CLIP IN, GLOW UP – IT REALLY IS THAT SIMPLE (WELL, KINDA)
If there's one thing the internet has collectively agreed on, it's that a good hair transformation never gets old.
From the millions of before-and-afters on TikTok to the endless YouTube tutorials racking up views overnight, people are obsessed – and honestly, fair play.
But what a lot of those videos don't tell you is just how accessible that transformation actually is. You don't need a salon appointment, a professional or even a particularly long morning routine. You need clip-in hair extensions, and about ten minutes.
Clip-in extensions are exactly what they sound like – wefts of real Remy human hair attached to small, pressure-sensitive clips that open and close to grip your natural hair securely.
No glue, no heat bonding, no commitment.
You clip them in when you want them, take them out when you don't and your hair is none the wiser. They're the entry point into the world of extensions for good reason – and once you know how to apply them properly, you'll wonder how you ever managed without them.
Here's exactly how to do it.
WHAT YOU’LL NEED
- A good set of clip-in hair extensions (obvs)
- A tail comb or sectioning comb
- A mirror – ideally a back mirror too if you have one
- Hair grips or clips to hold sections out of the way
- A light-hold hairspray (optional but helpful for fine hair)
HOW TO APPLY CLIP-IN HAIR EXTENSIONS
First-timer to clip-ins? Follow these easy steps.
STEP 1: PREP YOUR HAIR
Clip-in extensions grip better to hair that has a little texture to it – so freshly washed, super-silky hair isn't actually ideal.
If you've just washed your hair, a light spritz of dry shampoo or texturising spray at the roots will give the clips something to hold onto.
If your hair is naturally fine or slippery, a quick rough blow-dry with a little volume at the roots goes a long way.
STEP 2: SECTION YOUR HAIR
This is the step that makes the biggest difference between a seamless blend and extensions that are visible.
Using your tail comb, create a horizontal parting across the back of your head, roughly two to three centimetres above the nape of your neck. Clip everything above this section up and out of the way.
This bottom section is where your first weft will sit – and working in sections like this from the bottom up is what keeps everything hidden and natural-looking.
STEP 3: START WITH YOUR WIDEST WEFT
Take your largest weft – usually a four or five clip piece – and open all of the clips by pressing down on the top.
Hold the weft against the parting you've just created, centre it and press each clip firmly into the root area until you feel and hear it snap shut. Give it a gentle tug to make sure it's secure.
This first weft is your foundation. Everything else builds on top of it.
STEP 4: WORK YOUR WAY UP
Release the next section of hair – another horizontal parting a few centimetres above the first – and repeat the process with your next weft.
Continue working upwards in sections, alternating between wider and narrower wefts as needed to match the natural shape of your head.
As a general guide, the wider wefts sit at the back where there's more hair, and the smaller single or double clip wefts sit at the sides, closer to your temples. Most sets come with a variety of weft sizes for exactly this reason.
STEP 5: BLEND AND STYLE
Once all your wefts are in, let your natural hair down and run your fingers through to blend everything together.
A wide-tooth comb or extension brush – always starting from the ends and working up – will help everything sit seamlessly.
From here, you can wear your hair down as-is, curl it, straighten it or pull it into a half-up style. If you're using any heat tools, always apply a heat protectant first – extensions don't self-repair the way your natural hair can.
STEP 6: FINISHING TOUCHES
A light mist of flexible-hold hairspray will help blend your natural hair with the extensions and keep everything in place throughout the day.
If any wefts feel loose at any point, simply press the clips back down firmly – they should click back into position easily.
Stand back, shake your hair out and enjoy your new look!
READY TO FIND YOUR DREAM SET?
Once you've nailed the technique, it takes minutes. The only thing left to figure out is which set is yours. Head to Hair Island to explore our clip-in range, find your shade and make great hair a permanent fixture in your routine.
