Tips for taking care of hair extensions

Hair extensions can offer flexibility in helping hair appear longer, thicker, as well as more vibrant and healthy. However, like every other hair product, it is important to take care of your hair extensions, so you don’t end up with dull strands, matted hair, or worse, irreversible damage to your original hair. If you are not sure how to treat hair extensions right, read on to learn all of our care tips and tricks.

Keep your hair clean

Dirt and sweat can make your hair extensions tangle. To prevent this from happening, you should wash them with sulphate or paraben-free shampoo and apply conditioner to your hair extensions regularly. Before shampooing, detangle your hair from the ends to the roots, and then wash your hair from the roots to the ends.

Sulfates are the cleaning detergents in shampoos that cause them to foam. Sulfates are effective cleaners. However, they can dry out the natural oils in your hair that serve to protect it. Your body is constantly creating new oils for your natural hair, but your extensions do not have a direct supply, so you need to be very careful about drying them out. Sulfates can cause split ends to form in your hair and make your hair look dry or frizzy over time.

Each strand of hair has a protective cuticle layer. Not only does the cuticle layer protect the hair strand, it also reflects sunlight which gives your hair its shine. Conditioners give your hair back its body and shine by releasing positively charged particles that latch onto the negatively charged parts of your hair and repair the cuticle layers. Make sure to work the conditioner all the way into the roots of your hair. If you have braids or curly extensions, you should use a leave-in conditioner on them during the day.

Wash your hair extensions 3 to 5 times a week

Washing your hair extensions daily can dry them out. To keep your hair extensions hydrated, wash them three to five times a week however this will depend on the thickness and how much products you apply to your hair extensions. How often you should wash your hair depends on its thickness, oil content and how much product you use in it. For example someone with thick, dry hair who doesn't use too much product wouldn't have to wash as often as someone with thin, oily hair who styles it daily.

Dry your hair extensions

Blow-dry your hair completely before going to bed. You should never go to bed while your permanent hair extensions are wet. Wet hair extensions will bunch up causing tangles to form. As you move around in your sleep, the tangles in your extensions could get stuck and pull on your natural hair, damaging it. If your natural hair is braided underneath the extensions, make sure it gets completely dry, too. If it doesn't, you could develop mildew and an unpleasant odor. To make sure all your hair dries completely, it is recommended that you sit under a hooded dryer. The amount of time you will need to stay under the dryer depends on the thickness and texture of your hair, as well as the density of the extensions.

density of the extensions.

Properly brush hair extensions

Make sure that you are always gentle with your hair extensions and that you brush them properly as this can also impact their lifespan. First, gather all the hair together, then carefully brush out the extensions from the bottom of the hair slowly working upwards towards the root. If you come across a particularly pesky knot, isolate the weft and brush it through gently. Never brush your hairs extensions when they are wet as this is when they are most susceptible to breakage. Instead, brush them before washing or once they are 90% dry.

So we hope this some tips and tricks will help you take care of your hair extensions in the longer run and like a pro. But do not shy away from sharing your experience. If you have any other tricks up your sleeve, comment down below and share with all of us.