Can Clip-in Extensions Improve My Thinning Hair in Midlife?

Ever since I turned 40, I have been dealing with thinning hair. I had blood tests, there is nothing specific that is wrong, just getting older and with it, having less hair on the top of my head. I embraced my natural hair texture and went curly, I cut out most hot tools on my hair, and both helped but I was curious if clip-in extensions would improve my thinning hair in midlife.

Trying Clip-in Extensions to Make My Midlife Thinning Hair Look Fuller

With curly and highlighted hair, toppers didn't look natural on me. Also, I found them awkward for my lifestyle, as I often run my fingers through my hair throughout the day. I hoped clip-ins would look natural and give fullness everywhere I needed.

I remember trying Irresistible Me clip-in hair extensions in 2017 and found them both easy to use and natural-looking. However, my hair is no longer long, straight, and black-brown, so I ended up giving that set away. However, Irresistible Me offered to send me an updated set of clip in hair extensions to match my current hair color, texture, and style and provide an honest review of whether these clip-in extensions improve my thinning hair in midlife.

Trying Irresistible Me Clip-In Extensions for Thinning Hair

Irresistible Me offers almost every kind of hair extension: clip-ins, tape-ins, ponytails, wigs, and toppers. Using 100% human hair and offering free returns, Irresistible Me has customer support to help you choose the right type for your unique needs. And since these extensions are human hair, they can be colored, curled, and treated to match your hair.

I chatted with my hair stylist and friend Billy Maloy, and along with Irresistible Me, we picked the 3A curls in Light Brown in the 24″ length.

The clip-in extensions arrived quickly in a cylindrical cardboard box. The extensions were carefully placed in a satin drawstring bag. A little package of extra clips were added in case any broke over time. I received written instructions, a QR code taking me to tutorials, and the Irresistible Me website offers tons of advice on how to use clip-on extensions.

To ensure the extensions would match (and I could return them if they weren't), all Irresistible Me clip-in extensions come with a single extra weft to clip in and try. I tried the weft and was impressed at how natural and like my currently highlighted hair the weft was.

Taking Clip-in Extensions to a Hair Stylist for a Custom Look

The extensions were much longer than my hair. I ordered the 24″ length instead of the 14″ length thinking it would be fun to have longer hair, but the goal was to improve the look of my thinning hair, not be Lady Godiva. So, I took the Irresistible Me clip-in extensions to the salon to have my stylist trim them to match my current hairstyle.

My hair stylist Billy mentioned he found the Irresistible Me clip-in hair extensions to be really nice quality and that I received an impressive amount for the price. In fact, we didn't need to use all of the clip-ins provided to give my hair fullness without looking fake.

Once Billy clipped in the extensions, he then dry cut them and shaped up my style so they blended seamlessly into my hair. I can bring the extensions on future salon visits to have them trimmed for a new cut, or he will help me place them to be Lady Godiva for an evening.

I loved that one kit would end up providing me with two different looks, a perk to thinning hair! More wefts don't automatically mean more fullness; if your natural hair is fine or you too are dealing with thinning hair in midlife, you only want to use a few extensions to keep it looking natural. Those with thick hair will need more wefts to achieve the same results.

Can Clip-in Extensions Improve My Thinning Hair in Midlife?

If you got to this point, I know you are wondering if the Irresistible Me clip-in hair extensions improved the look of my thinning hair… and they did! Clipping in no closer to the face than the edge of my ear, having them spaced out, layered down, with the hair from eyebrow up left without extensions to cover them… it ended up puffing up the top layer a bit, which not only hid the extensions but also helped hide my scalp.

I wish I had arrived at the salon with first-day curls, for the extensions would have matched very closely. The curl pattern is quite similar to my natural hair. However, as the extensions were worn throughout the day, their curls began to clump with mine and look even more natural.

My goal wasn't to change my entire look (if so, I would check out Irresistible Me's wigs); even a few clip-in extensions bulked up my hair to give the illusion of naturally thicker hair. After going to the salon, I went out for a friend's birthday. No one noticed the extensions but I did have two friends mention my hair looked different, with one saying it looked, “fluffier, in a good way.”

How to Care for Clip-In Extensions

My stylist Billy suggested that since I had the extensions placed and trimmed to fit my existing hair style and head shape, I should get a mannequin head to hold the extensions when not in use.

When I removed the clip-in extensions, I placed them in the hair of the mannequin head, so I would remember which clip went where. When I reapplied them, I removed them one at a time from the mannequin and placed them in my hair. This made it much easier and gave me a place to protect the extensions (I put the head back in the box because the face was a bit creepy, NGL).

I got a mannequin head on Amazon, but they also have them at beauty supply stores. You can also use a styrofoam mannequin head for wigs and just place the extensions with T-pins.

I've reapplied my clip-in extensions a few times on my own. I find the more often I try, the better I get at it. The extensions go on with these little clips that comb onto the hair and then snap closed. Get some salon clips to hold up sections of hair and go slow. Use touch to feel if the edge of the wefts is flat, smooth, and along the root.

While I have thin hair, I do have natural texture and found the extensions stayed in place quite well. Billy said that spraying one's roots with dry shampoo helps clip-on extensions “grip” to your hair; I tried it at home and did find it helped greatly. If you use any root powders like Toppik to hide your scalp or roots, those also work to help “grip” the clip-in extensions.

How to Style Clip-in Extensions

Irresitible Me clip-in extensions can be treated just like regular hair in that you can use hot tools and styling products. BIlly told me that if I wasn't using a lot of product on the extensions, I should just co-wash them when it looks needed, just using a bit of conditioner and then letting them air dry.

I have pulled my hair with extensions into a low ponytail, worn a headband, and worn fedoras and ball caps while still looking natural. I think the clip-ins would be obvious if I tried an updo or going swimming.

How to Choose the Right Clip-In Extensions for Your Thinning Hair

Irresistible Me clip-in extensions come in various colors, from jet black to platinum, salt and pepper to cherry red, rooted blonde to balayange. They offer three curl patterns as well as straight extensions, classic and invisible clip-ins, and a single large “weft” of hair just for volume.

There is a quiz to help you figure out what type of hair products you may want from Irresistible Me, but I highly recommend also booking a free call with one of their experts. Using the Calendly tool, you can schedule a free 15-minute consultation. You can email them ahead of time with photos of you in natural light to help color and texture match, and they will do their best to answer all of your questions. I found them really nice and informative!

Irresistible Me Discount Code

While Irressistible Me provided me these clip-in extensions for free, I was not otherwise compensated and not required to write this review in exchange. But when Irresistible Me knew I'd be writing this review, they offered the Wardrobe Oxygen community a discount code.

Use promo code ALISON10 at checkout to get 10% off your purchase at Irresistible Me. Irresistible Me ships free to the United States and has international shipping for some countries (full shipping and return information at this link).