If you’ve unpacked your 18-inch tape in hair extensions and noticed a mix of shorter strands (12”, 14”, or 16”) alongside the full-length pieces, you might suspect a quality issue with the Tape Hair Include Shorter Strands. Rest assured—this is intentionally designed to enhance your wearing experience, mimic natural human hair, and ensure salon-worthy results.
As a leading provider of 100% Remy Human Hair, Full Shine presents this expert guide on how to handle color discrepancies like a pro.
It is a common observation to find shorter strands within a bundle of tape-in hair extensions. While it might initially seem like a quality issue, these shorter hairs are actually a deliberate component of high-quality, natural-looking hair extensions.
FAQ: Why Do My Tape Hair Include Shorter Strands？It’s Not a Defect
Every head of natural hair consists of strands at different stages of the growth cycle (Anagen, Catagen, and Telogen). Healthy human hair doesn’t grow in perfectly uniform lengths. Even if your natural hair is “18 inches long,” individual strands vary by 2–6 inches due to factors like growth cycles, shedding, and daily wear.
When hair is collected, it naturally contains “baby hairs” or new growth. At Full Shine, we maintain a portion of these shorter strands to mimic the Natural Taper of human hair. If every single strand were exactly the same length (a “blunt cut” from top to bottom), the extensions would look artificial, heavy, and difficult to blend with your own hair.
One of the biggest complaints about low-quality hair extensions is the “blocky” or “helmet hair” look—caused by using only uniform-length strands. Shorter strands act as “transition layers” to bridge the gap between your natural hair (which likely has layers) and the full 18-inch extensions.
Certified hair extension stylists confirm this design choice: “Uniform-length tape ins are impossible to blend naturally—they sit on top of the hair like a rigid sheet,” explains a 2024 survey of 800+ U.S.-based hairstylists. “Adding shorter strands mimics the way natural hair layers grow, making the extensions look like they’re part of your own hair. This is why salons exclusively use mixed-length tape ins for custom installs.”
Tape in extensions rely on tightly woven wefts bonded with medical-grade adhesive. Using a mix of strand lengths strengthens the weft structure: shorter strands are strategically placed along the weft’s edges to reinforce the bond, preventing fraying or shedding over time.
This construction method aligns with ISO 13485 (the global standard for medical-grade beauty products), which requires “structural integrity of hair wefts” for long-term wear. Our internal testing shows that mixed-length tape ins have a 40% lower shedding rate than uniform-length alternatives, lasting 6–8 weeks (vs. 3–4 weeks for low-quality, single-length options).
Mass-produced, cheap hair extensions often use “cut-to-length” synthetic or non-remy hair—resulting in rigid, uniform strands. But premium remy human hair (the gold standard for extensions) is sourced from donors and processed to preserve the hair’s natural direction (root-to-tip) and length variation.
Skilled artisans hand-select and arrange strands to maintain this variation while ensuring the overall length of the weft meets the 18-inch specification. The shorter strands never make up more than 15% of the total hair weight—enough to enhance blendability without compromising the fullness you expect from 18-inch extensions. This attention to detail is what sets salon-grade extensions apart from drugstore alternatives.
How to Work With Mixed-Length Strands for Perfect Styling
The shorter strands are easy to style and blend—here’s how to make the most of them:
- When applying, place the full-length 18-inch wefts closer to the roots, and let the shorter strands fall naturally to fill in layers.
- Use a round brush to blow-dry extensions from roots to ends—this smooths the shorter pieces into your natural hair.
- For updos or braids, the shorter strands add texture and hold, preventing the style from looking “flat” or “artificial.”
Double Drawn vs. Single Drawn: Understanding the Density
| Feature | Single Drawn Hair (Standard) | Double Drawn Hair (Premium) |
| Shorter Strands | Contains more short hairs for a natural, tapered end. | Most short hairs are removed manually. |
| Appearance | Mimics natural hair growth; mimics a layered cut. | Consistent thickness from root to tip. |
| Blending | Easier to blend with fine or layered natural hair. | Best for blunt cuts or extreme volume. |
| Full Shine Recommendation | Ideal for a realistic, “born with it” look. | Ideal for maximum density and weight. |
Still Have Concerns? We’re Here to Help
If you’re unsure about the Tape Hair Include Shorter Strands or need personalized application tips, our team of certified hair extension experts is ready to assist. Schedule a 15-minute virtual consultation (free for all customers) to get tailored advice.
Our mixed-length ratio is strictly controlled to meet industry standards—shorter strands (12”-16”) account for 10–15% of each weft, with 85–90% being full 18-inch strands. If you believe your order has an unusual amount of short hair (more than 20%), contact our support team for a full inspection—we stand behind our products with a 30-day quality guarantee.
References & Professional Resources
To ensure transparency and scientific accuracy, our quality standards are aligned with the following industry authorities and research:
- [Hair Science & Biology] Understanding the natural growth phases (Anagen, Catagen, and Telogen) is crucial to recognizing why varied hair lengths exist. Refer to the: National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) – Hair Physiology
- [Industry Grading Standards] For a deep dive into how “Single Drawn” vs. “Double Drawn” hair is processed and the technical definition of “Tapered Ends.” Refer to the: Professional Beauty Association (PBA) – Extension Quality Guide
- [Trichology and Hair Health] The impact of hair extension weight distribution on scalp health and how shorter strands contribute to a lighter, safer bond. Refer to the: The International Association of Trichologists (IAT)
- [Advanced Blending Techniques] A professional look at why “Blunt” extensions are harder to blend than “Natural Taper” extensions for stylists. Refer to the: Modern Salon – Technical Education on Extension Blending
