Alright, I’ll confess, I used to be a hair extension wearer for about eight years – but then the pandemic hit and I wasn’t prepared to learn how to refit the hair myself. I went cold turkey on tapes two years ago and thought I was living perfectly fine without them.
Now, after trying new mini tapes, which promise to be virtually undetectable even on super-fine hair, I’m back in the midst of a love aff(h)air with the extra length and thickness they offer. In fairness, I decided to try these new tapes in a bid to see if they were better than the original tapes, so really it was all for the purpose of essential beauty testing.
If you’re keen to know more about these mini tapes – including cost, application time and final results – keep reading, as I’ve been chatting with hair extension Olja Catz, founder of London’s The Extensionistsalon, to find out all the intel…
First of all, what makes mini tapes different from normal tape extensions?
“They’re around 20% smaller than the traditional tapes, which makes them much less visible on the scalp,” Olja explains. “If you’re looking to boost volume and thickness for an event where you’ll be wearing an updo, the smaller size of these also work better for ponytails and half-up looks.”
Like with regular tapes, these mini versions also come in a mix of longer and shorter lengths to suit the look you’re after, ranging from 14 inches (though, if your hair is shorter this length can be trimmed) all the way up to a lengthy 24 inches.
How are they applied?
“A thin section of your hair is sandwiched between two tapes, which stick together with the help of double-sided glue strips. Your hair sits in between these two layers of faux hair, meaning they blend easily with the new length,” says Olja.
How long do they take to apply, and would I need to be colour matched in advance?
“They’re very quick to apply, around 45 minutes. If you need to have old tapes dissolved – we use a special oil for this – and then reapplied, it will take around an hour and a half,” Olja says. “We offer a complimentary Zoom or in-person colour matching session before the hair appointment, but as a general rule we stock most shades of hair in the salon.”
Olja also notes that for the longest lasting tapes, wearers should make sure to not use heavy conditioning oils on the scalp or shampoo products containing oils, as these can cause extensions to slip out.
How long do they last before I need to have them retaped?
“We recommend booking in for a maintenance appointment at eight weeks, otherwise the tapes can grow out and cause the root of your natural hair to twist and knot,” advises Olja.
Will they damage my hair?
“If you look after them properly, then no,” says Olja. “We recommend really making sure to keep the hair brushed and free from tangles, and to book in for regular maintenance appointments to make sure your natural hair isn’t knotting at the roots.
How much do mini tapes cost?
“Many people will get away with just half a head of tapes, if it’s thickness they’re after. We charge from £400 for this, which includes the wash and styling. It’s from £550 for a full head.The hair we use is also real and very good quality,” Olja says.
“Maintenance appointments using the same hair, which can be retaped and refitted for up to a year before you need new hair, cost from £200,” she adds.
What do the results of a full head of mini tapes look like?
Here’s what Zoe thought of her extra-long hair transformation…
Like I say, I’ve had tapes before, but I’m new to these mini ones. Do I prefer them to the larger tapes? Absolutely. I have very fine hair, so anything less visible on my scalp is a definite bonus. I also love how The Extensionist stock rooted (or balayage) blonde hair, as the problem I’ve had previously with tapes is the light colour of them really shows against my dark roots.
The whole process of having the mini tapes fitted was also incredibly speedy; I was in and out in around an hour, and that included having my hair styled. A lunchtime beauty appointment, indeed. My natural hair is also very long, so Olja gave me a 22-inch length of hair. I had a proper Gisele Bünchen moment in that chair.
As for the results, I think my before and after shots speak for themselves. Though my hair is fine, I’m told I have a lot of it. But what my own hair doesn’t do is hold any kind of style. I have some big events coming up this month, including my best friend’s wedding, so I wanted a look that would hold a curl all night. The curls Olja created for me in the salon lasted nearly five days, which is so impressive.
I’m not going to lie, it takes time and attention to care for extensions. I’ve swapped to oil-free and sulphate-free formulas, and I’m constantly brushing out my lengths to make sure there are no tangles. But the compliments I’ve been receiving about my hair really does make that all worthwhile.
Will I have these in my hair forever? No, but I would 100% go back to mini tapes whenever I needed a little special-occasion boost.
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