There’s no better way to transform your locks than with the help of hair extensions. However, while extensions are guaranteed to look gorgeous the moment you walk out of the salon, keeping them looking flawless is all about how you care for them from the comfort of your home. It is ever so important to make sure that you put in place a strict aftercare routine, which will help to boost the longevity of your extensions. This is vital at all times, but even more so when you’re unable to attend your maintenance appointments as regularly as you’d hoped. So, as your personal hair extension guardian angels, we’re here to guide you through our favourite hair care tips at home, promised to keep you slaying, even when you’re stuck at home!
Top 7 Extension Hair Care Tips At Home
Whether you’re new to the world of extensions or have been a loyal member of the extension club for years, it’s always worth familiarising yourself with the best habits to help your locks to last longer. There is nothing worse than matted, tangled extensions! So, girls, we’re here to fill you in on the top seven tips that we swear by:
- Wash Your Extensions Correctly
- Never Sleep With Wet Extensions
- Always Brush Extensions With Care
- Schedule A Weekly Conditioning Treatment
- Minimise Heat Damage
- Avoid Tangling While You Sleep
- Separate The Bonds Daily
1.Wash Your Extensions Correctly
Okay, so first things first, let’s take a look at your hair washing routine. While it is true that your extensions can be treated just as you would do so your natural locks, there are a few things that you need to remember on your next hair wash day.
When it comes to the shampoo and conditioner that you use to wash your hair, we would always strongly recommend investing in the products that your hair extension technician recommends, such as Beauty Works. Each hair extension type, whether you opt for micro rings that use small, silicone lined copper rings or pre-taped wefts, comes alongside different requirements to ensure that the bonds remain secure. They also need to include the right ingredients to not only keep your extensions in good condition but also allow your natural hair to continue growing healthily. This means avoiding products that contain ingredients such as sulfates and alcohol, which are known for stripping your hair of its natural oils and in turn, making your extensions more likely to get matted. You can find more information on the shampoo and conditioner ingredients that you should always avoid on Pure Natural Cosmetics.
Once you are stocked up with the right products, you’ll then be free to wash your hair without having to worry about how the shampoo and conditioner may react against your extensions. We’d recommend, if possible, washing your hair in the shower, allowing the water to flow down your hair. While it may be easier to flip your hair over the bath to clean quickly, this does make the extensions more prone to tangling, meaning that you’ll have to spend ages afterward brushing out knots. When washing, always ensure that you focus your shampoo on the roots to remove excess oil and conditioner on the ends to keep them nourished. Putting conditioner anywhere near your roots may cause the extensions to begin slipping down your hair, making them last far less long. Also, try to use warm water rather than scorching hot as this, again, will strip the natural oils from both your hair and scalp.
2.Never Sleep With Wet Extensions
Now that you’re a pro at washing your extensions, its time to move onto drying. Although it may be tempting to head off to bed with your hair slightly damp, we cannot stress enough the importance of thoroughly drying your locks before going to bed. Never sleeping with wet hair is a rule of thumb when it comes to caring for your extensions. Trust us; we have seen so many clients in the past coming back for their maintenance appointments with tangled and matted roots or extensions that have fallen out, simply down to not following this advice.
Your hair is at its weakest when it is wet, which means that the tossing and turning while you sleep can take its toll on both your natural locks and extensions. It also means that when you wake up in the morning, you’ll have serious bedhead which forces you to spend what feels like an eternity detangling. Even when taking extra care to brush out knots, you will be putting the bonds under immense pressure, pulling at your scalp and loosening the bonds.
When washing, including wiping, be gentle and try not to rub. Then, when the hair is semi dry, comb it open and try to avoid using a bad hair dryer
3.Always Brush Extensions With Care
Although we briefly mentioned it in the tip above, we thought that we most definitely needed to include a section dedicated to extension brushing etiquette.
So, just like when you brush your natural hair a little too harshly, and you see strands begin to fall out, your extensions will start to become loose if you fail to take care. It is inevitable that your extensions will experience some tangling, but it’s how you tackle it that counts. Firstly, you need to invest in a quality brush. Then, you need to follow the sequence of starting to brush at the ends of your hair before working your way up. This method will cause the least strain on your hair, extensions and scalp, keeping them all healthy.
When it comes to how many times you brush a day, as long as you are gentle, the more, the better. However, if you’re looking for a precise recommendation, we’d always say first thing in the morning, before you go to bed, before washing and after washing.
4.Schedule A Weekly Conditioning Treatment
Girls, are we right in saying that greasy hair is everyone’s biggest pain? But, while it can be super frustrating waking up to oily roots, it does mean that your hair is being fed with a constant supply of natural oils, keeping it nourished even if you have more of a laid-back haircare routine. However, as your extensions are only bonded to the root, it does mean that, unfortunately, they do not receive any of these natural oils. So, to keep them filled with moisture, super smooth and to maintain that gorgeous shine, you should always schedule a weekly conditioning treatment.
There are so many different ways that you can do a deep conditioning treatment on your extensions, and as long as you do not apply it near to the root, you can use any products that you wish. Natural products are always a sought-after option because not only are they affordable, but they also guarantee complete hydration. Argan oil, coconut oil and macadamia oil are all perfect for keeping your hair smooth and shiny. Alternatively, if you’re looking to get a little more creative and try your hand at making your own hair mask, there are hundreds of great recipes out there to experiment with.
- Minimise Heat Damage
Just like your natural locks, hair extensions become damaged when you overuse heat on them. As all of our extensions, whether they’re micro ring or tape-in, are made using 100% human hair, they can become brittle and split ends will accumulate. This means that no matter how many conditioning treatments you apply, once the extensions are damaged, you may have no choice but to replace the hair. However, luckily, there are many different ways that you can keep heat damage at a minimum. Here are our top tips:
Use Heat Protectant – Before using any heated styling tools, don’t forget to apply a protectant. There are hundreds of fantastic heat protectants out there, such as Beauty Works heat protection spray. Some products that you use on wet hair and others that are sprayed on just before you begin styling.
Turn Down The Temperature – When you are using heated tools, try to keep the temperature as low as possible. Of course, you do need some level of heat to achieve your perfect style, so experiment with different settings to see what works best for you without burning your extensions.
Take Regular Breaks From Heat – If you’re guilty of straightening your hair every day or curling with lots of products each weekend, then while it may look gorgeous, you are reducing the lifespan of your extensions. So why not take a break from using heat every now and again? Experiment with overnight heatless curls or try an updo complete with cute accessories.
6.Avoid Tangling While You Sleep
Although there is no way of stopping yourself from tossing and turning throughout the night, there are a few handy ways that you can avoid waking up to a bird’s nest of hair the following morning. In keeping knotting at a minimum, you won’t have to put as much pressure on both your roots and extension bonds while trying to brush them out.
One of the best ways to keep your extensions under control overnight is to tie them back very loosely before going to bed. If you’re looking for a quick and easy solution, putting your hair in a low ponytail with a silk scrunchie or spiral hairband is perfect. Alternatively, while it may take a little practice, a loose French braid is another excellent way to prevent tangling and even better, you’ll wake up with beautiful beach waves. Take a look at Real Simple for a super easy French braid tutorial.
7.Separate The Bonds Daily
Last, but most definitely not least, you must ensure that you take the time to separate your bonds each day. While this may sound super tedious and time-consuming, it actually only takes a few minutes and if you do it daily, will take even less time. You won’t need any tools to do this; simply use your fingers to feel each of the bonds and check that none have started to become tangled. If they have, carefully try to separate them – you might sometimes need a small brush or comb to do this. In ensuring that bonds are always separated, you can stop the extensions from becoming matted against any loose or shedding hair.