How to Sew Hair Extensions to a Clip

Co-authored by Madeleine Johnson and Janice Tieperman

Last Updated: August 10, 2021 References

Hair extensions can be a great addition to any hairstyle, but it can be a little confusing and frustrating when they come without wig clips. Thankfully, all you need are wig clips and some basic sewing skills and you can attach the extensions yourself!

Part 1

Part 1 of 2:

Threading the Needle

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1
Cut off a section of thread that’s twice as long as your forearm. Grab some thread that’s a pretty close color match to your hair extension. Hold the thread next to your forearm and pull out a long section. Keep pulling on the thread until it’s twice as long as your lower arm. ^{[1]
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- For instance, if you’re working with a blonde hair extension, you’d want to use tan thread instead of black.
- It’s always better to have more thread than not enough.
2
Slip your thread through the hole in the needle and make a knot at the end. Loop the thread through the eye of the needle, then pull it through. Pull on both ends of the thread so they’re about the same length. To secure your thread in place, knot both ends together. ^{[2]
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- Essentially, you’ll have a large loop tied to your needle.
- You can use a regular sewing needle for this, or you can use a curved needle designed for hair extensions and wigs. Curved weaving needles make it easier to thread the wefts, but they don’t always fit through the openings on the wig clips. Sewing needles are a bit more versatile, and are a little more common. ^{[3]
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3
Pull the needle through the looped thread to create a knot on the weft. Find the left or right edge of your extension and thread your needle through the top of the weft. Pull the needle through the looped thread to create a knot, then tug the thread tight. ^{[4]
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- The weft is the top section of the extension where the hair is sewn in place.
- This helps better secure your wig clip to the extension.
4
Place your wig clip face-up along the edge of the weft. Check that the rounded portion of the clip is facing upwards so you can attach the extension easily to your natural hair. If your clip is facing the wrong way and forming a “U” shape, you won’t be able to attach your hair extension properly. ^{[5]
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- Wig clips look like a small, curved wide-toothed comb. They’re made of metal and usually have several openings along the top, which help you sew the clip to your hair extension.
- It’s best to use wig clips for this, since these are designed to be sewn onto wefts.

Part 2

Part 2 of 2:

Attaching the Clip to the Weft

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1
Knot the thread 3 times around the first hole in the wig clip. Loop the thread through the first wig clip hole, then guide the thread through the loop that’s attached to your needle. Tighten the thread to form a knot along the wig clip, which helps hold it in place. Create 2 more knots just like this one to attach the clip securely to the hair extension. ^{[6]
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- For extra support, you can wrap the thread around your needle 3 times to create an extra secure knot. ^{[7]
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2
Loop the thread beneath the weft before threading the next wig clip opening. Thread the needle through the front of the weft, pulling the thread out the back. Position the needle beneath the second hole or opening along the top of the wig clip. ^{[8]
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- This provides extra support to your hair extension and clip before you start knotting the thread again.
- If your wig clip doesn’t have many holes along the top, position your thread about 5 to 10 mm (0.20 to 0.39 in) from the corner opening. ^{[9]
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3
Tie the thread 3 times through the next wig clip hole. Thread the needle through the next opening on your wig clip, going through both the weft and the clip. Pull your thread through the loop attached to your needle to form a knot, then tighten the knot along the base of your wig clip and extension. Repeat this process 2 more times, looping the needle through the weft and clip, then forming a knot with the thread. ^{[10]
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- Three knots may seem like overkill, but it helps provide extra security for your hair extension.
4
Repeat the looping, threading, and triple knotting process until you reach the last opening. Thread your needle through the weft first, going from front to back. Once you’ve done this, loop your thread through the next wig clip hole and form a knot. Create 3 total knots to secure your wig clip in place. ^{[11]
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- Some wig clips may have more openings than others. If your clip doesn’t have any holes going across, sew and knot your thread beneath the top portion of the wig clip. For extra security, do this about 4-5 times.
Loop your thread just through the weft to create a base for your knot. Once you’ve created this first loop, thread your needle through both the weft and the wig clip. Create 3 knots by threading through the loop attached to your needle. ^{[12]
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Thread your needle through the front of the weft, pulling it out beneath the wig clip. Pull your needle through the looped thread to create a knot, which you can tighten along the base of the hair extension and clip. Keep in mind that this knot will be beneath the wig clip ^{[13]
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Look along the edges of your wig clip and hair extension for any loose threads. Snip off these threads as close to the edge of the extension or wig clip as you can. ^{[14]
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Community Q&A

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Question

Can I take my hair extensions to a salon so they can sew the clips onto the hair extensions?

Janice Tieperman

Community Answer

There’s no hard and fast rule for salon services, so you may want to call your salon and see what their usual policy is.

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What kind of clips should I buy?

Community Answer

It doesn't really matter. If you have a Sally's store near you they sell a kit that contains clips (just make sure the clips and thread match the color of the hair so they don't stick out) as well as thread and needles. There are some different needles, but the regular one works fine. If you can't find the kit just ask one of the Sally's employees and they will help you.

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Question

Can I tint or color the extensions before I put the weave in?

Community Answer

Yes, coloring the hair first isn't going to affect anything. I personally think that coloring first would be easier because you will be less likely to miss any spots. But there's no wrong way to do it.

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Tips

If a small loop forms as you tighten your knot, use the tip of your needle to loosen the knot. Once you’ve done this, pull along the base of your thread to tighten the loop into the rest of the knot. ^{[15]
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Sewing hair extensions takes longer than you might think! Try to be patient, and keep in mind that you'll get faster the more you practice. ^{[16]
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Expert Source

Madeleine Johnson
Hair Stylist & Hair Extensions Specialist

Expert Interview. 18 December 2019.}

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Things You’ll Need

Wefted hair extensions
Needle
Thread
Wig clip

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Expert Source

Madeleine Johnson
Hair Stylist & Hair Extensions Specialist

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How to Sew Hair Extensions to a Clip

Steps

Threading the Needle

Attaching the Clip to the Weft

Community Q&A

Tips

Things You’ll Need

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