There are only a few ways you can achieve dramatic changes in your appearance quickly. And one of the best ways is with the help of hair extensions. Your extensions are guaranteed to look gorgeous the second you leave the salon, but ensuring they stay looking that way will be all up to you. It’s extremely important that you learn how to care for your extensions if you want them to look fresh and seamless for weeks or even months to come.
Hair Extension Care
Whether you just got extensions for the first time or you’ve been getting them for years, it’s always good to know how to care for extensions. If you want them to look great for multiple installs, make sure you follow these hair extension care tips.
Wash Your Extensions Correctly
We know, you’ve been washing your hair for years, how hard could it possibly be? Well, there are a lot of things you may be doing that aren't in the best interest of your hair. When you add extensions to the equation, you should make sure you know exactly how to wash your hair correctly. When it comes to what shampoo and conditioner you should use, it is always recommended to invest in products your hairdresser recommends.
Each of the different types of extensions will have different requirements to make sure the bonds remain secure. The products you use also need to include the right ingredients to keep your extensions looking good while also allowing your real hair to grow healthily. For this reason, you should avoid products with sulfates and alcohol which often strip your hair of its natural oils.
When you actually wash your hair, make sure you focus the shampoo on the roots to remove excess oil. You should focus the conditioner on the ends of your hair to keep them nourished. Using conditioner near your roots may cause the extensions to slip down your hair, making them last for a much shorter time. You should also try to use warm water rather than hot water, as that will also strip the natural oils from your hair and scalp.
Never Sleep With Wet Extensions
A sure-fire way to wake up with matted hair? Going to sleep with wet extensions. The importance of thoroughly drying your hair before going to bed can’t be overstated if you want to properly care for your extensions. Your hair is weakest when it is wet. This means the tossing and turning while you sleep can take its toll especially when your natural hair and your extensions are wet. You could easily wake up needing to spend what feels like an eternity detangling your hair. And even when you take extra care to brush out the knots, you will be putting them under a lot of pressure. The more you have to pull at your scalp, the looser the bonds will become.
Always Brush With Care
As we briefly mentioned above, you need to take care when brushing your extensions. Just like your natural hair may start falling out when you brush too harshly, the same is true for extensions. They can become loose if you do not take care as you brush. Your extensions will inevitably experience some tangling, but how you tackle it matters.
First, you should purchase a quality brush. Then, you should brush by starting at the ends of your hair and working your way up. This approach will cause the least strain on your natural hair and your extensions. As far as how often you can brush, as long as you are gentle, the more the better. But if you’d like a more specific recommendation, you should brush first thing in the morning, before bed, before washing, and after washing.
Deep Condition Weekly
To keep your natural hair and extensions moisturized and smooth, you should make sure you are scheduling a weekly deep conditioning treatment. But if absolutely needed, this is something you can easily do at home. Keep in mind that you should not apply the treatment near the root. Other than that, you can use just about any product that you want. However, you may want to ask your stylist what types of products they recommend to best care for your extensions.
Many people prefer natural products because they are affordable and guarantee complete hydration. Oils like argan oil, coconut oil, and macadamia oil are all great options for keeping hair smooth and shiny. There are also many recipes you can find online to create your own hair mask using products you probably already have at home.
Minimize Heat Damage
One of the keys to caring for your extensions is using as little heat as possible. Especially if you invest in human hair extensions, they can quickly become brittle and accumulate split ends with a lot of heat use. And once that damage occurs, no matter how many conditioning treatments you use, you won’t be able to reverse it.
You don’t have to stop using heat altogether, you can try these other ways to reduce the amount of heat damage. First, apply a heat protectant before you use any heated styling tools. Some products can be applied when wet and others just before you start styling. Second, you should turn the temperature down as low as possible on your tools. It will take some experimenting, but you can try different settings to see what works best for your extensions. Finally, take breaks from using heat. If you straighten or curl your hair every day, you are reducing the lifespan of your extensions. Try out overnight heatless curls or an updo sometimes to skip the heat tools.
How Long Do Hair Extensions Last?
How long hair extensions last depends on two main factors: how well you care for your extensions and what type you receive. Some extensions like tape-ins may only last 4-8 weeks. Meanwhile, other types can last up to a year or even more. You should speak to your hairdresser to find out how long you can expect your extensions to last. You can also ask them for specific products or techniques you should use to help them last as long as possible. But, the tips we provided on how to care for extensions above are a great place to start.
If you’re in the market for a quality product that will last up to 5 installs with the proper care, Snapped Hair has you covered! Our Brazilian Grade 7A hair is a superior quality of 100% human hair. It contains a strong double weft for less to no shedding and tangling. It can be heated, dyed, washed, curled, and straightened to your heart's delight! Never compromise when it comes to style.
Visit Snapped Hair and get your new do today. Our website offers a vast collection of extensions. Additionally, our salon in Merrillville, IN is top-notch. Not only will you look great, but you can also take advantage of our payment options. We are now also offering payment via Shop Pay or Sezzle so that you can split up your payments to make it more affordable! If you're looking for hair care in Northwest Indiana, come by Snapped!