I have been using hair extensions for around six years now. During this time, I have learned how to use many different types of extensions to achieve my hair goals. Hair extensions add length and volume, allowing me to achieve styles I could never pull off with my natural hair alone. Like anyone who uses extensions for the first time, I, too, had many questions about these beauty enhancers when I was a beginner. But as I continued to use hair extensions, I got my answers!

In this post, I will answer the six common questions that many women have about tape-in hair extensions when first starting out. Read on to get your answers based on my experience.

1. What are Tape-In Hair Extensions?

Tape-in hair extensions are exactly as they sound: extensions that are taped to the natural hair for added volume and length. These semi-permanent extensions come as individual wefts that are affixed to your own hair using the medical-grade adhesive attached to each piece’s base.

I have used tape extensions from multiple brands, but I found ZALA tape-in extensions to be the most comfortable, natural, and reliable. They are made of 100 percent Remy human hair, and three packs of them are enough to cover my head.

Your stylist will put in the wefts for you by sandwiching a small portion of your hair between two extension pieces and attaching the tapes on both extensions with each other. My hairstylist typically completes the installation within an hour.

2. Am I a Good Candidate for Tape Extensions?

Every woman who wants voluminous and lengthy hair can wear tape-in wefts. These extensions are versatile. You can shape them into different styles for different occasions. I wear tape extensions to add length and thickness to my hair because my natural hair lacks these qualities.

With proper care during application and removal, tape-in human hair extensions are great for anyone, including women with fine and thin hair. But I wouldn’t recommend them for women with thick or curly hair because the tape-in style doesn’t always work well with these hair types, though there are other extension styles that are more suitable.

3. How Long Can I Wear Them?

Once applied, you can wear these extensions for six to seven weeks. I usually visit my stylist every six weeks to redo the extensions. Tape-in extensions have to be removed and reapplied, and if not done on time, they may slide and even detach from your hair because the tape becomes weak.

Some extensions come with single-sided tape, and they’re applied in a different way than two-sided tape wefts. I always recommend the two-sided tape extensions as they hold securely to your natural hair, and there’s no risk of them loosening for at least six weeks after application. But if you have fragile hair, you may want to try single-sided tape and see if it works for you.

The best part is that you can use these extensions many times before buying new ones. As I write this post, I am wearing my tape-in extensions for the third time, and they still look great.

4. What is the Price of Tape-In Human Hair Extensions?

The cost of extensions varies from one brand to another. It also depends on the length, volume, and weight of the wefts. I bought my 16 inches (40 pieces) ZALA tape-in extensions for $160. My stylist charges roughly $120 to remove and reapply the extensions after every six or seven weeks.

5. Do Tape-In Extensions Look Natural?

When shopping for tape extensions, be sure to buy only 100% Remy human hair extensions because they look absolutely natural if installed correctly. There are many cheap and low-quality extension brands out there that sell synthetic fibers or mix animal hair or fibers with human hair. These extensions are not worth your money as they’ll lead to a fake look that can be easily detected against your natural hair. Plus, they’re not durable, either.

Also, I always choose a shade that matches my natural hair so that nobody can tell if I am wearing extensions. Sometimes, I go two or three shades lighter or darker than my natural hair color for the wefts to blend in. And my stylist uses professional techniques to blend the wefts with my own hair. I believe this goes a long way toward giving my hair a beautiful and natural appearance.