What Length Clip-In Extensions Should You Get?

Length is the second choice after shade, and it is where many first-time buyers overreach. Longer is not always better: the right length is the one your own hair can blend into.

In short: choose clip-in extensions about 4 to 8 inches longer than your current hair. Shoulder-length hair suits 16 inches, hair past the shoulders suits 20 inches, and hair reaching the shoulder blades or longer suits 24 inches. Measure from just below your crown, where the top weft sits, to where you want your hair to end.

How is extension length measured?

Extension length is measured along the weft, from the top edge where the clips sit to the tips of the hair. A 20 inch clip-in is 20 inches of hair from the weft to the ends.

That number is not the same as how long your hair will look, because the top weft sits a few inches below the top of your head, usually just under the crown. On most people a 20 inch set ends around the middle of the back.

What length should you choose for your hair?

Choose by the length of your own hair today and the look you want.

Your hair now	Want more volume	Want noticeable length	Want long, dramatic length
Chin to shoulder	16”	16”	20” (layer your own hair to blend)
Just past the shoulders	16”	20”	24”
Shoulder blades	20”	20”	24”
Mid-back or longer	20”	24”	24”

Our clip-in sets come in 16, 20 and 24 inches, straight or wavy. If you need a length outside that range, ask us and we will tell you what we can make.

How do you measure the length you need at home?

Measure from where the top weft will sit to where you want your new length to end.

1. Find the spot about an inch below your crown, at the back of your head. That is roughly where the top weft goes.
2. Hold a soft tape measure there and let it fall straight down your back.
3. Note the number at the point where you want your hair to end.

That number is the extension length to choose. If you land between two sizes, choose the shorter one for a subtler look or the longer one if your own hair is layered.

Why does too much length look unnatural?

Too much length looks unnatural because it creates a visible step between your own ends and the extension ends. From behind, the hair looks thick down to where your own hair stops and then suddenly thinner, since only the extension hair continues.

Two things reduce that step:

• Layers in your own hair soften the line where your ends meet the extensions.
• Enough weight keeps the bottom half full. A long set with too little hair looks stringy at the ends. Our guide on how many grams of clip-ins you need explains how weight and length work together.

Does wavy hair change the length you need?

Wavy hair looks shorter than its measured length because the wave takes up some of it. A 20 inch wavy set typically falls one to two inches higher than the same length worn straight. If you want wavy hair to reach a particular point, consider the next length up.

Should you get the same length as a friend or a photo?

Length on someone else is a poor guide, because height, hair length and where the wefts sit all change how long hair looks. The same 20 inch set can reach the mid-back on one person and the waist on someone shorter. Measure on yourself instead.

Still unsure which length suits you?

Send us a photo of your hair from behind, in daylight, through our contact page. Tell us the look you want and we will suggest a length along with your shade. For the full picture of choosing and wearing clip-ins, read our complete guide to clip-in extensions, or see our clip-in sets in our Etsy shop.