How Many Bundles Do I Need For A Full Head Sew In?

Before you buy hair extensions, you may ask how many bundles of hair do I need for a full head sew in, which is the most important thing to achieve your desired look. Actually, it depends on what style you are going to do, with a lace closure, a lace frontal or a 360 frontal and what kind of look you want to achieve from normal hair volume to fuller one.

At the very beginning, we would like to introduce the basic knowledge in the hair industry. Now the hair extensions industry has standardized hair wefts bundles. Hair wefts, unless it is noted, is always sold in about 100gram/3.5oz each bundle. In practical terms, it is the shorter the hair is, the longer the weft will be. And the longer the hair is, the shorter the weft will be. Let’s see the picture below. The hair bundle on the left is 30 inches while the one on the right is 10 inches. If you take a good look at these two bundles, you can see the 30 inches is smaller than 10 inches. That’s because they both are the same amount of hair (100gram) and the longer the hair, the shorter the wefts. To be more exact, they weigh the same, but obviously, if the hair is shorter, you are going to get more wefts. Opposite, if the hair is longer, you are going to get fewer wefts.

#1. Hair bundles with lace closure

That being said, if you are going for a shorter hairstyle like bob, you typically only need about 2 hair bundles. This is for if you install your weave with a closure. My general rule of thumb is if you have bundles anywhere from 8 inches to about 14 inches, you only need 2 bundles. 

If you are going to get bundles longer than 14 inches, like 16 inches to 20 inches, you need three bundles. anything past that you need 4 bundles. 

You need to be careful when you are getting to the 20 inches because sometimes people will think okay, I’ll just get 3 bundles of 22 inches and that will be fine. It could be fine but the thing is obviously your hair is going to be scanty because 3 bundles of 22 inches is not going to be the same as 18, 20 and 22 because you are going to get more wefts with the 18, 20 and the 22inches bundle and look thicker.

The tricky thing about hair which is longer than 22 inches is that the longer your hair is, the more scanty or thinner it becomes, so you'd better double up on the longest length. For example, let’s say I was getting a 20, 22,24 and 26. I personally would recommend that you get a 20, 22, 24 and a 24. When you double up on the longest length, it is fuller. This is just to have a normal looking fullness. If you want really full and thick, then past 22 inches, I would recommend 5 bundles. I know it could be a bit pricey, but if you want your hair to be really thick, 5 or 6 bundles is what you need with a closure.

#2. Hair bundles with lace frontal

When you are using a frontal, that’s a little bit different because frontal is from ear to ear. Obviously, it covers more span than lace closure. My rule of thumb is if you are getting anywhere from 8 to 18 inches, 2 bundles will suffice and anything past 16 inches, I would suggest getting 3 bundles. From 16 or 18 to about 20 to 24 inches, 3 bundles is good for you. For example, if you are doing a frontal and you want your longest length to be 24 inches, then you can get a frontal and then 20, 22 and 24, which should suffice. Hair bundle past 24 inches, I would definitely use 4 bundles.

In a lot of time, you guys want to buy long frontal and honestly, it is not necessary because when you buy your bundles, you buy it in increments of 2. they are layered. So why are you going to buy a 20 inches frontal and your bundles are like 18, 20 and 22. It just doesn’t make any sense. Anyways, the front of your hair is usually shorter.