I’ve had a lot of hairstyles throughout my twenties. I’ve sported a straight bob, balayage, a curly fringe, micro bangs and a wolf cut. I think that whenever I feel bored or stagnant, I use my hair as a way of revitalising my sense of self, or trying on a new identity.
One hairstyle I never tried is waist-length hair. It’s not that I don’t like the look of long, mermaid-like hair, I’ve just never been patient enough to sit still and give my hair the years needed to grow.
For more haircare reviews, check out our Beauty section.
When I came across Muse’s viral tape-in hair extensions online, my curiosity piqued. Within its first few weeks of launching in 2023, the Australian hair label sold out three times. The brand’s popularity only grew when its founders, husband and wife duo Stephanie and Paul McClearly, appeared on Shark Tank Australia in 2024.
Personally, I was hooked by Muse’s videos. The short, sped-up clips that promised to give me salon-worthy locks in 20 minutes. It seemed too good to be true, so I decided to test Muse’s hair extensions out for myself.
What are Muse hair extensions and how do they work?
When following instructions, Muse says its hair extensions can be applied in just 20 minutes. Each DIY kit comes with seven hair pieces of varying lengths and thickness, as well as double-sided replacement tape and a bottle of remover spray.
Once the extensions are in, you can essentially go about your day as normal. The standard wear time is between two to four weeks, after which you’ll need to reapply the extensions and move them closer to your scalp. You can sleep in them, brush and wash your hair, heat-style them and even swim and workout while wearing them.
The extensions are also made from 100 per cent remy human hair, which is considered the highest quality of human hair and commonly used in wigs. While Muse notes their extensions are ethically sourced, it’s unclear exactly from where or whom the hair is taken.
How to find your colour match
If your hair is anything like mine, then it’s hard to classify as being one distinct colour. Technically, mine’s brown, but there are lighter, reddish strands and highlights from the days I spent relentlessly bleaching my ends. Given the extension kits are a few hundred dollars, you want to make sure the shade you choose is as close to perfect as possible.
Muse has a few options to help you find your colour match. For one, you can order a sample online for 15 dollars, choosing from over 30 different shades. Another option is getting a free, online match. To do this, you need to upload a few photos of yourself, front on, in natural lighting. Muse will analyse your photo and provide you with their recommended colour match. This is the route I took – after sending through some images, I left it to the professionals to select my colour.
How to apply the Muse hair extensions
@museforhair DIY hair extensions at home in 20mins? We got you! . . . #diyhairextensions #hairextensionstutorial #athomehairextensions #easyhairextensions #tapehairextensions #diyhairtransformation #hairextensionsapplication #diybeauty #hairstylingtips #MuseDIYHairExtensions #HairExtensionsForBeginners #quickhairtutorial #tapeinhairextensions #howtoapplyhairextensions #hairupgrade #diyglamour #hairextensionsathome #effortlesshair #HairExtensions #hairathome #beautytransformations #MuseForHairExtensions #transformyourlook #professionalhairextensions #hairextensionsexpert #quickandconvenient #salonworthyhair #colormatchingtips ♬ original sound – Muse DIY Hair Extensions
If you’ve never tried it before, the thought of taping seven hair extensions to your scalp can feel intimidating. Muse has a section on its website with step-by-step written instructions, and the kits themselves come with tips and advice.
However, if you’re more of a visual learner (like I am), then you’re better just skipping ahead and going straight to the brand’s TikTok. There, you can find a range of short, two-minute tutorials running you through how to apply, style and remove the extensions.
I started by washing the extensions through, which Muse suggested doing to add volume and thickness, and then blow-waved them with my Shark FlexStyle. Next, you need to lay out the extensions and apply the double-sided tape on both sides of the roots.
You’re meant to start with the second largest extension, measuring two fingers from the base of the hairline. Peel off one side of the extension, apply it one centimetre from the sectioned hair and press down. When ready, peel off the remaining tape and let you hair down, covering the extension. From there, you essentially repeat the process, applying the smaller sections so they frame your face.
How to remove the Muse hair extensions
Removing the extensions is an even more straightforward process than applying them. Section your hair so you can easily access the extensions and douse them in the removal spray. I coated mine on either side and they essentially fall free from your roots. The spray is a little greasy, so you’ll want to re-wash the extensions to ensure they’re fresh and clean next time you reach for them.
Trying out the Muse hair extensions
I sent myself a timer on my phone before starting the extensions and cleared the bathroom bench to give myself plenty of room. I’d blowdried my hair and the extensions in the same way, so they were a similar texture going in.
I realised quickly that if you’re doing it by yourself, with no one to call on for help, it can be tricky to find the corner of the tape and unpeel it once it’s already in. With some trial and error, I soon realised it was far easier to remove the tape backing on both sides of the extension before applying it.
True to Muse’s word, I finished applying the extensions within exactly 20 minutes of starting. The difference between my hair and the tape-ins was definitely more obvious at this stage, so I turned on my curler and added in some waves. I brushed the curls out with my La Bonne Brosse and was pleased with how much of a difference styling made when it came to blending the extensions in with my real hair.
Would I use the Muse hair extensions again?
I’m not going to lie, as someone who’s has mid-length hair for most of my life, the almost waist-length locks felt surreal. I felt like I was doing a Kylie Jenner cosplay with my long, loose curls. Though it took some time to get used to the feeling of the extra weight, I soon felt myself enjoying my long locks. And as for the colour match? It was spot on.
One area I was conscious of was how obvious the extensions looked. From some angles they were indistinguishable from my hair, but there were certain moments throughout the day where I felt like I was clearly wearing extensions. I also realised that from the back you could see the tape ins near my crown if you looked closely. While this might’ve been a user error, it’s worth noting the application will likely take some time to perfect.
Next time, I’d also consider trimming the ends. I felt as though the extensions were a tad long and would’ve had the same effect even without an inch or two. It could even be worth taking them to your next hair appointment and seeing if your hairdresser could trim them to blend in with your own hair. In saying this, once you cut them there is no going back, so you’d want to be one hundred per cent sure before going into it.
Considering a full set of professional, salon-applied extensions can take hours to apply and set you back up to one thousand dollars, Muse’s DIY kits have a lot of appeal. They’re approximately $468 for a seven-piece set, and they come with tape, a clip and removal spray. Plus, you can wear them as often as you like.
Whether it’s to take a few selfies, for an event or simply to try something different, they’re an easy, low-stakes way of seeing how you’d look and feel with long hair. Plus, if you have thin hair, they’d also be a helpful way of adding some thickness and volume to an updo.
Shop the range of Muse hair extensions here.
This article I tried TikTok’s viral $400 tape-in hair extensions for a day appeared first on Fashion Journal.
2025-06-17 11:47:00
#TikToks #viral #tapein #hair #extensions #day
Source link
