Types

• Hair extensions are made of human or synthetic hair. Human hair comes primarily from the Asian continent. Look for brands that list the hair as 100% human; otherwise, you may get a mixture of human and animal hair. Remy hair is considered the best quality. Human hair is more expensive than synthetic hair, so consider what your budget is when buying. You can style human hair extensions much as you would your own hair. You can color it, heat style it and perm it.
  
  Synthetic hair is plastic and cannot be heat styled. Whatever texture and color of synthetic hair you buy, it will stay the same the entire time you wear it. Synthetic hair is better for short-term wear. It doesn't flow or swing as easily as human hair.
  
  Hair extensions come on wefts, which resemble a curtain or sheet of hair attached to a track, or they come loose, which are better for individual braided styles.
  
  Think about whether you want extensions for added length, volume or a color change. Choose long-term extension attachments for length or volume. Short-term extensions are good for adding color.
  
  

Attachments

• Decide how long you want to wear your extensions; this determines which is the best application technique for you.
  
  Short term extensions can be clipped into place. These are easy to put in and take out. Use clip-on extensions if you only plan to wear them for a day or two. These are a good option for adding another color to your hair if you don't want to apply any chemicals to it. Synthetic or human hair both work for clip-on extensions.
  
  Use bonding glue to attach extensions if you plan to wear them longer than clip-on types. This is still a short-term method and you should remove bonded extensions after one week or so. You must use bonding glue made for hair. Be careful when removing bonded extensions. Use a product designed to remove the glue and then slowly pull the extensions out so that you don't pull out your hair.
  
  Long-term extension application techniques include braiding onto cornrows and strand bonding. With the cornrow method, a stylist cornrows your natural hair and then sews wefts into the cornrows. Strand bonding involves attaching strands of hair with special hair adhesives. These attachment methods may last two to four months.