Clip-in hair extensions are the quickest way to add length and volume, and once you know the order to work in, the whole thing takes about ten minutes. The short version: brush your hair, split it into horizontal sections working up from the nape, backcomb lightly at each root for grip, then clip the wefts in from the narrowest at the bottom to the widest in the middle. Blend, style, done. You do not need a stylist, you do not need heat, and nothing about it is permanent. Below is the full step-by-step, plus how to make clip-ins sit flat, stay secure all day and blend so well that nobody can tell they are in.
In this guide
- What you need before you start
- How to section your hair
- How to put in clip-in extensions step by step
- How to make clip-ins blend naturally
- How to keep them secure all day
- Can you put clip-ins in short or thin hair?
- Taking them out and caring for them
- FAQs
What you need before you start
Half of a good result comes down to prep. Before you clip anything in, get these together:
- A set of clip-in wefts colour matched to your hair. This is the single biggest factor in whether they look natural. If you are not sure of your shade, our colour match service takes the guesswork out of it.
- A tail comb for clean sectioning and light backcombing.
- Two or three sectioning clips to hold hair out of the way.
- A mirror you can see the back in. A handheld mirror plus a wall mirror makes the back of your head far easier to reach.
- Heat protectant if you plan to straighten or curl afterwards.
A full clip-in set comes as several wefts in different widths, from narrow one-clip pieces to wide four-clip pieces. Lay them out in front of you before you start so you can grab the right size at each stage.
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How to section your hair
Clip-ins go in from the bottom up, in horizontal rows. Getting the sections right is what stops them peeking out or slipping.
- Brush everything through so there are no knots. Extensions grip best on smooth, tangle-free hair.
- Take a horizontal parting across the back of your head, roughly level with the tops of your ears at the lowest point. Clip the hair above it up and out of the way.
- Work in layers. You will drop that section down one row at a time as you fill in from the nape upwards. Most people use three to four rows across the back and one on each side.
Keep the very top section of your own hair loose until the end. It covers the top weft and hides where the extensions begin.
How to put in clip-in extensions step by step
Here is the core method. Take it slowly the first time and it quickly becomes muscle memory.
- Start at the nape. Drop your lowest section down. Choose a weft that fits the width of your head at that point, usually a narrower one.
- Backcomb lightly at the roots. A few gentle strokes with the tail comb along the section gives the clips something to grip. This is optional on thick hair but makes a real difference on fine hair.
- Open the clips. Hold the weft against your head with the clips facing your scalp.
- Press the middle clip in first, right into the backcombed root, then snap the side clips shut. You should feel it anchor firmly.
- Give it a gentle tug to check it is secure. It should not move.
- Drop the next section down and repeat, moving up your head with slightly wider wefts through the middle where your head is widest.
- Add the side pieces last, keeping them below your temple so they stay hidden, then let your own top layer fall over everything.
Once every weft is in, tip your head forward and back and give it a shake. Nothing should shift. That is the whole technique.
Working from the nape upwards, one section at a time, keeps every weft hidden and secure.
Ready to try it yourself? Shop the full clip-in range →
How to make clip-ins blend naturally
Secure is only half the job. Blended is what makes them look like your own hair.
- Match the length sensibly. If your own hair is much shorter than the extensions, cut a soft layer or two into the set, or have your stylist do it, so there is no obvious step between your hair and the ends.
- Curl or wave both together. Running a curling wand or straightener over your hair and the extensions at once, using heat protectant, fuses the two visually better than anything else.
- Go one shade lighter on the ends if in doubt. Slightly brighter ends read as natural highlights. A block colour that is too flat is more obvious than a soft blend.
If you want more length or a fuller finish, a longer set gives you more to work with.
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Blended well, clip-ins add length and thickness that genuinely looks like your own hair.
How to keep clip-ins secure all day
Clip-ins that are put in properly will hold from morning to night. If yours ever slip, it is almost always one of these:
- No backcomb. Silky, freshly washed hair is the most slippery. A light backcomb or a touch of texturising spray at the roots fixes it.
- The weft is too wide for the section. If the ends of a weft sit where your hair is thin, they show and loosen. Use a narrower piece there.
- Clipped onto too little hair. Each clip needs a decent anchor of your own hair. Fine hair often does better with more, thinner rows than a few thick ones.
A set that feels like it might slide is nearly always a prep issue, not a product one. Fix the grip and they stay put.
Can you put clip-ins in short or thin hair?
Yes to both, with a couple of tweaks.
Short hair: the trick is to place wefts lower and lighter so there is enough of your own hair above them to cover the top. Point-cutting the extension ends to soften the join makes a bob or lob blend far more convincingly.
Fine or thin hair: use more rows with narrower wefts rather than a few heavy ones, and always backcomb for grip. Lightweight sets sit flatter and are less likely to show. We go deeper into this in our guide to the best hair extensions for thin hair.
If your natural texture is curly or coily, look for clip-ins that match your curl pattern so the two blend without heat. Our curly hair extensions are made for exactly that, and the curly care guide covers keeping the pattern defined.
Taking them out and caring for them
Take clip-ins out every night before bed. Sleeping in them stresses your roots and tangles the set. To remove, simply open each clip and slide the weft out, starting from the top and working down.
Between wears, store them flat or hung so they do not knot, and wash them only every 15 to 20 wears using a gentle, sulphate-free routine. Looking after them well is the difference between a set that lasts a few months and one that lasts a year or more. Our guides on washing extensions the right way and how long extensions last walk through the details.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to put in clip-in hair extensions?
Around ten minutes once you are used to them, and closer to twenty the first few times. Clip-ins are the fastest type of extension to fit, which is exactly why so many people choose them.
Do clip-in extensions damage your hair?
Not when they are put in and taken out properly. Because they clip on and off with no glue, heat or bonds, they are the gentlest type of extension. The main thing to avoid is sleeping in them or clipping onto the same tiny section every day. Here is the honest answer on whether hair extensions damage your hair.
Can I sleep in clip-in hair extensions?
It is best not to. Take them out each night to protect both the extensions and your own roots. If you ever do leave them in, a loose plait helps, but nightly removal is the healthier habit.
How do I stop clip-ins from slipping?
Backcomb lightly at each root before clipping, make sure each clip has a decent amount of your own hair to grip, and use a weft that matches the width of the section. Slipping is almost always a grip issue rather than a fault with the extensions.
Can you wear clip-in extensions every day?
Yes. As long as you take them out at night and move the clip positions slightly so you are not tugging the same spot, daily wear is completely fine.
How many wefts do I need for a full head?
A standard full set covers a full head, usually five to seven wefts of varying widths. Most people use three to four across the back, one on each side and one for the crown. Thicker or longer hair may want a second set for extra volume.
Ready to get started? Choose your length and shade from the WAVE clip-in collection, all 100% Remy human hair, and if you are unsure on colour our colour match service will get you the perfect blend. For salons and stylists, our trade accounts give you the same quality at wholesale.
