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Byrdie / Chloe Jeong
Whether you’re looking to add length, volume, or a little bit of both—the easiest (and fastest) way to do so is with hair extensions. And while extensions were once thought of as a super high-end service reserved solely for celebs on the red carpet, they’re now more accessible than ever with tape-in options you can use at home.
As the name suggests, the extensions are attached to a strong adhesive. When applying them, the natural hair is sandwiched in between two extension pieces, and the adhesive attached to the scalp, explains Leigh Hardges, a stylist at Chicago’s Maxine Salon. Application is fairly quick and easy; it requires no tools or chemicals, and it can take less than an hour to apply a full head’s worth with minimal damage when done correctly, adds stylist Gina Rivera, CEO of Phenix Salon Suites. (Though on that note, if you plan on sporting extensions for more than just one night out, it’s always best to leave it up to the pros since the placement of each piece is critical.)
Curious to try the best tape-in extensions? Try any one of these and watch yourself transform into a real-life Rapunzel.
Best Overall: Glam Seamless Tape In Hair Extensions
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Courtesy of Glam Seamless
Various lengths, colors, textures, and tape wefts
Single pieces make for easy DIY application
Blend in seamlessly with natural hair
Pricey
Hardges is a fan of these extensions both because of the “great quality” of the hair and the predictable results they deliver. There’s an incredibly wide range of color and length options, as well as wavy varieties for when you want a little texture. You can also pick from different types of tape wefts and visible or non-visible sew lines (the spot where the hair and the tape meet). They even have singular pieces meant for easy DIY application, ideal for anyone who doesn’t have time for a trip to the salon.
Type: 100% Remy human hair | Shades: 47 | Number of Wefts: 20
Best Overall, Runner-Up: Indique Tape Extensions
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Courtesy of Indique
Can easily be styled
Very lightweight
Adds volume
Fewer shades than some others
Only available in one length
Rivera suggests these for anyone looking for some of the best quality extensions out there. “These Remy virgin hair extensions are a terrific choice because the hair used has cuticle layers facing the same direction from root to end. This ensures that the extensions behave exactly like your own hair, and can be washed, blow-dried, curled, flat ironed, colored, and even permed,” she says. She also points out that they’re incredibly lightweight and supple, making for a full and voluminous effect.
Type: 100% Remy human hair | Shades: 24 | Number of Wefts: 20
Best Length-Selection: VeSunny Tape In Hair Extensions
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Amazon
More affordable than many
Various lengths
Easy to style
Fewer shades than some others
Generally speaking, most extensions come in three, four, maybe five different lengths. But these come in a whopping six options, ranging from 14 inches to 24 inches. This makes them choice for creating any and every kind of hair look, as well as those with shorter strands who are perhaps looking to add a little bit of length and fullness but in a super subtle way. Made of Remy hair, they can also be treated and styled as you would your natural hair.
Type: 100% Remy human hair | Shades: 10 | Number of Wefts: 10
Best for Longevity: Bellami Tape In Extensions
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Bellami
Long-lasting
Various colors
Ideal for fine hair
Reusable
Pricey
The adhesive on these is a unique polyurethane tape that was developed and tested over three years—meant to deliver both secure applications, easy removal, and comfortable wear the entire time. The result? Six to nine weeks of wear for each application, but up to a year's lifespan for each piece—great for when you want to reuse your extensions. Each one also has double-sided tape so that you can sandwich the natural hair in between each weft—there’s also a single-sided tape option for finer hair. Not to mention that there are varying lengths and plenty of colors to choose from, too.
Type: 100% Remy human hair | Shades: 46 | Number of Wefts: 10
Best Color Selection: Donna Bella Hair Tape-In Hair Extensions
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Courtesy of Donna Bella
Various colors
Good value
More pieces available than other options
Not a large variety of textures
Maybe you’re trying to match your hair color exactly, or maybe you’re looking for extensions in just a slightly different color to create faux highlights, or maybe you want a bold hue for a one-time event. Either way, you can find the color you need with this brand, a recommendation from Rivera who lauds both the selection and quality.
There are, wait for it, 60 different shades of tape-in extensions to choose from, ranging from natural blonde and brunette to funky green and purple. Plus, they’re all made of Remy hair and come with more pieces per package than many other brands offer.
Type: 100% Remy human hair | Shades: 60 | Number of Wefts: 20
Best Color Selection, Runner-Up: The Hair Shop Smart Tabs Tape-In Extensions
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The Hair Shop
Various lengths and colors
Reusable
Can be styled up to 375 F
Not a large variety of textures
Require applicator tool
These extensions also come in a litany of different hues, and three different lengths. The unique tape-in method used means these can be worn and reused, though, FYI, you do need a special applicator tool to help fully seal them. (If that feels intimidating, celebrity extension specialist, Priscilla Valles is also a fan of the clip-in extensions this brand makes.)
Type: 100% Remy human hair | Shades: 56 | Number of Wefts: 6
Best In-Salon: Cinderella T-Hair Tape Extensions
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Cinderella Hair
Adhesive is non-damaging
Thick, high-quality hair
Various textures
Easy to remove
Available in-salon only
Another one of Hardges’ picks, this is a great pro option for the salon. “The hair is thick and tangle-free and consistently good every time,” she says. Also noteworthy is the unique type of tape they use, which sits on the scalp and can be removed quickly and easily.
Type: 100% Remy human hair | Shades: 24 | Number of Wefts: 10
Best In-Salon, Runner-Up: Hair Lingerie Extensions
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Instagram @hairlingerie
Adhesive is non-damaging
Blend in seamlessly with natural hair
Worn by celebs
Available in-salon only
Valles says these salon-only extensions are great (though she adds that she does usually recommend having them colored for the best shade matching). Created for celebs and models, they’re formulated with a special adhesive that won’t damage the hair and lay flat and seamless.
Type: 100% Remy human hair | Shades: Not Listed | Number of Wefts: Not Listed
Best on Amazon: AmazingBeauty Tape In Hair Extensions
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Courtesy of Amazon
Various lengths and colors
More affordable than many
Thick, shiny hair
Fewer shades than some others
Made of 100% human Remy hair, these are an Amazon fan favorite. They consistently pull in positive reviews, with shoppers raving about the quality and affordable price. They come in five lengths ranging from 14 to 22 inches and 17 shades, though if none of those are doing it for you, you can also color them, though keep in mind that you can’t lift (AKA lighten) the color.
Type: 100% Remy human hair | Shades: 17 | Number of Wefts: 20
Best for Versatility: Satin Strands Premium 18-Inch Human Hair Extensions
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Sally Beauty
Uniform density
Good value
Thicker, more voluminous than other options
Fewer shades than some others
This affordable option offers plenty of versatility; it can be used with any hair extension application, including tape, weaving, or clip-ins, making these a great pick for anyone who likes to change up how they use their extensions. Available in a few shades, each one is multi-dimensional to blend well with a variety of natural hair colors. And with a higher percentage of strands than many other 18-inch extension options, you also get uniform thickness and volume from top to bottom.
Type: 100% Remy human hair | Shades: 7 | Number of Wefts: 20
Hardges notes that in order to keep the look as natural as possible, stick with no more than 12 to 15 extension pieces throughout your hair; using more than that can make them look very obvious.
Final Verdict
Tape-in hair extensions offer a nice way to add both length and volume to your hair. The Glam Seamless Tape In Hair Extensions (view at Glam Seamless Hair Extensions) are the best option on the market, offering great options for varied length, texture, and shades, and available in easy to DIY single pieces. The Donna Bella Hair Tape-In Hair Extensions (view at Donna Bella Hair) are a good choice for those who want lots of colors to choose from (they come in 60 shades), while both the Cinderella T-Hair Tape Extensions (view at Cinderella Hair) and Hair Lingerie Extensions (view at Hair Lingerie) are stylist-recommended if you prefer professionally-applied, in-salon versions.
What to Look for in Tape-In Hair Extensions
Hang-Tied
According to Valles, these extensions, which are knotted onto a thin, mono-mesh weft base, will blend seamlessly with your scalp and offer natural-looking movement.
Rooted Skin Wefts
This is another feature that Valles says will help ensure the extensions blend in seamlessly with your natural hair.
Why Trust Byrdie?
Byrdie contributor Melanie Rud has over a decade of experience in the beauty industry, writing for some of the biggest magazines and websites out there. Since she doesn’t wear extensions, she relied on expert intel and tons of reviews and consumer input when researching this article.
Meet the Expert
- Leigh Hardges is a stylist at Maxine Salon in Chicago. A self-proclaimed product enthusiast, she has over 15 years of professional experience and has worked with many brands as an educator and stylist. She’s also a Black hair expert.
- Gina Rivera is a hair artist and the CEO of Phenix Salon Suites, one of the fastest-growing salon companies in the beauty industry. She’s also the creator of her line of styling products and infrared styling tools.
- Priscilla Valles is a celebrity extension specialist and the creator of Glam Seamless extensions.
According to our Diversity Pledge, 15% of products in our newly-published market roundups will feature Black-owned and/or Black-founded brands. At the time of publishing, we were not able to find enough tape-in hair extensions from Black-owned and/or Black-founded businesses to meet this percentage. If you know of one we should consider, please email us at contact@byrdie.com and we will evaluate the product ASAP.
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