The 9 Best Clip-In Extensions of 2023, Tested and Approved

There are plenty of options available, so to take the guesswork out of selecting the right clip-in for you, we handpicked 18 of the most popular options and asked our testers to try them out in our Manhattan lab and be brutally honest. After applying the clip-ins under the supervision of an expert, testers judged each one based on ease of use, magnet attraction, comfort, overall look, and ease of removal. The highest-rated products made the list.

There are two types of hair extensions—synthetic clip-ins and those made from human hair. Although synthetic clip-ins are cheaper, they have limitations. They can’t withstand heat styling and tend to look less realistic than human hair options. If you do opt for a human hair clip-in, look for 100 percent Remy human hair, which means that the cuticle is intact and runs in the same direction for a natural, cascading effect.

Clip-in hair extensions are one of those things that seem too difficult to master at home, but then once you get the hang of it, the effects can be transformative. How else can you achieve body, volume, and length in just a few minutes? “The key to a seamless clip-in hair extension comes down to the hair quality, the color, and the length,” says pro hairstylist Carolyn Gahan.

Best Overall

Hidden Crown Hair Extensions Crown Clip-Ins

4.8

Hidden Crown

View On Hiddencrownhair.com

View On Hiddencrownhair.com

What We Like

• Thicker than most options

• Various lengths available

• Lays flat against scalp

What We Don’t Like

• Longer wefts harder to secure

A favorite of celebrity hairstylist (and Kardashian glam squad team member) Justine Marjan, Hidden Crown’s extensions are thick, voluminous, and crafted from 100 percent Remy human hair. (Remy is hair with the cuticle layer still intact, which lays in one direction for a smooth, healthy look and finish.) Our tester was pleased with how easily and seamlessly the clip-ins blended into her natural hair. Plus, the sturdy clips ensured a mess- and pain-free installation process. 

“Each piece is much thicker than average, so you can use fewer clips to get a full head of hair,” she explains. “I also love that the pack comes with one extra-thick piece for the back of the head. Sometimes I use this piece to wrap around the base of a ponytail or for added length and fullness as well.” Something to keep in mind: The longer wefts are harder to get flat because of the natural curvatures of the head. But, our tester said that with more practice, she bets she could get it even flatter against her scalp. 

There are 27 shades available in the range, eight different length options, and either three-piece or five-piece seamless sets on offer. 

Price at time of publish: $149

Type: 100 percent Remy human hair | Shades: 27 | Number of Wefts: 3 original, 5 seamless

What Our Testers Say

“These extensions look and feel great. They were easy to style—I curled pieces of the extensions with a piece of my natural hair to make it appear even more seamless. These seem to be well made and really good quality.” — Shannon Bauer, Senior Commerce Editor

Best Overall, Natural Hair

ONYC Tight Kinky Curl 7 Piece Clip In

ONYC

View On Onychair.com

What We Like

• Designed specifically for curly and coily hair 

• Customizable weft lengths

What We Don’t Like

• Each piece is measured in straight style

For curly and coily hair (specifically 3C to 4A), ONYC’s Tight Kinky Curl Clip-Ins are great. Made from high-quality human hair and in two natural-looking shades, each set comes with seven pieces to add volume and thickness to your natural style. Our tester was impressed by the quality, sharing that it “resembles healthy human hair.” With a bunch of different weft lengths, the seven-piece set is super customizable and allows you to achieve a number of different styles. Plus, you have the choice of wearing the wefts straight or curly; it’s just a matter of styling. According to our tester, it’s easy to define the curls—all you have to do is apply water and use a mousse for hold. 

The only caveat is that each piece is measured in straight style, so be mindful when choosing your length—you will lose a few inches with the curl pattern intact. 

Price at time of publish: $130

Type: 100 percent Remy human hair | Shades: 2 | Number of Wefts: 7 

What Our Testers Say

“This set resembles natural hair and can add to a protective hairstyle. I can definitely see myself creating different hairstyles with this hair as well as adding extra volume to my own hair.” — Jasmine Phillips, Tester

Best Budget

Insert Name Here Ponytail Extensions

Insert Name Here

View On Ulta

View On Inhhair.com

View On Inhhair.com

What We Like

• Affordable

• Easy to use 

• Great for beginners

What We Don’t Like

• Heavy

Insert Name Here’s Shayla Clip-In Ponytail Extension comes in 21 shades and one super-long length (26 inches, to be exact), taking out a lot of the guesswork that comes with choosing the best set. Our tester loved how easy the installation was, calling out that its comb-like base (as opposed to wefts) “slots right into” your existing up-do, making it simple to affix to a ponytail or braid. While not as secure as other options, it still looks and feels beautiful while adding fullness and length to your pony. Her only complaint: It’s a heavy piece. If you have breakage-prone or finer hair, this pick might not be for you. 

Price at time of publish: $59

Type: Synthetic | Shades: 21 | Number of Wefts: None, Comb base 

Best Splurge

RPZL Clip-In Extensions

RPZL

View On Rpzl.com

View On Rpzl.com

What We Like

• Free color matching

• Heat resistant 

• Comfortable fit

What We Don’t Like

• Not ideal for shorter hair

As far as volume and length are concerned, this set from RPZL is totally worth the splurge. Made from 100 percent Remy human hair, these heat-resistant extensions are tangle-free and comfortable to wear (thanks to seamless silicone clips). The extensions come in 15 different shades and blend effortlessly into your own hair. Plus, unlike other options on the market, the RPZL Clip-Ins are 50 percent thinner at the top and sit undetected on the top of the scalp. 

Though the snaps are easy to open and close, our tester struggled with application. Her short bob style didn’t offer enough hair for the seven wefts to adhere to. However, with the help of our on-set stylist, she was able to create multiple layers and ended up with a secure, “natural-looking” result. That said, this set is more ideal for someone with longer hair (aka more real estate to work with). 

Price at time of publish: $250

Type: 100% Remy human hair | Shades: 15 | Number of Wefts: 7

Best Color Match

Luxy Hair Clip-In Extensions

Luxy

View On Luxyhair.com

What We Like

• Great shade range

• Easy installation

What We Don’t Like

• Too many pieces for smaller heads

If you struggle to find the perfect match, you might have success with a set from Luxy Hair. With 37 shades to choose from (including dark browns and warm caramels to bright blondes and cool reds), there’s bound to be one that suits you. Our tester, who bleaches her hair, found the color match to be absolutely perfect, and she loved that there was a shade that paired well with her not-so-natural hair color. 

The set has seven pieces, which is good news if you have a bigger head and lots of hair to work with. If your head is on the smaller side (like our tester’s) or has finer hair density, you might not be able to use all of the wefts. Regardless, our tester was pleasantly surprised by how easy the installation process was and noted that the hardest part was sectioning off her hair. 

Price at time of publish: $215

Type: 100% Remy human hair | Shades: 37 | Number of Wefts: 10

What Our Editors Say

“Oh my gosh, I’m in awe at how well the color match looks. It looks incredible and just like my natural color, which isn’t natural at all because I bleach my hair.” — Jill Di Donato, Senior Commerce Editor

Best for Loose Curls

Bebonia Spiral Clip-In Extensions

Bebonia

View On Bebonia.com

What We Like

• Beginner-friendly

• Great curl pattern, length, and color options

What We Don’t Like

• Wefts could lay flatter 

If you want to invest in some luxurious loose curls and realistic-looking human hair extensions, Bebonia’s Spiral Clip-In Extensions are our pick. Available in three different lengths, two density options, and eight colors, finding your ideal match is easy. The voluminous curls are easy to install, which means a lot coming from our tester, who had zero experience with extensions. She noted that she liked how the wefts came in different sizes that could be placed as needed throughout her head of hair. Each piece blends well with natural hair, so you can’t really notice they’re there. The only thing that gives the secret away are the wefts that sit closest to the top of the head. Our tester said that they appeared slightly bumpy, but she tossed that up to user error since it was her first time applying them. 

Price at time of publish: $309

Type: 100% Remy human hair | Shades: 8 | Number of Wefts: 9

Best for Curly Hair

Bebonia Ringlet Clip Extensions

Bebonia

View On Bebonia.com

What We Like

• Comfortable 

• Uncomplicated care

What We Don’t Like

• Not a great match for 3C to 4A

Looking for a set of extensions that blend into your ringlets? This other pick from Bebonia could be a lovely choice for you. Available in seven different shades, this set of 100 percent Remy human hair looks and feels totally convincing, not to mention the fact that it blends into hair seamlessly. They’re also very comfortable, despite having seven different pieces. Our tester shares that she didn’t experience any tangles and found the attachments agreeable. When caring for her extensions, our tester treated them as she would her natural hair. She noted that she simply spritzed the pieces with water to refresh them and then applied a mousse before letting them air dry in order to reset the shape.  

Our tester did note that although she would wear the extensions again for important events, her biggest gripe was that they’re advertised as a match for tighter curl textures (3C to 4A). In her opinion, this was misleading since she found the curls to be looser than that. 

Price at time of publish: $155

Type: 100% Remy human hair | Shades: 7 | Number of Wefts: 9

What Our Testers Say

“Installing the clip-ins was easy. It was more cumbersome for me to neatly separate and part my hair to clip them in, but once that part was over, it took mere seconds to pop the extensions in. The teeth of the clasps unbuckled readily and I was able to line the extensions up with my scalp with ease.” — Danielle Ransom, Tester

Best Ponytail

Barely Xtensions Ponytail

Barely Xtensions

View On Barelyxtensions.com

What We Like

• Quick installation

• Blends seamlessly

What We Don’t Like

• Feels fake

Achieve that long pony of your dreams with the Barely Extensions Ponytail. At 22 inches long, this ponytail made of synthetic fibers takes your ‘do to the next level. All you have to do is wrap it around your pony for undetectable length, volume, and density. It comes in three different shades (Platinum Ice, Dark Blonde Frost, and Dark Brown) and is said to seamlessly blend into many different hair colors. Our tester said the color matched her roots but was slightly darker than her own ponytail (she said it looked like she had highlights) but, nevertheless, ended up pulling it off. One thing to note: She said it doesn’t feel like real hair. However, because the extension is made from synthetic fibers, that checks out. 

Price at time of publish: $60

Type: Synthetic | Shades: 3 | Number of Wefts: 1

Best Ponytail, Runner Up

Kurly Klips Ponytail Fro

Kurly Klips

View On Kurlyklips.com

What We Like

• Ideal for curly hair types

• Natural-looking curl pattern and color

What We Don’t Like

• On the pricier side 

Those with natural hair will love this Ponytail Fro from Kurly Klips. It’s 18 inches long curly (so 24 inches long straight) and is made from 100% human hair. It’s available in a soft black color but can be dyed to match the hue of your hair. As for the attachment process, our tester said it couldn’t have been easier. She noted that it felt “very secure” all day long—even during a long commute. It is on the pricier side, so if you’re a first-timer or trying to save some money, this might not be for you. However, if you’re dedicated to your hair game and are looking for a high-quality clip-in to seamlessly blend into your natural hair, this is it. 

Price at time of publish: $179

Type: 100% Remy human hair | Shades: 7 | Number of Wefts: 9

What Our Testers Say

“This hair extension resembles and feels like real, healthy hair. It is a bit dry and brittle to work with, so I had to wet it and comb it out with my detangler brush to get it to look healthier and fluffier. But, it looks great styled in a bun and a ponytail.” — Chantia Murphy, Tester