Sew Hair Extensions to a Clip
Once you know how to sew hair extensions to a clip, you can change your style as frequently as you want by taking the clips in and out of your hair. Many people find that making their own hair extensions saves both time and money over traditional sewn-in weaves done at a salon.
Steps
- Purchase a hair weft.
- Make sure the weft is similar to your own hair's texture. Buying an extension that is the color you desire also is important if you do not plan to dye the weft.
- Choose an appropriate length, too. Although you can cut the weft to the length you desire, it's easier to just purchase one that is the length you prefer.
- Comb through the hair weft with a comb or brush just as you would your own hair. Combing through the hair weft first prevents problems with snarls as you work with the hair.
- Prepare the hair weft. Sew or cut a piece of hair to match the width of your weft clip. Start at the top of the hair weft and continue to cut down the length of the hair.
- Your packages of weft clips can contain many different width sizes to work with. You can create a customized look by combining several weft clips together to make a wider hair extension. For example, use 4 weft clips for an 8-inch (20 cm) piece of hair, 3 weft clips for a 5- or 6-inch (13 or 15 cm) section, and 2 for a 2-1/2-inch (6.5 cm) section.
- Lay the weft clip on a flat surface. The front of the clip should face you. You'll know you have it right if the clip is convex to the surface and you can see a bar across the comb.
- Locate the 2 sewing holes on each side of the comb.
- Cut a strip of thread about 12 inches long. Beading thread is best, but you can also double up regular cotton thread.
- Sew each side of the hair weft onto the weft clip. Knot the thread securely to the weft clip when you are finished.
- Prepare the hair piece for dying. Spread it out over a drop cloth or old magazine. You can use regular hair dye that you can buy at a mass retail outlet or beauty supply store.
- Dye the hair weft according to your preference. You can do the whole piece or just apply strips of color throughout. Let the color sit on the hair weft for 15 to 20 minutes.
- Rinse the dyed hair weft in warm water and allow to dry.
- Finished.
Tips
- Consider buying a hair weft that is labeled "Remi." This hair is much more like human hair and easier to work with because the hair cuticles all face the same direction. Hair can be purchased online or through a beauty supply store. Investing in quality hair will allow you to get more use out of your extensions.
Things You'll Need
- Needle
- Beading thread (recommended) or cotton thread
- Hair weft
- Weft clips
- Hair dye
- Tint brush
- Scissors
- Measuring tape or ruler
