What are the Least Damaging Hair Extensions? (Spoiler: It’s Clip-Ins)

Considering hair extensions, but stressing about the damage they might cause to your natural locks? Besties, we're here to put your mind at rest and show you that not all extensions are bad news. So, here's your guide to the least damaging hair extensions.

You might have heard along the grapevine that hair extensions do more damage than good to your natural hair, leaving you in a worse position than you started. Well, let us tell you — wrong! Incorrect! False news!

While sometimes this does ring true, most of the time, it does not. Especially not with clip-in hair extensions. If the title of this article wasn’t enough of a spoiler, clip-ins are indeed the least damaging.

Unlike semi-permanent extensions which require glues, beads, bonds, and other adhesives to attach them to your natural hair, clip-ins are quite literally clipped into place. So long as you put them in properly, your natural hair won’t suffer the consequences.

Before we get into the guide, check out our bestselling and least damaging extensions below! Add one or more to your basket today and get 10% off* your order!

If you didn't already know (where have you been?!), clip-in hair extensions happen to be seen as the least damaging form of hair extension.

Why, you ask? Well, that's simple.

Clip-in hair extensions are temporary, meaning you can take them out when you think your hair needs a break.

You can also (and should) take them out before you go to sleep, wash your hair, exercise, or swim.

This seriously reduces the amount of knots and tangles your natural hair will have. And we all know that knots and tangles can damage your hair if they're not dealt with properly. We don't want any matting over here.

Not only that, clip-in hair extensions also don't require a lengthy installation process that involves adhesives or heat. Nope. Just a little clip. Perfect.

We know there's that total lie that clip-in hair extensions can't possibly be suitable for people with thin or thinning hair — but we're here to bust that myth.

Clip-in extensions, provided they aren't too heavy and are applied with care in the suggested method, will be suitable for all hair types, including thin or thinning hair.

This is where shorter hair extensions come in. Because shorter hair extensions, like our 16" or 18" hair extensions, are lighter than longer ones, they’re the perfect solution to adding thickness (and a little bit of length) to thin hair.

That's not to say you can't try a longer extension, but we recommend against that until your natural hair is a little stronger. Just to avoid any breakages.

Hopefully, since our extensions are pre-styled, you won't need to use much (if any) heat on your natural hair, which contributes to strong and healthy hair growth.

All of these methods are semi-permanent, therefore, by nature, they’re going to be a little harsher on your natural hair than temporary extensions because they require actually “fusing” the fake hair with your natural hair.

But, for the most part, if you get any of these done by a qualified professional in a proper hair salon, the damage should be minimal.

A profesh salon and extensions stylist will also talk you through correct maintenance, such as when to go back for adjustments or removal, and how to wash the hair at home, etc etc. And sticking to their advice is so important for protecting your natural hair.

We see a lot of gals and guys removing their own extensions at home, but this is a HUGE no-go.

While it might seem like a great idea to save your pennies and time taking the tapes, bonds, or beads out yourself, it can be extremely damaging to your natural hair. So, please, don’t go and buy that DIY removal kit you spotted online. Give your salon a ring, and leave it to the pros.

If you haven't already noticed, here at RiRi, we're big fans of the single-weft extension. And, to be honest, who wouldn't be?

We've already spoken about clip-in extensions for thin and thinning hair, but just to add some fuel to the fire, single-weft clip-ins happen to be the best option for this hair type (and others!), too.

Among the many other reasons why single wefts are superior, they are super light and forgiving on thin and thinning locks . Which is exactly what you should be looking for if you have this hair type.

But, if you're a thick-haired girlie, curly, straight, short, or long, you'll also love single-weft extensions. Here are the benefits:

See? Don't single wefts sound like the creme de la creme of clip-in extensions? We think so.

We've put together this little day in the life with clip-ins to show you how to care for your natural hair while using hair extensions, so take notes. This stuff is important.

Getting the most out of your hair extensions is easy if you just…

For a successful application, clip-in extensions need detangled, dry, and clean hair . We know you knew that.

If you haven't already, you need our Signature Deluxe Hair Extension Brush. This brush works miracles on your extensions and can also be used on your natural hair for the softest finish. Just be sure to work from the bottom up to reduce breakage.

At this stage, you should section your hair, too. If you section it at the top of your ears and clip the top section to the top of your head, it'll be easy to install your weft.

The application of your RiRis literally couldn't be easier. Hence why all our TikTok application videos are about three seconds long.

Below, you'll find one of those videos, and you'll see for yourself how to install your weft.

See? Easy. All you need to do is secure your clips in place along the bottom section of your hair, snap them shut, and let down the top section of your hair.

Blending your extensions is necessary for a clean and natural look, especially if your hair is significantly shorter than your extensions or your colour is a little off.

Simply use our extension brush to go over your hair and extensions for a perfectly seamless blend of colours and lengths.

Be gentle here, though, you don't want to pull on your extensions, which will then, obviously, pull on your natural hair.

We can't just ignore our extensions now that they're in, girls, they require a little TLC . Otherwise, you can expect total horror.

Okay, not quite horror, but it's definitely a good idea to keep your extensions fresh to avoid problems later on.

All you need to do is avoid excessively touching them, carry a brush with you to remove any tangles on tap, and stay weather-conscious. 

So, your day is done, all you want to do is crawl into bed with your Stanley, a face mask, and your girl dinner. But wait a sec. You need to take your extensions out.

Sleeping with your clip-ins still installed is a big no-no , so this is what you need to do.

Carefully remove your clip-ins, making sure to detangle them and your natural hair. Don't go too hard on the brushing, we don't want to cause any rips and painful pulls.

Now, you need to protect your extensions by properly storing them . We recommend using our hair extension hanger and storage bag to keep them lush and fresh, ready for your next use.

And there we have it, ladies! A full rundown of clip-in extensions (and why they're the least damaging option) and how to use them while avoiding damaging your natural hair.

After all, extensions are there to enhance your natural look , so you should work to keep your natural hair healthy if you're going to use them continuously.

Hair extensions will look and feel nicer in healthy hair. You don't want to end up with thinning hair or hair loss, so it's really important to keep your locks in good nick.

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