How Many Grams of Hair Extensions Do You Need? Choosing the Right Quantity

Kate Soloshenko

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Author:
Kate Soloshenko
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Do you wish to have longer and more luxurious hair, but your natural hair doesn't grow to the desired length? The solution is to get hair extensions, which can help you achieve the styling you have always wanted. However, to ensure that your hair extensions look natural and comfortable, it is essential to know how many hair extensions do you need.

It's important to find a balance: 

  • Installing too little hair won't make much difference in styling, but it's a good option if you want to thicken your hairstyle. 
  • However, if you're looking to achieve more volume and length, you'll need to add more weight. But adding too much weight can weaken the roots and eventually lead to natural hair loss.

Our article will help you answer the question: how many grams of hair extensions do I need to choose a beautiful and safe option for your health.

Understanding the Hair Extension Quantity Needed

Understanding the Hair Extension Quantity Needed

When it comes to choosing the perfect weight of hair, it's best to rely on an experienced hair tech: 

  1. Personal touch
    Everyone has unique hair characteristics such as thickness, length, and texture. By consulting with a stylist, they can determine the right weight and type of hair bundles that will work best for you. 

  2. Desired look
    A hair stylist will determine what quantity of hair extensions should you get based on your desired outcome of adding length or volume, or both of them. 

  3. Installation
    The experience of a hair tech involves more than just selecting and attaching hair. A skilled hair professional can install the extensions to ensure they feel natural and comfortable. Additionally, they can provide you with valuable advice on how to maintain your new hairstyle.

Assessing Hair Thickness and Density

As mentioned earlier, the type of your natural hair plays a significant role in deciding how much hair do you need for extensions. 

At I Love Slavic Hair, we are here to assist you in this decision-making process and guide you on how to choose the right type of hair extensions depending on your hair texture.

  • For the thinnest, softest, and undyed curls, it is better to opt for virgin Slavic hair. This type of hair is collected from a single donor, so each bundle you purchase will have a different weight and unique shade, giving you a natural appearance.
  • For slightly denser strands, we suggest you go for Russian hair. This category offers a wide range of shades and textures, including straight, slightly wavy and curly hair.
  • For the owners of thicker and fuller hair, European hair is the best option to buy.

All three hair types are treated gently without harsh chemicals for maximum durability and comfort.

How Many Grams of Hair Extensions is Needed for Fine Hair

How Many Grams of Hair Extensions is Needed for Fine Hair

The quantity you need for a thin hair texture should not exceed 60-100 grams of single drawn hair. 

Single-drawn bundles go through a process called one-time combing, where approximately 50% of the total bundle will have the length you ordered, and the other 50% will be 2-5 inches shorter. For instance, if you buy a 20-inch (50 cm) bundle, 50% of the hair in the bundle will be this length, and the remaining half of the hair will be 15-18 inches (38-46 cm) long. The roots are thick, and they gradually sparse towards the ends.

Single-drawn hair is the best solution for thin curls where thick and dense strands cannot be installed, as they won’t blend well with natural hair.

In addition to the weight of the bundle and the type of combing used, it is essential to consider the method of fixation. 

The best hair extensions for fine hair are:

  1. Fusions, especially those with microbonds. Microbonds do not create excessive stress on the roots, are comfortable to wear, and allow for the most uniform and accurate weight distribution of the extended curls.
  2. Hand-tied wefts, which are made by hand and tailored to the individual's head. The hair technician measures the density, desired length, volume, and number of rows to create a perfect fit, without causing any harm to thin strands.
  3. Clip-ins, which are also custom-made to fit the client's individual characteristics. The advantage of this type of styling is that it can be easily attached and removed using clips at any convenient time.

How Many Grams of Hair Extensions is Needed for Medium Hair Texture

The quantity you need for a medium-thick hair texture depends on the length:

  • About 100 grams should be enough for a short haircut (for 18-20" (45-50 cm);
  • The average length requires 120-150 grams (for 22-24" (55-60 cm);
  • Long curls usually need 150-180 grams (for 30" (75 cm).

You can use both single-drawn and double-drawn hair (selected by the hair technician).

How Many Grams of Hair Extensions is Needed for Thick Hair

How Many Grams of Hair Extensions is Needed for Thick Hair

The quantity you need for thick and dense hair primarily depends on the length you want to achieve. 

  • For short strands, 100-120 grams should be enough; 
  • Medium-length locks will need at least 150 grams; 
  • Long hair requires a minimum of 200 grams.

In the case of thick strands, double-drawn hair is often used, where approximately 70-80% of the hair in the bundle will be of one length, and the remaining hair may be slightly shorter.


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Considering Desired Volume and Style

When it comes to how many grams of extensions do you need, it is essential to consider what volume or style of installation you want to get:

  • Volume preference

If you want a natural-looking hairstyle, you may require less hair weight, while those who prefer voluminous hair may need a larger bundle.

  • Style preference

Considering Desired Volume and Style

The weight of the extensions may vary depending on the style of your haircut.

It's important to keep in mind that determining how many rows of k-tip extensions, hand-tied extensions or how many packs/grams of tape-in extensions do you need is impossible without specific data on the length and density of your hair. 

To ensure the best results in terms of volume and style, it's recommended that you consult with a professional hair tech who can evaluate the condition of your hair and recommend the best option for you.

How many hair extensions do you need for length?

How many hair extensions do you need for length?

If you want to increase the length of your hair, consider how many packs of extensions do I need for length? The number of packs will depend on how long you want your hair to be. Keep in mind that the longer the length, the less hair there will be in each 100-gram pack.

  • If your hair length is between 18 to 22 inches (45 to 55 cm), then you'll need approximately 100-130 grams. 
  • But if you prefer a length of 24-30 inches (60-75 cm), then you'll need at least 130 grams. In general, most customers opt for 150 grams, while some prefer 180 grams. 
  • However, for those who want extra-long hair, 30 inches or more (75+ cm), they will need to purchase 200 to 250 grams. 

These are average values, and the actual amount of hair required may vary depending on the individual's hair structure.

To help you find out how many hair extensions do I need for length, we recommend using the information from our hair extension length chart

How many hair extensions do you need for volume?

How many hair extensions do you need for volume?

The volume of hairstyle can vary depending on different factors: 

  • Desired image

For instance, if you have a particular haircut or lack volume in a specific area, you can increase it using extensions. This requires less material than for full-head extensions. 

  • Thickness

Clients with naturally thick hair may need more hair extensions to achieve their desired look.

It's best to avoid using a large amount of extensions on thin hair as it can weaken the roots and damage curls.

  • Length

If you want to increase both length and volume, you may need to use more hair weight assuming the condition of the strands permits it.

How many grams of hair for a full head?

Unfortunately, there is no one-size-fits-all answer as the amount of hair required depends on individual characteristics such as hair thickness, texture, and the client's preferences regarding volume and length of styling. 

However, some averages can assist you in understanding how many grams of extensions do I need for a full head:

Is 50 grams of hair enough?

It's usually not sufficient for a full head. 

However, you can use this amount to add volume to naturally thin and short hair. Alternatively, you can apply the extensions to the temporal area, where an average of 30g to 50g of hair is used.

Is 100 grams of hair extensions enough for a full head?

The amount you need will depend on the desired length:

  • If you plan to install 16-20” (40-50 cm), 100 grams will suffice. 
  • If your goal is a length of 20-22 inches (50-55 cm), we recommend using 100-120 grams. 
  • However, for locks longer than 24 inches (60 cm), 100 grams of extensions will not be enough.

Below you can find a picture of what does 100 grams look like in a 20-inch length.

100 grams of hair look like in a 20-inch length

Who needs 150-200 grams of hair extensions?

If you're wondering how many bundles is 150 grams, it depends on the type of hair and its structure. For Slavic hair, it can be two bundles. For Russian and European hair, 150g of hair may be in one bundle. 

For those who want a length of 26" (65cm) or 28" (75cm), usually 150 or 200 grams are needed. It's important to note that using less weight over a longer length may result in strands that look too sparse and the extensions will be too noticeable in the hairstyle.

When You Need To Buy 240 Grams of Hair Extensions or More

When You Need To Buy 240 Grams of Hair Extensions or More

In some cases, 200 grams may not be enough for a full head extension, and in such cases, we recommend buying 240 grams. 

This weight will be relevant for clients: 

  1. With very thick hair as a smaller weight bundle may not be enough for full head extensions; 
  2. Willing to install hair lengths of 75+ cm. Therefore, to avoid sparse-looking locks, it is advisable to get bundles of greater weight. 
  3. With dense hair texture: such hair is heavy, so a bundle weighs more than a similar bundle of thinner and softer curls.

240 grams of hair is not the limit.


It is not uncommon for our customers to request extensions weighing 280-300 grams. 

These bundles are suitable:

  • For extra long  extensions 80 cm+ that are thick and dense;
  • Sometimes they purchase  for a couple of procedures.

Be careful if the hair stylist tells you to purchase this amount of hair and your own hair is fine-to-medium and the length you want is below 75 cm. Installing the hair of the wrong length and density can potentially damage your natural hair.  

How many pre-bonded keratin or I-tip extensions do I need?

First, let's discuss the types of bonds that you can use. 

  • Hot fusions or keratin bonds (K-tips)

Hot fusions or keratin bonds (K-tips)

Keratin bonds are flat in shape. It's important to know the size of the bonds you need, as the standard weight of a hair bundle is 100 grams, so you will get 100 strands pre-bonded with keratin glue.

If you opt for micro bonds (0.6-0.8 grams of keratin glue per strand), you will get 125-160 pre-bonded strands. For nano bonds, each strand weighs 0.3-0.5 grams, so you will get around 200-330 nano bonds per 100 grams. However, nano bonds are pretty rare and only relevant for very thin hair.

To determine the weight of hair and the desired bond size, consider the length of the hair you want. For a 20-inch (50 cm) length, you'll likely need 100 grams. 

If you only want to install extensions on the temples, 40 grams will suffice. In this case, it's best to use micro bonds as they are smaller and less visible, especially in the temple area.

Blonde #60 Wavy K-Tip Hair Extensions
Blonde #60 Wavy K-Tip Hair Extensions
Red Copper #130 K-Tip Hair Extensions
Red Copper #130 K-Tip Hair Extensions
Golden Brown #12 K-Tip Hair Extensions
Golden Brown #12 K-Tip Hair Extensions
  • Cold fusions or I-tips

Cold fusions or I-tips

These bonds have a circular, elongated shape and are commonly used in the cold fusions technique. Unlike hot fusion methods, cold fusion bonds are fixed onto the head without the use of heat. 

The size and weight of the bonds are similar to K-tips, with the only difference being the method of attaching the strands.

Dark Golden Blonde #14 I-Tip Hair Extensions
Dark Golden Blonde #14 I-Tip Hair Extensions
Ombre Blonde #60 I-Tip Hair Extensions
Ombre Blonde #60 I-Tip Hair Extensions
Dark Brown #2 I-Tip Hair Extensions
Dark Brown #2 I-Tip Hair Extensions

How many weft bundles do I need?

How many weft bundles do I need?

It all depends on your hair goals. 

  • If you aim to increase the density and length of your curls, you'll need about 2-3 rows. 
  • But if you're looking to increase only the thickness, 1 row should be enough.
Hand-tied Weft Caramel #8
Hand-tied Weft Caramel #8
Hand-tied Weft Jet Black #1
Hand-tied Weft Jet Black #1
Hand-tied Weft Red Copper #130
Hand-tied Weft Red #130

Choosing the right number of weft bundles is a personalized process. Your stylist will take measurements and discuss your desired look with you. Based on this, they will determine how many wefts are needed and how long they should be. At I Love Slavic Hair, we then create the wefts to match these specifications. 

How many tape-in hair extensions do I need?

How many tape-in hair extensions do I need?

Would like to try tape-ins but don’t know how many grams of tape-in hair extensions do I need?

Blonde #60 Wavy Tape-in Hair Extensions
Blonde #60
Wavy Tape-in
Hair Extensions
Ombre Blonde #613 Tape-in Hair Extensions
Ombre Blonde
#613 Tape-in
Hair Extensions
Ombre Golden Brown #12 Tape-in Hair Extensions
Ombre Golden Brown #12 Tape-in Hair Extensions

At I Love Slavic Hair you can purchase tapes in two different sizes: 1.5 inches (4 cm) and 1 inch (2.5 cm). The number of tapes that can be made from 100 grams will depend on the length you plan to install. On average, 40 tapes are made from every 100 grams.

How many clip-in extensions do I need?

The number of clip-ins depends on:

  • Your hair goals

If you want to add some volume to your hairstyle, you will need three clips. However, if you only need to put clip-ins on your temples because the hair in that area is naturally thin or has been damaged due to unsuccessful coloring, then you will need one clip on each side. 

For full-head extensions, you will need a set of 5 clip-in hair extensions (3 for the back of the head and 2 for the temples).

  • Your hair texture and thickness

In our practice, we have come across instances where clients with very thick hair have approached us for hair extensions. In such cases, the traditional set of 5 clip-ins may not be sufficient, and hence, we offer a set of 7 clip-ins (2 pieces on each side of the temple area of varying lengths) for such customers.


Dark Brown #2 Clip-in Hair Extensions
Dark Brown #2 Clip-in Hair Extensions
Light Caramel #10 Clip-in Hair Extensions
Light Caramel #10 Clip-in Hair Extensions
Warm Blonde #613 Clip-in Hair Extensions
Warm Blonde #613 Clip-in Hair Extensions

To determine the best option, we recommend discussing this matter with your hair tech. We would be happy to produce a suitable set of extensions according to your requirements.

Are there any hair extensions quantity requirements?

It is important to note that there are no specific quantity requirements. However, we recommend considering the following factors: 

  • The longer and thicker your natural hair, the more grams you will need for extensions.
  • It is not recommended to determine the required amount of hair on your own. It is better to consult with an extension specialist who can accurately calculate the optimal length, type of raw material, and weight needed for your desired results.
  • Keep in mind that if you suffer from hair loss, take systemic medications, have scalp injuries, or are undergoing chemotherapy, you cannot have extensions.

I Love Slavic Hair shop

If you feel uncertain about the selection process, don't hesitate to reach out to I Love Slavic Hair. We are here to help you find the perfect hair bundle for your needs, ensuring your hairstyle is exactly as you envision it!

Tags: Hair Extensions 101

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About I Love Slavic Hair

ABOUT I LOVE SLAVIC HAIR

We are a manufacturer and supplier of the highest-quality Slavic hair extensions, ethically sourced from rural communities in Central and Eastern Europe. All our extensions are handmade, natural, and free of any silicones.

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