We've all had those days where we spend forever trying to style our hair just right, only for our hair extensions to keep peeking through. It's frustrating when you've paid good money for nice, long hair extensions but they stick out like a sore thumb. Don't stress though! Blending in your extensions seamlessly just takes a little practice.
If you find yourself constantly wondering "How can I hide hair extensions better?" or searching for tips to make your longer hair look more natural, then this guide is for you.
Roxy Hair will cover some key techniques to help your beautiful new length and volume blend in flawlessly - no more bumpy spots or rogue clips giving you away. Your luscious extensions will stay our little secret!
Key Takeaways
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Add length to your hair by choosing the right hair extensions (clip-in, sewn-in, etc.) that match your natural hair color and texture.
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You'll want to get your natural hair prepped and ready. Give it a good brush through to get rid of any knots or tangles. If you need a little extra volume at the crown area, go ahead and backcomb it a bit.
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When putting in the extensions, distribute them evenly around your head. Clip the wider wefts at the nape area, and use the smaller ones toward the top.
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For a really seamless blend between your hair and the extensions, braid some pieces over top of the wefts and use bobby pins to keep everything locked in place.
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Accessories like headbands, scarves, or cute hair clips can also come in handy for concealing those extension tracks if needed.
Preparing Your Natural Hair and Hair Extensions
Doing an updo hairstyle with hair extensions takes some prep work. Here are a few key things you'll want to keep in mind:
First up, you gotta choose the right type of extensions. Not all of them work equally well for updos. Clip-in extensions are probably your best bet - they're super versatile and you can just clip them in and out as needed. No long-term commitment required. But sewn-in or bonded extensions can also work if that's more your style. Just keep in mind those are more permanent and you'll need to get them professionally installed.
Whichever type you go with, matching the color and texture to your natural hair is really important if you want it to look natural and blend in seamlessly. You might want to have a hairstylist help you find the perfect color match, especially if you've got highlights or lowlights going on.
If you do opt for the sewn-in, bonded, or tape in hair extensions, getting them put in properly by a pro is an absolute must. A skilled stylist knows how to attach them without messing up your real hair.
For clip-ins, distributing them evenly throughout your hair is key to avoiding any wonky, unbalanced bulkiness in your updo. Start by clipping in the wider wefts at the nape of your neck, then use smaller wefts as you work up towards the top of your head for a smooth transition.
Blending Techniques
Hiding a hair extension can be tricky, but there are some good tricks you can try:
Braiding and Pinning
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Start braiding your bangs across your forehead to cover the extensions. Braid tightly from one side, grabbing more hair as you go. Use bobby pins to keep the braids in place.
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Take your bangs and split them into two sections. Twist one section over the other, then add the next bit of hair and keep twisting. Twist all the way to your ear, then pin the twisted bangs to the side.
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If your extensions are long, braid them all the way to your ears before pinning them back. This updo style looks cool and helps hold the extensions neatly.
Using Hair Accessories
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Wear a headband with teeth over your bangs to pull them back quickly. Thick, stretchy headbands work too if you wear them around the top of your head over your hair.
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Wrap a head scarf or bandana around the back of your hair, then bring it up over the top and tie it at your forehead. This hides your bangs.
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Use hair clips and a bobby pin to keep braids or twists covering your extensions in place. You can crisscross the pins or make decorative patterns.
Backcombing and Teasing
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Backcomb the hair at your crown before clipping in extensions. The added volume helps blend and hide the wefts.
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Tease and brush back the hair at your crown using a brush with super dense bristles. This creates hold to camouflage extensions on your skin tone. A boar bristle brush works best for oily hair that might show extensions more.
Styling Tips
Updo Easy Hairstyles that Work Well with Extensions:
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Buns like high buns, messy buns, sock buns, and braided buns all look bigger and fuller with extensions in your hair.
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Ponytails, whether high ponytail or low and voluminous ponytail, can look amazing with extensions. You can braid, twist, or add cascading curls to the ponytail.
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French twists and Dutch braids take on a whole new look with the added hair length from extensions, creating an elegant updo.
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Half-up half-down styles are great with extensions too. You can braid, twist, or curl the top section, leaving the rest of your hair down for a romantic look.
Styles to Avoid
Tight, sleek updos might not look so great with extensions in your natural own hair. The bulk of the extensions could be visible and stick out. It's better to avoid hairstyles that need very short hair, like updos with a short nape or hair tucked behind the ears. This way, you don't risk the extension clips or tracks showing.
Using Hairspray and Other Products
Hairspray is an absolute must for rocking an updo with extensions. It'll help keep that style locked in place all day (or night) long, no matter what. Super important for controlling any stray hairs or frizz too - you want that updo looking smooth and polished, not like a hot mess. The hairspray will also help blend those extensions in with your natural hair so it all looks seamless and styled to perfection.
Before you start styling, mousse can be a game-changer. Just work some into your damp hair before blow drying or using a curling iron. It'll add tons of volume and texture, making it way easier to style those extensions. A little lightweight gel can help too - use it to smooth down any flyaways or tame frizz before you put that updo into place.
When it comes to picking a hairspray, think about what kind of hold you need. If you're getting all dolled up for a fancy event, you'll want the strongest hold possible to keep that style locked down. But if it's more of a casual, looser updo, a medium hold hairspray should do the trick just fine.
Maintenance and Care
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Don't pull your hair too tight when styling it with extensions. That can tangle and damage the extensions. Be gentle when securing your hair so you don't tug on the extensions too much.
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When you sleep, braid your hair or use a silk/satin pillowcase. That reduces friction and prevents tangling. Also, don't go to bed with wet hair because it can get all matted and tangled up.
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Be really careful when taking out your extensions. It's best to have a professional stylist remove them. They know the right way to do it gently without damaging your real hair or the extensions.
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After removing the extensions, give your real hair some extra care. Wash it with a clarifying or volumizing shampoo and use a lightweight conditioner just on the ends. Apply moroccan or coconut oil or serum to protect it from heat styling. Brush it gently with a soft brush and make sure to fully dry your hair, especially the roots, to keep it healthy.
Summary
It takes a little extra work to hide hair extensions in an updo hairstyle, but you can totally do it once you get the hang of it. The key is using techniques like braiding, twisting, backcombing, and adding accessories to blend the extensions in smoothly. Styles like buns, ponytails, and braids work really well for hiding extensions.
With some practice, you'll be a pro at creating gorgeous updos that keep your lovely long locks under wraps! No one will be able to tell you have extensions giving you that amazing volume.
Frequently Asked Question (FAQs)
How do I blend my clip in hair extensions with my real hair when putting it up?
Just gently tease and brush the roots of your extensions and real hair strand together. You can also use hairpins or clips to help hide the extensions underneath.
I have shorter face-framing layers, how can I hide those pieces?
For those short pieces around your face, you can braid or twist them back into the updo. Or use a little hair gel or pomade to slick them back first before putting your hair up. Clear tiny elastics help gather those short layers in.
My extensions always seem to show bumps or lines when I put my hair up, what can I do?
Make sure you really brush out your real hair and extensions super well first. Using a good bristle brush helps get it smooth. You can also gently tease the hair a bit to cover any visible extension tracks or bumps.
Is there a way to make my updo with extensions last more than a day?
Use a flexible hairspray to keep that updo locked in place. But don't use anything too heavy or it could weigh down the style and show the extensions. At night, put it in a loose braid or bun while you sleep.
My extensions are showing at the hairline when I put my hair up, what's the fix?
Get the hairline really sleek and smooth before doing the updo. A little pomade or gel can tame flyaways there. And make sure you start with the extensions blended in well from the roots.
