This Post Was Created in Collaboration With Xotica Hair
A few years ago Kimali, founder of Xotica Hair, decided to cut off the locs she’d been wearing for the past ten years. She was excited to be able to experiment a bit more with her hair, switching it up with sew-ins or clip-ins whenever she wanted. However, she quickly found that the hair she was buying was either poor quality, shedding and tangling quickly, or was too expensive. It was at that point she decided to launch Xotica hair, a hair retailer offering human hair weaves, clip-ins and closures in natural textures–4a, 4b, 4c, 3c, 3b, coarse yaki and kinky straight. to be exact. One of the company’s key points of difference is the price point falls below the typical human hair price point, making it more affordable and easier for women to purchase different textures and rock different looks.
Xotica Hair clip-ins come in especially handy if you’re a working girl like Kimali and have a limited amount of time to style your hair. It’s easy to fall into a rut with your hair when it comes to work, when each morning you’re just trying to get out the door as quickly as possible. But clip-ins are a quick and easy way to add a bit of oomph to classic work looks without spending too much time. And with natural hair clip-ins you really save time in not having to flat iron your hair to blend it into the extensions. So with that said, here are three classic looks (courtesy of Kimali) that are perfect for the workplace and are made bigger and longer with natural hair clip-ins!
Pony Tail Up-do
This look is great for offices whose workplace skews a bit more formal or conservative. Create this look by…
- Starting with stretched hair.
- Part your hair into two sections by creating a middle part that starts at your hairline and goes all the way to the back.
- Put one section in a pony tail to keep it out of the way.
- Then (without braiding your hair) begin placing the clip-ins into the section that’s still out. Because you’re creating an up-do, you’ll have to place the clip-ins throughout the section upside down so they lie flat.
- Once you’ve added the amount of hair you want to one section add your favorite moisture, put the hair section in a pony tail and move onto the other side.
- Repeat steps 4 and 5 on the second section. At this point you should essentially have two voluminous pigtails.
- Neatly two strand twist each pig tail.
- Bring the end of one pig tail over to the back of the base of the other and secure with bobby pins.
- Do the same with the other, but secure it in the front of the base of the ‘pig tail.’
- And voila!
Side Pony Tail With Clip-ins
This classic look really can be worn in any kind of workplace, and practically anywhere to be honest. It’s a tucked away look that still shows off your tresses because you’re letting them rest on your shoulders. Get this look with clip-ins by:
- Starting with stretched hair.
- Braided the back half of your hair (if it isn’t braided already).
- Add your clip-ins to the back of your hair.
- Then add them to the front covering each track with a layer of your own hair as you go.
- Once you’ve got the majority of your front done, add a side part and the remaining clip-ins.
- Blend the last clip-ins with your own hair.
- Put all your hair (and the clip-ins) in a side pony tail.
- Use bobby pins and gel to secure any fly aways, if needed.
- And you’re done!
The Half-Up Half-Down Ninja Bun
This style is probably more suited for casual offices, or perhaps casual Fridays in a more buttoned up office. Nevertheless it’s a fun and easy style to create.
- Braid the back of your hair and leave out the front (be sure the front is stretched).
- Put clip ins the back of your hair. Then put the back section in a pony tail to keep out of the way.
- Gel down your edges for a sleek look.
- Then put the top half of your hair in a pony tail.
- Place the weft of one long clip in upside down and around the base of the pony tail. Add more tracks if you’d like a bigger bun.
- Twist and roll your hair and the clip-ins around the base of your pony tail forming a bun then secure the bun using a few bobby pins.
- That’s it!