Guide on Hair Extensions For Long Hair: Everything You Need To Know

Guide to Hair Extensions For Long Hair: Everything You Need To Know

Who said you can’t wear extensions when you have long hair? Keep reading to find out everything you need to know about the different hair extension methods available to longer-haired ladies…

Whether you’re looking for extra length to those luscious locks or needing a boost of volume to give your tresses their full potential, hair extensions seem like the way forward for many women. But can you wear hair extensions if you already have long hair?

At Stranded Hair Group, as much as we would all love to say that confidence comes from within, sometimes feeling good on the outside makes us feel a little bit better on the inside. We believe that good hair days should be every day, and nothing says confidence more than that post-salon feeling.

We’re committed to making our customers feel confident, whether that be through purchasing our high-quality hair extensions or reading our blogs to learn how to better understand and take care of the hair they already have. And that’s why we write blogs, just like this one.

So you’re sitting here wondering ‘Can I wear hair extensions if I have long hair?’, and I can answer you now - yes! But if you add ‘how’ to that question, it’s not so straightforward anymore.

In this article, you will learn about the best hair extension methods for long hair, including both their pros and cons, how to disguise extensions and the answers to other related FAQs. By the end, you’ll know exactly where you’re going and your next steps on your long-haired extension journey!

• Can I get extensions if I have long hair?
• What types of extensions are best for long hair?
• Can you get extensions made for long hair?
• Will your hair continue to grow when wearing extensions?
• Could extensions damage long hair?
• Ways to hide hair extensions in long hair

Can I get extensions if I have long hair?

Yes, there are endless amounts of different hair extension methods and styles that you can choose from, whether you want to make your hair even longer, add colour and dimension or increase your natural volume!

The choice of which method of hair extension you choose will generally depend on your budget, your level of commitment and how long your natural hair actually is.

What types of extensions are best for long hair?

Long hair is incredibly versatile when it comes to hair extensions, and with each method having various pros and cons, the best type of hair extensions will be individual to you and your hair’s needs - rather than ‘best overall’.

Clip-in extensions for long hair

We love clip-in extensions - that’s why we specialise in them! However, we know that they won’t always work for everyone.

Clip-in extensions are a great, temporary option for any woman looking to wear extensions for a special occasion or looking for a daily boost, whenever they want it. With clip-ins, you’re avoiding salon re-fits and costs, whilst gaining the freedom to choose when to wear your extensions.

If you have particularly long but thin hair, despite the length of your hair, you may struggle to hold the weight of a clip-in set or to disguise the silicone clips. Therefore, we would recommend a one-piece clip-in, which can be layered between your hair.

On the other hand, if you have long but thick hair, you may need more than one clip-in set or need to invest in a multi-piece clip-in, to spread the volume around your head evenly. One-pieces could end up making the volume of your hair incredibly uneven.

Best length clip-in extensions for long hair

With clip-in extensions, we would recommend that your clip-in extensions should be 2 to 4 inches longer than your natural hair, to add length and volume without looking unrealistic. To measure the length of your natural hair, measure from behind your ear to your ends.

The length you are able to purchase in clip-in extensions will depend on the length of your natural hair. In synthetic hair, longer lengths are easier to find (with some brands selling lengths 30 inches or more), however, human hair can be limited.

Our longest clip-in extension is the 22” Synthetic Fibre Instant Bouncy Blow Dry Extensions, which comes as a five-piece clip-in set. However, we do have a large range of 20” styles, in both synthetic fibre and human hair.

Tape extensions for long hair

Tape-in hair extensions are the most popular professional extension method for women across the UK, and this includes women with long hair.

Tape extensions look virtually invisible when installed by a qualified hair professional. They add natural-looking length and volume around the head and can be dyed to match your natural hair or a complementary colour to add dimension. This makes tapes perfect, whether you have naturally thin or thick hair.

However, tape extensions require continuous maintenance, which can end up becoming quite costly and time-consuming. If you’re considering tape extensions, you also need to think about the cost of the hair, installation, blow dries, re-fits, removal and new hair when needed - as well as the time needed for all these services.

If you have long but thin hair, you may only need a pack of tape extensions to fill out your sparse areas. Thick hair, surprisingly, requires more tapes as the length and volume need to be evenly spread around the head.

Best length tape extensions for long hair

First, you need to measure the length of your natural hair, by measuring the length from your ear to your ends. For a realistic finish, to add both length and volume, we suggest adding 2 to 4 inches in extensions.

As tape extensions are made of human hair, typically the longest extensions you would tend to find are around 20 to 22 inches long. This is because extremely long human hair, especially of high quality, is extremely difficult to source.

Getting stuck on the thought of tape-in extensions? We recommend North Professional Hair’s Double Drawn, 100% Remy Human Hair Invisible Root Glaze Tapes, which are available in 18 and 20 inches. Find a stockist, here, and book a consultation!

Nano bond and micro bead extensions for long hair

When it comes to bonded and beaded hair extensions, there is a huge range to choose from. As the precursor to tapes, these methods have been extremely popular for many years, including with longer-haired women.

With the correct installation, bonded or beaded hair extensions can blend seamlessly into your natural hair, with the ability to also be completely customizable and adaptable to your natural colour and thickness.

However, bonded and beaded extensions can be damaging to your natural hair (regardless of length), as they apply concentrated weight and tension to the hair follicle. They are also a large time and financial commitment, needing to be installed, re-fitted, maintained and new hair when needed.

For very long but thin hair, bonded hair extensions are the go-to. Nano or fusion bonds are super small, discrete and almost invisible. The bonds are also less damaging than beads, which weigh more and are less discrete. For thicker hair, beads will work just as well as bonds would.

Best length bonded and beaded extensions for long hair

Like with tapes and clip-ins, we recommend picking a length of extensions that is 2 to 4 inches longer than your natural hair, when measured from ear to ends.

As these extensions are made of human hair, typically you will find 20 to 22 inches being the longest length available. This is due to longer human hair, especially high-quality human hair, being far more difficult to source than shorter lengths.

Feeling connected to bonds or beads? We recommend Beauty Works’ Double Drawn, 100% Remy Human Hair Nano Bond Hair Extensions, which go up to 24” in length! Find a stockist, here, and get your consultation booked!

Weft hair extensions for long hair

Wefts are one of the most versatile extension methods on the market and as such, have been around the longest. They’ve always been extremely popular with longer-haired women and for good reason!

Wefts are a long section of hair that is sewn into the client’s hair - typically into a braid or across a beaded section. They can be used alone as one large piece, in conjunction with other methods, or cut up and turned into small pieces and clip-in extensions.

They’re also available in both synthetic fibre and human hair, though we recommend purchasing human hair wefts and having them fitted by a professional. Whilst you may have longer length options when it comes to synthetic wefts, human hair will last longer and look more realistic (even if that means a maximum length of 20 to 22 inches).

The downside to wefts, however, is that they too can become a costly investment, both in your time and your budget. This is because they will need to be installed, refitted and maintained by a professional, as well as purchasing new hair when needed.

If you have long but thin hair, wefts may not be the right fit for you. As they’re sewn into a braid on your scalp, you may feel additional tension with thinner hair, risking breakage, and you may not have enough hair to disguise the sew-in.

However, if you have long but particularly thick hair, you may need additional tracks of weft, to evenly distribute the hair for a realistic length and volume addition.

Best length weft hair extensions for long hair

Like with all extension methods, we suggest that your extensions should be 2 to 4 inches longer than your natural hair length (after measuring from ear to ends).

As previously mentioned, longer human hair of high quality is much harder to source than shorter hair, hence most human hair extensions stop at around 20 to 22 inches. You can purchase longer, synthetic weft extensions, though they will not last as long as human hair on a semi-permanent basis.

Willing to try out a weft? We recommend our 100% Human Hair Original Weft, available in both 18 and 20 inches!

Can you get extensions made for long hair?

Let’s be honest - the hair extension market is far more suited to you longer-haired ladies than it is for short hair.

Because longer hair has fewer limitations, you can use pretty much any hair extension method- the only thing you need to consider is how it will blend with your natural length. If you’ve got 30-inch hair, synthetic clip-ins may be your only option. But, if you’re rocking 16-inch hair, the hair extension world is your oyster.

Will your hair continue to grow when wearing extensions?

Yes - when installed, worn and removed correctly (either by yourself or a professional), hair extensions can support your natural hair growth.

This is because you will tend to style your hair less and typically treat it with more care (as you’ve invested in it), which prevents typical damage.

In a previous article, we found that it is a common myth that hair extensions stop or reduce hair growth. This idea comes from evidence of hair damage or breakage due to over-excessive use, bad application or removal - therefore people experience damage related to hair shedding. Hair extensions cannot stop your hair from growing.

Could extensions damage long hair?

No - with proper application, wear and removal, hair extensions shouldn’t damage natural hair - regardless of what method you use.

When you wear hair extensions, you should ensure to treat your hair with extra care, follow aftercare advice and ensure to give your hair a break. Some methods are more prone to breakage, but shouldn’t cause it. Often, hair damage comes from wearing extensions that are not suitable for your hair type.

Read more on the article we wrote on hair extensions and hair damage, here.

Ways to hide hair extensions in long hair:

• Measure your hair before you purchase - for a realistic finish, we recommend that your extensions are 2 to 4 inches longer than your natural hair (measured from ear to ends).
• Consider the thickness of your natural hair for how much extensions you need - thick hair needs more extensions to even out the length and thickness, than thin hair does.
• Choose an extension method that looks invisible - especially if you have long but thin hair.
• Find the right colour - not just with your hair extensions, but also colour-match beads if that’s your chosen method.
• Proper installation - if it’s a professional method, have a professional do it! And if you’re using clip-ins, learn how to attach them properly!
• Curl all your hair - curl your natural and extension hair together, to create a seamless blend.

What should you do next?

You came to this article because you want the opportunity to add length and volume to your hair with extensions, even though you already have long hair. This blog has shown you that hair extensions are for everyone, no matter what length of natural hair you may have.

You have learnt about the best hair extension methods for long hair, including their pros, cons and how long your natural hair can be to wear them, how to disguise extensions in long hair and the answers to other related FAQs.

So what now?

At Stranded, we’re committed to making women feel confident; whether that be with our high-quality clip-in extensions or by giving you the opportunity to learn about the hair industry to make the best, informed decision for you. You are always in control of your good hair days - we’re just here to help!

Are clip-ins the right extensions for you?

Get free expert colour-matching and find your perfect Stranded shade today.

Once you’ve found your ideal match, shop Stranded Hair Group for the perfect clip-in extensions to lengthen and volumize your long, luscious locks.

Prefer a more professional route?

Our best advice is to seek out a hairdresser that specialises in your chosen extension method. An in-depth consultation is incredibly important, regardless of the length of your natural hair, in ensuring the extension method you’re enquiring about is perfect for your hair, lifestyle, commitment and budget.

Found this blog helpful?

To find out more about different extension methods, read our range of blogs covering the different factors you may want to consider before investing in hair extensions.

These blogs include ‘What Is The Best Hair Extension Method?’, ‘Hair Extensions Weight: Explained’, ‘How Long Do Extensions Last?’ and ‘How Much Do Hair Extensions Cost?: UK Guide’.