some good, some bad), so she knows the features to look out for as well as those to avoid. As a beauty expert and journalist, she’s also spent the greater part of the last six years interviewing hairstylists, so she's picked up a few tips and tricks along the way.