How do you put in tape-in hair extensions? The short answer
You put in tape-in hair extensions by sandwiching a very thin slice of your own hair between two adhesive tabs, a few millimetres from the scalp. Start at the nape, work up the head in straight rows, and press each pair firmly. Your hair must be freshly washed, completely dry and free of conditioner at the root.
What decides whether a set looks invisible and lasts six to eight weeks, or slips within a fortnight, is the detail: how thin the slice is, where the tabs are placed and what you do in the first 48 hours. This guide covers all of it, whether you are fitting your own, helping a friend or training as a stylist.
Key takeaways
- Clean, dry, product free roots are the single biggest reason tapes hold.
- Use a slice of hair thin enough to see light through, placed a few millimetres from the scalp.
- Keep two to three finger widths clear of the hairline and brick-lay the rows.
- Do not wash, swim or sweat heavily for 48 hours after fitting.
- Move up every six to eight weeks and reuse the hair with fresh tape tabs.
In this guide
- What you need before you start
- How to prep your hair so the tapes stick
- How to put in tape-ins, step by step
- Where to place tape-in extensions
- Can you put tape-ins in yourself?
- Tape-ins on curly and coily hair
- The first 48 hours and beyond
- FAQs
What do you need to put in tape-in extensions?
- Tape-in wefts in the right shade. Match to your mid-lengths and ends, not your roots. If you are unsure, our colour matching guide walks you through it, or you can send a photo to our free colour match service.
- A tail comb for clean, straight partings.
- Sectioning clips to hold the rest of the hair out of the way.
- Clarifying or sulphate free shampoo to strip the roots of product.
- A mirror and good light, plus a second mirror if you are fitting the back yourself.
Most full heads use 40 to 60 wefts, depending on how thick your own hair is and how much volume you want. Fitting fewer tapes well always beats forcing extra tapes onto hair that cannot carry them.
Our tape-in range
Luxeline Tapes, 100g
Double drawn Remy human hair on wide, flat tabs that spread their grip across a broad slice, so they stay comfortable and lie flat. Available in 16 to 24 inches, four textures and 60+ shades, and reusable with fresh tabs at each refit.
From £225 Shop tape-ins →
How do you prep your hair so tape-ins stick?
Almost every tape-in that slips early fails at this stage, not during the fitting. Tape adhesive needs clean, dry, product free hair to grip.
- Wash with a clarifying shampoo, twice. This lifts oil, dry shampoo and silicone build-up from the root.
- Skip conditioner at the root. If you must condition, keep it to the ends only and rinse thoroughly.
- Dry completely and smooth the root. Any dampness weakens the bond, and a flat, blow dried root gives the tab a surface to grip.
- No products afterwards. No heat spray, serum or oil near the root until every tape is in.
How to put in tape-in hair extensions, step by step
- Start at the nape. Take a clean horizontal parting about two to three finger widths above the hairline at the back of the neck. Clip everything above it out of the way. Leave the hair below the parting free so it covers the first row.
- Take a thin slice. Pick up a slice of hair the same width as the tab and thin enough that you can see light through it. Too much hair between the tabs is the most common reason a set slides.
- Place the bottom tab. Peel the backing from one weft and place it underneath the slice, a few millimetres from the scalp, with the adhesive facing up. Never stick it directly onto the skin, as the hair needs room to move.
- Lay the hair flat. Let the slice fall onto the adhesive and comb away any stray hairs that do not belong in that section.
- Add the top tab. Peel the second weft and line it up exactly on top of the first, edges matching, so your hair is sandwiched between them.
- Press firmly across the whole width. Press from one edge to the other with your fingertips for a few seconds.
- Work across the row. Leave a small gap, roughly a finger width, between each pair so the hair moves naturally. Then take the next parting about an inch higher and repeat.
A slice thin enough to see light through, placed a few millimetres from the scalp, is what keeps a tape-in flat and secure.
Makes clean partings easier
Sectioning Clips
Straight rows are what make tape-ins invisible, and you cannot get straight rows with hair falling in the way. Simple, but the tool beginners most often forget.
From £5.99 Shop tape-in tools →
Where should you place tape-in extensions?
Good placement is what makes tape-ins look like your own hair.
- Stay off the hairline. Keep two to three finger widths clear around the nape, the ears and the front, so you can wear your hair up without tabs showing.
- Keep away from the parting. Leave at least a finger width of your own hair between the top row and your usual parting, so tabs never peek through.
- Brick-lay the rows. Offset each row so tabs sit between the ones below, like bricks in a wall, rather than stacked in columns. It spreads the weight and avoids gaps.
- Go lighter where hair is finest. Temples and the area behind the ears carry fine hair. Place fewer tabs there, or none.
- Avoid the crown swirl. Tabs placed on a whorl tend to flip up and show.
If your hair is fine, our guide to hair extensions for thin hair explains how to add fullness without overloading it.
Can you put tape-in extensions in yourself?
Partly, yes. The sides are manageable with patience and a good mirror. The back of the head is where DIY fittings go wrong: uneven rows, slices that are too thick and tabs placed too close to the scalp.
If you want tape-ins to look invisible and last, a trained stylist will usually give you a better result, and they can assess whether your hair can carry the weight in the first place. You can find a WAVE stylist near you. If you are a stylist building your skills, our guide to hair extension training in the UK is a good place to start. For a side-by-side look at other methods, see how each type of extension is fitted.
Do tape-in extensions work on curly hair?
Yes, with one honest condition. A tape tab needs a flat surface to grip, so the root section has to be blow dried smooth at every fitting and kept smooth between visits. Below the tabs, the curl can do whatever it likes.
That is why WAVE makes curly tape-ins with a smooth root section of a couple of centimetres, with the pattern starting just below it. If you wear your roots in their natural curl and have no plans to smooth them, tape is the wrong method, and weft extensions or nano bonds will serve you better.
For type 4 hair
Kinky Curly Tape-Ins (4B/4A), 50g
A dense type 4 coil on a tape tab, something very few UK suppliers stock. Best for clients whose own hair is type 4 and who are happy to keep the root smooth. See the full curly tape-in range for Deep Wave too.
From £175 Shop now →
What should you do after putting in tape-ins?
The adhesive keeps setting after you finish, so the first two days matter.
- Do not wash, swim or sweat heavily for 48 hours. Water and heat at this stage weaken the bond before it has fully set.
- Keep oil and conditioner off the tabs. Apply products from the mid-lengths down. Our guide to products to avoid with extensions lists the ingredients that break tape down.
- Brush from the ends up, holding the hair at the root so you do not tug on the tabs.
- Book a move up at six to eight weeks. As your hair grows, the tabs drift down and need refitting closer to the scalp.
For the full routine, read how to wash hair extensions the right way and how long hair extensions last.
Fitted well and kept product free at the root, tape-ins sit flat and move just like your own hair.
Reuse your hair at every refit
Replacement Tape Tabs, pack of 60
Good Remy hair outlasts its adhesive, so at each move up the old tabs come off and fresh ones go on. Latex free, and one pack usually covers a full head refit. Pair with our tape extension remover so old adhesive comes away cleanly.
From £8.99 Shop now →
Tape-in extensions: frequently asked questions
Can you put tape extensions in yourself?
You can, but the back of the head is hard to do neatly on your own. Most people get a far better, longer lasting result from a trained stylist or with a friend fitting the back.
How long after putting in tape-ins can you wash your hair?
Wait 48 hours. The adhesive needs that time to set fully, so avoid washing, swimming, saunas and hard workouts until then.
How close to the scalp should tape-in extensions go?
A few millimetres away from the scalp, never touching the skin. Too close and they feel tight and pull; too far and they flip and show.
How many tape-ins do you need for a full head?
Usually 40 to 60 wefts, depending on the thickness of your own hair and the volume you want. Fine hair needs fewer tapes, placed with more care.
What are the downsides of tape-in hair extensions?
They need clean, smooth roots to grip, oil and conditioner near the tabs break the adhesive down, and they need moving up every six to eight weeks. Placed too close to the parting or hairline, the tabs can show.
Ready to get started?
Tape-ins are one of the most natural looking, reusable ways to add length and fullness, as long as they are fitted with care. Browse our tape-in hair extensions in 60+ shades, pick up the tools you need, or find a WAVE stylist to fit them for you.
Stylists and salons: open a WAVE trade account for 20% off retail, up to 30%, with no sign-up fee and no minimum order.
Written by Zian Cooper, qualified hairdresser and founder of WAVE Hair Extensions.
Last updated: September 2026
