“Real hair tape wefts” is searched for hundreds of times every month, and almost always the same question is behind it: is this a weft or a tape? The answer is: both, depending on what is being attached and with what.

Tape weft, Tape-in, Tape Weft: three terms, two methods

A weft is a long strip of hair: many hairs bound together along a continuous top edge. It is applied as a row, not strand by strand. Tape-in extensions, on the other hand, are short pieces four to five centimeters wide, in which two wafer-thin mini wefts with an adhesive surface enclose a section of your natural hair like a sandwich.

The tape weft sits in between: it is a whole weft that is attached to your natural hair along its edge with adhesive strips, instead of with thread and micro rings. So you get the row effect of a weft with the attachment of a tape. Which option suits you depends less on the name than on three things: how dense your natural hair is, how often you can go for a move-up, and whether you want adhesive on your scalp.

The comparison at a glance

	Tape-in Extensions	Tape Weft	Sewn-in weft
What is attached	many short pieces of tape	one continuous weft	one continuous weft
Attached with	adhesive surface, sandwiched around your natural hair	adhesive strips along the edge	micro rings or beads and sewing thread
Heat or adhesive	adhesive, no heat	adhesive, no heat	neither
Application time	30 to 60 minutes	short, one row at a time	1 to 3 hours
Until the move-up (bond)	4 to 8 weeks	4 to 8 weeks, the adhesive is the limit	6 to 8 weeks
Lifespan of the hair (with good care)	1 to 2 years	1 to 2 years	1 to 2 years
Suitable for	fine to normal hair	normal hair, little time, no sewing wanted	lots of volume in one appointment, sensitive scalp

These figures always apply twice over: the bond lasts weeks: tape 4 to 8, sewn 6 to 8. The hair lasts 1 to 2 years with good care. After the bond is removed, the same hair is cleaned and reapplied. The overview of all methods can be found at How long do extensions last.

When the tape weft is the better choice

• You want volume in one appointment, but no sewing. One row adds a lot of hair at once. With adhesive strips it is applied in minutes, and at the move-up no thread has to be unpicked.
• Your hair is of normal density. The weft needs natural hair to cover it above the row. With very thin top hair, mini Tape-ins or a Genius Weft are the gentler solution; more on this in the guide Extensions for thin hair.
• You can go for regular move-ups. Adhesive surfaces lie flat against the scalp and become noticeable once your roots have grown out just two centimeters. If you only see your stylist every three months, a sewn-in weft is the better choice.

When Tape-ins are better

With fine hair. Individual pieces of tape distribute the weight across many small areas, and Mini Tapes or Invisible Tapes disappear even under thin top hair. A whole weft, on the other hand, concentrates the weight in one row. Tape-ins can also be placed more freely: one more piece at the temples, one fewer at the nape. All types of tape, from Normal Tape to Invisible Long Tape, are explained in the Tape Extensions Guide. You can find the classic options in our real hair Tape Extensions.

Which weft is suitable as a tape weft

Not every type of weft works equally well with adhesive strips. The edge is what matters: the thinner and flatter it is, the better the strip adheres and the less the row shows.

Weft type	Edge	With tape
Genius Weft	hand-drawn, extremely thin, can be cut freely	very good, lies flat and can be cut to size
Flat Weft	flat construction, thin	good for medium hair density
Feather Weft	especially light	good for very fine hair, little tension
Machine Weft	machine-sewn, thicker, must be sealed after cutting	better sewn in, adds bulk with tape
Butterfly Weft (from 100 g)	thin band, hair folded upwards	good, lots of fullness with a flat root

What sets the five types apart in everyday wear is explained in detail in the Wefts and Weft Extensions Guide. In the configurator you choose the type directly (Flat +7%, Genius +9%, Butterfly +14%, Feather +15%, Machine Weft at the base price); adhesive strips or sewing materials are not included in the delivery, your stylist brings those. Which types she works with is listed in her profile.

How much hair and what length

It’s calculated in grams, not in meters of band. For fine hair, 100 to 125 g is enough, for normal density 125 to 200 g, for thick hair up to 250 g, and for every ten centimeters of extra length a little more is added. The full table by length and hair density can be found at How many grams of extensions do I need. Every length from 40 to 130 cm can be ordered in 5 cm steps; where it ends on your body is shown by the length preview.

For orientation: 100 g of wefts in 60 cm cost 287,00 €, in 80 cm 363,00 €. Tape-ins in 60 cm with 100 g cost 267,00 €. The prices come live from the shop; what your exact combination costs is shown by the cost calculator. If you’re looking for classic wefts for sewing in, you’ll find them in our real hair wefts.

Care: the adhesive surface is the weak point

For everything that’s glued, the same rule applies: oil dissolves adhesive. Don’t wash your hair for the first 48 to 72 hours after application, keep oils and silicone-containing products away from the roots, and apply conditioner to the lengths only. With tape wefts, the weft’s weak point comes into play too: shampoo and scalp oil collect under the row if it isn’t rinsed out thoroughly. That’s why you should blow-dry the root area along the row and never go to sleep with wet hair. You’ll find everything else under Washing and caring for extensions.

How to order from us

In the configurator, you first choose the method (wefts or tape), then quantity, length, texture, tip fullness and color. Over 70 colors are standard; if none fits, we’ll make your desired color based on your photo for a small surcharge. For a custom color, you’ll receive a photo of your strands for approval before shipping. Production takes 10–14 business days, with a custom color 12–16, and items from Ready to ship go out within 1 to 3 business days. Shipping within Germany is free, and you can also pay by invoice or in installments.

Frequently asked questions