Hi guys! So this blog post has been a long time coming. As soon as I bleached and cut my hair in a shoulder length blunt cut I started getting so many questions about it so that’s what I want to talk about today!

I was short for about 2 years and just recently decided to get beaded row extensions put in by Jamie at Iris Studio in Pittsburgh. I’ve had clip in, tape in and beaded row extensions before so I also thought that this would be a great opportunity to compare all of them all for you guys.

Before I begin, If you want a similar cut to mine in the photos below all you have to ask your hair dresser for is a ‘blunt cut.’ This means no layers. I usually go a little above shoulder length because once it grows out to your shoulders, it tends to flip and looks not so cute.

Next up, extension talk! A little history for ya, I wore clip ins all throughout high school and college and then about 3 years ago, I got beaded row extensions and loved them! I even died them pink! Time went on and I just decided to take them out and chop my hair. I LOVED my short hair but hated that my front pieces were shorter due to breakage, so that is when I tried tape-in extensions (I’ll explain what each are later) just in the front to fill out my face. I took them out shortly after and now here we are, back to beaded rows!

Clip in extensions are basically just that. Pieces of hair is attached to small clips that you strategically clip into your roots. I liked clip ins because they are removable however, it’s kind of weird if your hair is short one day and not the next. I think they would be a good option for thickness or if you need to fill in a specific area only. I will say, if I didn’t secure the clips in enough, they would get super annoying and i’d end up picking at them. Not the best, but a good option to try out.

Tape-ins are super similar to clip ins however, they are not removable from day to day. They are attached to the top of the hair by a piece of tap. Not sure the science behind that but cool concept.

Okay so I tried tape-ins for about 6 months and honestly was not a fan. I only put them in the front of my hair to fill in my breakage and they looked great for the first 2-3 weeks and then they started flipping and became SUPER easy to see when I put my hair up. I know a lot of people who have tape-ins (including my hair stylist) and love them but I personally didn’t love them. I will say however that I could barely feel them in my head compared to the other two. They are definitely the most comfortable.

Okay so beaded rows are a little complex so bare with me here. Basically they are rows of little tiny beads, about 5 or so on each row. The rows are placed into the hair strategically and then a thread with the extensions is then sewn onto those beads. These are my favorite type of extensions because they are super secure and look the most realistic in my opinion. The only downfall is that they are a little challenging to wash while you’re in the shower. I do wash my hair a lot less when I have them, about once a week so it’s not too bad. Sometimes I will even tie back the extensions and only wash the top layer of my hair to extend time between washes.

Facts: All extensions are going to be pricey. For the hair you’re probably looking anywhere from $400-$800 depending on how many packs you need. If your hair is shorter, you will most likely need two packs so that your stylist can blend properly. Be prepared to also take into consideration the stylist’s installation fee + any color matching that needs done.

Bellami Hair – The best quality of hair I have ever used! It’s more expensive than their competitors but the wefts they sell (I can’t speak for the tape ins) are volume wefts meaning they’re a lot thicker. March 2020 was the first time I’ve tried this brand so I’ll keep you updated on how it wears.

JZ Styles – JZ Styles is an amazing family owned company in Utah. Jessi the owner carries a huge range of colors which is what I love most about this brand. My last JZ Styles pack lasted me about 9 months which I feel is pretty standard. I do typically have to purchase two packs for a full head of extensions.

Bombshell Hair – Not a huge fan of this brand but it is one of the most popular on the market. I don’t think the hair quality is terrible but it doesn’t compare to the two brands I listed above. I’ve noticed that bombshell hair tends to become more dry and brittle over time.

If you’re interested in extensions, Jamie from Iris Studio does free 15 minutes consults! Her studio is in the Strip District and you can schedule with her here. Tell her I sent ya for 10% off!