“My beauty—I define it!”
The modern day concepts of personal grooming and fashion live by this motto.
In recent years, we’ve observed Indians developing a new liking to alter their hair, without using any method that gives long-lasting results or implications.
With easy accessibility to affordable hair extensions online, people are becoming more enthusiastic than ever to try out advanced hair enhancing options and adapt trendy hairstyles for their daily life.
In this blog, we’ll waste no time and jump straight to the different types of premium hair extensions that fit your budget, exploring their unique characteristics, styling recommendations, and buying tips.
Types of Affordable Hair Extensions online: We’ll go one at a time.
1. Affordable Clip-in Hair Extensions
Clip-ins are temporary hair extensions that attach to your natural hair using small, discreet clips. Made from either synthetic fibers or human hair, they help adding instant length or volume.
Versatile and user-friendly, clip-ins are a hit among women who want to enhance their personal style on a daily basis. Here comes the best part of clip-ins, their ease of application. You’ll typically find them in wefts of varying widths that allow customization to happen smoothly.
Clip-ins are lightweight and offer great value for money, making them a comfortable choice for extended wear without straining the scalp.
Premium quality clip-ins feature durable clips with a silicone lining to reduce slippage and minimize damage.
Occasions to wear: Clip-ins are ideal for weddings, parties or photoshoots or when you’re looking for a quick-fix transformation.
Suitable hair length: Medium to thick hair is necessary, as thin hair may struggle to cover the attachment points.
Washing & storage: Wash them after every 8-10 uses. Store them in a cool, dry place so that they retain their quality.
Buying Tips:
- Let’s say—you’ve balayage hair (i.e. a mix of darker roots and lighter ends). In this case, you can use clip-ins with multi-tone adaptive technology. These extensions will seamlessly blend with both the darker and lighter sections of your hair, creating a cohesive look.
- Always check the clip’s sturdiness and the weight per weft to avoid excess scalp tension.
2. Tape-in Hair Extensions
Tape-ins are semi-permanent hair extensions that employ only medical grade adhesive strips to attach to your natural hair. These hypoallergenic strips are designed to hold securely without causing discomfort.
Either 100% Remy human hair or synthetic hair—are used to manufacture tape-in extensions. Lightweight and reusable, they can last 6-8 weeks with proper care, after which they may need reapplication.
Offering a natural look, experts consider tape-ins as the least damaging extension types when applied correctly. What is so special about them? Their thin weft design allows them to rest flat, almost in line with the scalp, ensuring discreet placement,, all while being available at a reasonably price.
Who should wear them: Individuals seeking long-term solutions for augmenting their natural hair’s length and volume can go for tape-ins, as these extensions also eliminate the hassle of daily removal.
Suitable hair texture: Fine to medium hair textures will benefit, as the tape-ins unite effortlessly with the natural tresses and are less visible.
Washing: Use sulfate-free and extension-friendly shampoos. Avoid oils near the adhesive to prolong wear.
Buying Tips:
- Look for tape-in extensions with pre-taped wefts that use double-sided adhesive. This design adds to their durability.
- Yes, the adhesive should be strong but not as much to leave residue during removal.
- If you’re someone with fine hair, consider brands that offer extensions in smaller gram weights to minimise scalp strain.
3. Halo Hair Extensions
Halos are non-invasive hair enhancements, relying on a single, transparent and adjustable wire that secures the extension around your head like an actual halo.
Modeled like a single weft, a halo is placed around the crown of your head with its wire hidden under your real hair. Lightweight, comfortable, and damage-free—it is everything you wish for in a hair extension.
Occasions to wear: From casual to formal events, whenever you’re in an urgent need to become presentable.
Suitable hair type: Medium to thick hair types, as thinner hair may require supplementary styling to hide the wire effectively
Washing & storage: If you’re wearing it 1-3 times a week, wash every 10-15 wears or when they feel dirty.
Buying Tips:
- Choose halos that have an adjustable and durable wire for a proper fit.
- Check whether your hair extensions are double-drawn, meaning they are uniformly thick from root to tip and match your hair closely.
- Opt for layered wefts to add dimension and realism.
4. Hair Toppers
Call them partial hairpieces, if you will.
Hair toppers designed to mask thinning or balding areas, particularly at the crown and top of your head. Available with diverse base options, including lace, silk, and mono bases, which mimic the scalp for a more realistic look.
Toppers provide coverage and volume at lower price points, especially ones that are made of synthetic fibers or mixed hair blends. Human hair toppers, on the other hand, are pricier because they have supreme quality and durability.
In addition to offering easy installment and confident wear, toppers with clip-in attachments are more budget-friendly.
Also Read: Tips for making sure your hair topper looks absolutely natural
Longevity: Regular-quality human hair toppers can last 6-12 months, whereas the finest ones can serve you up to 2 years. Synthetic hair toppers have a lifespan of 4-6 months.
Suitable hair type: People with mild or moderate hair thinning or those wanting a temporary volume boost—can consider toppers.
Washing: Minimal maintenance. Avoid exposing them to heat and use gentle shampoos.
Buying Tips:
- Prioritize toppers with a hand-tied base. It helps you attain a natural hairline and also feels lightweight.
- Again, opt for toppers that exhibit the multi-tone adaptive technology (that we discussed earlier). Such extensions always integrate with your real hair smoothly.
5. Messy Hair Bun Extensions
Messy hair bun for women are pre-styled hair pieces that put together a voluminous, textured bun with almost no effort. They’re available in a variety of shades, textures, and sizes to suit multiple hair types and personal preferences. You can also get them online at a reasonable price.
Generally made from synthetic fibers or human hair, messy hair buns leverage elastic bands, drawstrings, or clips to fasten around your natural hair. They fuse with the environment as one and give a chic, casual look.
Messy buns are also lightweight. They become your closest ally on days when you feel lousy or exhausted to get ready for a meeting or any other event.
Occasions to wear: Casual outings, workouts or even semi-formal events—the tousled, undone look of messy bun extensions rock both traditional and western outfits.
Who should wear it: Women with short or thin hair, who feel conflicted everytime they fail to make a full bun naturally. These extensions can save time and effort.
Washing: Occasional washing with shampoo; gentle detangling to increase lifespan.
Buying Tips:
- Choose a messy bun extension with modifiable features like elastic bands or drawstrings for a relaxed fit.
- Check the texture (straight, wavy, or curly) and also the colour. They must match your hair closely.
6. Clip-in Bangs Hair
Made from premium synthetic fibers or human hair, they are temporary hair pieces that mimic natural bangs.
Yes, you heard it right! You can now get bangs without committing yourself to a haircut.
Bangs hair use discreet clips to attach to your natural hair. You can also experiment with multiple bang styles like blunt, side-swept, or wispy.
How do they stand-out from other extensions? Pre-styled for convenient application, clip-in bangs are lightweight and reusable. High-end options also provide a realistic scalp-like base to boost the natural appearance.
Also Read: 4 Fresh Hairstyles for Clip-in Bangs
Who should wear it: If you’re hesitant about permanent alterations done to your hair, clip-in bangs can be a quick, damage-free solution.
Suitable hair length: Ideal for all hair types, provided the extensions mimic the color and texture of your natural hair.
Washing & storage: Gentle washing after 6-8 uses. Store them in a cool, dry place.
Buying Tips:
- Browse for clip-in bangs with adjustable clips and a multi-directional parting for customized styling.
- Always select a shade slightly darker than your real color hair—for a wholesome blend and an enhanced natural look.
7. Ponytail Hair Extensions
One of the best and affordable hair extensions that you can find online, they arrive pre-styled and instant-ready to help add length, volume, and style to your natural ponytail.
Ponytail extensions usually have a wrap-around strip, claw clip, or drawstring to cling to your real hair, and are available in both synthetic and human hair categories.
Very easy to use, ponytail extensions are available in different lengths, textures, and styles—such as straight, wavy, or curly—catering to diverse preferences.
If you can rise a little on the price ladder, you can avail some really amazing lightweight designs and tangle-resistant fibers.
Occasions to wear: Ideal for events like parties, weddings, or casual outings—when you want a refined and glamorous look with minimal effort.
Suitable hair type: Works for all hair types, but best for those with medium-length hair or longer. Because for shorter hair, you may have to go the extra mile to hide the attachment point.
Washing: Gentle washing with sulfate-free products and air drying to maintain quality.
Buying Tips:
- Choose extensions that have a firm wrap-around strap and velcro closure for a natural look and stable fit.
- If using synthetic options, opt for heat-resistant fibers to allow for minor styling processes. But if you’re fond of styling and do it regularly—it’s better to go for something more robust, a.k.a., human hair ponytail extensions.
- Match the texture and color closely to your real hair for a well-knit experience.
8. Clip-in Hair Highlights
Clip-in highlights are temporary hair streaks that add vibrance and color to your natural hair, without the need for traditional or permanent dyeing.
These extensions arrive pre-colored and use small, subtle clips to secure the wefts at the roots. They present a safe and pocket friendly solution for applying highlights, lowlights, or bold color accents.
Hair highlights are available in a broad range of colors, from slight caramel and blonde shades to hues like pink, blue, or purple.
Also Read: Top 10 Hairstyles with Seamless Single Clip Highlights
Occasions to wear: Clip-in highlights are versatile in that they can be removed at any time. Super beneficial for people who wish to experiment with color for special events like photoshoots or performances.
Suitable hair type: Goes with all hair types but best for those with medium to long hair, as you can tuck away the clips more easily.
Washing: GMinimal maintenance. Gentle wash it every 10-15 wears (if you’re wearing it infrequently, like 1-3 times a week or less).
Buying Tips:
- Look for clip-in highlights that match the texture and thickness of your natural hair.
- If you’re venturing for bold colors, select shades that complement your skin tone and overall style.
- Inspect the clip’s sturdiness to make certain it provides a convenient and safe fit.
Lastly, a few hair extensions care tips.
- If you wear your affordable hair extensions to bed, secure them in a loose braid or satin bonnet to prevent tangling or friction damage.
- Use a loop or soft-bristle brush, starting from the ends and moving upwards to avoid pulling bonds or causing shedding.
- For both human hair and synthetic extensions, wear a swimming cap or use protective serums to fend off tangling, discoloration, or dryness during water activities.
- Rinse your extensions with cold water after washing to seal the cuticle (for human hair) or maintain the fiber’s cohesion (for synthetic). This increases shine and durability.
- Regularly change the position of your hair part to diminish stress on a single section, and exercise even wear across your scalp and extensions.
