Hair Extensions Lengths

To be able to hide your hair extensions and make sure they blend naturally with your own hair we advise only using Clip-Ins on hair that is at least 5-6 inches long. For Professional items such as Tapes or Nanos you can have shorter hair, 4-5 inches.

It might sound simple but, first, you need to decide why you want hair extensions. Are you using them to add volume? Are you wanting to add lots of length? Or are you hoping to do both? Understanding your reason for using extensions is surprisingly important when it comes to choosing the right length.

If you only want to thicken your hair up and add volume, you should stick with a length that is similar to your own hair. If you are wanting to make your much hair longer you need to make sure you are using a type that is thick enough to blend with your hair.

Of course, it’s likely that you want to add length, that’s the whole point of extensions, right?! But, if your hair is short, adding a very long piece can be difficult to blend naturally. Not impossible, but difficult.

For those with mid to long hair, longer extensions look great as they tend to blend very naturally without a harsh line or transition. If your hair is already 18-20" then Clip-Ins that are 24-26" should work well.

For those with hair above the shoulder or chin length it can be very hard to blend long length Clip-Ins. If your hair is 14” or under and you are looking to achieve any length past 20” you should opt for professional extensions or very thick clip-ins. Typically, 16-18" extension lengths work better with shorter hair as they look more natural and have thicker ends.

To choose the right hair extensions for you, you need to know exactly how long your hair is. And, by that, we mean exactly that! It isn’t a case of roughly guessing and saying your hair is short, medium or long. You need to know your numbers.

Simply, grab a tape measure and position yourself in front of a mirror. Then, place the tape measure at the top of your crown or parting and let it hang down. Wherever your hair falls on the tape measure is the natural length of your hair. Easy, right?!

If you’re looking for a natural and blended look when it comes to hair extensions, then we recommend using the above approach. But there’s one other crucial aspect that you need to think about: your height.

You see, how tall you are will impact how your extensions look. The taller you are, the shorter your extensions will look. The shorter you are, the longer your extensions will look. It’s therefore important to consider this when shopping for your hair piece. And remember, if you’re getting a clip-in piece for that all-important night out, then you might want to think about your heel height too…

Read more on how to blend hair extensions in our "How do you Blend Hair Extensions that don't match".

Usually, your natural hair needs to be around 4-6 inches long so that the extension roots can be hidden. So, unfortunately, if you’re rocking a Pixie cut this season, you’ll just have to wait it out. For others though, you’ll be pleased to know that there’s a variety of hair extension lengths to suit your hair.

To use Clip-In hair extensions your should be at least 5-6 inches long so that the extensions are well hidden by a layer of your hair. Any shorter and you will be able to see the clips and seams in the hair which we can all agree, isn’t a good look!

When using Permanent extensions like Tape-Ins or Nano Rings your can be slightly shorter as they are less bulky options. For quality results your hair should be no shorter than 4 inches, this should be enough to cover the attachments well.

So unfortunately, if you’re rocking a Pixie cut this season which is likely to be 1-2 inches long, you’ll have to wait it out. For more info check out our blog “how to choose the right hair extensions for short hair”